The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-24 00:00:00

charger was hors de combat, I had no choice but to
mount mppony Donald. I had my doubts about
my new charger, a very pretty little toast, and per-
fect in every respect except courage, being one of
the most determined shyers that I have ever seen.
However, I had no choice for it, so I mounted, and
in due course of time I found myself at the Cash-
mere-gate. Our columns had entered, and one had
even penetrated as far as the Bank, but being un-
able to withstand the murderous fire was compelled
to retreat. It was with the greatest difficulty that
I could keep my seat, for on reaching the branch
roads outside the Cashmere-gate the bullets and
shot of all descriptions were flying about like hail,
and one which struck close to the hoofs of my pony -
frightened him so that he became quite unmanage-
able.
However, I got him through the gate, and
a fearful sight it was that met my eyes.
" Aportion of our troops had esc aladedthebastion.
walls close to the gate; others had scrambled up two
large breaches in the walls and bastion near Treasury.
The remainder had entered at the gate itself, which
had been blown open by one of our officers. The
latter was really the hazardous duty of the day, and
was most gallantly performed, though in broad
daylight. The explosion party consisted of Lieuts.
Home and Salkeld of our corps, a few sappers and
a bugler of H.M.'s 52d. On their nearing the gate
they found it slightly open, with a number of mus-
kets protruding at the opening. They were received
with a volley, which killed and wounded a number.
Still, however, they advanced, and fixed their
powder bags on to the gate. Sergeant Carmichael,
of the Sappers, tried to light the port-fire attached
to the bags, but was shot dead in the attempt.
After him Sergeant Burness, of the Sappers, tried,
but fell, pierced with three bullets. After Sergeant
Burners, Salkeld tried, but fell into the ditch, shot
in the leg, which is broken, and in the arm, which
has been amputated. Sergeant Smith, of the Sap-
pers, tried next, and he and Home between them
happily succeeded without a wound. Seeing the
portfire well a-light the whole party jumped into
the ditch, and the enemy, little dreaming of what
had been done, continued firing till the explosion
took place, so you may fancy what effect it took.
20 of the mutineers strewed the road inside the -
gate, not one of whom would it have been possible
to recognise, and this was the first sight that met my
eyes at the gate. Little wonder that Donald re-
fused to move ; however, finally he did, and got as .
far as the centre of the main guard, beyond which
nothing would urge him. It was perfect agony
keeping my seat, and I would have given worlds to .
dismount—but walking was out of the question,*
it was anything but an agt eeable fix to be in. I
felt how perfectly useless I was, and being the
only mounted man theta in the open space, fully
accounted for the number of bullets whistling past
my ears. There was no help for it, so I had to
make my way back to camp as I beat could,
fully convinced of my own folly. You may
imagine I ha I done neither leg nor ankle much
good by the trip, and I had not many oppor-
tunities of seeing the remainder of the operations.
We progressed slowly after this for two days, ,
but having obtained possession of the magazine con-
taining about 130 guns there could no longer be
much doubt as to the result. The enemy, who had
hitherto so stoutly resisted us, was losing heart,
though he bad succeeded in beating us back with
loss and kept us at bay at two or three points.
Daily and nightly large numbers continued to leave
the city till the 20th, when we found ourselves in
perfect possession, and the entire city evacuated.
Immediately on receiving news of the evacuation I
started fur the palace. You can have no conception
of the scene of confusion—Riflemen, Goorkhas, .
Sikhs, and Punjabees quarrelling over their plunder
—and such plunder to quarrel about ! Old counter-
panes, dirty blankets, tin and copper pots and pans,
sepoys' red coats, baskets, papers, packets of tinsel,
bottles of rose water and otto of roses lying here,
there, and everywhere, and the whole place in a
state of squalor and wretchedness passing all de•
scripiion. On turning into the gardens in front of
Douglas's stables I found myself alone. I cannot
tell you what a scene of desolation presented itself
to my eyes. The garden had been an encamping
ground of the sepoys, and everything bore witness
to its having been deserted in hot haste. The.tents
were still standing, but it seemed as if everybody
had taken his armful out of the boxes, and without
caring for what might drop, had made the best of
his way out of the place. The stillness, too, after the
noise and riot I bad just quitted, was really appal-
ling, and I stood at the foot of the stairs stupefied
as with a heated atmosphere and unable to move.
I was roused by hearing three cheers from the apart-
meni s above me. . . . We have captured the
King, his two sons and grandson—the three last
(among whom was Mirza Mogul Bay) were most
deservedly shot before they ware brought into the
city, where their badie3 were exposed in the
Chandney Chouk."

The following letter has been addressed to the
Editor of the Times:—

" Sir,—l send you a copy of an extract of a re- )
port, dated September 17, from Colonel Baird _
Smith to Major-General Wilson, which has,-
not yet, I believe, appeared in any of the
papers, and its publication will be not only most
gratifying to the parents and friends of the gallant
men mentioned therein, but will bring to the notice
of the public the real facts of that desperate duty
of blowing up the Cashuaere-ga'e.
You have already prominently mentioned Lieu'.
Salkeld's name, and 1 am sure Lieut` Home's gal-
lant and cool conduct on tthat memorable event
equally deserves the encomiums of his countrymen;
indeed, all of that party proved and showed them-
selves noble and gallant fellows. But Lieutenant.
Home's name appears evidently to have been in-
advertently omitted in the Brigad'ef's report ; hew" ,
ever, Col. B. Smith on questioning one of the Bur-
vivori learnt that Lieut. Home was of the part-Y,
whereupon Col. B. Smith ordered Lieut.-Home tO
make a report on the subject, when, of course, the
whole came out ; and the following is.a copy of the
13th paragraph of the Chief Engineer's rerrt'
which will speak for itself how ably and efficien'll
that duty was performed by Lieut. Home and Sal-
keld's party on the 14th of S.pt. last :
" Par. 13. The ga'lantry with which the explosion
party, under Lieuts. Home and Salkeld, performed the
desperate duty of blowing up the Cashmere-gate, in
broad daylight, will, I feel sure, be held to justify 111°
in
making special mention of it. The party was compeseu/
in addition to the two officers named, of the following
—Sergeants J; Smith and A. B. Carmichael, and Cor-
poral Burgess, Sappers and Miners ; Bugler Hawthorne!
her Majesty's 52d, 14 native sappers and miners, 14/
Punjab ditto, musters covered by the fire of her Ma-
jesty's 60th Rifles. The party advanced at the double
towards the Cashmere-gate. Lieut. Home, with Ser-
geants Smith and Carmichael, and Havildar Mahor, all
the sappers leading and. carrying the powder bags, f,°l-
- by Lieutenant Salkeld, Corporal Burgess, and s
portion of the remainder of the party. The advanced
b
party reached the • gateway unhurt; and found that
part of the drawbridge had been destroyed ; but
passing across the precarious footway suPPlie
powder bags against the gate. The wicket was open, sod
by the remaining beam., they proceeded to lodge their,
powder bags against the gate. The wicket was open, and
through it the enemy kept up a heavy. fire nPen
them. Sergeant Carmichael was killed while by-
ing hit powder bag, Havildar Mahor being at the
same time wounded. The powder being laid, the
advanced party slipped down into, the ditch to allow
the firing party, under Lieut. Salkeld, to perform
its duty. While eadeavoutiug to fire the &Jorge
Lieut. Salkeld was shot through the arm and leg,
and handed over the slow match to Corporal Bur-
gess, just as ho ha-l' successfully accomplished the
onerous duty. Havildar With Sing, of the Sikhs,
was wounded, and Ramloll Sepoy of the same corps
was killed during this part of the operation. The
demolition being most succe=sful, Lieut. Home,
happily not iir.uude.l, caused the bugler to sound
the regimental call of the 52d, as the signal for the
advancing columns. Fearing that amid the noise
of the assault the .sounds might not be heard, he had
the call repeated three times, when the troops ad-
vanced and carried the gateway w:th complete sue'
ces. I feel certain that a simple statement of this
devoted and glorious deed will suffice to stamp it as
one of the noblest on record in military history.
The perfect success contributed most materially to
the brilliant result of the day, and Deutenante
Home and Salkeld, with their gallant subordinate
Europeans and natives, wdl, 1 doubt not, receive
the rewards which valour before the enemy SO dig"

tinguiithed as theirs has entitled them to. .
Trusting the al ove will be worthy of insertion in
your valuable and widely, circulated paper,
I remain, yours obediently,

BIRTHS.
OP A SON
Oa the 23d inst., at 9, Dorset-square, the wife of Sir 00°'
Edmund Hodgkinson.

OF A DAVOUTER,
On the 2'st inst., at Croydon, the wife of Samuel Lee
Rymer, Esq.
On the 21st inst., at Thames Bitten, the wife of E•
Hotham, ELq.

MA Itlt I ED.
On the 21st inst., P t Peng°, Surrey, John Dann, Esq.',
Clephane road, Canonbur, -park, to Mary Ann, daughter 0.•
the late George Bacon, Esq of Wells:

DIED.
On the 13th inst , at Butvillo, Kingsbridge, Devon, Bear-
Admiral Hawkins, aged 73.
On the 19th inst., the Rev. Wi Liam Turner, 3i. A., Pre-
bendary of Chichester, and vicar of Boxgrove, Sussex.
On the 18th inst., at Motley sank Bowdon, Cheshire, T.
Esq,, proprietor of the Manchester Courier, aged 68.

LONDON s Printed and Published by MURDO YOUN( •
of No, 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, N.
112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the countl
of Middlesex, Tuesday, November 24, 1857.