The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-30 00:00:00

THE RELIEF OF LUCKNO W.

The following summary of the events attending
Genera Havelock',l march on Lucknow is extracted
from the Bomb:ty

g, o,lr pap, r of the 17th ult. contain .ng tidings
from Otwnporo to the 2d of o:;tober' and from
Luckr:ow to the 29th of September. At this hal tt.r
date the Residency, which hadbeen relieved on the
25;h, Was k pt possession of, the greeter portion
of the city itself having been captured ; but the
enemy stall continued in such alarming strength
that apprehensions were entained that Havelock,
with Ids un,ler-siz d and overworLed arm y, might
-be cut off from supplies or succour. Having gal-
lantly main,ained himself to the last, he must have
been joined about the 24th of October by her
Majesty's 53d and 93d Regiments from Cawnpore,
and within four days afterwards by the whole of

Greathed's flying column, so as once more to take
the field and hunt down the enemy. We are now
enabled somewhat to extend the verylimited amount
of information we a fortnight since possessed in re-
ference to the operations between the 24th and
29th, although our intelligence is still sufficiently
imperfect,—it is only from the latter of these dates
that it is now. The enemy had a formidable in-
trenchment thrown up and armed with 50 pieces of
cannon at a place called Alumbagh, a country re-
sidence of the Princess of Onde, about three miles
from Lucknow, on the Cawnpore side. It is de-
scribed as consisting of a large house with a high
wall all round, and an enclosure of about 500 yards
square. But the convoy was too weak and exhausted
to etir, and here the first of a series of contests,
which lasted more than 12 hours, began. Having
captured all the'r guns and driven the enemy from
their outwork, it was found sufficiently strong to be
maintained by a party of the 64th Foot, under
Major Sibley, and here accordingly the sick, the
wounded, and the baggage were left behind. Be-
tween Allumbagh and Lucknow is an extensive
plain traversed by a wide canal. Havelock, with
the main body of the force, crossed this by a bridge
which the enemy, hanging close upon our rear, im-
mediately destroyed, occupying a position on the
bank of the canal, so as to divide the two portions
of our force from each other. Nearly a day was
occupied by Gen. Havelock in forcing his way to
the Residency through the city. The resistance
was determined, and the casualties—nearly 500 out
of a force of 2,ooo—very severe. On reaching the
Residency, he was still fired on by the enemy, from
batteries recently thrown up, and which required
to be stormed in succession, and were carded
at the point of the bayonet. Here fell the gal-
lant General Neill—the hero and the idol alike
of the army, with Major Perrin, and Lieute-
nants Graham, Preston, and Nunn, of her Ma-
jesty's 90th. Here also fell Colonel Hamilton,
Captain Hay and Lieutenant F.wansun, of the
78th, Lieut. Haig, of the sth Fusilier*, besides
Captain Shute, and Lieuts. Turner and Maternal],
of the 64th, with above 30 wounded, many of them
severely. The communications betwixt the two
portions of our force being thus completely cut off,
those betwixt Alumbagh and Cawnpore were very
imperfectly maintained. On the 26th severe fight-
ing continued, and for the next four days heavy
firing was almost incessant. By this time above two
miles of the town had fallen into our hands, and
the weakness of our force alone prevented the re-
mainder from being secured. Havelock had reached
Lucknow with 2,800 in all. Of these nearly 600
had been disabled, and about as many more had
been left at Alumbagh, s that when joined to the
Residency garr srn, about 1,000 strong, he he d
scarcely his original number, to meet a force of
above 50,000 in the field against him, though, with
courage and menag ment such as could be relied
upon, enough to maintain themselves iu the Resi-
dency, and bombard and cannonade the city. The
difficulties of the Residency were such, that Have-
lock was left no time to wait at Cawnpore for rein-
forcements, and the original intention ,was to re-
lieve. the garrison, escort tee women and children
to a place of safety, and then resume the offensive.
Here Outram remained will 1,500 men, levelling
the various buildings which hemmed them in and
commanded them while Havelock operated out-
side. For a time the force was separated into three
—Havelock, at the Bales Guard, being cat off from
all communication with Outram. They are luckily
once more reunited. On the 3d a convoy of 300
men of the 64th, commanded by Major BingLatn,
with provisions, left Cawnpore, but were able to
get no further on than Alumbagh, where they left
their supplies, returning to Cawnpore without
having experienced any molestation either on their
advance or return. On the 11th a party of 150
arrived at the latter pace from the former, bring-
ing with thorn a large number of camels and
elephants to assist in carrying back the prove
sears. On the 14th a second convoy, under
Major Melutyre, of the 78th Highlanders, was de-
spatched. He was obliged, however, to intrench him-
self, when within four miles of his destination, re-
turning his stores, which he was not strong enough
to protect, and await reinforcements. Alutuba,h
was now occupied by 1,000 men. The approaches
e commanded by heavy gnus, and the ground
cleared and exposed in all directions to the distance
of about 500 yards.