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Leader (1850-1860), 21st November 1857, Edition 2 of 2, Page 3

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      No. 400, November 21,1857.J The__ Leakeb...

      No . 400 , November 21 , 1857 . J THE __ LEAKEB , 1107

      The Io I As Revolt. ¦ • . ¦ . ——¦* — — •...

      THE IO I AS REVOLT . ¦ . ¦ . ——¦* — — . FULL PARTICULARS OF THE FALL OF DELHI , THE RELIEF OF LUCKNOW , & c . Since our last issue , full particulars have been received of tlie reduction of Delhi , of-. the " -. arrival of Havelock ' s forces at Luck now , and of those events which were briefly intimated at the close o f last weei by the telegraphic wires . The news is of a chequered kind . The stronghold of rebe llion is again firmly in our possession , after a loss of life which , saddens victory itself , and leaves oar army in that quarter lamentably reduced in number . So far , however , we have been successful ; but Lucknov is still a source of uneasiness , though it is by no means Certain that affairs are in so bad a state as would appear from the Marseilles despatches published last Saturday , which , assorted that the city was surrounded by 50 , 000 men , and in danger of being reduced by famine . ; ¦ - : - . ' " ¦ ¦ ¦ . "¦ ; . DELHI .. : ¦ /¦ . . ; . ¦ ¦' , A vast mass of intelligence has been published with reference to the fall of ' Delhi . Foremost in interest among these documents is the official despatch of General Wilson to the Adjutant-Greneral . It "will bo seen , however , that this only refers to the first two days of the struggle : — " Delhi , September 15 . . " Sir , —I have the high satisfaction , of reporting , for the information of the IMajor-General commanding in the Upper Provinces , nncl through him of his Excellency the Commander -in-Chief , and of Government , that on . the morning of the ' 14 th hist ., the force under my command successfully assanltod ; the city of Delhi . " Under the present cirexmstances , jMajorrGeneTal Go-wahwill , I trust , allow me to withhold for a time a full and complete detail of the operations from their Commencement to tli ' eir close , and to limit myself to a summary of events . ¦" After six days of open trenches , during which the Artillery and Engineers , under their respective commanding officers , Major Gaitskell and Lieutenant-Co > lonelBaird Smith , vied with each other in pressing forward the work , two excellent and most practicable breaches were formed in the walls of the place , one ir the curtain to the right of the Cashmere bastion , the other to tlie left of the Water bastion , the defences oi those bastions and the parapets giving musketry covei 4-n + li « ntirtm-ir n / imm"Jndin ( T 1 "hi » ltm ^ n f'llP 1- ; lin . vitlJT S 1 . 1 SC

      been destroyed by the artillerj-. " The assault was delivered on four points . The 1 st column , umler Brigadier J . Nicholson , consisted of lier Majesty ' s 75 th Kegiment ( 300 men ) , the 1 st European Bengal Fusiliers ( 2 00 men ) , ami 2 nd Punjab Infantry ( 430 nion ) , assaulted the main breach , their advance being admirably covered by the 1 st Battalion , her Majesty ' s 60 th liiilcs , under Colonel J . Junes . The operation was crowned with brilliant success , the enemy after severe resistance being : driven from tlie Cashmere basft *^ r » tlin niiitn ortm-riL nnil it * 5 vir » init \ .- in Pinin ^ lpti > rtfVit .

      u The 2 nd column , under Brigadier Jones , of her 31 ajesty ' s (> Lst Regiment , consisting of her Majesty ' s 8 th Regiment ( 250 men ) , the 2 nd European Bengal Fusiliers ( 250 mon ) , and the 4 th Regiment of Sikhs ( 350 men ) , similarly covered by the GOth liilles , advanced on tlie Water bastion , carried the breach , and drove the enemy from his guns and position , with n determination and spirit which gave me the highest satisfaction . •" The tfrd column , under Colonel Campbell , of her Majesty ' s 52 nd Light Infantry , consisting of 200 of his own regiment , the Keuiaoon Battalion ( 250 men ) , and the 1 st Punjab Infantry ( 500 'men ) , was directed atruinst tlie Cashmere u-atewnv . This column was

      nreceded by an explosion pnrty , under Lieutenants Home anil Salkuld , of the Engineers , covered by tlio CJOth Rifles . The demolition of the jAiito having been accomplished , the column forced an entrance , overcoming a strenuous opposition from the enemy ' s infantry , and heavy nrtilh ; ry , which had been brought- to boar on the position . I cannot express too warmly my admiration of the gallantry of all concerned in this difficult operation . " The reserve , under Urigndier Longfiuld , her Mauui uil lJUrtUll IlUl xi \\ r > it

      jwij o A ^^^ lllLVKll v ; | . UI m . hjj ^ j w *> Kegimont ( 250 men ) , tlio 4 th Kegiincnl . Kiile * ( 150 men ) , tlio Bolooch Battalion ( 800 men ) , the JUeend llujnh ' s Auxiliaries ( 000 mon ) , and 200 of hor Majesty's GOth Rifles , who joined after tlio assault hud been made , awaited the result of tho attack , mul on the columns entering tlie place , took possession of the posts 1 had previously assigned to it . This duty wns ultimately pcrformi-d to my entire satisfaction . " Tho ( inn establishment of tho reserve rendering the assaulting columns free to net in advance , Brigadier-General Nicholson , supported by Brigadier . Tones , Bwept , tlu > ramparts of tlio place from tho Cashmere to tho Cabul gates , occupying the bastions ami defences , capturing the guns , ami driving the e-noiny boforo him . " During tlio advance , Brigadier-General Xieliolson

      wa 9 , to the grief of myself and the whole army , dangerously wounded . The " command consequently devolved on Brigadier Jones , who , finding the enemy in great force , occupying and pouring a destructive ftre from th-a roofs of strong and commanding houses in the city on all sides , the ramparts themselves being enfiladed by g ^ ns , prudently Tfesolved on retaining possession of the Cabul gate , which his troops had so gallantly won , in which he firmly established himself , awaiting the result of the operations of the other columns of occupation . " Colonel Campbell , with the column under his command , advanced successfully from the Caehmere gate by one of the main streets beyond the Chandnee Chouk , the central and principal street of the cit ^ -, towards the Jumna Musjid , with the intention of occupying that important post . The opposition , however , which he met from the great concentration of the enemy , at the Jumna TMusjiil and the houses in the neighbourhood , he himself , I regret to state , being wounded , satisfied him that his most prudent course was not to maintain so advanced a position with the comparatively limited force at his disposal , and he accordingly withdrew the liead of his column and placed himself in communication with the reserve , a . " measure which liad my entire approval ; I having previously determined that , in the event of serious opposition being encountered in the tOTvri itself , it would be most inexpedient to commit my small force to a succession of street fights , in which their gallantry , discipline , and organization could avail them so little " '¦"' . My present position , therefore , is that which , under such a contingency , I had resolved to occupy and establish myself in firmly , as the base of my systematic operations for the complete possession of the city . This embraces the magazine on one side , and the Cabul gate on tlie other , with the Moree , Cashmere , and Water Bastions , and strong- intermediate posts with , secure communication along the front and to the rear . " Trom- 'this base I am now cautiously pressing the enemy on all points , -with a view to establishing myself in a second ad van . position , and I trust before many days to have it iii my power to announce to the Supreme Government , that the enemy have been driven from their last stronghold in the palace , fort , and streets of the city of Delhi . " Simultaneously with the operations above detailed an attack wns nijule on the enemy ' s strong position outside the city , in the suburbs of Kissengunge and Paha-. reeporc , with a view of driving in the rebels , and sups porting the main attack by effecting an entrance at tht i Cabul gate nfter it should be taken . . " The force employed on this difficult duty I entrusted ? to that admirable officer , Major C . Heid , commanding the Sirmoor battalion , whose distinguished conduct 5 i have alreadv had occasion to bring prominently to the ¦

      notice of superior authority , and who was , I much regret , severely -wounded on this occasion . His column consisted of his own battalion , the Guides , and the men on duty at Hindoo Kao ' s ( the main picket ) , numbering in all about 1000 , supported by the auxiliary troops of his highness the ^ Iaharaj ah Kunbheer Singh , under Captain K . Lawrence . ¦ ¦ " The . strength of , the positions , however , and the desperate resistance ottered'by the onemy , withstood for a time the efforts of our troops , gallant though they I -were , and the combination was imablo to be effected . llie l to lias

      'delay , am nappy saj-, only ueen temporary , for the enemy have subsequently abandoned their posi- i tions , leaving their guns in our hands . "In this attack I found it necessary to support Major I Reid with Cavalry and Horse Artillery , both of which arms were admirably handled respectively by Brigadier ] Hope Grant of her Majesty ' s 9 th Lancers , commanding the Cavalry Brigade , and Major II . Tombs , of the Horse Artillery , who inflicted severe punishment on the enemy , though I regret their own loss was very heavy . "The resistance of the rebels up to this time has been that of desperate men , and to this must be attributed the severe loss we have sustained , amounting proximntely ,

      so fur as I am able to judge , in the absence of casualty returns , to forty-six officers killed and wounded , and about 800 men . Amongst those of whose services the state has been deprived are many officers of distinction and merit , holding superior commands , whose places cannot be supplied ; and I have specially to lament tho loss which has been sustained by that splendid corps , the Engineers , nine officers of that arm having fallen in tho gallant performance of their duty . " Until 1 am in possession of reports from b \* igadiers nnd nthi'i * cnimnnniliiicr nflierrrs . T Almll tw ' unnlilo to <> nt < vr

      more fully into Uic details of these operations , and I trust tho circumstances under which I write will excuse nny slight innceunicies or imperfections which my despatch may exhibit . " Tho absence of such reports also prevents my bringing to notice the names of those ofneors and men who have specially distinguished themselves . This will be my grateful duty hereafter . But I cannot defer tine expTCpaion of my admiration for t ! io intrepidity , coolness , and determination of all engaged , Europeans and natives , of nil arms of the service . " General Chamberlain remarks in his report , dated September 18 : — " The usual licence winch invariably accompanies an assault of a largo city has somewhat retarded our advance ; but order is being fast restored . " To this spirit of 'licence' we suppose we

      must .. ascribe-the bayoneting of the civilians found within the walls of Delhi . An eye-witness ( evidently a military man ) , has communicated to the papers an account of the siege operations preceding the assault , and of the assault itself . " We here read : — " The north face being the side to be attacked , it was resolved to hold the right in check as far as possible , and to push the main attack on the left first , as the river would completely protect our flank as tvb advanced ; second , as there was better cover on that side ; third , as after the assault the troops would not find themselves immediately in narrow streets , but in . comparatively open ground . " The front to be attacked consisted of the Moree , Cashmere , and Water Bastions , with the curtain walls connecting them . These bastions had been greatly altered and improved by our own engineers many years ago , and presented regular faces and flanks of masonry with properly cut embrasures ; the height of the wall was twenty-four . feet above the ground level , of which , however , eight feet was a mere parapet three feet thick , the remainder being about four times that thickness ; outside the wall was a very wide berm and then a ditch sixteen feet deep and twenty feet wide at bottom , escarp and counterscarp steep , and the latter unriveted , and the former riveted with stone and eight feet in height . A good sloping glacis covered the lower ten feet of the wall from all attempts of distant batteries . "On the evening of the 7 th of September , No . 1 advanced battery , in two portions , was traced abont seven hundred yards from the Moree'Bastion , the right portion , for live 18-pounders and one 8-inch howitzer was to silence the More e and prevent its interfering with , the attack on the left . The left portion four 24-pounders . ¦ was intended to hold the Cashmere Bastion partially in check . The working parties were very little disturbed during the night ; the covering parties in front kept the musketrv at a distance , and except tliree well-aimed showers " grape thrown from the Moree , which knocked "¦ ' over some workmen , we received no further annoyance . ; By the morning , the two portions of the battery were finished and armed , though , not ready to fire until nearly . ! sunrise . A trench ay as also made connecting the two portions , and extending a little to the Tight and left , so I as to give communication .-with a "wide and deep ravine which , extending very nearly lip -to .-our- left attack , " . formed-a-sort-of first parallel , and gave good cover to the guard of the trenches , the doolies , & c . For some 5 time we were well pounded from the Moree with round shot and grape , but as our guns in the new battery got 1 gradually into jlay , the enemy ' s fire grew less and less , > and was at length completely overpowered . This batt I tery became known as ' -Blind ' s , being worked by that J officer with credit effect till the end of the siege ,

      " On the evening of the 8 th and 9 th , No . 2 battery ! was traced and commenced . To our surprise , we had been allowed to seize this advanced position at Ludlow Castle within six . hundred yards of tlie city , without : even a fight for it on the previous day . In fact , there : is little doubt the enemy still thought the attack was to j be on tlie right , -where all the fighting had hitherto been , ' , and where all our old batteries were located . Lud-| low Castle and the Koodsee Bagh were now occu-! pied by strong detachments , and formed our chief sup-! ports to the left attack . During the 9 th , a sharp fire of these

      | | musketry , shot , and shells was opened on positions by the enemy from ' the jungle in front , and from the Cashmere and "Water Bastions and the Sehmghur , but no great damage -was done . j " During the nights of the 9 th and 10 th , No . 2 bat - | tery was completed and partially armed , but not 3-0 ! unmarked . It was in two portions . One immediately in front of Ludlow Castle for nine 24-poundors , to open a breach in the curtain between the Cashmere and Water Bastions immediately to the loft of the former , and to knock off the parapet io the right and left for some distance , so as to give no cover to musketry . The other portion , some two hundred vards to the right , consisting

      of seven 8-iucli howitzers and two 18-pounders , was to aid the first portion , and work with it to the same cncl . No . 3 battery -was also commenced on tlie left , and No . I battery for tea heavy mortars completed in the Koodsee Bagh , but not yet -unmasked . Major Tombs was in . charge of this battery . The light mortars under Captain Blunt were afterwards worked from the rear of the Custom-house . "During tlie night of the 10 th and lltli , No . 2 battery wae strengthened , armed , and unnmsked , and w ^ ^ Vnttnxv r >/» im > liitr > rl . This lnsl . wns mndc in tlio

      boldest manner within one hundred and eighty yards of tho Water Bastion , behind a small ruined hou ^ c in tlio Custom-house compound—and under such a fire ot musketry as few batteries have ever been exposed to ; it was for six 18-pounders which -were to opffiin seooiwl breach in the Water Bastion , nnd yrta worked by Major Scott . Tho enemy also went to . work to-nifi ht * " « '"»«; an advanced trench parallel to our left nttnc k , . n In . out three hundred and fifty yards from it ^ J « t « jyj bronk they opened u very hot tire of . ^ '; ' ^ ' )! ™ was ™« « nilia thro ^ out J - - ^ r henvy gS . m T ^ Z l ZZ ™^^ ^ fire ,. nalvo from the nine Si-Sunders opening the ball , and showing , by

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 21, 1857, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21111857/page/3/