The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-20 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 20, 1863.

TEE LATE LORD CLYDE.

The "Imperial Dictionary of Unicerlal Bio•
graphy," published by William Mackenzie, Glasgow,
contains a memoir of the late Lard Clyde, written
by Sir Archibald Alison, Birt., of which the fol-
lowing is en extract—de:icriptive, first of all, of Sir
Colin's Indian Exploit, and of the close of his
gallant career ae a Peer of the 11,,:a1m and a Field
Marshal:—

When the Indian revolt broke out, and every post from
the East brought the intelli2ence of fresh and seemingly
overwhelming disasters in Hindostan, ail eyes were tinned
to Sir Colin as the only man capable ofstaying the disasters
which were accumulating round a "sinking throne and a
falling empire." Yielding to the universal voice, LGtd Pal-
merston, then Prime Minister, sent for him on July 11th,
and asked him whether ho would undertake the command,
and if so, when he could set out. " Within 24 hours," re-
plied the Scottish chief, then 64 years of age. He was as
good as his word. On the following evening he set out, ac-
companied by his staff, for India, with no more baggage
than a trooper could carry with him on his saddle ; and on
the 13th August following reached Calcutta, after an un-
commonly quick passage. The labours which then awaited
him were such as would have overwhelmed any one
of inferior resolution, and less accustomed to make
every difficulty )ield to energetic will. Disarmed,
and with its forces d'sbanded or scattered by
the imprudent reductions of a pacific administration,
the Supreme Government at Calcutta was utterly unpre-
pared f. r a contest. The arsenal there was empty; that
at Delhi was in the hands of the enemy; arms, powder,
guns, balls, all required to be manufactured, and, as fast as
they could be got ready, sent off in the utmost haste for the
service of the troops, now reduced to the last extremity, de-
spite all the heroism of Havelock and his men in the north-
western provinces.

The whole autumn of the year was employed by Sir Colin
in the most herculean efforts to repair the deficiencies in
military st9res, to provide the means of transporting them,
with the slender reinforcements which arrived from China,
to the theatre of war in the neighbourhood of Cawnpore,
At length something like an army having been formed, and
the 93d Highlanders, 1019 strong, having arrived from
China, Sir Colin set out from Calcutta on the 26th of Octo-
ber; and after narrowly escaping having been made pri
soner by a body of rebels on the road between Allahabad
and Cawnpore, he reached the latter town on the 2d of
November. He was there fortunately joined by a body of
admirable troops, under Gen. Hope Grant, who had come
down from Delhi after the storming of that city. By this
accession of forces, Sir Colin's little army was raised to
6,000 men and 36 guns, and with this small force he forth-
with set out to effect the deliverance of Havelock, now at
the last extremity in Lucknow, and besieged by 60,000 of
the best troops of Oude.

The task before him was arduous, and to all appearance
hopeless, for not only was the force in his front tenfold
stronger than his own, but his communications were threat.
ened by the Gwalior contingent, 14,000 strong, composed
of the best troops in India, disciplined by European officers,
which lay at Calpee, only 45 miles, threatening. Cawnpore;
the bridge of m hich, over the Ganges, commanded the only
commun►cation with Calcutta, and the base of operations in
the south. Yet necessity commanded an immediate effort for
the relief of Lucknow, for Havelock could only hold a few
days longer the buildings he had so nobly defended, and it
was well known, that if forced to surrender, he himself, his
brave followers, and the women and children in the resi-
dency, 12,000 in number, would all be massacred. Deter-
mined to rescue them or perish in the attempt, he marched
with all the disposable troops he could command, only 5,500
in number, on the Bth November, taking the route to Luck-
now, which was 52 miles distant, leaving Wyndham with
12,000 to make head against the Gwalior contingent, and
hold the important bridge and fort 4,f Cawnpore during his
absence.

The operations which followed were conducted with the
most consummate ability, and have justly raised Sir Colin
to the very highest rank in military glory. Swiftly, yet
cautiously advancing, he reached the neighbourhood of
Lucknow on the 12th of November, and immediately began
his advance to deliver the beleae,ured garrison. Directing
his march by a semicircular sweep round the city, he
avoided the long barricaded street leading direct to the re-
sideno, in forcing his way through which, Havelock had
lost 900 men; but he had still a desperate shock to encoun-
ter before his object was gained. Every building was gar-
risoned and loopholed, every palace constructed into a for-
tress which obstructed their advance. By sueceessive and
persevering efforts, however, they were all overcome—the
Mattiniere carried after a sharp emit:Let, the bridge of the
canal forced, and with infinite difficulty heavy guns dragged
up to batter the Secunderbagh, garrisoned by 2,000 of the
best sepoy troops. On to the assault rushed the 93cl and
the 2d Punjaub infantry at a run, striving who should first
penetrrte jn; and they effected an entrance at tha same
time, and awfully avenged the massacre of Cawnpore, by
putting the whole defenders to the sword.
Still the Shah Nussiers mosque stood in the way, strongly
garrisoned by sepoys, and till it was carried access to the
residency was impossible. Peels guns were brought up to
breach the walls, but the fire of musketry from them was
so severe, that the gunners were all struck down and the
guns silenced. Sir Colin then ordered up the 93d, and
assembling them around him, told them that the guns were
oephu himself
iht
himself
a
silenced, but the mosque must be carried that night, and
theyt
b
their must e
ad. He did
so accordingly,
do i t withb a ye nets , an h evd
Sirul e
and all his staff leading on the assault were wounded or had
their horses shot under them; Major Alison, his military
secretary, lose his arm in the advance; Captain Alison, his
aid-de-camp, was struck down; Colonel Adrian Hope, the
bravest of the brave, Sir D. Baird, and Capt. Poster, both
aid-de-camps to Sir Colin, had their horses shot under them.
Success seemed hopeless ; for no fissure could be discovered
e llin
in the massy wallE, from which incessantly streamed a
terrific
which
orders were already given to retreat, when Colonel Adrian
Hope,ast
with of musketry.apartyoft 93 The d
, fu 930nd opening,faghe w,
being enlarged, they got in, and the fort was carried. This
fire
success was decisive—access was obtained next day to the
residency. Havelock, his brave garrison, and the women
and children were brought off in safety; and Sir Colin hay-
ing achieved this deliverance, set out with the utmost ex •
ped'tion to succour Wyndham, who was hard pressed in his
rear.
It was high time he should do so ; for that general, over-
powered by an overwhelming superiority of forces, had
been driven back into Cawnpore. The town was taken,
the fort hard pressed, and already the enemy's balls were
beginning to tall
on the bridge, the sole line of Communi-
cation of the troops. In a few hours more the bridge
would have been taken, the army cut off from its base, itself
destroyed, and India lost, for there was no reserve at Cal-
cutta to effect a second deliverance of Luc -k now. But Sir
Colin soon restored matters—his gray hairs were worth a
thousand men. The enemy was soon repelled freer the
heights they had won which commanded the bridge, and the
long file of wounded men, women, and children, having been
got in safety across, and despatched to Allahabad, the Chief
sallied forth at the head of 6,000 men, and by an extraordi-
nary display of skill and tactics, succeeded in completely de_
fearing an army double the size of hie own, flushed with
victory, and taking all their guns. This was the crisis of
the war—the tide had turned the So ttish hero had, with
an energy and skill equal to the greatest efforts of Napo.
loon, with an army of 7,000 detested 70,C09, brought off the
long train of helpless beings without the loss of one, under
their very eyes, and delivered India from the greatest peril
in which it had been placed since the victories of Clive, a
century before, had laid the foundation of the British em-
pire in the east.
The subsequent career of Sir Colin has been nothing bet
an unbroken succession of triumphs. Casting an eagle
glance over every part of India, he despatched its forces in
every direction, so as to crush all the efforts er the rebels.
Before the hot weather had recommenced, be himself had
regained
the important post of Futtyghur, Which restored
the direct communication with Delhi and the Punjaub. No
so .ner had the next he ad..
cool season commenced, than
vaneed
with 10,000 mon and SO guns, a second time
against Lucknow, and having by a most skilful move-
ment succeeded in enfilading of the ene-
the whole
ray's works with • his guns in their rear, he carried
the begum's palace
by storm,andmade hinaself master of the
whole city, with 96
guns, immense military stores, end re-
sources of all kinds. Thisfollowed by an
was immediately
advance into Rohilcund,nest
greatest stronghold and the capture Q 1 Bareilly, the
in
several hard fought and Poaseesion of the insurgents,
aiter
brilliantnecessarily
actions. The return of the
hot season having /Tail,
suspended military
operations, the interval of restecessarilY wts turned to such good tee -
count by the veteran conamso(i
erire•chier, that when he
took the field again in November,
capturing the whole strongholds o 1858, ho succeeded in
0
u.do et in the hands
of the insurgents, and driving the rote
bands to perish in
the
wilds
of
th•en! o yf
their scattered
r
Subsequent accounts contained the grattfel?atil mountains.nag
that Outle,
73the centre of the insurrection, was entirely
'tied • 2 forts in course of being
, demolished, and
400,000 stand of arms delivered tip. For these astonishing
r Sir Colin, with
the entire approbation of theg
nation, was raised by her Majesty to the peerage by the
title of Lord Clyde. But history must, in justice to
his transcendent merits, give him a Still higher title,
and pronounce him the greatest general whom Scotland
has produced sines the time of Robert Bruce, and one
of the greatest benefactors to England who has ever ap-
peared ; for he has preserved and strengthened in its utmost
need the British empire in the East. Kindly and affection-
ate in his Oispoeitions, courteous and high bred in his
manners, independent and manly in his character he unites
t4;i4 14"t' ft`tiL" to

command respect and win regard in private. Overflowing
with courage, and ever in the front of battle, ho was
avaricious only of the blood of his soldiers; and l,y his
mingled caution and dash, Achieved his glorious successes
with an incredibly small effusion of human blood.

Delacroix has shown a just mind, and an unshak-
able firmness and sense of justice. But if it were
possible to me, how happy should I be to speak of
the ix iend, of the man in private life, always ani-
mraed with charming grace and goodness. It be-
longs to other voices than mine to Int,ke themselves
here the interpreters of this profound grief, and,
above all, to make themselves the judges of his
splendid talent; but, grateful and proud of a firm
friendship of forty years' duration, I have given
way to the impulse of the heart, and tried to con-
quer the emotion inspired by my profound grief,
in order to address a lest and solemn adieu to him
whom I have so well loved and so well known."

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, Tuesday Morning.

The Inman steamer City of New York, from New
York, on the Bth inst., arrived cff the harbour at an
early hour this morning.
On the 6th, the day of thanksgiving appointed by
President Lincoln was solemnly observed in New
York and various other Northern cities by suspen-
sion of business, and by religious services in most
of the churches.

The following is the latest in reference to the Con-
federate privateers :

"A letter, dated from Bahia, July 26, on board the United
States' steamer Mohican, which was sent in. search of the
pirates, states that the Florida was at the island of Las
Rocas on the 14th inst., where her surgeon and paymaster
were drowned by the swamping of their boat. Here she
got 70 tons of coal, and left on a cruise. We can hear no-
thing or see nothing of the Alabama, from which we con-
clude she has left this coast entirely. As for the Georgia,
we think she is in some secluded bay on the coast, awaiting
her guns by the Castor.. It is some satisfaction to know
that she will have to wait a very long time. The United
states' ship Onward left here on the 25th inst. on a cruise.
American vessels are taking outßrazilian registers, availing
themselves thereby of the Brazilian flag. This is hard.
There should be more American men-of-war here."

Trenton, New Jersey, by an unanimous vote of
its Common Council, has cffered a bounty of 200
dols. to fia up its quota. The draught in Wash-
ington was completed on the 6th. Brokers were
offering to supply substitutes at 200 dols. each.
Many of the draughted men attempted to leave
the city, but were turned back at the railroad
depots. The War Department has advices that
the draught is going on smoothly in all sections of
the country. Arrests, however, continue to be
made in Indiana of parties protecting deserters
and resisting their arrest under warrants issued
by a United States' commander. Eight of those
resisting were arrested on the 6th in Brown
county. They were held for trial in 1,000 dols.
bail each.

Enrolment returns have been received at Spring-
field from six districts of Illinois. The number of
perscns enrolled in the First (or Chicago) district is
22,541. No order for a draught has yet been re-
ceived, but it is presumed that when the enrolment
returns are all in (expected by the 15th inst.), the
conscription will speedily take place. Governor
Yates, so far as known, is making no effort to secure
credit for the excess of troops heretofore furnished
by the State.

In reference to what are called the "War with
England articles" in Washington papers, the New
York World states:—

" Considerable embarrassment is likely to arise here by
reason of various city papers claiming to be official mouth-
pieces. The Star this evening, in a seemingly authoritative
nanner, states that all publications lately appearing in city
journals relative to the imminence of trouble with England
are entirely unauthorised, and do not emanate from cfficial
sources. The Republican, on the contrary, intimates that
it will furnish fai,ts in a few days relative to its war with
England article."
The World also observes—

" Statements appeared in some of the Northern papers,
after the fall of Vicksburg and the defeat of Lee, t) the
Effect that the question of peace had been discusst.d in the
Federal Cabinet, and that a Cabinet crisis had been caused
by a proposition of Mr. Seward to issue a Presidential pro-
clamation offering an amnesty to the Southern people,
withdrawing the Emancipation Proclamation, suspending
the Confiscation Act, and offering protection to the personal
property and rights of the Southern people, except the
leaders ; the Attorney- General Bates and Mr. Montgomery
Blair favoured the scheme, with a modification ; that Messrs.
Station and Chase violently opposed it, and Mr. Welles
also opposed it, but not so strongly. Here, where the public
is accustomed to assumptions of this kind, these statements
were not thought of sufficient importance to demand atten-
tion. It seems now that they went to Europe and were
made the foundation there of new castles in the air, built by
the European enemies of the United States. It is, there-
fore, proper to say that these statements had no foundation
whatever in fact. No such debates or propositions, or any
debate or proposition on the subject of peace, or of such
amnesty, has been made in the Cabinet, nor have such dif-
ferences arisen."

The Philadelphia Inquirer thus speaks of the
question of war with England :

"This question is raised by a very extraordinary article
in the lVashingfon Republican of yesterday. It is an article
such as no prudent editor would venture upon at a tune like
this without sufficient authority. It bears in every line in-
dications of an impending war with England. We are not
aware that the Republican is the organ of any department
of the Government, yet in these days of organs it may be
the organ of somebody. It is the possible inspiration and
the feverish condition of the public mind which gave the
article any consequence at all, for otherwise it has very
little force, and is, indeed, somewhat muddled. The fact,
however, that if is published with an air of information
right under the eyes of the Executive departments will
cause the public to wait with deep interest for further de-
velopments from quarters of more acknowledged authority.
The World remarks that—

" The article in question' bears Mr. Seward's ear-marks,
and for this reason alcne attracts a momentary attention.
It is one of the diplomatic soap- bubbles which that ' philo-
sophical statesman' is in the habit of blowing, and which
so regularly buret by over• distension in the process of form-
ing. It is safe to presume (knowing what we do of Mr.
Seward's character) that if he had any immediate apprehen-
sion of such a war his half-oracular and half-buliying giv-
ings out in the columns of the if ashington Republican
would not have been ventured on."

The steamer Ruth has been burnt on the Mis-
sissippi, with a loss of several lives and a large
quantity of paper money. The following account
appears in a despatch to the Chicago Tribune of the
sth :

" The steamer Ruth, Captain Pegram, left Cairo last
night at 11 o'clock, with a small passenger list and 600 tons
of freight, bound for Helena. Her load consisted partly of
about 100 head of fat cattle for the army and 122 mules.
Paymaster Brinton, of Philadelphia, with 2,600,000 dole.,
was a passenger, en route for the army of General Grant,
having as guard 30 men of the 9th Wisconsin Recipient,
under Lieut. Courier. Less than an hour after leaving this
place the coloured chambermaid discovered fire aft on the
starboard side, near the stern. She gave the alarm, and a
scene of confusion ensued, though not as great as might
have been expected. It is said by passenger's that not four
minutes elapsed after the first alarm before the entire upper
works of the steamer were in a blaze. The captain was at
his post. As soon as he saw that nothing but the direct
intervention of Providence could save his boat, he caused
her head to be turned towards the Missouri shore, not more
than eight miles from Cairo, in the vicinity of and just be-
le w Norfolk landing. and with a full head of steam on he
ran her hard aground, bow on. Some 30 feet of her stern
broke off by farce of the shock, and the passengers, crew,
and everyone,excepting five soldiers on guard over the money
in the paymaster's box, made a simultaneous rush for the
shore. A few jumped overboard and were drowned, or
swam to the bank and climbed cn shore. The five soldiers
mentioned remained at their post bravely turning the this,
and trying to induce confidence in escaping passengers'
but their efforts were fruitless. Paymaster Brinton had
given them orders they implicit:3- cbeycd until the boat
struck with a crash upon the bank, then swung. All
would soon be lost, and no hope remaining of saving the
money, they alto left their positien and endeavoured to
escape. Before all could leap off, the boat recoiled from
shore, one wheel still going, end shot cut into the
stream. Five of the 9th Wisconsin and several passen-
gers, all the cattle, mules, money, freight, coloured cham-
bermaid, one of the clerks, the son of Mr. Oglesby,
one paymaster, Greenwalt, of liarrisburg, Pennsylvania,
three paymasters' clerks (names unknown), were known to
be aboard. The flames cracked and spread ; cattle and
mules broke loose and jumped overboard, or snorted
frantically about, rendered insane by flames anti heat. All
this was witnessed by passengers on share. Some passen-
gers jumped overboard and swam ashore. one With his
trunk, and others nearly naked, swam out jet° the stream,
seeming also insane, and were carried under im.l lost. Soon
tho wreck rank, and her seethingtiros acre quenched in
4fe:cp w4tere, T4O 0tc,;:".1214 OLrE;;z arrivLd warii g 1:4;)