The Press.
London, England, 1857-08-08 00:00:00

THE PRESS, AUGUST 8, 1857.

THE REBELLION IN INDIA.

THE Indian despatches and private letters published
last Saturday and during the week at length give us
some details upon the actual state of India. Delhi
was not captured up to the 16th. The rebellion is
universal throughout Bengal, the country is infested
with banditti, the telegraphs are everywhere cut, and
travelling by road or river is no longer secure. " All the
natives," writes a correspondent limn Neemuch, "have
turned against us. Everywhere they are disrespectful,
and, under the impression that our government is at
an end, offer up daily prayers for the success of the
King of Delhi." A proclamation is in circulation at
Nagpore and all over India drawing notice t) a pro-
phecy that the reign of the Feringhees in the East
would cease on the 23rd of June, 1857—exactly 100
years from the battle of Plassey—and the followers
of Mahomet once more gain the suprem icy. Mean-
wl•ile the movement has commenced to show it-
self among the native princes, to extend rapidly
among their contingent forces, and an outbreak is
hourly expected at Madras according to the latest
dates. The troops of the Rajah of Gwalior are in
open revolt, and, though the Rajah protected the
Europeans, he remained with his army. In
the Nizam's dominions the contingent bad mu-
tined at Aurungabad ; an emeute occurred at
Hyderabad; and the conduct of Scindia, the
Mahratta chief, was watched with no little apprehen-
sion. The most serious mutiny of the many which
have occurred is that of the Sikhs and Irregulars at
Benares, and of the Bhurtpore levies and Malwa
contingent. This is a subject for grave reflection,
for these troops were in no way affected by the
cartridge question. " The defection of the Gwali or
contingent," writes a correspondent of the Daily
News, "is an incalculable evil ; and authentic
private advices intimate that in the Hyderabad
country there are signs and portents sufficient, in
conjunction with the increasing disaffection of the
neighbouring—lately annexed—State of Nagpore, to
create the most lively alarm. The Regular Madras
Cavalry belonging to the Secunderabad force are
strongly suspected of being in league with their
co-religionists in the city of Hyderabad, who are
openly proclaiming a holy war and a crown of mar-
tvrdorn to all who fall in assisting to extirpate the
English infidels root and branch. The Resident
himself, on parade, informed the said 7th Light
Cavalry of the rumours concerning their fidelity,
judiciously or otherwise. He is also reported to have
had two very stormy interviews with the pres,,nt
Nizam on the subject of the instant restoration to
his Highness of the districts ceded t., Lord Dal-
housie in 1853. The Nizam is urged, without
ceasing, to take advantage of our present difficulties
by the principal Begum (or lady) of the palace, who
also exercised a malign influence to our prejudice
over his father. I believe that the Prime Minister,
Salah Jung, a young man of twenty-four years of age,
has sense enough to side with us as long as pos-
sible ; but he is a Sheeah, and the Nizam and the
most powerful nobles of his court Sunies. This
difference of religion, so long as we remained lords
paramount, is not of much consequence ; but it
signifies much in our present position. We have
some European artillery in Secunderabad, and be-
tween 500 and 600 English infantry. In addition,
including the contingent, and presupposing the
fidelity of our native hoops in that dangeions
quarter, we can muster about 9,000 men of all arms.
Including 15,000 Arabs and some 10,000 Rohillas—
i.e., Nizam could hurl against ua at
least 50,000 men. And will he not, if he thinks
he has a chance?" "The empire," remarks the
Bombay Times in summing up its horrible list of
mutinies and massacres, "is passing through a
most terrible crisis in its history, and we are looking
with much anxiety for reinforcemants.of European
troops."

The following account is the most complete we
have seen of the operations of the trovs under the
command of General Barnard :

Camp, Ullehpore, June 6.
Here we are, ten miles from Delhi, waiting for the
siege train and the force from Meerut, both of which we
expect today. We should have been at Delhi before now,
as we did not intend waiting for the train, but the Meerut
force, instead of joining us at Race. where there is
bridge of boats over the Juninn, went to Ghazeeoodeen
Nuggur, and dill a little fighting on their own account, and
they have now to join us across a very heavy country,
getting over the river as they best can.
A great deal has been said about the delay that has
occurred, but it was unavoidable. Troops cannot march
in the hot weather without tents and carriage. Had

767

that been done the whole force would have been hors de
combat, and now Sir H. Barnard has brought up all his
men tresh, and, whst is more, there is no ai.:kness in
camp. The European regiments from the hill 4 suffered
from cholera coining down, and while at Utah illah and
Kurnaid, but since leaving the latter place sickness has
entirely disappeared, and the whole force is in excellent
health, glorioas spirits, and mad to be at the mutineers,
who will get no mercy. We are all so exasperate lat
what we have heard and discovered within the last week
that the men are half inclined to kill every native they
come RernSS.

Give full stretch to your imagination—think of every
thing that is cruel, inhuman, infernal, and you cannot
then conceive anything so diabolical as what these
demons in human form have perpetrated. On the 2nd we
marched from Paniput to ltaee. At this place some of
the poor fugitives from Delhi met with the most barba•
roue treatment. We burnt four villages on the road and
hung seven Lumberdars. One of these wretches had part
of a lady's dress for his kummerhund—he had seized a
lady from Delhi, stripped her, violated, and then murdered
her in the moat cruel manner, first cutting oil her breasts.
He said be was sorry he had not an opportunity of doing
more than he had done. Another lady who had hid
herself under a bridge was treated in the same manner
then hacked to pieces, ond her mangled remains thrown
out on the plain. We found a pair of boots, evidently
those of a girl six or seven years of age, with the feet in
them. They had been cut off just above the ankle. We
hung many other villains and burnt the villages as we came
along. A man who witnessed the last massacre in Delhi,
where he hail gone as a spy gives a horrid account of it,
stating that little children were thrown up in the air and.
caught on the points of bayonets, or cut at as they were
falling with tulwsrs.
The siege train came in this morning, making a double
march, with six companies of the 2nd Fusiliers. The latter
have made eight marches in five days, and are in high
health and spirits. To-morrow morning we shall be
joined by Brigadier Wilson's force.
An order was sent just now to the European regiments
that weakly and footsore men were to remain behind with
the treasure, in case we have to move out to attack. In the
15th and Ist Fusiliers not one weakly man could be found,
and hardly any in the 2nd Fusiliers, after their long
marches.

Camp, Ullehpore, June 7.
We had no skirmishing yesterday, and this morning the
Meerut troops arrived in admirable health and spirits—
strength as follows :
Four guns of Mojor Tombs's troop of Horse Artillery.
Major Scott's Horse Field Battery.
Two IN-pounders, under Lieutenant Light.
Two squadrons of the Carahineers.
Six companies'of the 60th Rifles.
400 of the Sirmore battalion (Ghoorkas).
Half a ressalah of the 4th Irregular Horse.
The 60th Rifles came in after their 164nile march,
singing in chorus, and at a swinging pace.
Colonel Hogge was severely wounded while in pursuit
of the mutinous Sappers and Miners at Meerut, and had to
be left there.

_
Tomorrow we march to the cantonments at Delhi. We
shall have to dislodge the mutineers from one or two posts,
eu mule, but do not anticipate much difficulty. We shall
drive in their advanced posts at daylight, and then move
on to cantonments.

I believe they have 18 guns outside, which ought to be
ours before breakfast time.

Delhi Cantonments, June 8.

We marched at two a.m. from U!lehpor., knowing that
there were 12 guns in a strong position on our road, about
three miles off, and when we got near it round shot came
flying into us. We got off the road, extended our men, and
brought up our artillery to reply to them, which they did,
but their guns were so well served that they did fearful
work .

I was near poor Colonel Chester when a round shot took
him about his left hip, knocking over him and his horse,
also knocking over another officer and two horses—poor
Chester's blood came all over my horse, but round shot and
grape were pouring into us, and we could not think of
others. This was behind a hill. At last there was nothing
for it but to charge and /take the guns, which her Majesty's
iktli did well, and we rushed on and attacked them on all
sides. Then was experienced a hail of musketry ringing
past our heads. However at last the position and guns
were our own, and the enemy in flight, and we then pushed
on to Delhi, and had to attack and take more guns, and
again I had many escapes ; however, it was daylight, and
we did things better and here we are.
We took the heights and guns on them, and now are
encamped on the old Delhi parade ground, but though ono
o'clock no tents up yet. We sre occupying any buildings
we can find. I am with the general and staff in an old
hospital, till tents come up. The mutineers, in their first
position, had the commander in chief's headquarter tents,
which they had got out of the magazine. I nnes of the 60th
is with us, and all right—also Becher, young Briggs, Nor-
man, and the two Greatheds. Ido not know yet. who are
killed and wounded. They are blazing big guns from the
city now, but cannot reach us.

General Barnard, in his despatch of the Bth of
June, gives the following account of this first engage-
ment with the mutineers :

Delhi Cantonments, June 8.
Sir,—The forces under my command marched from
Allipoor at one a.m. this morning, and on reaching Baidlee
Ser iee found the enemy strongly posted in au intrenchcd
position, which I have the satisfaction to inform you we
carried after an engagement of about three•yuarters of an
hour, and proceeded to take up our present position, which
we found to be over disputed ground the whole way, and
finally a well•defended line of defence from the signal

768

tower to the Hindoo Rio house. Our troops behaved with
the greatest gallantry and persevering endurance, and
after facing very determined resistance, drove the enemy
within the walls of Delhi. All this was accomplished by
nine o'clock in the morning. Our loss has been compara•
tively trifling, only one officer being killed ; but I regret to
say that officer is Colonel Chester, adjutant•general to the
army, who was esteemed by all for every qualification that
could adorn the soldier. I have not been able to ascertain
the particulars of our loss, or capture of guns, but I fear I
cannot estimate the former under from forty to fifty
killed, the number of guns taken to be about sixteen or

eighteen.
I hope to send you a fuller detail to-morrow. Our siege
train is up, and 1 hope to open on the town without a
moment's delay.—l have, &c.,
H. BARNARD,
!fejor•General Commanding Field Force.
To the Commander-in-Chief
Four days later news bring us down to the 12th
June. Delhi was then being bombarded :