The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-06
THE WAR IN INDIA.


1ntealigence from Delhi-The Nature OF the
Victory-Gcncral Wilson's RewarSi-Relief
Dangerous Position or General
aIavehock-The War Transferrcd to Dude
Appearance Of the Scene OF the Cawnpore
Maseucre-Graphic Account or the Rulns-A
Price set ON Nena Sahlb-Pr0cIamataOns OF
the Governor Gencral-Imp0rtant Meeting or
the Bengal Chamber Of COmmcrce-An
ANeFican Steamtug Proscr1bcd-The Brit
isA Government too mean to Pay Its Tow
aSe-FlOur Scarce In Caicatta-MOvsments
of Sir Colin Campbell-Loss Of an American
ehip-A Mate TO the Koh-i-noor Diamond
Discovered, &c., &c., sc.
OUR CALCUTTA CORRESPONDENCE.
CALCUTTA, Oct. 8, 1857.
The cheering news from Delhi and Lucknow
which this mail carries to England indicate that the
tide Of the rebellion is turning. Lucknow has been
relieved and Delhi has been entered by the British
troops. We have yet no official dispatches from
General Wilson, to whom is due the honor of the vic
tory at Delhi, but we know from private sources
that the fighting before that city was very severe,
d that the loss of life in the assauting ranks was
very great.
II has been remarked that since General Wilson
assumed the command before Delhi, the siege has
taken new character. Under Generals Anson,
Barnard and Reid, who successvely preceded him,
very little progress was made; and the ruling idea
with the besegers was that Delhi could not be taken
without the aid of large reinforcements from
England. Under this idea, the months of
June, July and August were spent in series
of defensive skirmishes and in resisting sortes of
the enemy from the city. The effect of this mega
tive system of operations was to make Delhi just
what General Barnard, when dying declared it to
be-a new Sebastopol. 1t became gradually forti
fed centre Of the rebellion, whittier focked daily,
armed mutineers and macontents from every part Of
Upper India. The long protracted siege was de-
stroying the prestige of the British arms. 1t gave
opportunity to the enemy to strengthen his position
f defence WHILE at the time, it was imperiing
the position Of the British camp to which had
been entirely cut off except from the side of the
Punjab. When Gen. Wilson assumedthe command, he
resolved to cut short the siege, and storm the city
with such forces as he had. The odds against him
were fearful. Delhi was walled city, well fortified
by English skill. The houses were built chiefly of
brick, heavy enough to offer good resistance to
shot. Thirty thousand mutinous soldiers were with
in the city, besides some forty thousand armed
towns people and badmashes-al fighting men.
The assault was commenced on the 14th of Sep
tember and on the evening of the 10th the whole
city, palace and suburbs were in the possession of
the British. The enemy fed in all directions, and
on the morning Of the 2lst detachment Of cavalry
left the city in pursuit Of the fugitives This force
overlook and captured the old King, Mahommed
Bahadoor Padishah, and his wife, whose lives were
spared. On the next day the Kings two sons,
Meerza Mozhul and Mira khisra Sultan, and his
grandson, Mira Aboo Buser, were captured and
shot. It is known that these royal rascals were
leaders of the rebellion.
Thus the seige Of four months Is gallantly ended.
Delhi, it is reported, is now "a desolate waste"
The question now IL asked by every one in Cal
cutta-"How will General Wilson be rewardedg'
IL is the universal opinion that he deserves the
'most honorable recognition by the home govern
ment. He has anticipated the laures which, 10 was
supposed would be won by Sir Colin Campbell and
which perhaps that sturdy soldier would have won
had he gone straight to Delhi when he arrived at
Bombay, instead of coasting round to Calcutta, to
hobnob with the Governor General and those invete
rate old women who sit in his council. You will
notice that the name of Sir Colin Campbell has
hardly appeared in the newspapers since he arrived
in India. He has done nothing since he arrived and
now that Delhi il taken his opportunity has passed
He has been eclipsed by General Wilson, quiet but
bold and experienced soldier, who has spent hi
life in India, and IL, strange TO say, an
officer of the East India Company's service.
Strange TO say because il is getting TO be proverb
in India that when several of the Queens generals
have been successivey employed in one enterprise,
Company's general has at last to be called in to
bear of the palm
Lucknow was relieved on the 25th September by
General Havelock, and just in time TO save its be-
ieaguered garrison from destruction. Havelock
crossed the Gangcs from Cawnpore on the 10Th OF
September, with force Of 2,700 men, and pressed
on to Lucknow. The resistance he met with from
tho rebels, his march, was OF the most desperate
character. On the 22d he heard the guns Of the
garrison at Lucknow, not yet In sight, TO which he
responded with royal salute from his 24pounders
On the morning of the 18th he the city. Skirt
ing it, against resistance he forced bis way TO
the Residency which be reached in the evening just
in time 10 repulse the enemy, who had already run
two mines far under the principal Notifications
On the 26th the batteries Of the besiegers
saulted and taken the British losing $50 men, among
them General Neil Of the Madras Fusileers, one o.
the most courageous officers in India, whose death
at this juncturc IL a public calamity. On the 10Th
the right quarter of the town was occupied and
seven guns captured.
Since the 10Th no information from Lucknow has
reached Calcutta; and this account, great anxiety
N felt here respecting General Havelock. There IL
q large rebel force between Lucknow and Cawnpore
commanded by the warike chiefs of Dude. II is
feared that this force has taken possession Of the road
TO Cawnpore, thus preventing the return Of General
Havelock and his gallant army If this proves TO be
the fact the successful exploit Of Havelock in re-
lieving the beseged Resdency, Is not likely 10 ter
inmate the struggle in Dude. That country
has been for centuries the breeding ground
of the sepoys of India. It has supplied
soldiers 10 the Companys armies and 10 the armies OF
the native princes; and II would be easy any day
fighting men around Lucknow--men whose hatred
Of the English Is Of the most determined character.
If General Havelocks return il cut of by these men,
we fear II il cut of forever.
An officer in Havelock's army has written a letter
from Cawnpore, September 1s, giving graphic &C.
count Of the melancholy spectacle which the place
presented when Nena Sahib murdered the English
garrison. extract the following passages from his
letter.
We passed after this Futtehpore and here looked
over the Geld where General aveock fought his rs bat
tie The remains OF elephant killed by our artillery
were still lying there with the skeletons OF horses
and other scattered remnants of the tight The town itself
seemed great deserted We left Futtehpore
on night Of the l1h passing two eighteen pound guns
which lying spiked beside the road and the 1ah,
stealing . march on our troops, ! reached Gavin.
more, The road You enter the town leads past
The two buildings, with their outhouses, where
wheeler with his brave band held bis long
against the hordes which surrounded him These build
pes formed what called the European Cavalry Hospi
tai Right well and heroicay must have been defend.
ed The walls ptted with cannon shot like The cells