The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-27 00:00:00

THE INDIAN MUTINIES.

--
The following is from au officer serving before
Delhi :

" Camp before Delhi, Aug. 26.
"My dear father,-Since I last wrote t 4 you I
have had such hard, work and such exposure as I
never had before in my long life, but, thank Hea-
ven, here I am safe and sound and back again in
camp. Hodson was sent out with his new regi-
ment, and a squadron of the Guides, 104 strong,
under me, to watch a large party of the enemy who
had gone*into the R)htuk district. Our force was
in all about 350 cavalry—all, except the Guides,
belonging to Hodson's own corps. The officers
were Hodson, commanding, Ward, Wise, M`Dowell,
Hugh, and myself. The first day we marched to
1
a place called Khurkonda, but such a march 1
We had to go through water for miles up to the
horses' girths. We took Khurkonda by surprise,
and Hodson immediately placed men over the gates
and we went in: Shot one scoundrel instanter
cut down another, and took,a Ressaldar (native'
officer), and
.some Sowers (troopers) prisoners,
and came to a house occupied by some more, who would not let us in at all ; at last, we
rushed in and found the rascals had taken to the
upper story, and still kept us at bay. There was
only one door and a kirkee (window) ; I
shoved in my head through the door, with a pistol
in my hand, and got a clip over my turban tor nay
pains ; my pistol, missed fire at the man's breast
(you must seed me a revolver), so I got out of that
as fast 1 could, and then tried the kirkee with the
other barrel, and very nearly got another cut. We
tried every means to get in, but could not, so we
fired the house, and out they rushed a muck among
us. The first fellow went at Hugh (the writer's
brother) who wounded him, butt somehow or o her
he slipped .and fell on his back. I saw him fall,
and thinking he was hurt rushed to the rescue. A.
Guide got a chop at the fellow, and I gave him
such a swinging back-bander that, he fell dead. I
then went at another fellow rushing by my left, and
sent my, sword through him, like butter, and bagged
him. , I then looked round and saw a sword come
crash on the shoulders of a poor little boy ; oh,
such a cut, and up went the sword again, and the
next moment the boy would have been in eternity,
but I ran forward and covered him with my swerd
and saved him. During this it was over with
seven men. Ward had shot one with his revolver,
and the other four were cut down at once. Hugh
I found was all right, only a slight out just above
the wrist. Having polished off these fellows, we
held an impromptu court-martial, on those we had,
taken, and shot them all—murderers every one,
who were justly rewarded for their deeds. Next
day we continued our march and got to Rohtuk on.
the 17th of August, where some Sowars and the
people of the town turned out against us, but fled
like sheep before the Guides led by Hugh and my
self, but we managed to cut up 13 of them. Nei
morning we were surprised to find a party of
Sowars galloping down upon us—so plucky, but
we sent them galloping back—so funky ! We
then formed up, and the enemy came within 300
yards of us, but-a few mime rile balls sent thica
off. They they then tried to come upon our flank,
but we would not admit that at any price. At
last, as the ground was unfavourable for cavalry,
we retired and brought them out in the open,
when we charged and they bolted. I got a cropper
over a hedge and ditch in which my horse
had fallen, but picked myself up and continued the
pursuit, and soon caught up a couple of Sowats ; one
fellow fired at me, but missed me, and off they both
bolted. I put my spurs into Cavalier's sides and
quickly overtook the rearmost man, and equally
quickly polished him off. I then went after the
other and caught him up, when he had the imper.
tinence to try and frighten me by presenting his
matchlock at me, but this was too good, seeing that
he had just fired it at me. I rode at him and gave
him a cut on the neck, which he did not like At alla
wfinhicehflerlieotwurnf:sodtnnyhaissescaoduddiecu;t, which
and he struck me over the shoulders with his match.
mydone for yet, and I turned my horinieutani
rode at him; he came at me in a furious
dlworacoskppneod barrel,t
made a terrific cut at my leg,
as cool as a cucumber, and yin
d I guarded, an
p'
ipaoyi
endt omnee .;
lirage and
the most scientific
mfanancynetrh,ertretiucrknehde
And now can yok
e actually seized
my sword in his hand, and before I could get it out cut me over the head ; but, as that was ensconced
in a basket helmet enveloped in a most voluminous
Guide pugree (t urba n ) , the
Iblowlwovres
rdweitidtuhrnnhoei takehis
to effect.
camp
I was not going to give him another chance, and
drove my horse right at him and sent my sword
into him as far as 1 could ; the consequence was. he
had not room for a cutat me, but hit and
o aweoeuincitecthe
my gallant little horse on the cheek.
holver,
iGmutidfiegshtthineng
tcoamtheeulia)sra he wase
tshoeonfedlli
ospwlssentd
areof,
ghllheadvthe other troop of
chest in thre"
in my possession.
the Guides, anddosfhitootHhtwut-uk•f:her
more daysninarfleie,
but his mare got a bullet ma
neighbourhood After knocking
we
ibofuort 6,00ew0 first-rate infantry
yesterday. haabvoena
and when the siege
train comes we may set to work and do something
and a lot of cavalry, • -
in camp,
1 against Delki, but General Wilson is very cautions,
and will not hazard anything.
uto the newspapers for more I must now refs')
you _
newo." .
general and publo.