Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-10-30
European Officers with the Sepoys.

be more gloomy in its tenor than that which makes it
appearance in the journals of Great Britain. On SOM
accounts the former would appear to be relabl
than the latter; for it is evident enough to any wht
will atentivey read the London TimeS-the press whicl
gives tone to this Indian business as on many othe
subjects of public moment to the English newspapers
that 1t Is putting the best possible face matters
endeavoring to inspire confidence which it is far from
feeling The continental papers have no interest in
nishn9 the truth and therefore might be looked to witt
much of confidence were it not that their preudices
warp them 1t is to be suspected that their predictions
of calamity to the British in India oftentmes faith
cred by the wish and the news put in circulation is
be traced to the same paternity.
There is one part Of the Indian advices received anG
published at Paris however, that disposed tc
credit, and all the more sO since it oreshadowed
long since In some of the English letters from the East
The intelligence is to the effect that the mutneers are
under European generalshp. There several crcum
stances which render this not imprObabe and what is
more every day that the rebellious Sepoys continue in
arms increases the liability of efficient European officers
being added to them. There are numbers Of thoroughly
trained soldiers always to be found floating about in
Europe men who have received their professional educa
tlon IN some of the military schools of France Ger
many, who ready for any service however difficult
or dangerous, which will afford them profitable employ
ment or plunder and license present Europe is at
peace and the great continental armies are being reduced
to peace footing These military adventures find
their occupation gone the western world and it seems
very likely that many will seek for occupation in India
and those who do not find service with the British will
join the Sepoys, by whom doubt they would be Joy
ousy welcomed Through one secret avenue or another
it is represented that the insurgents have already received
important acquisitions of European officers
In order to estimate the pers which must arise to the
British If such really be the fact it must be remembered
that the Bengal army, composed mainly of high caste
Hindoos Brahmns and more largely Of Rajpoots, Ro-
has and other high castes soldiers by profession have
distinguished themselves under British lead in many
hard fought field The men Of whom the Bengal army
Is composed are much superior in solderlke qualities
intelligence, and courage to those of the southern Pres
dencies and are also physically superior If they
but be furnished with that European lead which they
are accustomed to look they will make an extremely
formidable enemy And if the agencies that are admit
ted by the British themselves to be at work amongst
the native regiments of the Madras and Bombay Presi-
dencies should be successful in inducing revoif the
mutny that has spread through the whole Of Ben
gal and the Northwest Provinces should also extend to
central, southern and western India the goomiest PIE
dctions for the British that have yet been made would
be realized The probability is, that everything will
depend upon the arrival in India of the reinforcements
that have been dispatched from Great Britain Already
small bodies OF troops had begun to arrive at Calcutta
and Bombay and seemed to have cheeed the European
residents to an extent proportionate to their limited
numbers But these are regarded as an earnest that
more the route and that India is not forgotten at
home" Doubtless the Sepoys will suffer discouragement
as the European spirit RISES for when left to themselves
they have great of Europeans, and this awe is
the most important auxiliary the British have in India
Without its aid they could not long hold the ground they
stand On.
At the last advces the greatest anxiety respecting the
fate Of Gen. Haveock felt, both in Calcutta and
Great Britain. 1t is known that he had second time
fallen back to Cawnpore after his small force had been
reduced by sic<noes to loss than half Its NUMBER. Ills
gallant little army had displayed almost incredible &C
tvity and fought it is said battles with uniform
success enemy greatly superior in numbers than
was ever before fought in the same time. Especially
the Highland regiment had awakened by its dash and
achievements the memory of the best DAYS of Scotland
But of northern race fighting to the waist in water
exposed to heavy rains at night amidst rice swamps
without any shelter and to the glare of the almost YER
teal of Indian midday cannot long live Disease
has done to Gen. HaveOcks army what the enemy could
not and he has been forced to abandon his attempt fol
the relief OF the garrison at Lucknow 1t tC
be apprehended that assistance reach Lucknow
in time to it and for Gen. Havelock it rep
resented that the enemy was moving on him from three
quarters in overwhelming force completely enclosing
hipl-from Dude, from GwaliOr on the west and Dina;
while the Secretary of the government of India writing
on the 23d of August says that rrinorcements COulC
not reach him in less than ten days.
The Times has only the cold comfort to give that nc
neU horrors reach British cars that the catalogue
of torture and insult has been exhausted and the
intelligence if it be caamtous, can but be repetition
of what has has already occurred. Not very soothing
this to those who have sons husbands daughters broth
cr, sisters in India But Notwithstanding the concert
ed movement of the mutneerS CaWnpOre, which lOOk
exceedingly like European generalship-tor the native
officers, though good regimentaI ones, incapable o
concertng and conducting the large and important
: binations of campagn-the British cause is by NJ
utterly desperate in Bengal. If Delhi one
captured and the British army before it free to operate
elsewhere and especially with renforcements arriving
should hear very different in character from tha
which now drives the blood from the ordinarily rudd
+ cheeks of John Bull.
s ------------------