The Press. — 1857-11-14 (London, England)

THE PRESS, NOVEMBER 14,1857.  Honiton. John Nicholson was born at Virgemont on the 11th of December, 1822, and having received his early education at the Grammar•school of Dungannon, county of Tyrone, obtained from his uncle a direct appointment to India early in 1839, where he arrived in the July of the same year, in time to share in the famous Cabul campaign. The conquest of Cabul was followed by the revolt of the Affghans. At the period of the murder of Sir William 11I‘Naghten and the massacre of the British troops at Jugdulluck, Nicholson was in the fortress of Ghuznee, under Colonel Palmer, and shared with him the dangers of the siege. There is no need to recapitulate here the details of that event ; it is enough to say that the British force found themselves shut up in the citadel, and, having suffered the extremities of hunger, were forced to capitulate on honourable terms. How those terms were broken and how Nicholson was forced to give up his sword is now a matter of history, as is also his imprisonment with his comrades in Cabal and his subsequent restoration to liberty on the arrival of the gallant Sir Robert Sale and Sir G. Pollock, the red heroes who retrieved the disasters of Lord Auckland's Indian administration. We next find General Nicholson serving in the Sutlej campaign of 1845-46. At the time of the outbreak of that war he rendered important service to Sir Henry Hardinge by watching and reporting the movements of the Sikhs. He was also present at the bloody battle-fields of Mood kee and Ferozeshah, and received a medal for his gallantry in action. In the second Punjaub campaign, holding the post of Assistant-Resident at Lahore, while the siege of Moultan was still proceeding, Nicholson was sent to seize the fortress of Attock, an act which be accomplished with credit to himself. As soon as his services could be spared he accompanied Lord Gough in his advance, and was able to render Sir J. Thackwell some material assistance in transporting his forces across the Chenab just previous to the battle of Ramnugger. This gallant and distinguished general expressed his sense of Nicholson's services in flattering terms to the Government. After the battle of Chillianwallah his friends had the additional gratification of seeing his services in that engagement acknowledged in Lord Gough's despatch side by side with those of the late lamented Sir Henry M. Lawrence. Nor was he lass distinguished on the field of Goojerat, where Lord Gough finally routed and crushed the Sikh forces, and after which he particularly recommended, in his despatch addressed to the Governor-General of India, " that most energetic political officer, Captain Nicholson," as deserving of reward and promotion. For his services in the Punjaub campaign Captain Nicholson was promoted by special brevet to the rank of major in the army, and received the additional honours of' a medal and a clasp. He had been engaged in civil employment in the Punjaub for some few years before the outbreak of the recent mutinies, having bad under his charge the Dera Ishmail Khan district since January, 1852. Of his activity and energy in his civil capacity in the Punjaub, and of his gallantry in defeating the rebel forces sent out to intercept the siege-train on its way to Delhi, we have spoken too often recently to make it necessary to add any fresh meed of praise. The previous mail, it will be remembered, brought home tidings that Colonel Nicholson was among those who were wounded in the storming of Delhi, and now we deeply regret to have to enumerate his name among those who have since died of their wounds. Colonel Nicholson's corn misssions, we should add, hear date as follows : Ensign, February the 24th, 1830 ; lieutenant, January the 13th, 1842 ; regimental captain, with rank of lieutenant colonel, March the 20th, 1848.