The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-19 00:00:00

CENTRAL INDIA.

Though a part the following intellingenc was
sent home by the cxtra mail of the 11th, we take
up our narrative 'here it was left off in our sum-
mary of the 9th. On the 2d of October Tantia
Topee captured Esaughur. On hearing of
Captain Mayne's' approach he quitted on the 6th
for Chundaree, taking with him the treasure and
guns. This fort, Like the other, had been left in
charge of Scindia's troops, who seemed all along
to sympathise much more with the rebels than
with the English, who had just restored their
master tothis throne, and the rebels were accord-
ingly at once admitted within the walls, with
scarcely a show of resistance. Hearing, however.
of Colonel Seudamore's advance, Tantia once more
decamped, and made for Pichore, near Jhansi, of
which he got possession. Finding us still at his
heels, he now turned off to the Serus Ghaut on the
Betwa, en the road betwixt Jhansi and Sultanpore.
Here the position of the rebel chief was by no
means free from danger. Advancing from Seronj,
that is,tfrom the aouth,:was General Michel's fore('
andfrom the north-west Smith's brigade, whilst at
Pichore, that is, more to the westward
again, was Parke's Neemuch brigade, Mayne
having joined Michel's corps. Tantia seems him-
self to have felt his insecurity, for he divided his
force. Whilst the Nawab of Banda made his way
south to Mungrowlee, where General Michel caught
and worsted him, Tantia Topee retired to the
Betwa, and began to cross the river at a ghaut
seven miles north-west of Tal Behut, intending
evidently to retire in the direction of Tehree. But
General Michel seems to have had excellent infor-
mation of his movements ; for, having crossed the
Betwa, probably near Mungrowlee, he came up on
the 19th with Tantia, at Sindwah, within 20 miles
of Tehree. took them completely by surprise.
They numbered 16,000 ; they were utterly de-
feated, with the loss of four guns, between 400
and 500 being slaughtered. Colonel Liddell had
meanwhile headed Tantia, and forced him back on
Tal Behut. The rebels obviously proposed to re-
cross the Betwa, while Liddell moved on Tal
Beeut, and Lieutenant Kerr, with his Southern
Mahratta House, was moving on Assingabad
Bhilsah. Turning now to General Michel, we find
that he arrived at Mungrowlee, on the 9th, at
eight a.m. Whex waiting for their tents, and
about to encamp, with horses unharnessed, the
alarm was sounded. After a trot of half a mile
our cavalry found the enemy's horse, from 1,500 to
1,800 strong, formed in line across their front. At
the:distance of about 500 yards the guns were un-
limbered, when the first shell firedknocked over five
or six of the insurgents. Our whole four guns now
opened with shell, killing some 60 or 70, and com-
pelling the rest to retire on the main body, posted
three miles in the rear on a plain covered with
jungle. Our line advanced, the infantry in front,
the Lancers on the left, and the 71st and 92d High-
landers in skirmishing order. When within 400
yards of the main body, it was seen formed on the
right of a village with dense jungle all around, two
guns on their right, three in their front, and one
on the left. They withheld their fire till we were
within 400 yards of them, when they opened all
their guns with round shot and grape, firing wildly
over our heads. The 92d charged, and captured
the guns, killing the gunners at their posts. We
then unlimbered, and opened with shrapnel on
their main body, commanded by Tantia Topee in
person, the Rao Saheb and Nawaub of Banda. The
enemy fought with desperation, but were unable
to stand before the practice of the Royal Artillery ;
when our infantry again charged, and captured six
more of their guns. We should, in all likelihood,
have been able to cut them to pieces had we been
better appointed with cavalry, but with the excep-
f.on of a detaenment of the 17th Lancers, the whole
were with Gen. Smith. The fighting lasted from
nine a.m. to two p.m. Only two of our men. were
killed—one of the 71st and one of the 92d
Highlanders, who, having been sent to the rear
wounded, were cut to pieces by some rebels hid in

the neighbourhood. After a day's rest, General

Michel . resumed the pursuit. He overtook the
enemy on the 19th, at a place called Sindwah, and,
after a severe action, routed them, capturing, as
above stated, four more of their guns.
OUDE.

On the 22d of September information was re-
ceived of the advance of about 3,000 of the enemy
under Moosah Ally, in the direction of Gooshen-
gung. A force marched out from Lucknow to
meet them the same evening. It consisted of her
Majesty's 23d and 88th, with the police cavalry,
and a horse battery. The enemy were found to
have posted themselves in the fort of Sullumpore,
about 28 miles from Lucknow. Our guns were
then brought within 400 yards of the fort before
they opened fire. After a short cannonade the
infantry charged and stormed the place. It was
found crowded with people ; they were driven from
point to point, and dispersed in every direction.
Above 1,000 bodies were counted after the affray
was over. On the evening of the 4th, a portion of
her Majesty's Bth and 80th, with two 5-inch mor-
tars and Hudson's Horse, marched out to a place
called Sandeela, nine miles from the city. After
capturing the village of Pamoo, four miles from the
place previously named, they pursued the enemy
for 10 miles over very difficult ground, where every
point was disputed. Nearly two days were occu-
pied in a series of running fights, when the rebels
were at length entirely dispersed, about 1,000 of
them being slaughtered and four guns captured
from them. We had two European officers wounded
and seven privates, five hussars and four of the
police were killed, and twenty of the latter and
forty-four of the former wounded. A second action
occurred on the same day, and at no great distance.
Captain Dawson, of the police, who had been com-
pelled to retire into entrenchments, was strengthen-
ing his position and sorely pressed by about 6,000
of the enemy with eight guns. Brigadier Barker
was sent out from Lucknow to relieve him,
with a portion of her Majesty's 88th, with two
8-pounder guns, two 51-inch mortars, 250 police
cavalry, and 500 foot. The troops were all mounted
on ponies supplied by the commissariat, and were
thus enabled to make a very rapid march, arriving
perfectly fresh at the scene of action. He found
the enemy, now mustering 12,000 with 12 guns,
posted to the north side of the town. They were
immediately attacked and defeated with great
slaughter, having fled in the direction of Jamoo.
Betwixt the 18th of September and 2d of October,
3,500 of the enemy are supposed to have been
killed near Lucknow, and 18 of their guns taken.
The two actions on the sth must have brought the
tale of slaughter up to close on 4,000. While these
things were going on immediately around the
capital, operations of an equally active nature were
in progress at Nawaubgune. On the 4th of Oct.
a force under Col. Eveleigh, consisting of 300 of
the Ist Sikh Cavalry, four guns, and a party of her
Majesty's 20th mounted on mules and elephants,
proceeded from Nawaubgunj to relieve Hussmut
Alli, a friendly chief, beleaguered in Meean Gune
by the insurgents. They approached the town
on the side opposite to that from which the
enemy were battering it. They did not seem to
expect our approach, and we crept round upon them
covered by groves of trees, nearing them unper-
ceived. When within easy range, we opened a
brisk fire upon them from the artillery, dismounting
one of their guns. Our troops immediately charged,
when the enemy broke and fled in all directions.
Two hundred are supposed to have fallen ; two
of their guns and the bulk of their ammunition
fell into our hands. We had one man killed and
four w,tunflod. The country on the frontiers of Oude
is still disturbed. There are believed to be abo-ve
100,000 men still in arm. against us, but they
daily coming in. They seem to have lost all heart
and purpose. When they are brought for a little
to a stand, 5,000 of them are quite ready to run
away before 500 assailants. _lt seems to be under-

stood on both sides that it must be so, and we at-
tack them with the utmost audacity, without the
slightest regard to the proportion betwixt the as-
sailants and assailed, in perfect confidence of vic-
tory, our enemies betaking themselves to their heels
after the first fire, as a matter of course.