The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-18
THE BLOoD-STAINED BUNGALOW.
The Route of Mana Sahib's Army.
Men Who Fought Against Fearful
Odds Spirited Cavalry Charges.
Exciting Scenes and Events of
the Memorable Rebellion De-
scribed by an Eyewitness.
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL.


o'clock in the morning to halt and lie upon
our arms for an hour or two. Owing to the
scarcity of water and food, the terrible heat
of an Indian July night, the heavy and wet
paddy or rice fields that We had to almost
wade through and the constant and con-
tinuous charge of the enemy's cavalry on
our fanks and rear, causing us to form
squads to resist them every ten or fifteen
minutes, we were completely worn out.
After throwing out pickets, we lay on our
arms where we were and were fast asleep
in a couple of minutes. l think, had the
enemy made a rapid advance and sharp
attack upon US just then, they would have
mad aD easy conquest for while at all
events.
just before sunrise the trumpets and
bugles sounded the rouse ana stand to
arms A days ratiOns were served to each
man, consisting of three large, hard bis
cults, quart Of water, for carriage in our
slung canteens, some hot coffee and dram
of rum for present use. BY the days ra-
lions being issued we all knew that there
was heavy work before us; and so it proved
TO be-the heaviest, the most desperate and
the last days work for hundreds of brave
men then at sunrise unconscious and care
less of danger. The sun rose in burst of
splendor, under which we made but very
poor appearance, covered with mud and
our linen tunics and trousers a mud color,
but nevertheless the enemy thoroughly re-
speeted and feared us, after the terrible
defeat We had inflicted on them at the
battle of Futtehpore some days before.
MANA SAHIB ARMY.
The enemy was before US, at nine hun
dred or ten bundled yards distance, and
splendid appearance they made in COMPARE
son to us. With their lines, reserves ana
numerous cavalry, dressed in brilliant
White, their polished small arms, numer-
Gus shining brass cannon, their cavalry
SaDers or tulwars glinting and cOruscating
in the brilliant tropical sun, they made
grand martial and impressive sight But we
feared them not, for we had severely tried
them and found them wanting. We knew,
and they knew, the terrible and diSorganiz-
ing power We mad over their infantry and
guns, the deadly bullets from our MIME
rifles sweeping away their lines and re-
serves hundreds IF yards before they could
touch Us with their smooth-bore firelocks,
while our skirmishers, taking advantage of
every inequality of the ground, shot down
their men at their guns as fast as they
could be replaced.
Their lines completely overlapped our
wings, but this did not make us very
anxious, as our skirmisbers with light field
guns protected our TANKS and rear, forming
squares when their cavalry charged, empty
ing dozens upon dozens of their saddles
when they advanced and retreated. Their
charges during the day were not many, for
the fearful lesson they received at the re-
cent battle made them very shy indeed.
pr,l1r 4E,,
ship, urging and example Of our own mutt
nous native Cfiicers in their midst, that
they made the three paftially successful
charges that they did during the day.
However, there we were facing each
other. they with hopes of routing us and
having US al lihilated by their own and the
efforts OF t dense and bitterly hating
population bat we would have to retreat
through; We with the hope of defeating
them, relievi g the two hundred and twenty
men, with some ninety women and chill
dren, closely besieged by them for the last
stroke III open trenches.
THE MASSACRE.
Alas! We did not know until evening.
When the battle was over and We found the
bl0od-Staned bungalow, where the women
and children had been confined after the
slaughter OF the men, who surrendered on
favorable terms GU treaty being made
between the cruel and taithless Mana Sahib
and the foolish and confidlng General
wheeler, that an order had been sent TO the
officer commanding the Fifth Bengal Native
Cavalry or SOuyars, who guarded the un-
fortunate women and children, TO slaughter
them aud throw their maugled remains
into well III the compound OF the bung-
allow. The order. in the handwriting of the
Mana SaEib - in Hindostanee-wfth his
name and newly assumed title-Vicegeren
OF all 1hdIa-aftiXed thereto, and dated the
same nHV : his Cgfpar a rpftnbnora
found IN the sabeItach of the killed Colonel
found on the field in the morning. He was
one of our own mutinied Subadahr Majors.
AS usual, the first shot from one of their
long. brass guns was fired by the enemy,
passing just over tue heads OF the men Of
the center OF our left wing, but tearing
completely through the whole depth of the
reserve. Thus, the battle of Cawnpore
had commenced. After firing their first
round Shot, they opened a terrific artillery
IRE upon US, from upward of thirty heavy
and Held guns, causing terrible havoc in
our ranks. Our position at this time was
feariully omlnouS. When we started.
some nine days previously, we were but
6COO strong by battle, skirmlshes, sun
stroke, lever, and exhaustion from want of
a sufficient supply of food and water, we
were, by the morning 5 muster-rolls, shown
10 be reduced down to $50. We were bur
dened with wounded and sick We were
In the heart Of Bengal, more than 300 miles
AVN ob5 Hhot w ACIb We EUuIu lake refuge
a cIuel, relentless enemy in Oursfront with
4 surrounding OF dense and bitterly hos
tile population. Every man in our force
knew this; but they also knew that To
wayer was lc Increase the chances against
US Consequently, all held up well. and in
The course Of three or four hours afterward
we were Completely cheered up by The
breaking up OF the enemy's lines reserves
and the capture Of twelve of his guns, some
standards, plenty of cattle, rice and flour,
with a considerable amount of treasure.
THE BATTLE.
As said before. the battle OF Cawnpore
had commenced. We had two 24-pounder
guns, with two howitzers of similar caIiber.
In our center; two 1SpOunders in the CEN
ter OF each OF our wings, with ten field guns
distributed On our TANKS and rear With
these we opened a most accurate fire on the
enemy IN answer to their salvos, but above
all our sklrmishers were doing most effect
I've Work with the deadly bullets of The
Mimic rifles. All this time we were slow
ly advancing, the enemy maneuyering as if
meaning to crush us in flank, still keen
ing up heavy artillery fire; but our MIME
bullets were perceptibly telling upon their
gunners and the accuracy of their fire, as
well RS upon their lines and reserves, and
our artillery still kept up a constant and
most telling fire. 1t was at this time
that we saw one of the Nana's staff-the
Mana was sitting his horse, and well to
line, and shortly afterward we had the
great satisfaction of seeing their center
retreat, with their wings slowly retiring
ana closing to the center. Now was our
TIME. we somewhat hastened our advance
ing pace, and kept up our destructive fire
OF artillery and rifles upon their retreating
masses Alter retTeating something near
mile, they faced about and opened
heavy artillery and musketry fire upon ms
the former killing and wounding consider
able numbers of our force, the balls from
the latter not reaching us by 20 or 300
yards, while our rifle bullets were more
than decimating them.
THE EAEMY's HURRIED RETREAT.
From this time until near 0'cleck ii was
more tlian hurried retreat with them. We
kept close to them, pouring in round shot,
shell, canister. grape and rifle bullets,
doing fearful havoc in their now thick and
tangled ranks. Somewhere about o'clock
we saw tops of trees on either side of the
road. We hurried onr pace, and nearly
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