The Press.
London, England, 1858-01-30 00:00:00

THE PRESS, JANUARY 30,1858.

After this they lost their w,y, and got into the
the
Pilkooshah Park, then occupied in force
enemy, but, discovering their mistake in time, very
happily got into the right road and pushed on for
Alutnbagh. Here the heart of Kunoujee Lall failed
him—
Kunoujee Lall now begged I would not press him to
take me into Alumbagh, as he did not know the way in, and
the enemy were strongly posted around the place. I was
tired, and in pm the shoes, and would therefore
have preferred g ain oinfgro into Alumbagh, bat as the guide
feared attempting it, I desired him to go on to the camp
of the commander-in-chief, which he said was near
Bunnee (a village eighteen miles from Lucknow) upon
the Cawnpore road. The moon had risen by this time,
and we could see well ahead.
By three o'clock we arrived at a grove of mango trees,
situated on a plain, in which a man was singing at the top
of his voice. I thought he was a villager, but he got
alarmed on hearing us approach, and astonished us, too,
by calling out a guard of twenty-five sepoys, all of whom
asked questions. Kunoujee Lall here lost heart for the
first time, and threw away the letter intrusted to him for
Sir Colin Campbell. I kept mine safe in my turban. We
satisfied the guard that we were poor men travelling to
Untroula, a village two miles this side of the chiefs camp,
to inform a friend of the death of his brother by a shot
from the British intrenchment at Lucknow, and they told
us the road. They appeared to be greatly relieved on dis-
covering that it was not their terrible foe, who was only a
few miles in advance of them. We went in the direction
indicated by them, and after walking for half an hour we
got into a jheel or swamp, which are numerous and large
in Oude. We had to wade through it for two hours up to
our waists in water, and through weeds, for before we
found ont that we were in a jheel we had gone too far
to recede. I was nearly exhausted on getting out of
the water, having made great exertions to force our way
through the weeds, and to prevent the colour being washed
off my face. It was nearly gone from my hands.
I now rested for fifteen minutes, despite the remon-
strances of the guide, and went forward, passing between
two pickets of the enemy who had no sentries thrown
out. It was nearly four o'clock in the morning when
stopped at the corner of a tope or grove of trees to
sleep for an hour, which Kunoujee Lall entreated I
would not do, but I thought he overrated the danger,
and, lying down, I told him to see if there was any one
in the grove who would tell him where we then were.
We had not gone far when I heard the English
challenge "who comes there," with a native accent. We
had reached a British cavalry outpost; my eyes filled
with joyful tears, and I shook the Sikh officer in charge
of the picket heartily by the hand. The old soldier
was as pleased as myself when be heard from whence I
had come, and he was good enough to send his men to
the camp of the advance.guard. An officer of her Ma-
jesty's 9th Lancers, who was visiting his pickets, met
me on the way, and took me to his tent, where I got
dry stockings and trousers, and what I mach needed—
a glass of brandy, a liquor I had not tasted for nearly
two months.
Cavanagh was soon taken to the commander-in-
chief, and safely delivered that intrusted to him.
In conclusion, Cavanagh says that he undertook the
enterprise from a sense of duty, but admits that
some little hope of winning " her Most Gracious
Majesty's Cross" animated him on the occasion, and
that he received the warmest thanks of Sir Colin, yet
the Victoria Cross "would make him a prouder and
a happier man."

band playing, return—now watch the mistake—to a camp
one mile from Cawnpore. Mark the result. Next day,
just as the twelve o'clock gun from the fort at Cawnpore
has sounded, a rattle of round shot announces that the
enemy, having been allowed to cross the canal, are going
to attack us.
We showed our weakness yesterday in employing our
whole force against what appears to have been but a part of
theirs, and hence their pluck. You will read the account
of this day's fighting with astonishment, my dear father,
for it tells how English troops, with their trophies and their
mottoes, and their far-famed bravery, were repulsed, and
lost their camp, their baggage, and their position, by the
scorned and degraded natives of India.
It was a sad business, and I dare say you will hear but
a very modified account of it, so I will describe it impar-
tially. Seeing that we were attacked, the 82nd moved on
in front, and we were sent (i. e., two companies) through a
village on our right flank, and took up a position on the
Nawalegunge road. After waiting here for some consider-
able period it was reported that the 82nd and 88th were
retiring. So, marching down the road, we found ourselves,
in about twenty minutes, on the other side of Cawnpore.
Wheeling to the right, we attempted to join the main body,
and then what confusbn greeted us !—flying camels, else
an'
hackeries, servants, horses, and musket balls ;
before us overturned tents, pillaged officers, baggage, and
men's kits. Well, we made a stand, and my company was
detached from the others, and had to take up a position
on the top of a large mound of earth, where we overlooked
the whole field of action. It was a desolate scene, and
one to make us feel uncomfortable. Again the order to
retire was given, and silently through the deserted bazaar
of Cawnpore the " beaten Feringees " made their way to
the fort. I was lucky ; all my baggage, with the exception
of blankets, shell-jacket, &c., was saved through the fidelity
of a Madras servant. My horse, too, is safe. I found
him at night in the intrenched camp. And now I must
give you an account of the third day, the most disastrous
for us all.
The sepoys attacked us about ten o'clock. All through
the Bazaar and Canes we kept fighting till about two ; then
we advanced, and sustained such a storm of grape, mus-
ketry, and shells as some of the oldest among us had rarely
or never beheld. My company was in front about four
p.m., and repulsed the enemy, rescuing a gun in great
style. About five my captain took off one subdivision, my
fellow subaltern a section, and I was left with about
twenty men at a place where I certainly never wish to be
again. The men were falling fast, when suddenly from a
road on the left a rash of etnd men, Rifles, and other
corps came down, and the whole, in spite of the attempts
of the officers to rally them, rushed pell-mell into the
fort. The firing and fighting was kept up until dusk, when
we retired from the town, leaving the mess plate of ten
regiments and the *image of nearly all those officers who
were murdered in their hands.

The Secret Committee of the Best India House
received on Sunday the following telegrams from
Bombay and Calcutta via Trieste :

THE SECRET COMMITTEE.
CALCUTTA, Dec. 24, 1851.
The operations of the commanderin•chief are to be
directed in the first instance against Fattyglnir. One
brigade will be sent to Akberpore, Etawah, and Mynporee.
The main column will move against Futtygbur.
The districts under Mr. Bapte are reported to be

TO THY

threatened.
The Delhi column, under Colonel Seaton, reached
Allyghnr on the 12th December.
The 7th Hussars are ordered from Bensres to Allahabad.
The commander-in-chief was still at Cawnpore on the
19th inst. The rebels on the Jaunpore frontier have
broken up into several parties, only five or six thousand
men remaining in their old position.
Brigadier-Gecersl Franks is at Jaunpore; he has been
reinforced with artillery and Europeans.
The Azimghur frontier is threatened by rebels, who
have buten possession of several villages. Brigadier-
Gcneral Franks is to march immediately to Azimghur, to
make a demonstration in that quarter. An attempt made
by sepoys to cross the Gogra into the Azimghur district
was defeated by our police and the neighbouring villagers.
Brigadier Franks is not to enter Oude, bat to confine him-
self for the present to defence of the frontier.
A large force of rebels and mutinous sepoys is said to
have assembled at Selimpore, in Gorruckpere, near the
border of the Chuprab district.
A part of the women and children of the Lncknow
garrison has left Allahabad fur Calcutta. The remainder
will soon follow.
Sir James Outran still remains with his brigade at
Alumbsgh. The enemy in force are opposed to him,
but they have not ventured to attack his position, although
when the latest accounts, dated 17th December, left, an
attack was expected.
A. Ghoorka column of about 9,600 men, under Maha-
rajah Jung Bahadoor, has left Nepaul for ser►ice in the
British territories. It was to have reached Segowly on the
22nd instant. Colonel Macgregor, from Moorshedabad,
wilt accompany the force as military commissioner, with
the rank of brigadier-general. The column will proceed
in the first instance to Gorruckpore.
Colonel Durand reports that the Shah Ladah and the
remnants of his force were taken prisoners in the
Mokundra Pass by the troops of the Bok Chief and the
Bheels. The whole country has now turned on the Wil
Tijutees (?). The capture of the Shah Lads,h requires
confirmation.
There has been an emente at Kotah. The troops inter-
cepted a letter from the Rojah to Colonel Lawrence,
inviting him send a force to Kotah. They attacked the

103

Holkar's regular cavalry and infantry were quietly dis-
armed on the Litb of December, in the presence of the
Mhow column. The Durbar have promised to punish the
guilty .
Sir Robert Hamilton assumed charge of the agency on
the 16th of December. From Madras another column will
more via Nagpore on Jubbulpore, and may, in case of
necessity, be brought onwards as far as Saugor. It is hoped
that this force will restore tranquillity in the Bangor and
Nerbudda territories.
A telegram from Delhi reports the defeat on the 16th of
November of the Joudpare Legion, numbering 6,000 men,
by Showers's moveable column. All their guns, six in
number, were captured. Colonel Gerard was killed.
Mr. Yale, Commissioner of Rh agulpore, with 100 soldiers
and sailors, surprised and defeated the I 1 th Irregular
Cavalry near Purneah, on the 11th of December, killing
six, and wounding several others.
Head-quart' rs of her Majesty's 19th Regiment arrived
on the 17th of December.
G. F. EDMONSTONE, Secretary to the
Government of India.

R►VEN.
4, Trieste, Jan. 23, 2.90 p.m.

TO THE SECRET

EAST INDIA HOUSE,

The rebels, defeated atCaWnpo re , have fled to Bithoor
and Calpee. Thirty-eight guns have been taken.
Colonel Seaton again defeated the rebels at Ptittiala,
near Futtyghur, with great loss, on December 17th. He
took eleven guns. The loss on our side was trifling.
A force under Captain Woolly, on December 7th, crossed
the Soonair River, and routed the rebels.
On the 10th of December the same force captured the
camp of Bahadoor Singh, and on December 14th several
leaders were taken and hanged.
Insurgents at Kotah are in great force, and are said to
have dethroned the Rajah.
The troops of the Rana of Ondeypore have mutinied.
Executions among Holkar's mutinous troops are in

progress.
Sir Hugh Rose marches on the Ist January to the relief
- -

of Saugor-.
The Punjaub and Scinde quiet.
The Sholapoor Rajah is reported to have commenced
plundering the adjacent country.
Some small affairs have occurred with the Bheels at
Peinth.
A rising in the Konkan, below the Phonda Ghent, was
reported, but the insurgents dispersed at the approach of
a small detachment from Sawant Wane.
H. L. ANDERSON, Secretary to Government. I
Bombay Castle, Dec. 29, 1837.
RAVEN.
Trieste, Jan. 23, 2.30 p.m.