St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03
Cge gntelligenter.
The Capture of Delhi, in India.

Dut cSpcCldllS upon Wollcil anu CIii-
dren. There ras time when mankind
shuddered at English crueties in that
semi-barbarous land, but latterl y those
deeds were well nigh forgotten, and
the East India Company's power and
dominion there were supposed to be
permanent, till British insolence and
oppression had become uncomfortable
and the barbarous revenge of the ma
tives spread universal horror.
The warlike preparations Of the
English to reGstablsh their power
have been watched with interest, and
we have now the intelligence of the
fall of Delhi, the great Indian mctrop-
oils. The assault was commenced on
the morning of the l4th September
The attack was made in four columns,
! one Of which failed and the other three
were successful The next day the
British commenced firing on the mag
azine and stormed that position on the
10Th, capturing l25 pieces of cannon.
After three more days fighting the
British troops took possession OF the
city. The loss of the British in killed
and wounded is estimated at 600 and
the slaughter among the mutlneers is
! believed to have been much greater
We notice that a large portion Of
| the American press is filled with adj
mration at the Importance of this cap
ture, the prowcss of British arms, and
the assurance that by this success the
backbone of the revolt is broken.
The prestige of the fall of Delhi will,
they imagine, qucnch the fires of re-
bellion in other provinces and strike
terror to the hearts Of the Scpoys. We
cannot regard it in that light. If the
question involved the reduction and
the restoration of power over a com
paratively small territory, the posses
sion of its chief city might put al
end to the war. But this is not the
fact. The India revolt pervades Hin
dostan, from Assam on the northeast
to Cabool Oh the northwest, embracing
an immense territory and population
of upwards of one hundred millions
leaving other large territories and 9
population of fifty millions to be awed
into subjection by constant display
of military force. Where will Eng
land find the sincws for such a war as
this But the capture of Delhi does
not present such splendid military
triumph after all The defending for
ces had diminished to about 1900
of which 5000 were cavalry and were
useless in the streets of the city, while
the British force consisted Of lO, 500
thus making the two armies nearl,
equal. The defenders sustained
fierce and bloody conflict of six day
duration, inhicting serious losses upo,
their enemy, sending away their VIC
men and children, property and mum
tions, and finally withdrawing in ol
der and forming around the city, be
; sieging in their turn, and interceptin
supplies. The besieging army foun
5, none but non-combatants in the cit
n upon whom to wreak their vcngeanc,
|, 1t is difficult to see how a city S
# gained, and with such results, ca
carry prestige with the victory
- break the backbone of the insure
ton throughout the vast extent of ii
revolted provinces. AS to the prob
BILE effect of the capture of Delhi, Il
Friend Of India newspaper remarks
ld at is the condition of Bengal, al
not the state of Delhi that ought
-, this time to engage the attention
rk Englishmcn. The long delay that h;
d. taken place in the capture of the tow
has actually destroyed any prestis
that we might have derived from ;
early success and the strength OF Il
rebels and their numbers are diminis
ed as eftcctually by maintaining Il
siege as they would be by the captu
c, of the city"
~ The retreat appears to have be-
- effected in an orderly and discipline
manner, and there is no reason to su
pose that the Delhi army is either b.
ken or dispersed. 1t appears that tt
xn aspect of the operations before Del
w and their results, so far from breakil
~ the neck of the revolt and renderil
Ia the cause of the rcvolters hopeles
m ng will but inspire them with fresh COZ
ns age, while their determined, obstina
+ and bloody resistance will destroy t
y prestige of the war in England, che
volunteers, and cast a gloom o,
S, those who vainly expect to see Brit
;, power reestablished in India on
,ht old footing. The feeling. meanwhi
xes is gaining ground in England that
nd. English people have as much to fl
It's from success in India, as from dis
ter. They have lost an immense arr
aw and over 10000 men have been ,