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    796 T H E I;EA BE B, [No. 438, August 14...

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    THE IN DI AN" REVOLT. —?—¦ — ¦ ¦ ¦ Tub p...

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  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

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    796 T H E I;Ea Be B, [No. 438, August 14...

    796 T H E I ; EA BE B , [ No . 438 , August 14 . lftRa

    The In Di An" Revolt. —?—¦ — ¦ ¦ ¦ Tub P...

    THE IN DI AN" REVOLT . —?—¦ — ¦ ¦ ¦ Tub pause in the progress of events in India continues , and both sides seem resting after their struggles . The Tains have by this time begun , and during the wet season operations are difficult . The impression at Calcutta seems to be that circumstances have assumed a more cheerful aspect , but that the danger is far from . over , as tlie Gwalior fugitives are still at large , and Tantia Topee , the

    Nawab of Banda , and . Nana Sahib , are jet at liberty to carry forth their designs . The pause will probably be turned to account by the rebels in instituting an extensive propaganda , in beating up recruits , in repairing- their loss of cannon , and in generally making themselves leady for the renewed struggle . On the other hand , it is to be hoped that "we shall be equally prepared ; to which end further reinforcements from England , on a large scale , appear indispensable . The inillet , the climate , and fatigue , have sadly thinned our ranks .

    On the 1 st of July , the rebels were forty miles from Jeypore , near Lallsahoont , and General Iioberts ' s force , was only thirty-four miles distant from the : first-nientioned city on the same day . That is the latest news from the disturbed districts . The Indian Government has supplied to the newspapers the subjoined Service Messages from various districts , bearing date from the llth to the 27 th of June : — " Chtodak District . —Yukut Bap , the rebel zemindar of Arphelee , in the Clmmlar District , has been captured by a party iu the pay of Luchmecbaee 2 emindarin of Aheeree . No particulars received , except that many persons were killed and wounded on . both sides .

    " Gwalior , & c<—rThe Maharajah of Gwalior left Agra on the 13 th of June for the purpose of joining the . Central India field force , now on its way to Gwalior . All was well at . Jeypore on the 13 th , and Bhurtpore on the 14 th . Sir Hugh . Rose's force reached Soopoolia on the latter day * The rebel force seemed disinclined for a contest , and there were many desertions . The Sepree Brigade was at Soorjepore on the 10 th , and was to be at Mahara on the llth . Several of the rebels are said to have fled from Gwalior in the direction of the Kotah , boundary . — ' On the day of the general action , with , the Gwalior rebels , on the 19 th inst ., ' writes Sir Hugh Rose , ' the force under my command took , exclusive of the guns in the fort , sixteen guns in the field from the enemv-, one

    of them a brass 24-pounder , a bras 3 18-pounder , a brass 8-inch mortar , several English 9-pounders and guns of other calibre , great quantities of ammunition , waggons , and warlike stores of every description , and seventy elephants . When the troops went to occupy the fort of Gwalior , after the capture of the city by storm , Scindiah ' a authorities having reported to me that it was vacated , they found the gate shut , and a detachment of fanatics opened fire on them . Sun having set , I caused the fort to be surrounded , and the next morning a detachment of the gallant 25 th Bombay Native Infantry stormed and took it ; their brave leader , Lieutenant Rose , was killed . I sent a column of Horse Artillery and cavalry , under Brigadier-General Napier ,

    C . B ., in pursuit of the rebels , who fled ia great disorder after the defeat of the 19 th inst . I also directed another column from Dholepore to cros 3 the Chumbal and pursue the fugitives . Brigadier-General Napier overtook them on tne 21 st inst . near Jana Allahpoor , defeated them , captured twenty-five guns , and cut up a considerable number . Brigadier-General Napier , who has displayed the greatest energy and intelligence in the pursuit , continues it to Subbulghur . The day after the capture of Givalior I conducted Sir R . Hamilton and Major M'Pherson , with a squadron of her Majesty ' s Hussars and one squadron of her Majesty ' s

    14 th Light Dragoons , to the Palace of Gwalior . The streets were lined by immense- crowds , who received the Maharajah with every appearance of attachment . 'The party of fugitive rebels from Gwalior wlio crossed the Chumbul have been largely joined !> y the other fugitives at Sreemuttifl , thirty miles west of Dholpore , and , from information just received , has moved to Makleepore . It is supposed they are making for Jeyporo , but their movements on the next stage will indicate whether they are bound for Bhurtporo or Jeypore . They have no guns , but have seventeen elephants , and are about seven thousand horae and foot . Captain Orr moved on the 25 th towards Goonab . Order ia re-established in Gwalior .

    " Histdown , Bhurtporb , & c—The whole of the rebels from Gwalior reached Hindown during the 24 th instant , and by the morning of the 26 th their numbar with camp , followers , was estimated at fifteen thousand ! It appears that they have a few zwinbooruea on elephants . They appear to bo divided in opinion as to going to Bhurtporo or Joyporo . Captain Eden writes that the first intelligence of the movements of the rebels caused great alarm ; thut this hud Binco subsided . Captain Nixon keeps a stout heart at Bhurtporo . Brigadier Showers marched for Futtohpore Sikreo last night with a smull force , which will bo increased as detachments sent to Dholpore , now returning to Agra , can come to Futtehpore Sikree . "

    Atvieerchund Bade , Scindiali ' s traitorous treasurer at Jowra , has been captured . Tantia Topee and the Nawab of Banda quitted Gwalior before the final contest , and are said to be on their way , with seven guns , to Sobulghur and Jeypore . Brigadier-General Napier has gone in pursuit .

    THE CAWNPORE MASSACRE . An interesting , but somewhat questionable , narrative of the Cawnpore massacre , ostensibly by a survivor , has been transmitted to the Times by Dr . W . Knighton , of the College , Ewell , Surrey . The writer is said to be a young lady , the only survivor ( as alleged ) of the terrible scene . She was subsequently taken to Luck now with the rebels ; and the Moulvie , feeling interested in her , placed her under the care of his mint , the Begum . Here she

    made a profession of Mahometanism ; and , when the Lucknow garrison was relieved , she accompanied the rebels in their wanderings through Oude , till at length they released her . She then went to Calcutta where she is now living with her friends . We append some extracts ; but it is as well to observe that ^ even the Times , which credits the story , points out ' certain confusions of dates and erroneous impressions . However , we now leave the narrative to speak for itself : —

    " I was sixteen years of age when I accompanied my sister and her husband to Cawnpore , about six months before the mutiny broke out , and suffered with the Christians under General Sir Hugh " Wheeler . Accounts had reached us on the 17 th of May of the disasters at Meerut , and then we were apprehensive of an outbreak at Canvripore . We -were gathered into the barracks on the 21 st of the same month , and suffered dreadful privations from want of provisions and water , and from the frequent attacks which -were made by the mutineers on our small body of men , about four hundred and fifty altogether , consisting partly of officers of native regiments ; and sixty artillerymen .

    "An unfortunate treaty was entered into between General "Wheeler and the Nana Sahib on the 24 th of June ; the latter swore by his gods and upon the Gunga to protect us and see us safely taken to Allahabad in boats . We entered these joyfully , never for a moment expecting treachery , and were taken by surprise when we were fired on . The river in many places in the middle had no more than six feet of water , so that most of the boats were soon aground . Some of the small ones managed , to push on , and even then with difficulty . The firing at first was irregular , but after , a while the balls came whizzing past us as thick as hail , sinking many boats . I was on the deck of my boat , seated stupified with terror and amazement , when I was further

    convinced of immediate danger by seeing a party of Sepoys enter the boat I was in . I was seized in . an instant by the arm by one of these savages—for savages and ruffi . tns they looked . I was asked to deliver all I possessed ; money and jewels to the amount of four hundred rupees , the sum I managed to take with me when I proceeded to the barracks , was now snatched from me . On replying in the negative to questions whether I had more money and valuables by me , my person was searched rudely . My senses had very nearly forsaken me . I was in a sort of stupor . The search was made on my person while I was standing , but , to speak more exactly , I was made to stand while I was searched . The ruffian , as if to tantalise me , let off his gun over my

    head and shoulders in the most deliberate- and coldblooded manner . They afterwards shot two sweet little girls , sisters , who were between the ages of six ami eight . The poor creatures were clinging to each other when they committed this diabolical act . Next , they shot an Eurasian , whose name was Kirkpatrick , a merchant in Cawnpore . How many others were killed by the miscreants I could not know , for I felt dizzy , and sank on the deck . For what time I remained in this state I have no idea . I returned to consciousness by feeling myself suddenly and rudely seized , and thrown into the river . The next moment I was buffeting with the water . I managed , with Borne difficulty , to get to land , and

    scrambled on shore . I crawled on my hands and knees till I reached a tree about half a mile from the banks , and hid myself as well as , I could . My thoughts—oh , Heavens !—were agonising . My sister , her husband , and children had , I had not tho slightest doubt , been ruthlessly murdered . I shuddered to think of their dreadful fate . My thoughts next reverted to myself . What was I to do ? where could I escape ? surrounded as I was on all sides by the dreadful , revengeful , and blood-thirsty enemy . I had no hope of escape . I offered up a fervent prayer to God . ' Gracious and merciful Father , Thou wilt not desert me in the time of need ! O Lord ! have mercy on mo ! ' and suck-liko prayers burst forth from my innermost soul .

    " I fell by degrees into a sort of drowsy fit , occasioned perhaps from weariness , from which I was aroused by approaching stealthy footsteps . In an instant I Bprnng to my feet , but , instead of tho ruffians whom I expected to > see , to my great relief the well-known face and form of Miss Wheeler , tho General ' s daughter , were before mo . In a few words I understood that slio had been dealt with in tho same way as myself— i . e . thrown into the water by the men , who perhaps thought aho was not worth a . bullet—that , being insensible , she would aoon

    sink to the bottom of tlie river . Our acitatioii « n , i > " " however , were so great that we had not much of ? 1 , ' tion to offer each other . We had not WnT ^ l *' more than an hour , I should suppose , when a mw r the enemy surprised us . We were dWed in K ? ° direction ^ and of Miss Wheeler's fate I knewtS ^"' till very lately . I was pushed and dragged Il ™ f subjected to every indignity . OceaLS iZlT thrust of a bayonet , and on my protesting aWn 9 t R ,,, u treatment with uplifted hands , and appealing t 0 tS feelings as men , I was struck on my head , and was maf to understand , in language too plain , that I had not W to live ; but , before being put to death , that I would l made to feel some portion of the degradation tu brethren felt at Meerut when nonJnTZ r ^ before the troops . After a walk of about w hours , I was _ brought to a place -about four „? £ from Cawnpore , very near Bitaoor , where aSS of the mutineers were encamped . I was almost i ™ state of nudity , for my clothes had been torn to it

    when I had been dragged along by the men , and I had the mortification of being made a spectacle before these l . eartless and cruel wretches . Clapping of hands and cries of ' Khoob-kea' ( Well done !) burst upon my stupified senses . A circle formed round me . I sankoa the ground and buried my face in rny hands . Oh tlie agony of those moments ! At length I heard a voice speaking to my persecutors iu rather a conciliatory tone' Spare the poor creature and have compassion on her let her alone , she seems dead already . ' 1 looked up and saw an African . There was something mild and compassionate in his look . He relieved , me in a great measure from the shame I was suffering by throw-in" a

    covering or chuddur on me . He asked me to accompany him . I immediately followed , and was ushered into a tent , where I was desired by my benefactor to take rest lie made me understand that he -would do all in his power to have my life spared . I thanked him for his kindness . After a while he procured me a suit of native clothes , which he said I should put on . ' You are very unwell , ' he said ; ' your eyes are bloodshot , and face very much flushed . ' I knew that I had ; a strong fever on me , and felt exceedingly weak . I replied that a little sleep would perhaps do me good . I laid my aching head on the mattress and fell fast asleep .

    ¦ ^ . " ¦ On waking , I still felt so / weak that I could hardly lift my head . I had a chupattie , or hand-bread , and a little dhall served to . me , which I could not eat . My sable benefactor I saw no more till I went to Liicknow : he was a eunuch in the King ' s emploj' , ami had arrived in Cawnpore as an avant ~ courkr with some despatches from Moulvie Ahmedoollan , Shah , of Fyzabad , to Kara Sahib . " I heard of some ladies whose lives had been spared , and who were in a building called the Assembly ltoom . How I wished that my sister , at least , were among the number .

    " I had been some time now with the mutineers , and was treated brutally . How I survived my severe illness , having no proper nourishment given to me or care taken of me , is a source of wonder to me now . Sinful as was the wish , I wished and prayed for death , but Providence willed it otherwise . " As I understood the Hiridostanec language thoroughly , I managed to glean from the conversation of the men that spies had come from Allahabad with news that the British were making arrangements to march on Cawnpore . A ray of hope shot through me at the prospect of being thus relieved from the hands of these merciless men .

    " On the morning of tlie 15 th of July , on getting up , I found that our camp was in an unusual bustle , news having reached the Nana that the victorious British were marching on Cawnpore , after having routed the rebels first at a place called Khnga , about five miles from Futtehpore , on Monday , th « 12 th of July ; then at Aong on the lfith ; and finally at the bridge on the Tancloo Nuddee , or stream . " An order was issued by the Nana for the women , children , and sick to be removed half way to Lucknow . I vainly hoped to have been excluded from forming one

    of the number . I was dragged and pushed along i" my weak state , and when I actually sank from fatigue I was put on a cart , but not before I had accomplished thirty miles on foot without shoes . On the 21 st , we were joined by nearly tho whole of the mutinous troops who had evacuated Cawnporo and lHthoor , and I could easily guess from our hurried marches for dnys that we wereiu full retreat . Whenever tho news came of the pursuing garahs , or white soldiers , a fliglit was continued willi a perseverance worthy of a better cause . It can easily bo imagined from this in what dread the Sepoys held our soldiers .

    " I had to accompany tho flying enemy , ami made » detour of a grent portion of the North-West Provinces on foot , viz . Baroilly , Rohilcund , Futtuhghur , SlmliJ « - hanporc , and the district noar Delhi . After travelling through all these places , wo joined the mutineers at Lucknow . " Tho reader will notice liore a something i" tll ( j stj'lo suggestive of tho narrative having been drosseu up ; but it appears that tho story is not directly from tho pen of tho young lady herself , but 1 ms pnsscu through other hands , by whom it has been " treated . "

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 14, 1858, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_14081858/page/4/