American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-10-02

| Ihe London Times correspondent at
Calcutta, sends the following account
of the Cawnporc massacre: A'llg
| *
cit Is at this point of the narrative
that Dheondoopunt, Nenajec, quasi
Rajah of Bathaer, appears upon the
scene. This fiend in human shape was
the adopted son Of the late Peishwa.
On the demise of that functionary, he
applied to the Governor of India, and
subsequently, tosthe Court of Directors
for the continuation to him of the en-
ormous pension assigned to the decea-
scd. BY both parties he was refused,
but Lord; ;Dalhous allowed him to keep
six guns ut his castellated palace at
Bithoor. These guns turned the scale
against our unhappy countrymen at
Cawnpore. 1n'f
"This man, generally styled the
Nena Sahib, was well known to the
residents of Cawnpore, and in prosper
Gus times was always glad, or appeared
glad, to receive them at his castle, and
to accompany them on their shooting
excursions. He is middle aged man,
dark complexioned, and but for dis
honest expression would have been
considered u good looking man. The
writer has seen him and shot ir. his
company. The moment, however, that
he heard of the mutiny at Moerut, and
had felt the pulse. of the people at
Cawnpore, his mind was made up. We
lad refused him his ''rights;" he de-
termined to gain them himself or perish
in the attempt. His first hostile act
was committed on the persons of fugi-
tive ladies and children from Futtey-
ghur and elsewhere, about hundred
in number. a
| Blthoor is only six miles above
Cawnpore, and as they were passing
the former place en- route to the latter
he stopped their boats, brought them
on shore, and remorselessly shot every
one. He then tied their bodies togeth-
er and threw them into the river. This
was Dheondoopunt Nenajee's declara-
tion OF war against the. British Gov
ernment. This occurred early in June.
The revolt broke out at Cawnpore on
the 9Th. No sooner had intimation of
it reached Nena than he took his guns
and joined the rebels, assuming the
command in, person. Guns were pro-
cured also from other quarters of large
calibre, and with these he commenced
pounding Wheeler's entrenchment, to
which, with his small calibre guns, he
could not adequately reply. Notwith-
standing this, and that the first fort
night he lost about one third of his force,
Wheeler's heart never failed him
Sally after sally did he make, and al
ways drove the enemy before him: Had
not there been 50 great crowd of ladies
under his charge he could with ease
have cut his way to Allahabad.
At length, on the Goth of June, they
had but two days supply Of food left;
they had no water; their ammunition
was at its lowest ebb. From being
confined, 600 in number, in barrack
originally designed to contain about
200, and from the bodies lying unburi-
ed around them, disease in bad form
had come among them, and was deci-
mating their ranks. But the heart of
the gallant Wheeler rose with the crisis.
| On the 26th, he was determined to
make one last effort--one grand as
sault upon the enemy's position, and
to take from them the necessary sup
plies. He came out with his half
starved band, charged the enemy, and
drove them from their position; but he
had no cavalry. The enemy had been
Joined by a second regiment from Dude,
and the two coming upon his fanks
just as he drove the infantry before
him--coming with proportion of
twelve to one, compelled him to fight
his way back. lie himself was mortal.
! ]y wounded, and lost many men in this
action. Its result, and the death of
Wheeler, the next day, damped the
hopes of the garrison. They had nei-
ther food, wator, nor ammunition; to
rem ain there was to die. In this emer-
gency, they sent Mr.. Stacy, the deputy
collector, on the 9th June, to treat
with Nena Sallib. He was received by
that victorious leader with great civil
ity. as
The following most favorable .condi-
tions were agreed upon: The garrison,
! Including women, children, and camp
followers,) were to be permitted to take
their arms, property, and lac and a
half of rupees with them into country
boats provided for their reception, in
which they we're to proceed to Allaha-
bad. The ingenuity of hell never be-
fore devised blackor scheme of trea-
cherry than that deliberately planned
by Nena, and shared in by all the reb.
els at Cawnpore, those rebels being