The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-08
RUSSELL's LETTERS FROM INDIA.
THE MARCH INTO ROHILCUND.

night
halted a day and some odd hours at Futtebghur,
the Commander-in-C Chiefs camp was ordered to
make a forced march to Tingree; and last night
soon after dinner, preparations were made for our
departure, the troops under Walpole near Ally
ghur, Allegunge, on the Ramgunga, being di-
rected to march to the sam9 place, eight or nine
miles off, that Sir Colin Campbell might take the
command of the force in person. As the tents
were all struck, we slept "sub Joue colido."
A NIGHT PICTURE OF THE GANGES &C-FLIGHT OF
THE PEoPLE.-The headquarters camp was some
distance outside the fort, and in going out about
IL clock at night, to the tree under which slept
one of those grand pectaces which can only be wit
messed in Indian warfare, met nv view
The moon shone brightly on the Ganges and on
white sandy plains beyond its waters-it lighted up
the bridge of boats, which trembled and heaved and
licked under the pressure of steady line of
camels, elephants, and oxen, which went with soft
tramp across it, and were lost in the distance in
small black streak-it brought out in sharp out
lines cast into deep shade the ruined houses the
fort, mosques of the city, the bazaar camp, the
figures OF the hugh animals which passed us softly,
like black clouds-and it revealed the masses of
baggage animals escorted by the wild Sikh horse
men which were streaming to that narrow point
whence they were to debouch upon Rohilcund: all
was life and motion without sound, except hum of
voices. the tumult on the bridge and an occasional
shrill flourish on his flexible horn by an elephant
who anxious to tell his friends he was going to
battle.
MARCH OF THE TRooPS-A PICTURE OF THE ELE-
AS Jne SOIL was sandy ana neaVV at the
other side ofthe river for several miles, the march
had to be made the backs of these grand old
lures, three of which waiting in the fort for
the Chief General Mansfield, and the aids-de-camp,
and others were detailed for the use of the head
quarters camp staff. l had not been long asleep
under my tree when | awoke by Colonel
Pakenham calling out, ''Where is my elephant ?"
very much in the same tone of voice as a man in a
club would ask the waiter for his hat. The ele-
plants were punctuul. At the word of the Mahout
the ancient pachyderm who was to carry the Quar-
termaster-General Colonel McPhearson, Major
Stewart, Deputy Assistant AID utant- General, DR..
Mackinnon, surgeon to the headquarters, and my
self, knelt down with infinite condescension, and
permitted ladder to be placed against his side,
by which we mounted to a continuance Just like
the body of an Irish aunting car strapped his
back.
We preferred that mode of mounting to the more
usual way of putting ones foot the animals pro-
boscis, and holding by the lower flap of his huge
india rubber looking ear, while he, by gentle curl
upwards of his omnifcent snout, raises the rider to
his back-or to the equally popular mode of Selling
his tail, and putting foot against his hind leg
which the animal elevates at the word of command
till the biped is high enough to scramble to his seat
In the bowdah. We sit back, two at each side
nicely balanced, and having undergone two smart
shocks of an earthquake while our friend in two
great heaves fore and aft got to his feet proceeded
on our journey. | cannot say, notwithstanding the
honor and glory of the thing that the elephant
animal which makes a favorable impression as a
means of locomotion. The only thing to which
can compare the pitching fore and aft, as he rises
and falls in his stride, is the riding of light collier
brig in a tideway. One of our party sick
ened, and the others were engaged with great Sc
verify of aspect in holding the sails of the vessel
"like grim death to backstay.''
We passed along above the dust with night
mary sensation, and before two q clock in the morn
ing our line of elephants had delicatey picked their
way by their the bridge of boats, and
were in Rohilcund plodding through the crowd of
animals of an inferior order-man and beast--to-
wards their destination. And so we went on till
dawn, very sleepy, and very tightropey and noddy.
We reused up to attitude of attention at the
sight of a broad and deep looking river which
looked anything but inviting under the combined
rays of the setting moon and the rising sun. This
was the Ramgunga, and the bridges of boats few
yards above us were those which had been secured
by the victory at Allahgunge, after the sad affair
at Rhadamow. The Lord Sahib's eleph ants were
just crossing the bridge, and ours were driven to
the ford, and at once plunged into the stream. As
these sagacious and highly intellectual beings are
horribly fond of practical Jokes, we watched the
depth OF the water with anxiety, lest ele-
plant should avoid the trouble of swimming by the
simple eXpedient of letting his feet drop and walk
ing on the bottom, while the top of his proboscis,
held above water, supplied him with air; but the
stream was not more than six or seven feet deep,
and we crossed without an involuntary ablution.
The ENEMY's CAMP.-We were still in a sandy
plain, but few miles more brought us to the sight
of the enemy's camp, and of Walpole's and soon
we came on traces of the fight, hideous bodies,
bloated and discolored, lying all over the plain,
with focks OF vultures pulling out their entrais,
and dogs crun ching their bones. Sometimes these
horrid creatures crept inside the followed corpse
to pick at their leisure, and by their movements
gave the dead revolving imitation of life. These
men lying far apart, had fallen by the sabres of
Hagarts Cavalry, and the fire of Tomb's and Rem
ington's guns, and for two three miles they
marked the line of our pursuit. Our route lay by
several villages. The houses were roofess and
ruined. Not soul was visible in the streets. This
~, Al
troops had set foot in Rohcund since the out
break of the mutiny. About five o'clock we came
on the siege train, and poor Tod Brown. in charge
of it, working like all the Browns in England to-
gether-one man with 600 carts, thousands of bull
locks shot, SHE'LL POWDER and natives to look after,
and all with only one hand to help him.
THE HEAT.-Then arose the dread clamor of the
baggage, which always becomes noisy about day
light, and from aerial state we looked down pity
ingly on the baggage master, Capt. Morland strug-
Cling like Jupiter and the Titans, with elephants
and camels, and hackerie. At last we pick up the
rear guard, and the whole plain before us expands
itself into one vast sea of animals-all for army
of 6000 men. Far in the distance some tents rise
above the dark of agtated life, white and placid
and we press with vigor for the mess fire
Is lighted by the road side, and there is already a
group under tree and round the teapot. The ele-
phant executes little moroccan on his nose to sig
nifty that he is quite it is time for his break
fast and for our departure; he knees down, and we
part with mutual satisfaction. Tingree is not de-
vision had just arrived, and our canvas city soon
rose up on the sandy plains, and most of us turned
into our shade of l06 107 and los degrees accord
ing to the site OF our tents, for little repose. Col
onel Sisted, 18th, and Colonel Leth Hay, 3d. will
act as Brigaders. The army are cautioned against
plundering.
COMMIT no RoBBERY.-Camp Jellalabad, April q.
Our march this morning from Tingree to Jealabad
was only five miles. The troops did not go as far
as is usual at the time of the year and in this
country. The first bugle turned us out at 2 80 A.
NJ, but it was A. M. before we started. The dis
positions were left to Brigadier General Walpole,
IN the general orders of last night which also
tanned very stringent orders against plundering
and announced certainty of three dozen to any one
caught doing so, "as many of the inhabitants are
favorably disposed towards u.s. The morning was
cool and pleasant day broke, and showed the
long line OF infantry, cavalry, guns, ammunition,
seige train, camels, and baggage, streaming over
the dead level of one those uniform plains stud
ded with groves which Rohilcund offers to the eve
from the foot of the Hmalayas to the waters of the
kamgunga. As we advanced, we learned that the
fort of JeHalabad, which had been occupied by
ABOUT 1855 matchlockmen and sowars, had been
abandoned, and that the latter fled precipitately
that they left their horses behind them.
DESERTED VHLAGE.-Jellalabad is a small
country village in the midst of rich district domi-
mated by an old mud fort, which the enemy must
nave been repairing up to yesterday morning, as
there We're fresh spade marks in the scarp of the
ditch. 1t is said the Moulvie was there but that
he could not get his followers to stand and that he
was obliged to fly to Shahjehanpore. Our camp
was pitched in magnificent and extensive grove
outside the village. On going into the village,
which contains two large houses of some
pretensions, a couple of mosques, &C.. it appeared
as if the inhabitants expected to be plundered for
they had shut up their houses, and very few peo-
pie were to be seen in the streets. Our sentries
were placed at the outskirts to prevent plundering
but the Sikhs are all but ubiquitous, and scarcely
do we pitch our tents than these active gentry are
miles away lootng all they meet. The fort, which
fetal construction is aquadranguar work ofmud,
with the walls externally of at least 40 feet in
height, and a deep dry ditch, which the enemy are
long. The parapet is broken and recedes in places,
so that it could be scaled with little difficulty
A MUssULMAN PRIsoNER.-The terreplein (if it
can be so called) is high above the level of the
ground outside the fort. Inside the fort there is
kind of keep. in the CENTRE some houses and rude