The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-17 00:00:00

THE PRESS, OCTOBER 17, 1857.

You are of course aware that Havelock's column was
fighting its way to assist the garrison of Lucknow. Have•
lock, however, could not manage it, owing to the frightful
sickness and mortality, arising from fatigue and exposure,
that prevailed among the men, and he was obliged to retire
on Cawnpore. When the enemy heard of their retiring
they followed them, but to show them that our troops
were not dispirited Havelock again met them, and gave
them another beating. In this affair the 78th Highlanders,
about 150 strong, were in advance, the Ist Madras Fusi.
tiers having been sent to the right. Our men were under
most galling fire, every shot carrying off some of them ;
they got the word to charge, and on they went like
tigers, patting 7,000 to flight and capturing two guns.
The general galloped up and paid them a well•merited
compliment; they then gave the general three cheers,
but he roared out, " Highlanders, don't cheer me, you
have done it all yourselves; I had nothing to do with
it." He then gave out an order, that if any person knew
who was the first man of the 78th in the enemy's batteries
to tell him, and he would recommend him for the Victoria
Cross.
- -

Another writer gives us full details of the
battle :

Cawnpore,August 18.
Our ninth action came off the day before yesterday, at
Bhitoor, when the enemy, principally sepoys of the :14th,
4•Lnd, and 38th Regiments—numbering between 3,000 and
4,000, with two guns—had taken up a position in front of
lihitoor, or rather a village to the west of it. Their position
was naturally one of the strongest that could be,but instead
of making a defence in rear, they mode it in front of the
bridge.
Our right was towards the Ganges, and our left near a
deep nullah, to the left of which were houses and high
ground. The space in front was tolerably clear, and the
enemy occupied some topes and gardens, and a village on
their left. The road took a sudden turn to the left, where
the enemy's guns were placed.
The rebels opened their guns on us, and some of their
cavalry and infantry circled round our left; we sent a few
shots among them, and they bolted. Our force then de-
ployed into line, and on getting within 000 yards, com-
menced to play on the topes occupied by the Pandies. A
heavy fire was kept up by us for some time with our guns.
The sharp crack of the musket and soft smooth sound of
the Enfield rifle now began. On our men went, and drove
the enemy out of the gardens, topes, and villages to the
right. A few determined Jacks made a brave stand near
the bridge, and others of them were bayoneted in the
village. Our fellows were too tired to chase them, the day
being very hot, and we bad a march of about twelve miles.
The most extraordinary thing is that the enemy did not
defend the rising ground and houses on the south side of
the ravine.
They went right away and we after them as fast as the
guns could go ; much time of course was lost in crossing the
bridge, and we saw little more of them. The road was
lined with houses and gardens, surrounded with mud em•
bankments, and suddenly an attack was made from behind
these mud walls on our baggage. A little of it was lost,
and several of the camp followers killed. Some sowars
also rushed down at some stragvlers behind the rear
guard, and cut up four or five of them. The coolies of
course bolted, and the blackguard villagers came and
plundered the property. There was not much lost, but
some officers lost all they took with them. We bivouacked
during the night to the south of the city. As it was found
impossible to take the heavy guns on to Sheorajpore, we
returned here yesterday, having lost, I believe, about four.
teen killed and thirty wounded. We took the two guns,
and must have killed a large number of the enemy, but it
was impossible to tell the number of their killed, as the
nullah was quite close to them, and I know from expe-
rience they make use of all dodges, the water among the
rest, to conceal their dead.
We have news of the Lucknow people up to the 14th
inst. They are still holding out bravely, and the enemy's
fire said to be much slackened.

Many of the letters published contain statements
of interest and importance. There appears to have
been a great delay in forwarding the 90th and sth
Regiments to Allahabad. These regiments were
detained at Mirzapore for a whole week waiting
orders. A letter from Benares, dated 19th August,
says :

What time has been lost, and to what unnecessary
expense the Government is put to, by the unaccountable
delay et several stations of the several vessels. The
steamers should reach this within a period ranging from
fifteen to twenty da's. The steamer Lady Thackwell, with
3fullah, left Calcutta on the !oth July, and reached this on
the 16th instant. The Hoorungotta left on the 9th ult.,
and reached this on the lOth instant. The Megna took
twenty-five days to reach this. The Benaree, with Beta in
tow, and 1190 of the sth Fusiliers on board, reached this
on the evening of the I•2th instant, and hastened off the
next morning at seven o'clock. They have been detained
at Mirzapore ever since to await orders from Sir J. Out-
ram ; a whole week thus lost. The steamer might have
been at Cawnpore almost by this time. How are the
troops expected out to be sent np•country if the steamers
are kept up here in this absurd manner? If it was in.
tended that the Calcutta and Mirzapore were to go up
the Gogra, why could they not have been stopped at Dina-
pore till General Outram arrived? There is a sad want
of a goad directing head in this part of the world. Each
senior officer is supreme in his own little station, and just
does what seems wise in his own eyes.

Another letter from Allabahad states that the
rebels were fortifying themselves on the banks of the

river :