The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-04 00:00:00

GENERAL WALPOLE'S DEFEAT.

" General Walpole's column left Lucknow on the Bth a
April, marching for Rohilcund, on the left or Oude bank
of the Ganges. In the course of his march he came upon
one of the many forts in which Oade abounds on the 14th
inst. The place is called Rhodamow ; it is a mere high
wall enclosing some houses, with loopholes for musketry,
some irregular bastions at the angles, and two gate?,
both on the same face of the work. Brigadier Wal-
pole's column was a complete army in itself, consisting
of 5,000 or 6,C00 British infantry, cavalry, field and
siege guns, and mortars. As he advanced in the
neighbourhood of this fort, which was placed in a jungle,
he heard that a body of 1,500 of the enemy had thrown
themselves into the place, and without, as it would ap-
pear, obeying the instructions he had received, and he
general orders forbidding any attack on such positions
except with heavy artillery, the Brigadier ordered or per-
mitted an attack, which was completely unsuccessful.
Part of the 42.1 Highlanders and of the 4th Punjab regi-
ment (Wyld's) proceeded to the assault, but they were
received with such a tremendous fire from an almost un-
seen enemy that they were unable to continue their ad-
vance, and as Brigadier Adrian Hope was engaged under
the very walls in restoring order and getting the men to-
gether to retire he was shot dead by a Sepoy from above.
Bramley and Douglas of the 42d regiment were also
killed. Willoughby, of the Punjabees, a most excellent
officer, was struck down never to ride again, and Cope of
the same regiment, and Cockburn of the 42d, were se-
verely wounded. Of the 96 men of the Punjaub regiment
there were 45 killed and wounded, and in the 42d High-
landers these were in a short time 55 casualties. B. igatiier
Walpole then brought up his artillery and began to shell
the place, but so badly was the investing operation con-
ducted that in the course of the night the enemy were
enabled to evacuate the place without molestation, although
the gates, as I have said, were both on the same face of the
work, and when we entered next morning all we found were
the bodies of three Sepoys, some attar, flour, and it is said,
five guns. Had the whole of the enemy loson destroyed
it would have been but sorry compensation for the
loss of Adrian Hope. Of conspicuous gallantry among
gallant men, of untiring zeal, of great shrewdness and
common sense, he possessed a gentleness of manner and
kindness of heart, evidenced in all his acts, which endeared
him to all who served with him or under him, and which
strengthened the confidence they felt in his high soldierly
qualities. His loss is at this juncture irreparable- at any
time it would be pave and lamentable. Brigadier Wal-
pole's despatch, no doubt, will be published, and we shall
then see what is his account of the transaction. It is with
no sinister or unfair object I mention the fact that this
gallant officer has had little experience in the field ; that
much of his time has been passed on the staff and in the
Mediterranean, and not in high regimental employ, and
that he obtained the command of the splendid force he
temporarily leads because he was one of the senior colonels
of this army. . . . It turns out that there were not
300 of the enemy in the fort. The attack was mismanaged
—officers and men were uselessly sacrificed, and their loss
was not avenged. At the very moment that the Sikh's and
the 42d were desperately clambering up the walls of the
fort, helping each other up by hand and leg and firelock,
and just as they were getting at the enemy, they wets re•
called, and in their retreat they suffered as much as in the
attack. It is stated that there was a passage where the
cavalry could have got in, but that they were not per-
mitted to make the attempt. The men were furious at
the repulse, and clamoured loudly to be led to the
assault.. The Sikhs had lost Willoughby, and Cope
was wounded. The 93d had lost Adrian Hope.
The 42d left the bodies of Bromley, Douglas, and many
gallant comrades behind them. In the middle of the fight
Adrian Hope, ever regardless of his own life where the
lives of his soldiers were concerned, rushed to the
wall of the fort to withdraw the men. His aide-de-camp
Butter said to him, " The fire is very hot, General." As
he spoke the Brigadier fell, shot from above through the
neck, shoulder, and lungs. He said, "They have done for
me; Remember me to my friends," and died in a few
seconds. At the funeral, which was most affecting, the
93d wept like children for their beloved Colonel. There
WAR not a dry eye in Bramley's company as his body was
borne to the grave. His body and that of Douglas were
recovered by the most darins, gallantry, which will not, I
trust, go unrewarded. When the men retired, Simpson,
the quartermaster-sergeant of the regiment, hearing that
two officers were left on the ground, rushed out to the
ditch of the work, and, seizing the corpse of poor Biamley,
brought it in ou his shoulders. He next s'arted out and
recovered the body of Douglas in the same way, and then,
undeterred by the incessant fusillade of the enemy, this
gallant soldier again and again renewed his labours, and
never ceased till he had carried in the bodies of five more
of his comrades. Two men were killed in attempting to
imitate this noble soldier. Does he not well deserve the Vic-
toriaCross?,Walpole's subsequent march was more successful,
for on the 22d the artillery and cavalry had a fight of their
own with the enemy, and took four guns and their camp,
inflicting on them such loss that they fled across the Ram-
gunge at Allygunge, without attempting to destroy the
bridge they had constructed across the river, so that we
not only secured Allygunge, but the means of sending our
siege train over the Ramgunga at the very spot where it
was desired to do so.
MOVEMENTS OF SIR COLIN. _

Sir Colin crossed the Ganges on the 27th ; was at Jel-
lalabad on the 23th •, joined by Walpole on the 29th or
30th ; and the united force entered Shahjehanpore without
opposition on the 3 th or the Ist of this mouth,
Meanwhile the Roorkee field force under Col. Jones,
of the GOth Rifles, as Brigadier, having crossed into Rohil-
culla from Hurdwar on 16th, and scattered the enemy who
opposed their passage, entered Nujeebabad on the 18th.
The Nawab had fled to Bareilly; his palace was sacked and
burnt. His brother was taken and immediately hanged.
It was thought that the Commander-in-Chief would be
before Bareilly by about the sth of this month. No great
amount of resistance is looked for.