Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-29 00:00:00

THE RELIEF OF LIICKNOTY,

In our last we mentioned the arrival of Grant's column
at Cawnpore, on the 27th October. When crossing the
Ganges, they arrived at Alumbagh on the Ist November.
It had now become known that Oatram and Havelock were
not only holding their own, but were suffering comparatively
little injury from the almost unceasing fire kept upon them
by the enemy. They were provisioned for weeks, and as
there was understood to be above one hundred thousand
rebels in arms around, Sir Colin Campbell wisely resolved
to delay his final attack until the force at his disposal
should have assembled in sufficient strength to be irresiti-
N. His Excellency and staff reached Cawnpore on the
3rd, having, as formerly stated, narrowly escaped being
captured by the enemy on the road. Although it was
known in August that 30,000 men were on the way
from England, the arrangements for pushing them on
appear to have been deferred till close upon their
arrival. To this source of detention, the teasing
delays that followed are mainly ascribed. Troops were
how mustering in strength at Cawnpore. On the 9th, the
th, 53rd, 84th, and 93rd, with portions of other regi-
Monte, crossed the Ganges, and were speedily followed by
the Naval Brigade, who dragged their 24 guns along with
them, as if they had been toys. Large supplies of pro-
'Visions had by this time been sent into Alumbagh; and
arrangements of all sorts were made with the caution
required, and deliberation permitted by the occasion. Sir
'Colin Campbell left Cawnpore on the 11th, and rode
forty miles at a stretch in the direction of Ll:Arnow. The
lick and wounded, left by Havelock at Alumbagh,
Were sent into his camp, with the view of returning to
Cawnpore, under a guard of Sikh horsemen, an arrange-
runt that nearly proved fatal. As they approached the
tritish camp, they were mistaken by the seamen of Peel's
Naval Brigade for the advanced guard of the enemy, when
the guns, loaded with grape, were levelled and about to be
fired. Luckily, the face of the European surgeon was
?ecognised in time to prevent mischief, The Commander-
hi-Chief had with him a European Horse Battery, two
troops of Horse Artillery, sixty Royal Artillerymen,
With two 18-pounders and two 8-inch mortars ;
320 of the 9th Lancers, detachments of her
k_ajesty's sth, Bth, 53rd, 75th, and 93rd. and
600, of the Naval Brigade, or including the 900 joining
him from Alumbagh, above 3 000 Europeans in all ; besides
!squadron of Sikhs and of Hodson's hors., 1,000 6ikh
Infantry, Sappers and Miners, &c., or an additional 2,000
natives. On the 13th, he advanced to the banks of the
canal, dispersing the rebels who approached him, and
capturing all their guns. On the 15:h, the rebels, after a
running fight of a c eiple of hours, were driven from the
/ilkostia and La Martiniere. Tney shortly after rallied,
however, and made an attack on the British
Position, when a severe repulse was su-tained by them.
During these days, Lieutenant Mayne, Horse
artillery, and Captain Wheatcroft, Carabineers, were
killed. We had chiefly depended on our artillery, wisely
avoiding the needless exposure of our infantry to desperate
men. On the 16th. the canal was crossed which separates
4lumbagh from Lucknow, the Chief advancing on Secun-
derbagh, which was carried after a severe struggle, the
eoetny suffering terribly. Having garrisoned each po-
sition as we advanced, the Samuch was attacked about
three o'clock in the afternoon, and after a tremendous
'cannonade, was carried about dusk. Sir Colin Camp-
bell describes it as one of the most severe
fights he had ever witnessed, and few men have
seen more of hard fighting than he. Early on the
kerning of the 17th, communicttions were opened to the
left rear of the barracks towards he canal. A heavy
'llnonade having been kept up all the morning on the
bless house, that very strong position was carried by
assault at three p m., when the troops, pushing on rapidly
Were able to seize the Motee Mahal before dark. Sir
Colin Campbell now approached the brave garrison,
Who had been closely beset since the 25th of Septembe-,
him.
Generals Outram and Havelock came out to meet
'Hu- Although the enemy was not yet completely
subdued, the communications with the rear were
all re-opened, and the sick and wounded, the ladies
and children, were despatched under escort to
e_awnpore. Our loss, though considerable, was less so
4n might have b. en looked for. Captain Herdley, Royal
trtillery, Captain Dalzell, 93rd Highlanders, Captain
t "Wien of the late 30th Bengal Native Infantry, attached
0 916 93rd,
Lieutenant Frankland, 2nd nusjaub Infantry,
,11/41'21i Midshipman Damien, Naval Brigade, were killed.
dirty-two officers were wounded—two dangerously,
and eighteen severely. Our latest tidings extend
only to the 21st, and have been supplied by
electric telegraph alone, so as to be in the last degree
Meagre and incomplete. On that date, two telegraph
assistants were murdered at Alumbagh, and we
'must now wait for further intelligence. The routes
from Cawnpore westward are still so interrupted, that the
mails are in the last degree irregular, or we should before
now have had full particulars by letter. It is more than
Probable that tidings, considerably later than any we can
at present give, will be forwarded for our London co-
teheporaries by the steams- this evening. There is much
Yet to be done in Oude, but the Commander-in-Chief has
nowa numerous force at his disposal ; and Lucknow
'sing relieved, can consult his own convenience in matter
111 time. We have ne longer any occasion for those headlong
and deadly assaults, which, heroic and irresistible as
they are, are accompanied with frightful sacrifice of life,
Which greater caution, and the full use of our artillery,
tas> avoid. The force in all now in Oude amounts to close
Zit 12 000 men, c anis ing of the 9,h Lancers, the Naval
Brigade, the Ist Madras Fusiliers, H.M.'s sth. Btb, 23rd,
32nd, 53rd, 61tb, 75th, 78th, 82nd, 84th, and 90th Regts.,
Brigade,
a magnificent park of Artillery, a portion of the Rifle
rigade, Royal and Madras Sappers and Miners, the Sikh
Infantry and Cava ry—ably commanded and in the highest
state of efficiency.