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

THE PRESS, OCTOBER 17, 1857.

more in their rear, and the regiment of Ferozepore closed
the column.

My troops, defiling at a steady pace, soon changed
direction and began to circle round the enemy's left.
They were shrouded for some time by clumps of mango;
but as soon as the enemy comprehended the object of
their march, an evident sensation was created in his lines.
He pushed forward on his lett a large body of horse, and
opened a fire of shot and shell from the whole of his
guns. lint he was evidently disconcerted by our advance
on his flank, and anxious for his cotnmunication with
Cawnpore. My troops continued their progress until
his left was wholly opened to our attack, and then formed
line and advanced in direct echelon of regiments and
batteries from the right. The Fusiliers again covered the
advance extended to riflemen.

The opportunity had arrived for which I have long
anxiously waited, of developing the prowess of the 78th
Ilighlanders. Three guns cf the enemy were strongly
posted behind a lofty hamlet, well intrenched. I directed
this regiment to advance, and never have I witnessed
conduct more admirable. They were led by Colonel
Hamilton, and followed him with surprising steadiness
and gallantry under a heavy fire. As they approached
the village they cheered and charged with the bayonet,
the pipes sounding the pibroch. Need I add that the
enemy fled, the village was taken, and the guns captured.
On the left Major Stirling, with the 64th, was equally
successful against another village, and took three guns.
The enemy's infantry appeared to be everywhere in
full retreat, and I had ordered the fire to cease, when a
reserve 24-pounder was opened on the Cawnpore road
which caused considerable loss to my force; and under
cover of Its fire, two large bodies of cavalry at the same
time riding insolently over the plain, the infantry once
more rallied. The beating of their large drums, and
numerous mounted officers in front, announced the
definitive struggle of the " Nana " for his usurped do-
minion.

I had previously ordered my volunteer cavalry to ad-
venture a charge on a more advanced part of the enemy's
horse, and 1 have the satisfaction to report that they con-
ducted themselves most creditably. One of their number,
Mr. Carr, was killed in the charge.
But the final crisis approached. My artillery cattle,
wearied by the length of the march, could not bring up
the guns to my assistance; and the Ist Madras Fusi•
liers, 64th, 84th, and 78th detachments, formed in line,
were exposed to a heavy fire from the '24.pounder on the
road. 1 was resolved this state of things should not last,
so calling upon my men. who were lying down in line, to
leap on their feet, I directed another steady advance. It
was irresistible. The enemy sent round shot into our
ranks until we were within three hundred yards, and then
poured in grape with such prevision and determination as
I have seldom witnessed. But the 64th, led by Major
Stirling and my aide-decamp, who had placed himself in
their front, were not to be denied. Their rear showed the
ground strewed with wounded; but on they steadily and
silently came, then with a cheer charged, and captured the
unwieldy trophy of their valour.
The enemy lost all heart, and after a hurried fire of
musketry gave way in total rout. Four of my guns came
up and completed their discomfiture by a heavy can-
nonade; and as it grew dark, the roofless barracks of
our artillery were dimly descried in advance, and it was
evident that Cawnpore was once more in our possession.
The points of this victory I shall have afterwards to
describe. The troops had been thirteen hours in their
bivouac when a tremendous explosion shook the earth.
" Nana Sahib," in full retreat to Bhitoor, had blown up
the Cawnpore magazine.
The first movements of the Mahratta indicated a deter-
mination to defend himself desperately. Reports from
the front assured us that he had assembled 5,000 men,
and placed forty-five guns in position for the defence
of his stronghold ; but his followers have since despaired,
and I have taken possession of Bhitoor without a shot.

The last despatch published details of the battle
of Unto) on the 19th of July :
Camp, Ruseerut Gunge, July 29, 18457.
( Extract.)
moved forward from the strong position of Munghowar
on the 19th instant, and soon became engaged with the
enemy near the town of Unao.

It is necessary to describe the enemy's position. His
right was protected by a swamp which could neither be
forced nor turned ; his advance was drawn up in a garden
inclostire, which in this warlike district had purposely or
accidentally assumed the form of a bastion. The restof his
force was posted in and behind a village, the houses of
which were loopholed. The passage between the village
and the large town of Unao is narrow. The town itself
extended three-quarters of a mile to our right. The flooded
state of the county precluded the possibility of turning in
this direction. The swamp shut us on the left. Thus an
attack in front became unavoidable.
It was commenced by the 7Fith Highlanders and Ist
Fusiliers with two guns, and soon became exceedingly
warm. The enemy were driven out of the bastioned inclo-
sure, but when our troops approached the village a destruc-
tive fire was opened upon them from the loopholed houses.
It became necessary to bring up the 64th, under Colonel
Wilson, K.H. Here some daring feats of bravery were
performed ; Private Patrick Cavanagh, 64th, was cut lite.
rally in pieces by the enemy, whilst setting an example of
distinguished gallantry. Had lie lived, I should have
deemed him worthy of the Victoria Cross. It could never
have glittered on a more gallant breast.
Lieutenant liogle, 'Nth Highlanders, in an attempt
to penetrate into a house filled with desperate fanatics of
the Mussulman faith, was badly wounded. The village
was set on fire. Still its defenders resisted obstinately.
Finally, the guns were captured, and the whole force was
enabled to debouch by the narrow passage between the
village and the town of Unao, and formed in line. It

found the enemy rallied and re-formed in great force.
Infantry guns and cavalry were drawn up in line on the
plain. They were attacked in direct echelon of detach.
meats and batteries, their guns taken, and the infantry
and horse put to flight. Dunng the whole of the action,
a large detachment of the troops of Nana Sahib threatened
our left flank.

The troops halted three hours, and then moved on
towards lluseerut Gunge. It is a walled town with wet
ditches. The gate is defended by a round tower, on and
near which four pieces of cannon were mounted, the adja-
cent building being l3opholed and otherwise strengthened.
In rear of the town is a broad and deep inundation,
crossed by a narrow chaussee and bridge. The guns
pushed on in admirable order, supported by the Ist Fusi.
Tiers skirmishing, and 78th Highlanders and 64th Regi.
went in line.

The enemy's cannonade was well sustained ; never-
theless our force continued to gain ground. The 64th
were then directed to turn the town by our left, and pene-
trate between it and the swamp, thus cutting off the
enemy from the chaussee and bridge. Thu Fusiliers and
the Highlanders precipitated themselves on the earth.
works, broke through the intrenchment, and captured the
town.

The whole of the guns of sth Company of 7th Bat.
talion Artillery were taken by us, with nearly all its am-
munition. It had come from Fyzabad and Lucknow.
The ground on both sides of the road at Unao was so
flooded that it was imposible for cavalry to act. My
volunteer horse were therefore reduced to inactivity,
though most anxious to engage.
The loss of the enemy at Unao is estimated by
native report at 1,500 killed and wounded. It might, in
truth, amount to 500. It was lighter at Puseerut Crimp,
in consequence of the mistake already noticed.
In these two combats, nineteen guns were captured
from the enemy.
Despatches from Major Eyre, detailing his gallant
advance from Blues to the relief of Anal], will be
read with interest. The news of the Dinapore
disaster reached him at Shawpore on 314 July.
He rushed on at once, without losing a moment :
Arriving at Goojerajgunge by nightfall, I was delighted
to find the bridge entire; where we bivouacked for the
night, and at daybreak next morning resumed our march,
but had only proceeded about a mile beyond Goojeraj.
gunge when we discovered the enemy in great force in
possession of the woods to our front and flank. The road
by which we had to reach the wood in our front was
bounded by inundated paddy•fields on either side. I
halted to observe the best course to pursue, and finding
that the enemy were weakening their front to take us on
both flanks, I boldly pushed forward, throwing out skir•
mishers in every direction. The Enfield rifles kept our
foes at a distance, and we succeeded in forcing the wood,
beyond which, as far as Beebeegunge, it lay across an open
swamp, which greatly befriended us. Meanwhile, the
baffled enemy were observed hurrying round to oppose us
at Beebeegunge, which is situated on the opposite side of
a bridge by which we had hoped to cross the river. There
I again halted to refresh the troops and to reconnoitre.
Finding the bridge had been destroyed, extensive earthen
breastworks raised on the other side, flanking the bridge,
and the mutinous regiments in force occupying the houses
in the village, I determined on making a detour to the
right as far as the railway earthworks, about a mile off. I
masked this movement for a time by the fire of my guns,
but no sooner did the enemy discover our purpose than
they hurried with their entire strength to intercept us at a
wood which it was necessary for us to ass;p a portion of
them followed us up in the rear, and by the time we
reached the wood we found quite as much on our hands
as we could manage.
They mustered some 2,000 to 2,500 strong in sepoys
alone, besides Rajah Koer Singh's irregular forces, of whom,
however, we made little account. The Rajah was appa-
rently present in person, and for upwards of an hour we
were compelled to act solely on the defensive. The sepoys,
apparently emboldened by their recent success beyond
Arrah, advanced to the assault with a vigour quite unex-
pected, and twice, with their bugles sounding first the
" assembly," then the " advance " and the " double,"
made determined rushes on the guns, but were on both
occasions repulsed with showers of grape. Meanwhile
Captain L'Estrange, with the gallant sth, was not idle, as
will be seen by his own report hereto appended. Finding
at length that the enemy grew emboldened by the supe-
ricrity of their numbers and the advantage of their posi-
tions, I determined on trying the effect of a general charge
of infantry, and sent Captain the Hon. E. P. Hastings to
Captain L'Estrange with orders to that effect. Promptly
and gallantly he obeyed the order; the skirmishers on
the right turned their flank, the guns with grape and
shrapnel drove in the centre, and the troops advancing
on all sides drove the enemy panic-struck in all directions.
Thus our road was cleared ; all beyond the country was
open, and we proceeded without interruption to within
four miles of Arrali, when we were suddenly brought up
by an impassable river, and have since been employed in
attempting to bridge it over. In this work the railway
engineers, headed by Mr. Kelly, have rendered the most
valuable aid; meanwhile, most of the rebels returned to
Arrah, but precipitately left it during the night. Rajah
Koer Singh accompanied them to save his family. Their
loss is reported to have been severe. We hear that not
a sepoy now remains in Arrali, and that the mass have
gone off towards Rbotaa or scattered themselves in various
directions.

The rebels, however, have proved to be more stub-
born, for on the 12th August Major Eyre announces
that after a heavy engagement with the mass of the
Dinapore mutineers, and Koer Singh's forces, be had
succeeded in defeating them :

Koer Singh's Palace, Jugdispore, Aug. 12.
Sir,—l' have the pleasure to report the total rout of the
rebel force under Koer Singh this day, by the force under
my commad.
The enemy mustered, as far as can be ascertained, about
3,000 strong, of whom 1,500 were sepoys.
The action commenced at the village of Dulloor at eleven
, where a strong position had been taken up and
intrenchments raised. Here they matte a resolute stand
for about an hour, when they fell back upon the dense and
formidable jungle, which extends from thence about a mile
and a half to Jugdispore ; a running tight was kept up to
that place, which we entered in triumph at one o'clock,
and immediately occupied Koer Singh's residence, where
much promiscuous property fell into our hands.
Two guns were captured in the action.
Koer Singh has fled to the south, and I hear that his
army is dispersing, and I trust the blow now struck may
be the means of effectually destroying his influence.
In my next I will give full details of my march from
Arrah, and of the services performed by my force, making
special mention of those who distinguished themselves.
A return of killed and wounded shall be sent with my
next despatch; our loss was trifling, that of the enemy
severe. V. EYRE, Major.
The gallant defence of the Residency at Arrah is
worthy to be remembered. The official account
from Mr. Wake, the magistrate in charge, published
in these despatches, is exremely interesting. We
had the pleasure of presenting it to our readers in
our last issue under the head of "Arrah."

"The Indian revolt," sums up the Bombay Times
on the 17th Sept., " has not during the last fort-
night been marked by any very stirring events, and

neither of the contending parties has gained any
decisive advantage over the other." That is a fair
estimate of the position from the military point of
view. "No stirring events" have occunred, but the
deep current of the rebellion runs swiftly yet through-
out the entire country. Fresh outbreaks, small in
themselves, but in the aggregate showing the ten-
dency of popular feeling, are constantly occurring
from the Punjaub to the confines of Bombay and
Bengal. The Calcutta Englishman writes, that" so
far from peace and good order being re-established,
disorder and rebellion have extended to provinces
which in June were perfectly traoquil." The greater
part of Behar and thg south-western frontier of
Bengal wore in confusion, and the important district
of Goruckpdre has been abandoned by the order of
this Government. The garrison of Lucknow has not
been relieved, and it appears unlikely that our troops
can reach it before the end of this month. "The
mutineers and insurgents, though contemptible in the
field, are so numerous as to throw great difficulties
in the way of an advancing force, and the season
in which every stream is overflowing and the country
almost impassable is an additional obstacle to military
operations. At this season, too, the exposure of a
campaign inevitably produces much sickness, and our
European soldiers have suffered severely from it.
'We expect some reinforcements during the present
month, and by the end of October we may reasonably
hope for the arrival of a force sufficient to put down
rebellion in these provinces. Its fate in Upper India
must be decided by troops sent up the Indus and
the Punjaub levies. Order and obedience may then
indeed be restored, and an entire new system adopted,
whether military or civil. It is too soon to speculate
upon the course that ought to be or will be pursued ;
at present it is sufficient to record events which
follow in such rapid succession, and which must
ultimately determine the measures to be adopted.
We observe that the home authorities boast of
the slight depreciation which the rebellion has
caused in Government securites. In the revolted
districts Company's paper for the last three months
has been sold at fifty to eighty-five per cent. discount!
This, however, affords no criterion of public opinion,
as mull so offered may either have been plundered
from its rightful owners or been the property of
those in open rebellion, to whom it was valueless.
But here at the seat of Government and the centre
of money transactions the fall has been steady and
considerable. Five-per-cent. paper has been sold at
twelve, and four-per-cent. paper at twenty-four per
colt. discount, and no considerable sum could be
disposed of even at a much lower rate."
Delhi is not taken, and the rebels, so far from
showing that amount of faintheartedness and fear
constantly ascribed to them, marched out in force on
the 24th of August to seize our siege train en route
from Loodieanah, took a thrashing kindly from Briga-
dier General Nicholson the next da3, and, marching
back to Delhi that night with the loss of twelve guns,
next morning commenced a desperate assault in
force upon our position. " They made no impression
whatever upon us," is the report from our impreg-
nable heights, but their courage and spirit in making
the attack after so hearty a thrashing the day pre-
vious, is not to be underrated. "Active operations"
ag unst the city were expected to be undertaken on
the arrival of the siege train, for Sir Colin Campbell,
it is said, had sent orders "to make short work
of it." The King of Delhi, it was reported, had sent
seoret overtures to Mr. Colvin, at Agra, offering to