The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-20 00:00:00

THE BOMBAY MAIL.

By extraordinary express in anticipation of the
Overland Mail we have received advices and papers
from Bombay to the 25th ult.
(From the Bombay Standard.)
TANTIA. TOPEE.

In our last summary Tantia Topee, Rao Saheb
—the so-called Peishwa—and the Nawab of Banda,
were described as being still at large and on their
road to the Nerbudda, our columns being completely
distanced in the pursuit. Since then Central India
has ceased to be the scene of rebel exploits, it hav-
ing been transferred to the country lying between
the Tepee and Nerbudda. One chief of the three,
the Nawab of Banda, has already surrendered, and
we expect soon to hear that Tantia Topee and the
Rao have followed his example, or have been cap-
tured by the detachments in pursuit of them.
It was at Sohagpore that the first intimation was
received that one of the rebel chiefs, at least, de-
sired to surrender. That chief, however, was not
Tantia Topee, but the Nawab of Banda. A servant
of his was arrested at the Post Office in the act of
dispatching two letters from his master—one ad-
dressed to Sir Robert Hamilton, another to Capt.
Kerr. In the latter the Nawab declared that he
had all along been a prisoner, which was not true,
for it was very well known that he com-
manded Tantia's horse—and that he desired
to surrender if he were assured of protection.
The servant seemed to have had instructions, if
caught, to corroborate this tale ; for he stated on
examination, that the Nawab was watched night
and day, was much broken in health and spirits,
and had been a prisoner to the Rao ever since Sir
Hugh Rose's advance on Calpee. It was ascer-
tained from the same source that the force under
the three chiefs still amounted to 2,200 infantry,
all mounted on tattoos, and 1,800 cavalry—the sth,
Bth Bengal and Gwalior Irregular Cavalry. That
the Rao, who usually rides on an elephant preceded
by a band of country music, nominally held su-
preme command, Tantia Topee being only Com-
mander-in-Chicf. That the Banda Nawab had left
all his jewels behind him, but that his wives and
family were with the rebels. That these, however,
carried all their wealth with them, and were
covered with jewels. As to the condition of the
force it was described as very low, the horses and
elephants being much beaten, the men wearied and
dispirited, and Tantia comparatively without
authority. It was further stated that the sepoys,
in their disheartened state, regretted what they
called the good old times—laid the mutiny on their
officers' shoulders, and cursed them as the cause of
their present altered circumstances.
Tantia, it seems, reached the Nerbudda on the
30th of October, crossed it on the 31st, halted
the next day, and having won the Rajah of
Futtehp-ore to his side, occupied that place
on the night of the 2d. The news of Kerr's
advance on Bhilsa was the sole cause of his
retreat from that place, which, but for this, would
infallibly have been plundered. Sohagpore was
saved in a similar manner by the advance from
Hosungabad. The rebels were still at Futtehpore,
a large town situated at the foot of a low range of
hills, backed by the Putehmurree mountains, which
are some forty miles deep and quite unsuited for
cavalry.
It was bclivcd, however, that once in the Putch-
murrees, the rebels must be lost if the Nagpore,
Jubbulpore, Nursingpore, and Baitool forces were
moved to a common centre ; provisions would
utterly fail and the rebels must be captured.
The hope entertained by Kerr, that the Goonds
would rise, and that Tantia Topee would fail to
penetrate the defiles of the Putchmurree Hills,
were not realised. Tantia Topee succeeded in sur-
mounting all difficulties, and in advancing in a