The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-17 00:00:00

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

Lieut. Duncan C. Home, who with Lieut. Sal-
keld so highly distinguished himself at the assault
of Delhi, was the eldest surviving son of Major-
General R. Hume, of the Bengal Army, and born
at Jubbulpore in 1828. He joined the army under
Major-General Whish, before Mooltan, in 1848,
and when lately in charge of the Ist division of the
Baree Dooab Canal, he organised a body of three
companies of Sappers from the workmen (Muzbees)
under his command, and in July joined the army
before Delhi. On the arrival of Gen. Nicholson's
force he was charged with the construction of one
of the first breaching batteries on the right, and
afterwards constructed the battery nearest the city
from which the Water-bastion was breached. He
remainedin charge of this battery until the assault.
When under a murderous fire from an open wicket
be affixed the powder bags to the Cashmere-gate, 6
out of 12 of this advance party were shot, and in
firing the train the lamented Salkeld lost his life.
After gaining an entrance to the city Lieut. Home,
one of the few fit for duty (nine out of the 17 En-
gineer officers who went into action having been
killed or wounded), was attached to the third
column, and to him was assigned the duty of blow-
ing in the Palace-gate, where his uncle, Mr. Simon
Fraser, Commissioner of Delhi, one of the first vic-
tims of the mutiny, met his death. On the evacua-
tion of the city by the rebels Lieut. Home was
attached to the moveable column under Gen. Great-
hed, and after a sharp action with the mutineers
at Bolundshuhury was left with Lieut. Lang, of
the Engineers Tana two companies of the Sappers,
to destroy the' defences of the fort of Malaghur. In
the performan& of this duty the fatal accident
occurred which terminated his promising career.
This sad event cannot be better described than by
quoting the words of his companion, Lieut. Lang,
writing, on the day it occurred, to his younger
brother, Lieut. Robert Home, of the Engineers,
now serving at Sarempore :—" For the last three
days we have lived in the fort, blowing up and
destroying its defences. Yesterday and to-day he
had exploded five mines with his own hands. One
important one only remained to blow in the coun-
teracarp, and thus connect the exterior with the
interior of the fort. He laughed as he called to us
to clear away. I scrambled up a ruined bastion and
saw him run up to the slow match with the port-
fire in his hand. Heaven only knows how, but
instantaneously, to our extreme horror, the mine
sprung. We rushed down and set the men to dig,
but on looking about I discovered your brother's
body about 15 yards off. Life was quite extinct,
and fortunately so, as both legs were broken, and
his arm almost torn from the body. Poor fellow !
Think of his escape unhurt from the Cashmere gate,
where he and Salkeld earned the Victoria Cross—
now to meet his death in this manner. It only re-
mains to aid that, from the kindness of his dispo-
sition, unassuming manners, and high principles,
he won t':e esteem and regard of all who knew him,
and that his untimely death is most deeply and
sincerely regretted."
The steamship Argo, Capt. Benon, with upwards
of 800 troops on board for India, has not yet sailed
from Portsmouth. 011 the ship being ready to haul
off the dockyard jetty and out into the stream,
preparatory to the start, it was discovered that the
medicine-chest had been sent from London to Ply-
mouth, instead of Portsmouth, and that ore of the
largest detachments (71 men of the 17th Light In-
fantry), quartered at Pembroke, had been Lrgotten
in the issue of the " routes" to the other detach-
ments ; and thus at least a couple of days' delay in
the despatch of the vessel is occasioned. The de-
tachment is expect©d at Portsmouth to-day, and if
they arrive the Argo may be put to sea to-morrow.
As Plymouth lies between Pembroke and Ports-
mouth, it would have bean a " business" way of
remedying the above blunders had the Argo, when
all else were on board, had been ordered to pick up
the mis-sent medicine-chest at Plymouth, on her
way out, at which place the detachment from Pem-
broke might have been telegraphed to embark in
her, thus both time and money (about 1,0001.)
might have been saved. The Argo will go away
with nearly 1,000 persons on board.
The steam-ship Sabrina, Capt. Staveley, arrived
at Cork on Monday morning with the depot of the
13th Light Infantry, which she had embarked at
Pembroke Dock on Sunday morning. The depot
consists of 2 captains, 2 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 8
sergeants, 10 corporals, 4 buglers, and 112 rank
and file, under the command of Capt. R. Peel.
They are to be attached to the Indian battalion at
Fermoy.

The 'Cork Steamship Company's vessel Preus-
Ascher Adler, Captain Tooker, arrived at Queens-
town from London and Plymouth on Sunday
evening, having on board the depots of the 33d
and 89th Regiments, which she had embarked at
Portsmouth. The depot of the 33d consists of five
officers and 62 non-commissioned officers rank and
file, under the command of Brevet-Major Thomas
Wickham, and that of the 89th comprises five offi-
cers and 75 son-commissioned officers and rank and
file, under the command of Brevet-Major John M.
Cuppage. Both depots are to join the Indian bat-
talion at Fermoy. The service companies are now
at Bombay.
The number of recruits continuing to arrive at
Chatham for the purpose of joining the various
Indian depots at that garrison is very large. At a
late hour on Tuesday night about 100 arrived at
Chatham Barracks from the recruiting districts in
the north, principally for the depots attached to
the Ist and 2d battalions.
. Col. Geo. Holland, of Southsea, Hants, died
yesserday morning, in his 72d year. He was a
gallant and experienced Indian officer, was engaged
as a Sapper and Minfr in the fortification of Delhi,
and was for many years subsequently on the Staff
in India. He dies universally respected, and leaves
two gallant sons, also in the Indian army, one of
whom narrowly e=caped massacre after being cut
from his horse and dreadfully mangle 1, in his en-
deavour to escape the hands of the Sepoys in the
early pArt of the Indian rebellion.

The Serpent, 12-guu sloop, was taken out of dock
yesterday at Portsmouth, in order to be moored up
the harbour as a target for the gunnery practice of
her Majesty's ship Excellent.
The Locust, 3 guns, paddlewheel stoamvesael,
Lieutenant and Commander J. B. Field, arrived at
Sheerness at 11 a.m. yesterd.ly, from Scotland,
where she has bees on particular service.
The Lords of the Admiralty have dire3t.d the
following steamvessels, now at Sheerness, t.) be im-
mediately fitted for the first-class steam reserve—

viz., the Terrible, 21 guns, paddlewheel steam
frigate, in charge of Chief-Engineer A. Douglas ;
the Snake, 4 guns, screw steamvessel ; and the
Scout, 21 guns, new screw steam corvette.
The Snake was taken into the fitting basin at
Sheerness yesterday, to be masted and rigged,
and to receive all her stores, &c.
The select committee of Voolwich Arsenal Lavo
appointed to-morrow for the second experimental
trial of the 36 inch mortar constructed by Mr.
Mallet for Government. At the former trial the
huge weapon was somewhat injured, and a slight
rout discovered in the chamber tement. To guard
against any casualty resulting from an accident to
the mortar on this occasion, when the charges of
powder (it is understood) are intended to be consi-
derably augmented, the firing will be conducted by
galvanic bat'ery. The whole of the shells destined
for the experiments to-morrow have been painted
one-half white, so that the object in iy be clearly
discerned during its flight through the air.
Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam slcop Ardent,
Commander J. H. Cave, was yesterday morning,
inspected in Woolwich basin by Commodo:e Shep-
herd, and sailed thence for Greenhithe, to adjust
compasses, preparatory to sailing for the West
Coast of Africa.
The paddlewheel steam sloop Barracouta was
yesterday taken into basin at Woolwich to be re-
paired and brought forward for service.
The Rev. Dr. Woolley, the Admiralty Inspector

of Schools, has been engaged at Chatham for a few
days past in inspecting the school for apprentices in
the Chatham dockyard and the other Admiralty
Schools at Chatham. Yesterday the :chools for the
thillren of the non-coinmissioued otficeis and pri-
vates of the Chatham Division of Royal Marines
re i•aspected by Dr. Woolley, and all the schools
ere found is•a•thoroughly effi3iont working con-
dition.
The ufo • '
OVIC4r ao
day at the Admiralty appointments were made yester-
•—
Carain Patey 11 13 •
Packets at Southarn- tfe)eu appointed Superintendent of
n_,avrice Ramsey. Paymasters—AH4„34
C4mitifon, tot he Swallow ; Win.
J. Stevens, to the
weliesiey ; William E. ic..,lf:; It!chard Allen, to the
As4ist.nt Payrnanter_w: 1.,, the Mehropus.
Scott (in charge) to
he Buffa'o.
Clitlis—Ge,frge Prince, to the eur a; William
promoted to the good-
Rhoees, to the Calypso; Rrlr,rt NV. LiLin,,a,
to the
Lynx.
Captain F. Flu.ton hai bee)
service pension, vice h',lmsey.

THE MILITIA.
The 2d West York Regiment of embodied militia
will arrive in Portsmouth garrison this day for
dntY. They will be quartered in Anglesey and
Cambridge Barracks.

THE AMERICAN MA MS.—SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday'.
—The United States' mail steamship Arago, Captain
Lines, arrived from Havre last night, and sailed heocr
to-day for NewNork with the Usual French and English
rnailP, 70 passengers, and about 250 tons of French and
English merchandise. The Joshua, Capt. Fowler, is now
lyiug in the dock, preparing to leaie for Sydney, New
South Wales, on the 21st inst., with Government cmi
grants,