The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-22
THE WAR IN INDIA.

~~Noo~-~~o~~~~~o~~oo~~
despatch from Cagliari to the British government
announces the arrival at sucz Of the steamer Oriental
(not the regular mail steamer) with Calcutta dates to
New. lone week later.
Two conveys Of provisions had arrived safely a Luck
now, where Haveock stll surrounded 6y large mum
bers Of the enemy, Dho said to hare 800 guns
There had been some severe lighting, and General
Outram reported TO have been wounded
Sir Colin Campbell and staff left Namwoor for Cawnpore
on the ,sth of October which place the troops
being moved up quickly possible, and would pro
ceed the relief OF Lucknow when in sufficient strength
The arrival out Of several additional troop ships is
reported.
Lord Palmcrston, in announcing this news to the House
Of Commons said he feared was but the echo of the last
message relating to the convoy which had reached, not
Lucknow, but Aiumbagh.
From the London Times, Dec. g.
The intelligence received last night at the Foreign office
from the seat of hoses in British India may be summed
up few words The beeaguered garrison OF Lucknow
still holding out. Two conveys OF provisions had
been conducted safely TO that place Sir Colin Campbell
rations in person and all the available British troops
being moved up with all possible despatch. This nte-
gence the state of facts until the end OF October
and doubtless specuatng on the event we are treating
oil foregone conclusion Before this despatch had reached
Luclnoto had either faiiea or Il had been reiierd 1t
the nature of things that the siege should be
proracted indefinitely, was the case with that OF Delhi
In this instance dealing with known forces Coudhe
defenders Lucknow bold for iew weeks after
the date of the despatch there would be the ground
European force which, added to the strength of the be-
leaguered garrison would be amply sufficient to deal with
the rebels on fair fighting ground The point is one upon
which any may FORM his opinion, for there is no con-
cealment of facts, any mystery about their import
Three thousand desperate and disciplined British troops
fighting for THAR lires in he mid Of natice
army y all accounts some 80, 900 or 40 600 strong The adj
vantage of position the side Of the British for al
though the works and buildings they occupied would have
presented very insurmountabe difficulties to a beseg
ing army Europe ans ii is well nigh superuous to say
that when the besiegers are Asiacs-even disciplined
I'll
have received is mentioned that according to gene
raj report the Indians had with them three hundred
guns. This number is no doubt greatly exaggerated
Considerable allowance too must be made for telegraph
guns" and other implements of the like kind, which,
however formidable IN appearance, would not, in all
probability add materially TO the difficulties of the be-
sieged force STILL when all due deductions made, it
very likely that the rebels had with them very nu
merous and powerful artillery. The fact being
asrd 10 look boldly in the face, for IL is not within
experience that Indian force, unguded by Europeans
and unassed by European combatants could manage to
carry such business as the tormng Delhi to a SUCCESS
full issue Now there can be reason 10 doubt that the
resistance offered by our countrymen IN Lucknow will
have been desperate as any recorded in the military
annals OF any nation. Not only IN their dc.
pend upon the inherent courage of Engshmen, and upon
the warIke ability of their chef, but We know that there
not man among them who is not fully aware that the
option between defence the last and death IN the most
form at the hands of the rebels if they conquered
On the whole, there seems little reason to doubt that
their provisions hold out the garrison of Lucknow will be
able 10 maintain their position until the arrival OF relief
There complaint Of any want of arms,
ammunition or any OF the lndteliet of war. The
question simply one of food. We cannot, unfortu-
nately, add word of explanation 10 the brief
OF the telegraph that two conveys OF pro
had reached the town IN safety II would only
probable that had these conveys been nconsdera
bic unmporant the intelligence Of their arrival would
not have the other side OF globe
But If they be of sufficient magnitude probable,
have afforded substantial relief to the beseged II fol-
lows that they cannot he strateued by the hostile
Lacquer to render their resistance al all hopeless
The last days Of besieged garrison scarcely have
rived when heavy conveys safely passed through
hegipRlnr
facts aud 10 this reasoning upon ascertaned ac that time
was working heavily N avor OF the beselged and to the
mutipy and the conviction OF its ultimate and speedy
failure must have occurred eryforcby TO the minds Of
the great bulk of the mutneers Delhi had fallen, and
they knew H. indeed many of them nust have been ref
gees from the captured city They knew, too, tnat the
of the mutneers in their tight wherever they had
been encountered by the avcngng forces of the Brtsh
had scattered to the winds and that such Of them
had escaped had only found their safety for life
They knew too that British troops by hundreds and by
thousands had arrived and were arriving at Calcutta and
their way to the ground before Lucknow They
knew, finally that il day should ever come when they
the relieving force In the open field they
had but little mercy 10 expect from the troops who
had come expressly 10 exact dire reributon for the
past. The country behind them open for
fight and had the thunder cloud gathering In
their front We cannot, oi course know what IS the
nature Of the authority TO which they have
submitted themselves, but il scarcely yet have had
time consolidate itself sufficiently keep together huge
masses c men who must before all things be concerned
each for his personal safety. II il thing 10
maintain authority in besieged town, "a At Delhi, and
quite another to enforce obedience in the open eld where
the roads for escape open all sides one We
have the further qualification OF knowing that the
muncatiuns were entirely free from Calcutta to Gavin
pore and from Cawnpore to within three miles Of Luck
Along these open roads the British advancing
when tho despatch transmitted. II is difficult o
uouncc With precision the number OF troops actually land
ed at Calcutta since the FIRST rcnorccments but assu
ing that all the ships mentioned In the despatch as
"spoken with had arrived, may reckon upon dddi
lions Of 5000 1000 more to the British troops actually
In hand remains only TO add that the telegraph brings
report Which we most earnestly trust Is unfounded-to
the effect that General Ouram has been wounded ac-