The Press.
London, England, 1857-12-05 00:00:00

THE PRESS, DECEMBER 5, 1857.

The 75th (her Majesty's) were ordered to advance and
storm the town, but they refused to do so, though there
was nothing to prevent them charging through the streets.
I never witnessed anything more disgraceful to the army,
and never believed that I should see British troops refuse
to advance against the murderers of their wives and cbil.
dren, as well as enemies to the Government. At last they
wore obliged to call upon the cavalry, and away we dashed
with our squadron of the 9th, under Captain Sarel, who
charged through the streets from one end of the town to the
other. We took their carts and ammunition, which were
hurrying away at the other side of the town, but we were
unable to cut up many of them, as they bolted into the
shops, dtc., on either side, whence they were able to fire
upon us as we charged by without danger to themselves.
The 75th, under Captain Gordon, still would not even
follow us down the streets : had they done so they might
have bayoneted numbers of the enemy, who were so
astonished at the sudden appearance of our cavalry in the
centre of the town that they were flying in all directions.
The town was taken by cavalry and artillery before an
infantryman set foot in it.

Two days after Colonel Greatbed came upon the
fort of Malaghur, abandoned by the enemy. It was
blown up. The affair is remarkable only inasmuch
as it cost the life of Lieutenant Home, of the Engi-
neerr, the gallant officer who was employed with
Lieutenant Salkeld in blowing open the Cashmere
Gate of Delhi. On the sth the column reached
Allyghur, which it captured after a severe resistance
on the part of the rebels.

At this spot intelligence reached. Colonel Gruthed
that the Gwalior rebels had resolved to attack Agra.
He pushed on at once on the oth of October, seized
Akburabad, and the next day reach Hatras, half
way between Allyghur and Agra. The column
reached the Agra cantonments on the 14th weary
with their exertions, but they were scarcely encamped
when they were attacked by some 5,000 of the enemy.
Some fanatics rushed in and murdered an officer,
and one of our guns was actually taken before the
men bad recovered from their surprise. The battle
was severe and bloody. The Sikhs fought with their
usual spirit; the 9th Lancers charged in their shirt
sleeves. After two hours' hard fighting the enemy
wero driven back, routed, and pursued for miles.
They lost 500 men, all their guns, baggage, and
ammunition, and only escaped by getting across the
river Khara on their road back to Dholpore. Colonel
Greathed having dispersed the Delhi fugitives,
driven back the Indore invaders, and saved Agra, he
turned his attention to the relief of Lucknow. On
the 19th he had marched twenty-two miles in a
north-easterly direction to Mynpoorie. After this
we have no certain information of his movements,
but it was expected that by the end of the month he
might be in a position to render Havelock some
assistance. "No words of ours," writes a contem-
porary, " are necessary to insure due honour being
paid to the o cer who has accomplished this extra-
ordinary march. Through a country swarming with
enemies the little column of Colonel Greathed has
penetrated, marching almost incessantly for sixteen
days, fighting two battles—not to speak of smaller
actions—and destroying several thousands of the
enemy. Such achievements speak for themselves."
The statement which has gone the round of the
papers that Captain Hodson shot the two Delhi
Princes he captured with his own hand appears to
be confirmed. A letter from Delhi states that Hod-
son captured those Princes under the following cir-
cumstances :

He started w ith Maclowell (second only to his com-
manding officer in all soldierly qualities) and 1(M) men for
the Tomb of the Emperor Humayoon, where the rascals
were concealed. He took measures to cut off all access to
or egress from the building, and then sent in one of the
illegitimate scions of Royalty (who had saved his own life
only by turning King's evidence) and the one-eyed moulvie,
Nub Ali (one of the lamented Sir Henry Lawrence's
most trusted emissaries) to bring out the Princes.
After more than two hours of anxiety, strategy, and no
small practice of the arts of offence and defence, they ap-
peared, and were immediately sent off in a " bhylie," under
a small guard, towards the city.

At a short distance from the walls the " bbylie " was
stopped by the rabble, who meditated a rescue :

This was no time for hesitation or delay. Hodson
dashed at once into the midst—in few but energetic words
explained " that these were the men who had not only
rebelled against the Government, but had ordered and
witnessed the massacre and shameful exposure Gf innocent
women and children; and that thus therefore the Govern•
meat punished such traitors, taken in open resistance,"
shooting them down at the word. The effect was in-
stantaneous and wonderful ! Not another hand was raised,
not another weapon levelled, and the Mahomedans of the
trcop and some influential moulvies among the bystanders
exclaimed, as if by simultaneous impulse, " Well, and
rightly done ! Their crime has met with its just penalty.
These were they who gave the signal for the death of
helpless women and children and outraged decency by the
exposure of their persons, and now a righteous judgment
has fallen on them. God is great ! " The remaining
weapons were then laid down, and the crowd slowly and
quietly dispersed.

The old King is to be tried by a military commission,
but it is thought bis lift 3 will be spared. The prin-
cipal " suspected " amongst the Mahomedan gentry