The Washington union., 1857-11-29

gave the signal and the rifles dashed the front with
cheer extending along and sknishing the low Jungle,
which at this point extends to within fifty yards OF the
ditch At the moment the heads of Nos. and
columns emerged from the Kodsee Bagh and advanced
steadily towards the breach Our batteries had main
tanned tremendous lire up 10 the moment OF the ad
vance of the troops, and not gun could the enemy
bring to bear the stonmng columns but no sooner
did these emerge into the open field than perfect hail
storm of bullets met them from the front and both Hanks
and officers and fell fast the Of the glacis
For ten minutes it impossible 10 get the ladders
down into the ditch to ascend the scap but the deter
nnation of the British soldier carried everything before
it, and Pandy declined TO meet the charge of the British
bayonet With a shout and rush the breaches were
both won, and the enemy fled in confusion.
BRILLIANT CONDUCT EXPLOSION PARTY.
Meanwhile the explosion party advanced in front of
the column straight upon the Cashmere gate This little
band Of heroes had to advance in broad daylight to the
gateway in the very teeth of hot tire of musketry from
above and through the gateway and both fanks the
power bags cooly laid and adjusted but Lieutenant
Salkeld by this time hors de combat with two bullets
in him. Sergeant Carmichael then attempted to ro the
train but shot dead Sergeant Burgess then tried
and succeeded but paid for the daring act with his life
Sergeant Smith thinking that Burgess too had failed,
forward but seeing the train aght had just time to
throw himself into the ditch and escape the effects OF the
explosion With loud crash the gateway blown in,
and through it the third column rushed to the assault,
and entered the town just the other columns had won
the breaches General Wilson has since bestowed the
Victoria Cross Ieutenants Home and salkeld Ser
geant Smith, and brave man of H. NJ ffty-second,
who stood by Lieutenant Saked to the last and bound
up his wounds 81 Zip
Another account gives the following version Of this
brilliant affair The signal given for the rush at the walls
was the blowing open of the Cashmere gate which most
dangerous duty devolvsd Lieutenant Sakcd, of the
engineers.
The whole done by cscaade as the breach not
complete enough to enter without ladders Lieut. Sal
keld approached with three sergeants under tremendous
fire OF musketry He was first shot through the
notwithstanding that, he went on to tho gate with the
bags of powder; they approached sergeant
killed the second sergeant took up the bags assisting
Lieut. Sakeld knocked them the spikes Of the gate
not being able to put them underneath rs the wicket
gate opended and about 20 muskets pointed up
well through many holes in the gateway, firing from
both Aanks from tho wall AS Lieut. Saked put on the
bag he shot through the leg, and fell; the second
sergeant lit the match but after lighting it he said to
Lieut. Salkeld the ground " fear the match has not
taken light SIR; at the word .sr he fell dead rddled
with balls the match did ignite blew open the gate the
third sergeant escaped unhut At the signal the troops
rushed onevery who carried tho scaling ladders of
the I'd Fuseers knocked however, they rushed
put up the ladders many of which found to be too
short changing their positions got the walls cheered
and rushed down upon the enemy and carried the place
On they went along the walls, taking the Moree bason
Ajnere gate the other column taking the Church bat
terry, Water battery. Treasury Compound and Sknners
house. t
Gen. Nicholson then formed the troops in the main
guard inside and with his column proceeded to clear the
ranparts far the Moree bason 1t was in advanc
ing beyond this towards the Lahore gate that he met the
wound which has since caused his amented death--a
death which it is not too much to say has dmmed the
lustre of this victory has deprived the country
of one OF the ablest men and the most gallant soldiers
that England anywhere numbers among her ranks.
The 4th column regret to say failed but as it
too far for to know anything Of its real progress
prefer leaving its story to be told by another instead of
sending you vague and imperfect account. Had this
column succeeded its possession of Lahore gate would
have saved as much subsequent trouble.
apEzS PALACE
On tile night of the 2lst of September the conquerer
Gen Wilson proposed the health Of Queen Victoria in the
Dewan-i Khas the beautiful white marble dibar hall of
the palace, where stood the famed peacock throne
and which bears the welknown inscription, meant to ap
ply to the palace and itS gardens generally and which
now reads like a mockery
aoh athsres on earth is ths,n
Here in the palace of the great Moguls the health of
our Queen drunk by her victorious soldiers with
thusiastc cheers which were taken up by the gallant
Ghookhas who formed personal guard of the general
THE CAPTURE KING
On the 2lst the old King surrendered to Capt Hodson
and his cavalry the Kootub Minar which is about
fifteen miles south of Delhi He accompanied in his
captivity, in his flight by his chief wife, the Begun
Zeenut AIahal ssihe Ornament of the Palace" The
King il said be nearly ninety years of age and it
probable that he is scarcely in any way responsible for
what has been done in his that at present
informed, we cannot condemn the clemency which has
spared his life He is prisoner in what was
his own palace Two of his sons and grandson, how
ever who captured also by Capt Hodson, at the
tomb Of Humayoon, about five miles from Delhi and who
are known to have been leaders in the rebellion have
received the reward Of their treason They shot
the spot and their bodies brought back the city
and exposed at the Kotwallee, chief police Office,
where it is sadso many of counywomen brutal
ly murdered
rlE KILLED AND WOUNDED OF BRITISH.
On the day OF the assault we had 81 officers and ITS
killed and wounded being nearly onethird OF the whole
number engaged. The FIRST Fusiiers alone lost nine Off
GERS and other regiments, believe in proportion The
engineers suffered heavily the three officers conducting
Nos l. O. and columns (ieuts. Medley, Grcathed, and
MaunselD all struck down early in the fight and Of
IL officers duty that day ten put hors de comba
certned but the end Of the operations il is probable
that at least 500 must have been killed between
the 7th and 20th and very large number wounded who
| were carried away.
For the complete TINT attended the prosecution
Of the siege the chief credit is undoubtedly due Col
Baird Smith, the chief engineer and to Capt A. Taylor,
the director of the attack On this latter officer in fact
Gn consequence of the chief engineer being wounded)
deyoved the entire superintendence of the siege works
and his energy and activity will doubtless meet with
their due reward Throughout the operations he seemed
to be omnipresent and to bear charmed e for he
/ capped without wound The plan Of the attack was
bold and skful the nature Of the enemy
tending with exactly appreciated. and our plans
shaped accordingly Pandy fight well behind cover
but here he out-maneuvred--hs attention being di
verted from the real point of attack till the last and
then the cover which might have proved such serious
/ loss and all its advantages turned against him. With
ali; the oht have