The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-30 00:00:00

11. LIE SUN,

LONDON, SATURDAY EVE NING, JANUARY 30, 1850.

attacked our le ft picquets with artillery, and showed in-
fantry round c ,ur left flank.
A desultor y fire was also begun on our picquets
in the General Gang, which is an old bazaar of very con-
siderable extent along the canal, in front of the line occu-
pied by the cam p.
These advance, d positions had been held, since our arrival.
by Brigadier Grek athed's brigade with great firmness, the
Brigadier having displayed his usual judgment in their
arrangement and a npport. On two or three occasions he
had been supported by Captain Peel's heavy grins and Cap-:
tain Bonrchier's field battery, when the artillery of the
enemy had annoyer I him, and the general front of the ,
camp.
After two hours of cannonading, the enemy retired on
the afternoon in ques lion.
Arrangements were then made for a general attack on
him the xext day.
His left occupied. the old cantonment, from which
General Windham's post had been principally assailed.
His centre was in that city of Cawnpore, and lined the.
houses and bazaars overhanging the canal, which separated]
it from Brigadier Greathed's position, the principal:
streets having been afterwards discovered to be barri-
caded.

His right stretched some way beyond the angle formed
by the Grand Trunk Road and the Canal, two mileS in rear'
of which the camp of the Gwalior Contingent was pitched,
and so covered the Ca'pee road. This was the line of
retreat of that bedy.
In short, the canal, along which were placed his centre
and right, was the main feature of his position, and could
only be passed in the latter direction by two bridges.
It appeared to me, if his right were vigorously attacked,
that it would be driven from its position without assist.
ante coming from other parts of his line, the wall of the
town, which gave shelter to our attacking columns on our
right, being an effective obstacle to the movement of any
portion of his troops from his left to right.
Thus the possibility became apparent of attacking his
division in detail. . .

From intelligence received, before and after the action,
there seems to be little doubt that, in consequence of the
arrival of the four regiments from Oude, and the gathering
of various mutinous corps which had suffered in previous
actions, as well as the assemblage of all the Nana's followers,
the strength of the enemy now amounted to about 25,000
men, with all the guns belonging to the contingent, some
(36) thirty-sir in number, together with a few guns
belonging to the Nana.
Orders were given to General Windham, on the morn-
ing of the 6th, to open a heavy bombardment at 9 a.m.
from the entrenchment in the old cantonment, and so
induce the belief in the enemy that the attack was coming

from the General's position.
The camp was struck early, and all the baggage driven
down to the river side under a guard, to avoid the slightest
risk of accident.

-.
Brigadier Greathead, reinforced by the 64th Regiment,*
was desired to hold the same ground opposite the centre
of the enemy, which he had been occupying for some days
past, as above mentioned, and at 11 a.m. the rest of the
force+ was drawn xi) in contiguous columns in rear of some
old cavalry lines, and effectually masked from the obser-
vation of the enemy.
The cannonade from the entrenchment having become
slack at this time, the moment had arrived for the attack
to commence.
The cavalry and horse artillery having been sent to make
a detour on the left and across the canal, by a bridge a
mile and a half further up, and threaten the enemy's roar.
The infantry deployed in parallel lines fronting the
canal.

--13rigadier Hope's Brigade was in advance in one lino,
Brigadier Inglis 's Brigade being in rear of Brigadier Hope.
At the same time Brigadier Walpole, assisted by Captain
Smith's field battery, Royal Artillery, was directed to pass
the bridge immediately to the left of Brigadier Greathed's
position, and to drive the enemy from the brisk-kilns,
keeping the wall of the city for his guide.
The whole attack then proceeded, the enemy quickly
responding from his proper right, to the fire of our heavy
and field artillery.
Good use was made of these guns by Captain Peel, C. 8.,
R.N., and the Artillery Officers under Major-General
Dupuis, C. 8., 8.A., Brigadier Crawford, R A., and Major
Turner, B.A.
The Seikhs, of the 4th Punjaub Infantry, thrown into
I skirmishing order, supportd by H.M.'s 53d Foot, attacked
the enemy in some old mounds and brick-kilns to our left,
with great vigour.
The advance then continued with rapidity, along the
whole line, and I had the satisfaction of observing, in the
distance, that Brigadier Walpole was making equal pro-
gress on the right.
The canal bridge was quickly passed, Capt. Peel leading
over it with a heavy gun, accompanied by a soldier of Her
Majesty's 53d, named Hannaford.
The troops which had gathered together, resuming their
line of formation with great rapidity on either side as soon
as it was crossed, and continuing to drive the enemy at all
points, his camp being reached and taken at 1 p.m., and his
route being complete along the Calpee-road.
I must here draw attention to the manner in which the
heavy 24-pounder guns were impelled and managed by
Captain Peel and his gallant sailors.
Through the extraordinary energy and good-will with
which the latter have worked, their guns have been con-
stantly in advance throughout our late operations, from
the relief of Lucknow till now, as if they were light field
pieces, and the service rendered by them in clearing our
front has been incalculable. Oa this occasion there was
the sight beheld of 24. pounder guns advancing with the
first line of skirmishers.

Without losing any time, the pursuit with cavalry, in-
fantry, and light artillery was pressed with the greatest
eagerness to the 14th milestone on the Calpee road, and I
have reason to believe that every gun and cart of ammuni-
tion, which had been in that part of the enemy's position,
which had been attacked, now fell into our possession.
I had the satisfaction of accompanying the troops en-
gaged in the pursuit, and of being able to bear witness to
their strenuous endeavours to make the most of the suc-
cess which had been achieved.
When I passed the camp and went forward on the Cal-
pee road, Major-General Mansfield was desired by me to
make arrangements for the attack of the position called
the Subadar's Tank, which extended round the left rear of

the enemy's position in the old cantonments. A- this
operation was a separate one, I bsg to inclose, for your
Lordship's consideration, the Major-General's own narra-
tive.

--.
The troops having returned from the pursuit at
midnight ou the 6th, and their baggage having reached
them on the afternoon of the next day, Brigadier-General
Grant was detached in pursuit on the Bth, with the
cavalry, some light artillery, and a brigade of infantry,
with orders to destroy public buildings belonging to the
Nana Sahib at Bithoor, and to press on to Sergi Ghat, 25
miles from hence, if he had good tidings of the retreating
enemy. This duty was admirably performed by the Bri-
gadier-General, and he caught the enemy when he was
about to cross the river with his remaining guns.
The Brigadier-General attacked him with great vigour,
and by the excellent disposition he made of his force, suc-
ceeded in taking every gun the enemy possessed, without
losing a single man. I have the pleasure to enclose the
Brigadier-General's report foi your Lordship's perusal.
It nbw remains for me to bring to your Lordship's
notice, the officers who have distinguished themselves
during the series of operations which have occurred under
my own eyes, since this field force left the neighbourhood
of Lucknow.

I have a particular pleasure in again bringing to your
Lordship's notice the zeal and great ability with which
Major-General W. R. Mansfield, chief of the staff, has
conducted the vary important duties of his high position,
and of my obligations to him for the most valuable assist-
ance he has afforded me during the whole of the recent
operations. I desire also to call your lordship's attention
to the able and distinguished manner in whioh he con-
ducted the troops pliced under his orders, after the
enemy's centre had been divided, to the attack of their
strong position at the Subadar'a Tank, and to recommend
to your lordship's favourable consideration the names of
the officers who assisted him.
I have to thank Brigadier-General Hope Grant, C. 8.,
very particularly for the admirable manner in which he
has conducted thedutiesof the force and more particularly
for his exertions on the 6th Dec., and the capital opera-
tions he performed on the Bth and 9th. The Brigadier-
General speaks in the highest terms of his divisional and
personal staff, viz., Capt. W. Hamilton, Deputy-Assistant
Adjutant-General ; Pent. F. S. Roberts, Deputy-Assistant
Quartermaster-General ; Capt. the Hon. A. H. Hanson,
Aide-de-Camp; Lieut. C. W. Havelock, Extra Aide-de-
Camp ; and Capt. H. M, Wilson, Deputy Judge-Advocate
General.
I have the greatest satisfaction in bringing to your
Lordship's notice Brigadiers Greathed, the Hon. A. Hope,
Walpole, and Inglis. These officers have all exerted them-
selves to the utmost, and have fully justified my expecta-
tions. They desire to record their obligations to the offi-
cers commanding corps in their respective brigades, and to
their brigade staff, as follows :
Captain Hinde, her Majesty's Bth Regiment ; Lieut.-
Colonel Wells, her Majesty's 231 Fusiliers; Major Lowe,
Commanding her Majesty's 32d Regiment; Lieutenant.
Colonel Kelly, her Majesty's 38th Regiment; Lieutenant-
' Colonel Thorold, her Majesty's 42d Highlanders ; Colonel
Faber, her Majesty's 53d Regiment ; Major Bingham,
her Majesty's 64th Regiment ; Lieutenant-Colonel Hale,
her Majesty's 82d Regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel Leith
Hay, her Majesty's 93d Highlanders ; Lieutenant-Colonel
Horsford, 3d Battalion Rifle Brigade • Lieutenant-Colonel
Fyers, 2d Battalion Rifle Brigade; Captain Green, Com-
manding 2d Punjaub Infantry ; Lieutenant W. C. L.
Ryves, Commanding 4th.Punjaub Rifles; Captain J. M.
Bannatyne, Brigade Major 3d Brigade; Captain 3. H.
Cox, Brigade Major 4th Brigade; Captain Lightfoot,
Brigade Major sth Brigade ; Lieutenant C. A. Harwell,
Brigade Major 6th Brigade.
Owing to his knowledge of the ground, I requested
Major-General Windham to remain in command of the
entrenchment. the fire of which was a very important fea-
ture in the operations of the Gth December, although I
felt and explained to General Windham, that it was a
command hardly worthy of an officer of his rank. He gave
me every satisfaction, and I have to thank him accord-
ingly.
I must particularly notice the exertions of Captain H.
W. Norman, Assistant Adjutant-General of the Army, of
Captain Herbert Bruce, Deputy Quartermaster-General ;
and of Captain J. H. Smyth, Bengal Artillery; the latter
of whom has been requested by me to take command of
the artillery in the entrenchment, as a special duty.
a vaenndo
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I desire also to bring to your lordship's favourable notice
stohneal s
officers on
of myself o
ontheGenerar Major-General General Staff'
or-ooreibieerlaoingminagnstofietlhde Per-
Captain 11. R. Garden, Assistant Quartermaster-Gal:era' ;
Lieutenant G. Allgood, and Captain T. A. Casey, De-
puty-Assistants Quartermaster - General ; Captain G.
C. Hatch, Dep'ity Judge Advocate-General of the
Army ; Captain Sir David Baird, Bert., my first Aide-
fit'.
o
Ca. mee
n;
nCo Captain t aRi noyJa
Metcalfe,
EActing-Assistant Adjutant-General, her Majesty's Forces;
ngine ers I;ntCearppt%tn er
W. Lieutenanttidb n ,
General to the Chief of the Staff; Lieutenant F. M. Ali-
son, Hope Johnstone, Deputy-Assistant Aeljutant-
tain Mansfield and Lieutenant D. M. Murray, Aide-de-
soil, and Captain Forster, my Aides-dc Camp ; and Cal,-
Camp and Extra Aide-do-Camp to the Chief of the Staff.
To the craw of her Majesty's ship Shannon, and to the