The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-20 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 20, 1858.

HAN WELL COLLEGE, under the superin-
tendence of the Rev. Dr. Emerton, is still maintaining its
high character.—United Service Gazette. N.B.—Classes are formed
expressly for Matriculation at the Universities, and the Middle
Class Examinations at Oxford.

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57. Lombard-street.

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Euston Station, December 3d, 1857. By Order.

ing the gate of the fort. The frantic rushing, screaming
crowd of men and women and children, growing denser
as the road grew narrower, became inextricably mixed
up with the advancing column of bullock-carts, camels,
and horses. The animals themselves seemed to catch
the panic, and began dancing
and capering and snorting
lin the wildest ma err, How we escaped with our lives,
threaded our way th rough the dense and intricate labyrintb,
or escaped being jammed together into one great lump,
is a mystery I have-not yet been able to solve. Perhaps
leer snag pens the faculties or romotes agility. At all
events, I am not aware of any casualty
p
having occurred,
and whin a few moments after e stood upon the ram-
parts panting and breathless, we looked around in vain
for a foe, or any portent or prodigy that could necessitate
Ero precipitate a retreat. After taking breath and
becoming a little cooler, we thoUght, especially as we
could hear no good news from the battle field, that it
might be prudent to prepare for the worst. Accordingly
we made a general sally in the direction of our teats,
and packed np a few articles of clothing, such other
oeces,aries and valuables as the absence of coolies and
other means of conveyance—for all had bolted—left us
able to bear into the entrenelament. An order soon
after came for all tents to be struck, and as Ocre was no
time and no means to take them away or cave their
contents, the ropes, of each tent were loosened, and
down came the .superincutnbent weight, crushing glass
and crockery and mingling
them in wild oonfusion with
chairs, tables, inkstands, and the other accompanimentsaccompanimentsof an Indian tent.

, .
About four e'clook in came our retreating columns.
The whole camp, with. its baggage, Bec., was abandoned
to the rebels. Why, I have never been able accurately
to learn. We had seffered no reverse though we had
gained no victory. - Not a dczen men had been hit, nor
had our force been driven back. -From all the accounts
I have heard it was a battle sui genertis. For four hours
had our guns been firing without seeing a foe. That
guns were being fired by somebody somewhere was
evident, for our men could hear them and even ocoa-
eionally catch a glimpse of a light cloud of pals smoke
wafted on the passing breeze; bat where they were, or
who manned them, es whether there was anything be-
4ides the Inns, was never demonstrably ascertained. It
was a battle in the dark. You t3ok it for granted that
you had an enemy, and fired in hope that by some
happy chance you might bit him. For four hours
this useless expenditure of ammunition lasted
when the fatal order to retreat was given. The
only explanation of this order I have heard is that an
aide-de-camp rode up to General Windham, and beseeched
him to return instantly as the entrenchment had fallen
into the hands of the rebels, and it is said he set off at
once with a storming column to recapture it. At all
events nothing was done towards repairing this lament.
able blunder. No effort was made to preserve the camp,
nor was anything done to prevent the advance of the
enemy. Though there is every reason to believe there
was abundance of time and means for both, we did not
see the enemy, and it is quite possible the enemy did
not see us. I believe pickets remained out at the
theatre and assembly rooms, otherwise all osr troops
were located in the entrenchments. These entrench-
meats were scarcely fitted and never intended to enclose
so large a body of men. They were originally
,cone
structed, on Havelock's first coming, to be held by a
garrison of about 300 men, though within the last week
or two large outworks have been added. The entrench-
ment is a narrow strip of land ruining along the river's
bank, perhaps 200 yards in length and 400 long. Until
within the last 10 or 15 days it was by no means a strong
style of defence. On the back is the river, close on the
left is the canal, whilst in front and on bath sides is
ground at least on a level with the floor of the entrench-
ment, and until very lately abounding in buildings and
sheltering number of rebels. Very
happily, t
engineering offi-
cer of great ability carne to superintend the works. He
wpola or places
three foralmost
weeks any
ago, a
new
at once saw the defects of the place, and setting at
defiance the orders he received, proceeded to strengthen
them after his own fashion. He threw up a long breast.
work about 200 yards in front of the entrenchment on
the top of a deep ravine, and other breastworks to the
right and left. Besides this he cleared away a large
number of buildings and trees, and a whole native
bazaar, so that it is more roomy and stronger than ever.
Into this place some 2,000 to 3,000 men retreated. The
rebels must have been taken by surprise, and doubt-
less regarded it ae some piece of profound military
strategy. They doubtless looked round them cautiously,
approached with trembling and heedful steps our for-
saken camp, and at length to their joy discovered it
abandoned. Then the work of demolition began. Much
booty (including one military chest, I believe of the 82d)
fell into their hands. They plundered %hat toes could
and burnt the rest. Satisfied with their day's success,
they allowed us that night to repose in peace. About 12
p.m., a detachment was sent to bring in the entangled
24-pounder. They found the city silent and deserted,
and did not encounter the least opposition. Early the
next morning our troops were ordered out again. This
morning again, but still earlier, the rebels opened fire,
and the battle seems to have rkolved itself into two little
engagements, neither of which knew how the other was
going. Oa the left flank the Rind Brigade distinguished
them much. They found capital shelter in an attack
upon two guns, 18-pounders which the rebels were using,
and kept up such a smart fire that the rebels fled and the
two
guns were soon captured and brought in in triumph.
Soon after
this the rebels fled, aid our left flank was
•empletely triumphant. About four o'clock just as the
successful left wing, flushed with success, were quickly
retreating into the entrenchment, an aide-de-camp rode
up saying the generaldesired, if possible, to have instant
reinforcements on the right. An hour elapsed before
they were sent, and I believe the right wing
was already
on the retreat. It had met with a reverse. Early in
the morning the 64th were opposed to a four-gun
battery of the enemies. A very rash and ill-managed
attempt was made to storm it. About 150 men of
that regiment, headed by Brigadier Wilson, Brigadier
Major Murphy, and Major Stirling, made a most
brave but precipitate assault upon them. They had
to rush up a rising ground of about 400 yards in extent
and reached the guns panting
and tired.
But they did
charged, andhaving
was
shot n o h
support
reach them and succeeded in spiking three. They were
however immediately overpowered. Four files of infantry
hitherto concealed by the nature of the ground, now
appeared in view. They opened fire and their cavalry
rged, oarr m
Wilson n
to retreat in confusion. The slaughter of our men was
great. Bad
the left chest,
and was brought home, to die in a few minutes.
Brigadier-Major Murphy and Major Stirling were likewise
killed, with two other officers whose bodies have not yet
through,were obliged
been recovered, and about 50 or 60 men were also killed
or wounded. This defeat was never repaired. It is
positively stated that with a sup port of 200 men the guns
must have been captured and retained. But whilst none
can deny the valour and spirit with which the charge
was made, none can deny that there was an utter lack
of judgment and of skill. After this reverse the right
wing never reoovered itself. A vain and futile firing
was kept up for some hours, and towards evening our
troops retired into the entrenchment. The assembly
rooms, a large building capable of being held by a few
men against a very superior force, and which was filled
with officers and soldiers' kite and many other valuables;
the theatre, another large strong building just opposite,
and both within 300 or 400 yards of the entrenchment,
and within 200 yards of our
advanced works, were both
abandoned to the rebels, and the whole city and its out-
skirts left in their hands ! The loss of property has been
immense. The few houses that had escaped the previous
desolation have been burnt. A few merchants and others
' who had recommenced business, and were scattered
throughout the suburbs, had their property plundred
and destroyed, and 3000 European troops were ignomi-
ui )usly forced to retreat into a small entrenchment by a
body of a few thousand rebels, not half the strength of
those who were driven helter-siselier out of Cawnpore by
General Havelock a few months ago, with only half the
number of our troops 1 That this
result has arisen from
the grossest incompetency and mismanagement cannot
be disputed, and I have only heard one universal outcry
of indignation and regret at the generalship, or rather
want of generalship, which has produced this serious
disaster. About 4 o'clock the Commander-in-Chief,
who was expected from Lucknow, came in, accompanied
by a small guard, having ridden a few miles in advance
of his column, and the remainder of his force was seen
in the distance. But the rebels were already advancing,
and the Commander-in-Chief had scarcely crossed the
bridge of boats when acouple of shots, fired at the bridge,
fell into the river. They did no harm, and fell wide of their
object. We now hoped our troubles would soon he over,
all confidence in our military bead was gone, and with
the additional force from Luoknow, numbering 4,000 or
5,000 strong, and splendidly equipped with horse artil-
lery and cavalry, we thought surely some decisive blow
would be at once struck. In this we were disappointed,
and, perhaps, properly so. Sunday morning arrived,
and the enemy had advanced still nearer the entrench-
ments, and at an early hour began to pour forth their
grape and shot and shell. We heard them flying over
our heads in showers, but they did very little harm,
most of them going right over the entrenchment and
falling in the river. Our guns soon opened upon them,
and they retired for the moment to try another position,
and in this way the day passed. The rebels opened fire,
we answered, and they retreated to open fire soon after-
wards in another place. Oar casualties were few ; one
or two shots and much grape and much musket balls
fell into the entrenchment, but did little harm—one
officer of the 82d was shot in the neck and killed at his
tent door, two or three men were shot about the ram-
parts, and a ball passed through a couple of bullocks and
a horse. This includes about the whole of our casualties,
and we have to thank the cowardice and unskilfulness of
the enemy that our loss was not much more serious ; for
the entrenchment was crowded—guns, gun-carriages,
bullocks, camels, tents, hospitals, and men, filled almost
every inch of the ground—and not a shot could fail
• All this time Sir Colin Campbell
proving effective.
was
getting over his immense n of baggage, and ladies,
and children, a train not less than 15 miles long. Much
surprise has been expressed at his delay in attaoking the
rebels. His whole camp could have remained in safety
on the other side of the river, guarded by 1,000 men,
still leaving a force more than trebly sufficient to smash
the rebels. His policy, however, appears to be a cautious
one. Many think injuriously so ; and, certainly,
unless
he completely
destroys the rebels and takes all theirguns,
the delay will be very injurious. It destroys the prestige
of our arms, shakes the
confidence of our friends, and lee-
lens the fears of the enemy lJits object, however, appears

"o have been—first, to secure the perfect safety of the ladies
nd children, and second, to wait for reinforcements
which were coming up from Allahabad. But surely, if
an army like his, with its numerous and; powerful
batteries, its cavalry, and men numbering not less than
7;000 to 8,000, cannot grapple with and overcome a
ebel force of not 6,000 sepoys and 6,000 rabble, we had
better leave India at once, and the Roemer the better.
But it is premature to sit in judgment upon his move
ments. Much evil has resulted from this delay, and
nothing but a very signal and decisive blow can justify it.
December 4th.
Actually eight days has now elapsed since the contest
began, and we are still penned up in the fort, fired at,
and shelled daily. Large reinforcements have arrived,
and now we must have a force as numerous as the
enemy, and vastly superior to them in every respect:
Last night the ladies and children started for Allahabad,
a large number of wounded were sent to the same place.
Still here we are, and what is to be done ? non when is
it to be doge? Nobody knows. But all think the at-
tack upon the rebels cannot be delayed beyond to-
morrow. For five dap (this will be the sixth), have
we been pounded by the enemy, and all this time have
been acting simply on the defensive. The ladies peel
children were taken to the ground near Wheeler'e old
entrenchment, to which place the road is well protected
and no shots could reach them. Moreover, it is just
on the Allahabad road. The tactics of the enemy are
really very droll, and quite a burlesque upon the art of
war. He has his head quarters near at a large tank two
or three miles off; but here he retreats at night, and
hence sallies out in the morning, merely leaving pickets
all round, who shoot all night at anything they can see
or fancy they see within our lines. At dawn he gets up
shivering in the cold ;. wraps his gat manta around him,
and sits smoking his hookha until the sun rises and
thaws his frozen blood into circulation. By teu o'clock
he begins to feel comfortable, and thinka it time to pre-
pare his dinner, which accordingly every man does for
himself. By half-past eleven, he has finished cooking
and eating, had another smoke, and the consciousness
begiogs to dawn upon biro, that he is engaged in a
most important battle. He now begins to look after hie
cannon, which he has posted in different commanding-
spots, and forth he goes. With great labour he charges
his piece, and having primed it all ready to fire, he drags
it from its his hiding-place very secretly, keeping under
cover all the time, and points at or rather over our en-
trenchments. He applies the match, and bang goes the
gun. Away our hero scampers trying to drag after
him the cannon into its original obscurity, from which
he probably, for the moment, feels it extremely rash on
his part ever to drag it, and probably resolving, if he
survives this time, he will never be guilty of a similar
piece of folly. Unfortunately for our hero, his gun can-
not be let off without flashing. That flash followed by
the smoke is the indication of its position, and before he
can find his hiding-place, half-a-dozen heavy guns send
their shots flying and bursting about him, and if he
survives ha perhaps think! it best at once to retreat to
his distantcatup, and take his gun with him before both
are destroyed. Ia this way I assure you, gun after gun
is silenced. Firing just one round, and being silent the
rest of the day and night, to go through the same course
the succeeding day. But perhaps our champion is more
fortunate. He hits upon some splendid hiding-places
for a few guns, where he can fire without being seen.
There he will keep at it for half-an-hour at a time, bat
tke exertion is too much for him, and after a couple of
hours (irregular and desultory firing) he returns to his
camp to prepare for a comfortable evening. This is
the childish contemptible enemy who has been allowed to
seize our camp, to plunder cur property and houses, lay
waste the city, and drive us into this miserable entrench-
ment. The post is just leaving and I must close. I feel
hopeful that, with the divine blessing, all will be quiet
after a few days. I believe Sir Colin Campbell's policy
is to surround and destroy them, if possible to a man.