The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-24 00:00:00

CAWNPORE AND LUCKNOW.

The Times last Saturday described General Have-
lock " marching back in triumph " from the second
battle at Bhitour. The following letter, if it does not
give us a very brilliant picture of this triumphal
march, points out to us, with painful distinctness,
the inadequacy of the force at Havelock's com-
mand for the herculean work he had to perform,
and the swarms of rebels against whom we have to
contend in Gude :

Cawnpore, Aug. 22.
After our victorious march to and triumphal entry into
Cawnpore, our foray into the Oude territory, and the cap-
ture of about seventy guns from the enemy, I sit down to
give you a description of the state of affairs existing here,
and of the appearance of the station in ceneral. It is not
my intention to enter into the details of the numerous tights
that have taken place, as they are known to you all. Has
not the electric telegraph Boiled forth the news of our
numerors victories—the dispersal of the enemy, and the
capture of their guns? Does not this lead to the inference
that all must be peace and quietness here ? So think the
good easy people of Calcutta, now that the danger is re-
moved from their own doors; and so perhaps thmk our
friends of Western India. But let them not " lay the
flattering unction to their souls," for such is not the case ;
" the snake is only scotched." Hydri.-headed, our enemy
exists in every debateable point of ground up here. From
where their guns come, Heaven only knows; for defeat
them to•day, and take their guns from them, to-morrow
you find them in a fresb position, with plenty of ordnance
to greet you! True it is that they pursue Fabian tactics,
which, with a determined enemy,possessed of the resources
that we shall soon have, I trust must lead to their destrue.
ti m. The victories of our *my have been chronicled in
Government despatches and editorial articles ; bat where
is the Russell to tell the history of their sufferings, their
privations, and hardships? From Allaliabad to this many
men sank through sheer exhaustion ; but the real suffer-
ings of the army only commence! when they entered the
nude territory. For twent)-two flays without tents, they
fought and bivouacked in rice fields and swamps ; and what
has been the effect produced upon the enemy by our suc-
cesses in Oude? A vety faint one I am atrai 1. The
rebels, defeated at Cawnpore, retreated across the river,
and have been joined by immense bodies of the Onde
troops; in fact, the article kingdom of Oude seems to be in
arms against us, and every village is fortified, loopholed,
and barricaded. These villagers fight with the desperation
of fanatics ; in fact, they have cost us more men than we
have lost in charging the batteries of the enemy. Round
shot make bit little impression upon these mud buildings
—even 24-pound shot only pass through and leave the hole.
There is no alternative but to enter them with the bayonet.
But at what a fearful sacrifice ! Every door is barricaded,
end every part of the building loopholed ;the consequences
are, that our men are shot like game without a chance of
hitting scarcely one of them. In the long run they are

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►BES.

entered, but at the loss of twenty or fifty men; such was a
part of each ofour fights in Oude, with the exception of the
last. All that we could do was to advance a few miles into
the country, defeat them, and then retire into our old
position, about six miles from our landing-place.. . . .
We are nearly knocked up with severe duty, for the men
cannot get one night in bed; and our accommodation is
wretched, lying on the bare damp ground. This has
brought on cholera to such an extent that we are losing
from the force about eight or ten men daily. Our regi.
ment has suffered dreadfully from this cause, and we have
dwindled down to a mere handful. But we expect WO men
of ours in, with three guns, to-morrow. The Government
will not serve the men out with cots to lie upon, although
they can be procured by hundreds, so the men hove to buy for
themselves if they hare the money. In hospital the same
system of mismanagement is carried on. Even here you
would think that the guartermaster-genensl would provide
cots and beds for the sick and wounded. Nothing of the
sort; they, too, must lie upon cold ground, a great number
of them. Neither is there a sufficient number of medical
officers here ; the few that are here are worked almost to
death. Surely Government could send up any amount of
medical attendants from Lower India, and not allow such
a disgraceful state of things as this to continue. And
where, too, are they whose mission it is to whisper hope
and comfort to the sinking sufferer in his passage to the
tomb? Have they, too, fled affrighted before the storm?
If Government will not perform its duty, and send chap.
lains here, are there no worthy men in the lower provinces
who, following in the footsteps of their Great Muter, dare
to hasten to the bedside of sinking humanity ?

This is very sad, and looks very like a repetition of
the Crimean disasters.

That the last fight on the other side of the river
and the retreat to Cawnpore were very severe all
letters testify. An officer of the force writes,
August 20th :

We had only 550 Europeans in the field, and 350 Sikhs ;
the enemy at least 12,000, with large bodies of cavalry, and
their guns horsed. Ws advanced from the right very
steadily, when the enemy unmasked their guns and opened
fire with great effect. 1 never saw guns better served, and the
fire was very heavy, and from their guns being covered by
earthwork's, &c., we had great difficulty in getting at them.
However, our guns on the right eventually, by steadily
advancing, obtained a flanking fire ; and the Highlanders
making a gallant rush carried the enemy's left battery of
two gnus, which, with horses and waggons, were captured.
No sooner was this done than the rest made a clear bolt,
our guns following, and pouring in round shot and grape
with good effect. Their loss must have been very heavy,
ours 140 killed and wounded. We halted during the heat
of the day, and then returned to our old position, and the
following morning moved down to cross the river, a work
of much time. I was at work from seven a.m. till dark,
and such heat I never felt ; men dropped down from sun•
stroke, and every one was more or less affected. I
managed to crawl up to tie hotel, take a glass of brandy
and water, and to bed. The next day we were at rest, but
the following morning we moved out to Bhitoor, where
the Saugor mutineers assembled. We found them as usual
strongly posted under cover, on the ether side of the
nullsh leading into the town. We drove them out under a
very heavy fire of musketry with considerable loss, taking
their guns, and pushed clean through the town to the com-
missioner's old house, in the compound of which we halted ;
our loss in killed and wounded, .I;c., being about 130. My
horse was shot in the face, and I had, as well as all our
officers, some very narrow escapes. The next morning we
returned to this, and pitched our amp on the Sawadah plain,
but the rain came down so heavily we were driven into the
cavalry stables, which fortunately for as the rebels had
spared, and we are now very comfortable. We are now
assured of reinforcements, and will advance ou Lucknow
directly they arrive; and we shall be in plenty of time, as
we have good accounts, and they can hold out for a short
time.

A medical correspondent with General Havelock's
force does not give us a satisfactory account of the
health of the gallant little band. The cholera still
hangs about the camp :
Camp, Cawnpore, August 31.
We are still lying on our oars awaiting reinforcements.
Parades and roll•calls are the order of the day. Since my
last communication the whole of the sick and wounded,
numbering altogether about five officers and two hundred
European soldiers of all ranks, have been sent to Allaha•
bad under au escort of Sikhs, the latter, with the medical
staff, going as far as a village called Sohnnagur, from
whence they return, being relieved by a corresponding
number from Allahabad. The health of the small force
at present here has much improved during the last week
or ten days, the number of sick Europeans in camp to•
day being about one hundred or nearly ten per cent., the
usual average in this Presidency. About ten deaths have
occurred, chiefly from cholera. This disease still rages in
and about the camp, but not in so virulent a form as it
formerly did. Phlegmon and fevers, complicated with
towel affections, are now the prevailing complaints. A
detachment of the 78th Highlanders, numbering some 200
of all ranks, arrived yesterday by dak from Allahabad.
Other detachments of the different corps located here are
daily expected. The sth Fusiliers and 90th Light Infan-
try. with one troop of Horse Artillery, are in Allahabad,
and are coming up to join in the column. General Sir
James Gomm is also expected shortly. The rebels are
erecting a battery on the other side of the Ganges, and
near the place where we effected our landing in Oude.
Their cavalry or sowers come to the river side every morn-
ing, and go through some evolutions, brandishing their
sabres, and cutting a number of other capers. The
weather for the last few days has been olose and sultry,

857.

's shows Oi deg

at noon in the shade It is said that a very large sum of
money has been offered for the capture of Nana Sahib, of
whom I shall have occasion to speak by-and-bye.
A sower, Dabee-deen, who accompanied Ge-
neral Havelock to Cawnpore, and then pushed
on alone into the Futteyghur district, has given
some interesting details. He remained at Fat-
teyghur six days. The Nawab of Furruckabad is
described as having taken a most active part in the
destruction of the Europeans and Christians, and to
have been most ably supported throughout by
Moulvie Hidaet Ally, tehaildar of Mobnndabad. This
person, a native of Moradabad, was originally
mohurrir in the magistrate's office at that place, and
possesses a slight knowledge of the English lan-
guage. He has always received the greatest encou-
ragement and favour from his European superiors,
and has exercised the powers of a deputycollector
since June, 1851. He has now been appointed
dewan to the Nawab, who is said to be entirely
under his influence. Daboe-deen states also that on
the day he reached Futteyghur Hidaet Ally ordered
a public execution on the parade ground of twenty-
one native Christians and seven European females
with several children. These unfortunates are sup-
posed to have been taken prisoners before they
could make their escape into the fort with the other
Europeans. The execution was superintended by
the Nawab and Hidaet Ally in person. Two females
and one little child were not struck by the shot from
the guns ; the poor wretches had been thrice fired
at, and the Nawab was inclined to release them on
their begging hard for their lives. Hidaet Ally,
however, interposed, and said that by the Mahome-
den law all unbelievers ought to be destroyed ; and
these poor people were then despatched by the
soldiers at Hidaet Ally's command. About ten of the
Company's hurkaras were executed at the same time.
Dabee-deep states that when at Futteyghur he was
told by many persons that eighteen Europeans were
still in safety in the fort of Kussoura, where they
were protected by Hurdeo Buksh. The collector,
Mr. Probyn, and his family, are said to be certainly
amongst this party, which is said to contain also
several retugees from Shejehanpoor and Bareilly.
The fort of Kussoura is a strong place just within
the Oude frontier, about twelve miles from Futtey-
ghur. Hurdeo Buksh is a powerful laedbolder in
Oude, can command at a pinch 5,000 or 6,000 match-
lock men, Thakoors of his own caste. About twenty
years ago his father, Runjeet Singh, took refuge in
the Futteyghur district, in consequence of being
hard pressed by the Nawab's troops ; on that occa-
sion Mr. F. H. Robinson, the magistrate of Futtey-
Our, disregarded all the requisitions of the Resident,
to send him back a prisoner to Lucknow. Runjeet
Singh after this took up his residence at a village of
his own, Dhurropore, which is just outside the Oude
frontier, and until his death, a few years ago, always
professed himself as under the greatest obligations
to Mr. Robinson and the British Government. It is

hoped that this feeling has descended to this
son, and that in consequence he will continue to with-
stand the repeated demands of the bloodthirsty
Nawab of Furruckabad, to give up these unfortunates
whom he has hitherto so successfully protected.
Dabee deen adds, that after the escape of the
Europeans from the fort, about the 10th of July,
the ghat manjees who supplied the boats were
severely punished by the Nawab, as were also all
persons who were suspected of having given any
European or Christian assistance of any kind.

As a very grave interest at present attaches to
everything connected with the garrison of Lucknow,
we may mention that it consists of about 300 of the
32nd Foot, 140 sick and wounded, 300 women and
children, and 400 natives, chiefly Sikhs. A. letter
from Calcutta thus describes the life led by the garri-
son at Lucknow

•
It must be understood that sttachei to the Residency-
house. which is the principal building in their position, is
a large tykhane, or under-ground house. Livieg in this,
the portion of the garrison who were not actually on duty,
and the ladies and children, have been in a great measure
secure from molestation from round shot and small arms.
Those, however, on duty or who went out to procure water
were eternally fired at by a large 24. pounder, and peppered
with small arms from a luopholed house, within a few
hundred yards of the Residency. Thisfire at last became
so unbearable that it was determined to attempt to under-
mine the loopholed building. Everything succeeded to
perfection; the mine was complete, the train was laid, and
the garrison only waited till a sufficient number of the
enemy should have congregated in the loopholeil
building. The wished-for opportunity presented itself
on the 21ith August (Prince Albert's birthday).
A heavy fire was opened from the building, and it
was in consequence crowi:ed to excess. A favourable
moment was selected, the train was fired, upwards of one
(nearly two) hundred bodies were blown into the air, sr d
the garrison, sallying out at the same moment, not only
spiked the 21-pounder, which had so long annoyed them ,
and otherwise rendered it unserviceable, but they succeeded
in procuring what they most wanted—large supplies o

lon

grain and bullocks. Their provisions are now sufficient
to last them several weeks longer, and unless General
Ontram be the most incompetent official in India, their
relief is certain. The number of ablehodied Europeans
in Lucknow, including officers, is about 550; of these more
than one-fourth are on the sick list. There are besides
upwarde of two hundred women and children. Were it
not for these latter the garrison would have been able, on
the occasion of Havelock's previous advance, to sally out
and join him; but, of course, in their circumstances, the
idea was never entertained by them. I may here commu-
nicate a fact which has not appeared in any of the Indian
papers, but of which I have the most certain information.
The besieging force attempted to treat with the garrison.
It was first proposed that the latter should be allowed to
proceed, with their women end children, and retaining
their arms, unmolested to Cawnpore. To test the faith
of thin proposition, the garrison inquired whether the in-
surgents would first take the women and children ; and
having brought back a rt ceipt for them, signed by General
Havelock, would then offer the same terms to the male
portion of the garrison. To this the insurgents would
not assent ; but they transmitted to Calcutta a counter-
proposal to the effect that if the King of Oude were
released, the Lucknow garrison should be allowed to go
scot-free. What reply the Government gave to this pro-
posal lam unable to state. It ought to have been rejected,
as experience has proved that natives are deaf alike to all
ties, whether of gratitude or obligation.
A letter dated Allahabad, September (3, gives us
some authentic details of the force with which Gene.
ral Outram is advancing on Cawnpore :—" General
Outram's forces marched in two columns. The first,
of 683 men, left this yesterday (sth) at one
o'clock. The second, of 68(1 men, marched with the
general at ten o'clock last night. The advance
column it is intended should reach Cawnpore on the
10th moat, and the general on the 11th of September,
and if General Havelock has by that time managed
the crossing the whole force will at once move on to
Lucknow, and the place has every chance of being
relieved by the 15th or 16th, and, even allowing for
delay in the crossing, by the 20th. The rivers have
all fallen wonderfully, the Janina having gone down
thirty let t in a week ; this will help the crossing
greatly, and enable us to act on the enemy's flanks
advantageously on the march to Lucknow, which
could not be done at the time of the previous
.advance, owing to the whole country being under
water. We have information that the Lucknow garri-
son have provisions to last them until the 20th inst.
General Outram has taken some heavy guns drawn
by elephants." In another letter it is mentioned
that Mr. Colvin is prepared to aid a column advancing
on Delhi with camels and other carriage as they
approach Agra. At Meerut they have also collected
carriage to some extent. The sth and 00th are
armed with Enfield rifles. In another letter, dated
the 29th of August, writes from Allahabad :
"We have sent on 400 men this week to Cawnpore
by train (forty miles), and the sick and wounded men
of General Havelock's force are now on their way here,
and will come in the last forty miles by railway."
It appears from the above extracts that in addition
to the two columns of Outram's force of (183 added to
080, equal to 1,363, a detachment of 400 men had
preceded him, which would give a total reinforcement
of 1,703.

The following are extracts of letters from the Rev.
James Kennedy, dated Benares, Anguit. 22, and
Sept. 3, 1857
In the immediate neighbourhood of Benares there
ia no rising at present, though in a distant part
of the district a number of rebels are collected, whose
tniachief-doing however cannot extend far. The city
itself continues perfectly, astonishingly quiet, I was this
morning delivering the Saturday lecture to the Central
School, and everything was very peaceful. It is not to be
denied that there are many set on mischief, especially
of the Muasulman portion of the community. Indeed,
the more we know of this rising, the more we find it to
lie a desperate effort of the Mussulmans to drive us from
the country, and reinstate their old Government, though
they have very ski:fully got. the military Ilindoos into the
plot. It is said that our magistrate has, within a fortnight,
discovered as much treasonable correspondence as would
fill a carpet-bag. Several of the writers have been seized
and executed.

It is said, I fear too truly, that a large party of rebels
are marching from Oudo on Jaunpore, the district adjoin-
ing this. But the roads are so bud that they cannot have
heavy guns. They cannot possibly conic to Ilenares with•
out their movements being known beforehand, and we
have now an intrenchment, rather a fortress, which no
native army could take, and which is provisioned for six
months.

It is also reported that the rebels from Oude are
constantly passing in and out of Benares and Allah.
abad. This does not look well.

A letter from Buxar, dated August 25, says ;
I write this in hopes I may have some opportunity of
sending it from some station. A fleet of four steamers,
with their fiats, lelt Dinapore yesterday, destinatim un•
known. They consist of the iifirzapore and Nemesis, and
the C'aloutia and Krishna, with hot Majesty's ttOth, the
Keiadine, with Outram anti stag, and the fumes hems and
flat, which is to embark the cletaohment of the sth lasi.
iers at Buser. There are also two guns and artillerymen,
pip of the Diaspora battery—rattiee 1.11 imprudent move,