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    734 THE LEADER. [No. 4&6, July 31 t 1858...

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    THE CAPTURE OE THE PEIIIO FORTS. A suppl...

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    The News From India, To Some Extent, Bri...

    " Bengal . The rebels , under Urnmer Singh , who were driven out of the Jugdespore jungles by Sir Edward Lagard and had at first made for the Gawleepore district , have retraced their steps , and are spreading over the eastern side of Bengal , plundering and burning all villages the inhabitants of which they supposed to be well affected fjto the English Government ] . The station of Gyahas has been reinforced by three hundred Madras Biflea . Her Majesty ' s 77 th Regiment , five hundred and ninety-nine strong , has arrived from Australia , and will be immediately moved up to Dinapore . A wing of the 2 nd battalion 60 th Rifles has been sent to Dacca .

    " Gwauor . —On the 16 th of June , the Central India ' Held Force from the east , and the Seepree Brigade from the south , were concentrated around Gwalior . On the 17 th , four guns were taken by the Seepree Brigade . Oa the 18 th , the Ranee of Jhansi was killed . Oa the 19 th , the town and palace of Gwalior were taken by Sir Hugh . Rose , after an action which lasted five hours and a half . The fort was successfully stormed next day by a detachment of the 25 th Bombay Native Infantry . Their brave leader , Lieutenant Rose , was tilled . A column of horse artillery and cavalry , under Brigadier-Greneral Napier , was sent in pursuit of the rebels : and Colonel RiddelTs column from

    Dholepore was directed by Sir Hugh Rose to cross the Chumbul and pursue the fugitives . Brigadier-General Napier overtook them on the 21 st near Goura-Alipore , on the old Bombay road , defeated them , captured twenty-five guns , and cut up a considerable number . Brigadier Napier has continued the pursuit towards Jubbulpore . On the 20 th of June , Sir Hugh Kose and Sir Robert Hamilton conducted the Maharajah of Gwalior to his palace . The streets through which , they passed were

    lined by immense crowds , who received the Maharajah with every appearance of attachment . The Baiza Baee , with the family of Scindia , returned under the escort of Hie Seepree Brigade , and are now in , the palace with the Maharajah . The rebels from Gwalior , with Tantia Topee , arrived at Sincemoa on the 24 th of June . On the 26 th , their numbers , with camp followers , were estimated at 15 , 000 . They still retain a few small guns , mounted on elephants . They appear undecided as to whether they shall attack Jeypore or Chtcrpore .

    •' Jktpobb . — -A flying column , under General Koberts , from Nusseerabad , advanced towards Jeypore on the 27 th of June . The first intelligence of the movements of the rebels caused great excitement at Jeypore , wMch has since greatly subsided . Brigadier Showers marched for Futtehpore Sikri on the night of the 26 th . He was to be reinforced by a detachment returning from Batpore to Agra . M Mhow . —A flying column is in , progress of organisation at Mhow , for service wherever it may be required . " Bombay PBESipENor . —No event of importance has tf suspired within the limits of this Presidency since the departure of-the last mail . " Nachpobk . —Yenkut Rao , the rebel Zemindar of Arpeglee , in the Chanda district , has been captured by the followers of the Zemindar Ahirae .

    " Patbta Division . —Colonel Atwng (?) and Captain Swtseby , R . N ., detached -with a small force by Brigadier Howcroft , attacked Mohamed Hoosein , fire miles west of Captaingunge , on the 26 th of June , and completely defeated him , taking all his camp equipage . The rebels lave entered the Shabah district , their path being marked by rapine and murder ; all these well affected to the British are sufferers . "

    OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OP THE ZVAIA OF BABX 1 IXT . A supplement to tbe Gazette , published an "Wednesday night , gives many despatches relative to the operations against the rebels , with which the public are already familiar . Among them is one from the Commander-in-Chief , dated Bareilly , May , 8 , and reporting operations in Rohilcund . Sir Colin says : — " On the 5 th insfc ., a movement was made on Bareilly The information which had been furnished me from ¦ various quarters was most conflicting , and to place reliance on it was utterly impossible . In short , in spite of the assumed friendship of the Hindoo portion of the population , I have not found it easier to obtain information in Rohilcund on which trust could be put , than has been the case in dealing with the insurrection in other parts of the empire .

    " very early on the morning of the 5 th , the advance having been made firomForreedpore , tho force was formed in line of battle about six o ' clock a . m . The first line consisted of the Highland Brigade , supported by the 4 th Sikhs and Belooch Battalion , with a heavy field battery in the centre , with horse artillery and cavalry on both flanks , under the respective brigadiers and commandants . " The second line was -wholly employed for the protection of the and

    baggage siege train , this precaution appearing to be necessary , owing to tho very numerous rebel cavalry . Tho enemy -who had come out from the city with much boldness , and taken position on tho left bank of the Nuttea Nuddee , having that stream in his rear , fired bis first guns about seven o ' clock a . m . " His guns were well placed , advantago having been taken of the road along which wo woro advancing , of certain Band hills . Tho ltorso artillery and cavalry advanced At the trpt from both flanks , while , the heavy

    field battery , with infantry in line , pressed , up along the centre . ; " In a short time , the enemy was driven from his guns , the left part of our line taking position on the river , while the right crossed the bridge , and advanced about three-quarters of a mile towards the town . The heavy guns were rapidly passed over in succession , and placed in a position from which they raked the centre of the enemy ' s second line , which he had taken up in the suburbs . A considerable distance had now been traversed by the troops , and it became necessary to check the advance , to allow time for the siege train and baggage to close up .

    " About eleven A . M ., great activity was observed in tbe enemy ' s ranks ; and , -while the attention , ^ my right was occupied by a considerable body in the suburbs , the most determined effort that I have seen made in this war , to turn and breakthrough the left , was executed at this time by the enemy . " Some old cavalry lines had been occupied by a Sikli regiment . Such was the vigour with which this regiment , a most distinguished one ( Major "Wilde's ) , under command of Lieutenant M'Queen , was attacked by a large body of fanatical Ghazees , that they gave way for a few minutes . The Ghazees , " pursuing their advantage , rushed like madmen on the 42 nd Highlanders , who had been formed in line in rear of the village , to support the Sikhs , as soon as the hostile movement was described . These men were all killed in the very ranks , of the 42 nd Highlanders in a most desperate hand-to-hand encounter .

    " The 42 nd , supported by the 4 th Sikhs and a party of the 79 th Highlanders , then advanced , sweeping through the various lines for about a mile and a half , into the cantonments , where they were placed in position for the day . .. . " Whilst the Ghazee attack had been going on to the left of the first line , a very large body of the enemy ' s cavalry , some six hundred or seven hundred in number , coming round our extreme left , attacked the baggage . They were quickly encountered by Lieutenant-Colonel Tombs ' s Horse Artillery troop , which , after the first advance across the river , had been left to meet such a contingency , by her Majesty ' s Carabineers ( Qtb . Dragoon Guards ) , the Moultan . ee HorSe and infantryof ' the rear guard ; their instant dispersion took place .

    " This was the last effort made by the enemy . A short time afterwards , the 79 th and 93 rd were directed to seize all the suburbs in their front , and the troops were put under shade as far as possible , the action having lasted for about six hours , and the troops having been under arms from two a . m . " Early on the next morning , the 6 th . inst ., the whole force advanced into the cantonment . At the same time , I had the pleasure to hear Brigadier-General Jones ' s guns on the Moradabad side of Bareilly . This officer had obeyed his instructions with great judgment and spirit , defeated a portion of the enemy on the 5 th inst ., taking three guns , and , finding himself resisted in his approach to the town on the 6 th , took three more which were in position against him , entered the town , and took three advanced positions without delay .

    " On the morning « f the 7 th , the town was finally Teduced , and the Mussulman portion of it , where there were still detachedbodies of Ghazees remaining with the intention to > sell the 3 r lives as dearly as possible , -was cleared . "

    THE GENEKAX SITUATION . In its summary of recent events , the Madras Atheiueum of June 25 th says : — " The news from Oude is very unsatisfactory . In Northern Oude , the Fyzabad Moulvies with , it is said , eighteen thousand men and twenty-five guns , are still undefeated . Also in the same districts are the Begum ' s forces ; and to the north-west are located the Moulvie ' a forces . In addition to these bands of rebels there are some thousands under different leaders to the south of Lucknow . In Lucknow itself , although an attack from

    the rebels is not anticipated , preparations to repel one , if made , are going on . The stone bridge over the Goomtee has been blown up , so that now there is only the iron bridge to defend . To contend against these numerous rebel hosts we have the garrison in Lucknow , and Sir Hope Grant ' s column . According to the last accounts , this column was at Bunnee ; but , as we have no official news of its movements , and as the letters in the newspapers are not very clear , wo do not know what has been done . On the whole , it would seem , that we arc acting on the defensive .

    " In Behar , the rebels are still at their old work . They have looted and destroyed the factories at Buxar , and Messrs . Barn and Co . ' s railway works liavo shared the same fa . to . Gfeneral Lugard has proceeded to Buxar . The jungle , to which , we alluded in our last as giving shelter to the Jugdespore rebels , is as yet undostroyod ; bat tho -work is going on , although slowly . Nishuu Singh , tlio Commander - in - Chief of tho late Kooer Singh ' s army , was blown away from a gun at Sassoram on tho 7 tli instant . " A very lucid statement is made in the Calcutta Englishman , which . says : — .

    ^ " Our present position will bo best understood when wo state that , whilst tho British Irold every fortress and nlaco of inapdrtanco throughout tho disaffected provinces ,

    the country itself may be said to be in possession of th « rebels . Delhi , Agra , Jhansi , Bareilly , Shajehanpore Calpee , Lucknow , Cawnpore , and Allahabad are nro tected by European troops ; but our authority scared extends beyond the reach of our guns , and the inter vening districts are overrun by rebels and ludmasheV who move about as they please , marking tlieir course by plunder and destruction of property , and setting at defiance every attempt to restore order and tranquiMtv Indigo factories , public and private bungalows and railway depots , have been burned , and we are thankful that these deeds have not been accompanied bv the murder of Europeans , though , doubtless , not for want of inclination on the part of the rebels , but want of opportunitie It will be that

    s . seen our troops have again been engaged on several occasions with the « nemy and although in each instance perfectly successful yet the majority of the rebels have , as usual , managed to escape . This , however , can hardly be wondered at for in the absence of adequate cavalry and with the dreadful heat of the season , pursuit of the fugitives would have been useless , and in all probability only added to the frightful mortality of our brave men , who fall daily victims to the sun . "We are not overstating the fact by mentioning that sun-stroke and heat ( apoplexy ) are regularly decimating the several corps engaged in the suppression of the rebellion—an apprehension which we have frequently expressed , and which , unhappily , is fully realised . " J

    THE ACTION" AT NA . WABGUNGE . The Times publishes the annexed letter from Luckn-ow ( dated June 15 th ) , describing the fight at Nawatagunge :- — " Since I wrote to you on Sunday , General Grant has made a good example Of a large body of the rebels at Nawabgunge ( Boree Bunkee ) . Of the fact you will have heard by telegraph , but some of the details may interest you , which I briefly give you . Our forca—the two brigades of Rifles , 90 th , 5 th Punjab-, 18 guns , and some 1500 cavalry—left Churhut at eleven at night , came to the bridge across the nullah before daylight , and here the action commenced . The enemy defended the bridge veith two guns . Our fire soon silenced them , ani

    the rifle skirmishers did the rest . The enemy fled precipitately towards the jungle on this side , and when they tad secured their retreat , turned and sent in an illdirected fire of grape and round shot . Our guns replied , and they retreated altogether , leaving one gun . This party did not lose many men . In the meantime , their guns opened on the right , and all the roobs who were in the topes round Nawahgunge advanced and attacked in front , our right , and rear , all at once . Some of these , did not fight at all , but others showed great pluck , and stood to their guns obstinately . One

    body for an hour and a half stood their ground , hi perfectly open ground , within four hundred yards of our guns ; , which were firing grape and round shot . The rebel loss here was very great ; all their gunners were killed . A party of infantry stood in the open against two companies of the Rifles , and received their charge without running ; they were all either bayoneted or killed with clubbed muskets . Some forty footmen receive ! a charge of the 7 th Hussars , who rolled them all over ; all but one man got up again , but the Hussara came back and killed the whole of them . I mention

    these instances to show you with what determination some part of the rebels fought . Their loss has been consequently heavy , and is estimated at six hundred , and six excellent guns . The fight lasted from half-past four to half-past seven a . w . The rebels were utterly routed , and have fled across the Gogra , at Bairam Ghaut . Oui loss was six killed and thirty wounded , I believe ; but , alas ! the sun afterwards , I hear , knocked over a number of men .. There seems to have been some mistako in keeping the Hussars exposed , for they lost a number of mex . There was no long pursuit , and General Grant wasmost careful of his men ; but these new men—some of them—do not know what it is even to get into a topo of treeB . The engagement was most creditable to our troops , for they were actually surrounded by twenty thousand of the enemy , who evidontly relied on their numbers . Some chiefs are killed and wounded . This engagement will have a good effect , I hope . "

    734 The Leader. [No. 4&6, July 31 T 1858...

    734 THE LEADER . [ No . 4 & 6 , July 31 t 1858 .

    The Capture Oe The Peiiio Forts. A Suppl...

    THE CAPTURE OE THE PEIIIO FORTS . A supplement to Tuesday night ' s Gazette contains tho following despatch from Admiral Seymour , detailing the fight with the Chinese at the mouth ot tho Peiho river , in the Gulf of Peclieli : — , " I lost no time in consulting with Roar-Admiral Rigaultde Gonouilly , and making the necessary arrangements , and wo proceeded with all the English gunboats across tho bar to tho mouth of the river , where tho guuvessols and French gunboats had been proviouBly stationed , to give weight to tho negotiations . Tho Sinner Firm , Staunch , and Bustard , convoyed our landing parties , and tho Loven and Opossum thosu of tuo l <* r < mcli .

    " From tho arrival of tho ambassadors on Iho l 4 lli April , tho Chinese have used every oxertion to strengthen tlio forts at tho entrance of tho Peiho j earthworks , » ft « a " bag batteries , and parapets for tho heavy giug « Hs , ; b » oen erected on both 3 ldee . for a , distance of uourly »

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 31, 1858, page 734, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/ldr_31071858/page/6/