Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-27
AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF THE CAwNPoRE
MASSACRE.

The London Times has a long account, occupying
several columns, Of the massacre at Cawnpore, from
an officer Of the commissariat department. The fol
lowing are given by the officer furnishing the report
as the particulars of the massacre:
Just utter the defeat ut Futtehpore Of the rebels
few spies whether real or imaginary il ia not known,
were brought 10 the Nena as being the bearers OF let
,ers supposed to have been written TO the British by
the helpless women in the prison, and with II some o
the Mshaguns and the Bengalees Of the city were DO
lieved to be implicated. twas therefore agreed thai
the said spies, together with all the women and chill
dren, as also the few gentlemen whose lives had
been spared, tsaid to be six in number out OF seven
teen officers vino had b-en captured about the lOtt
or 18th of July, on their way by water from Futte
ghur to this, and whose deaths were also delayed un
der promise Of q ransom.) should all be put to death
and that the BabOOs of The city and every person
who could rend or write English should have theil
right hands and noses cut of. The first order was
carried out Immediately, !. @. on the evening OF the
18th of July, and a decree was Issued to appreheno
the natives. Bsboos, &C., after the Nena's return
from the field of battle, where he proceeded. as de
scribed above, on the 10th of July, after causing the
murder on the 18th Of the English prisoners.
"The native spies were first put TO the sword, and
after them the gentlemen, who were brought out froir
the outbuIldings in which they were confined and
shot with bullets; next the poor ladies were ordered
out, but neither threats nor persuaslons could induce
them TO do so. They laid hold Of each other by do
zens, and chung 80 close that it was impossible to 81
paraie or drag them out of the building. The troop
ers, therefore, brought muskets, and after firing &
great many shots from the doors, windows, &c. rush
ed in with swords and bayonets. Some OF the help
lsss creatures, in their agony, fell down at the feet Of
their murderers, clasped their legs, and begged in the
most pitiful manner to spare their lives. but to nc
purpose. The fearful deed was done most deliberately
and completely in the midst Of the most dreadful
shrieks and cries of the victims.
There were between one hundred and forty and
one hundred and fifty souls, including children, and
from 4 little before sunset till candle. light was occu'
pied in completing the dreadful deed. The doors Of
The buildings were then locked 10" the night, and the
murderera went to their homes. Next morning il
WAS found, on opening the doors, that some ten 81
fifteen women, with a few of the children, had mana
ged TO escape from death by falling and hiding under
the murdered bodies of their fellow prisoners. Fresh
orders was therefore sent to murder them also; but
the survivors, not being able to bear the idea OF being
cut down, rushed out into the compound, and seelne
u well there threw themselves into it without heslta
ton, thus putting a period to lives which it was i'm
possible for them to save. The dead bodies Of those
murdered on the preceding evening were then order
ed to be thrown on the same we'll, and .ulads' were
employed to drag them away like dogs.
ut is horrible to recount further on this subject.
On the night of the 10th of July the station was de-
serted by the rebels, rs stated above, aud early mex
morning the English troops took possession OF it, bu'
no. before the wretches had set fire 10 and blown uI
the magazine, which was done by the last guard LEFT
by the Nena, at about 3 A. NJ