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    July , when a . battle ensrned in -which the Britiab suffered considsraife loss . Our troops , wb » had : no cax *>\ ryi tc support tbent , » ftrar hawing- beaten the enemy ,- were obliged to * retire into that fortv in consequence ? of their gUpply-ofOTatnnn £ tiori hawing failed through the explosion of the tumbrils * There were . 49 Europeans killed and 9 % wounded in this affair , out ofi a- totaL force of about 50 fr men engagwL The mutineers , after the battle , destroyed nearly ail the houses in tft& cantonment , in which they were assisted by the budr aashes of

    the city and the prisoners liberated front the ga *> L The European inhabitants , however ; hod previously taken refuge in the forty-which prevented a general massacre from taking- place , the only people killed outside being Major Jacob , formerly in . ScindiaaV service , and Mr . Hnbbard , of the Agra College . Captain D'Oyly , of the . Bengal Artillery , was . mortally wounded in the . action on the 5 th inst ., and six gentlemen belonging- to the militia -were also killed , one of wbom was M . Jourdan , the celebrated equestrian performer . *

    A communication in the Mqfnssihte gives a more detailed account of the "battle : — " Early in the day , the enemy , about 10 , 000 strong ( say 7000 infantry and 1500 cavalry , and eight guns ) , encamped-within three nundred yards of an open plain in the rear of the viDage of Sussia , close to the fourth milestone from Agra , on the road to Futtehpore Seekree , and shortly after mid-day our troops came in sight of that village , which they approached in a leisurely manner , but unfortunately ; instead of taking immediate possession and forcing- the enemy to fight on the plain , we commenced firing- from a distance , and ultimately the enemy took possession of it , and , being then under cover , inflicted heavy loss on us , till they were driven out .

    " The troops that -went to meet the enemy on the 5 th of July marched out of the station about eleven a . bt ., and proceeding along the road in the direction of the village of Shahgunge , and which is about six miles from Agra , entered the large sandy plain that lies to th « right of the road , -where the line of battle was formed , and in that order advanced slowly to meet the enemy , who were then distinctly visible , hovering in large bodies immediately to the right of the village . The British line consisted of a horse field battery on the ezrtreme right and left , the infantry being in the middle , and the mounted militia somewhafr in the rear . When about six hundred yards from the village , the Insurgents opened fire on otir right battery bya firrious discharge of round

    shot , grape , and shells , which was immediately responded to with such excellent effect , that after two rounds from each gun they were seen retreating in great numbers . Loud cheering and repeated cries of ' Follow them up , follow them up ' . ' were heard from all parts of the right battery , and there can be little doubt , had a dash been made , the enemy would have been driven from their position into the open field with the loss of their guny , and the action been brought to an end , with less sacrifice of life than eventually was the case . Our guns , however , limbered up , and the line again advanced , but the enemy now stood to their guns , and having got their range , directed their fire with admirable precision , as the havoc among our men and horses painfully attested ; our

    attack was evidently being confined to a series of deliberate advances , for of such it consisted , until we were within two hundred yards of the village , which we then commenced to bombard , and it is to be feared with small loss on the other side . The most unpractised eye could see our shots were being thrown away on high mud walls , which siege guns alone could have touched , ¦ whereas had our right battery moved only fifty yards further to the right , every shot from it must havo told on the enemy ' s two batteries , which was issuing so destructive a iiro upon us . Tho consequences of this were just what might have been expected—the enemy became emboldened , their cavnlry in great numbers harassed our right , and the infantry , spreading them-1

    selves over the field in skirmishingorder , gave us great annoyance with their rifle firing , whilst we , from the want of cavalry , were powerless to repel them . A largo number of their horse had the audacity to sweep round to our rear , and , riding up the centre , endeavoured to reach their nuiiii body , which ninny succeeded in doing . It is true Uiat our mounted luilitLa charged through a body of those hanging to the right of the line , when , after five of them getting cut to pieces , and others sovorcly -wounded , they made a precipitate retreat into tho battery , and from the direction they took to reach it intercepted a iiro about being opened from a gun that had been got into position for the purpose , and which would havo blown on" tho lield evcrv trooper at whom it was pointed .

    " Tho firing against tho villnyo continued for fully one hour , ( luri ng which time a . shower from musketry was being poured on us from behind its walls and the tops of tho houses . Two companies of the European ltegimont then entered it in most gallant style , forcing their way through , mill driving out the enemy to tho opposite wide , and this they would havo dona in ji much curlier stago of the action had they been permitted . " A plot for an insurrection at Nagporo was discovered on the 30 th of . Tune , but precautions were promptl y taken ; three native officers , wlio woxv convicted of mutiny , wore lmnged by sentence of court-martial ; and the city mid province- remained tranquil .

    General Havelock thus thanked ; his . army &fc tfa ^ j aoluevemeats in thia aetkm .: * " Brigadier-General Havelock , CBi , tnaafesbis sol--d * er ° , * ? their arduous exertions- yesterday , whicl * prodtrced in four hours the strange result of a whole army drrren from a strong position , eleven- grots captured , and their whole foree- scattered to tne-winds , vnthouftHe fess > of a single British soldier / ' To what Is this astonishingeirect to be attributed' ? To the fire eff the British , artillery , exceeding in rapidity and precision all that th * Brigadier-General has ever witnessed in his not i ^ iort career ; - to the ? power of the Enfield rifle in British : hands ; . to British phwk—that good quality whieh . has * survived the revolution of the hour ; and to the blessing of Almighty 6 « d in a most righteous cause- —tae etnsse of justiee , humanity , truth , and goed * government m India

    . " iiiaia . A writer from the spot supplies an interesting account of the rising at Sealkote , under date July 12 th : — " About nine a . m . this morning , information was received that the Sealkote mutineera- were crossing at Trimmoo by a ford . In about ten minutes * the , column was ice motion aud reached within a mile-of Triiamoo by twelve o'clock ; the cokinan here deployed ^ the giuas covered by the infantry . All this tima we could , distinctly see the 46 th formed in , line , in front of us , witfr the 9 th Cavalry on either flank- They had also vMetteei far out watching , who fell bock as we- advanced ; wheat within eight hundred yards : of the enemy our guns , -were ;

    unmasked . Thus we advanced within tbarea hundred yards , when the order was- given , to unlimber . the . guns ,, but not to fire , as Nicholson wished to- commence -with , tlae . Enfield rifles , of the 52 nd , who we * & placed between the guns- I really am not sure whether the first akot was fired by them or us ; . I rather think , the . latter , but there was a very smart interchange between their muskets' and our rifles for two or three- minutes , when our guns first opened with round shot , then with grape . Scarcely had our guns opened when the cavalry charged , not from the front , but from the right flank , into- the guns oh that side and caused no little confusion , but were cut or shot down .

    " Then we had a charge of cavalry on our flank and rear . There was a good deal of scrimmaging- and pistoling ; no sooner was this got over than the Pandys charged manfully at our guns , and came , I suppose , within , thirty or even thirty-five yards . The Europeans conld not stand this , but "with a cheer they went at them ' with the bayonet . Two or three Pandys had bayonet * through them in no time , and the rest turned and fled . The 6 th Punjab Infantry then advanced and drove them across the Ravee , leaving their camp and all their loot on the river bank on this side . They lad a gun on the other side , from which they began ponnding us -with round shot , and though not one told , yet the gun was-, considering the distance , mighty well served , nor can we

    " From Hyderabad ( Beccan ) v the- capital © C the Niaam ' s dominions , " aaya the Bantbeof Times , " we leant that a , serious rising occurred irt that city oa the 18 th July . About four thousand burfeoashea ,. led by three hundred RoiiUas , marched upon , the Residency to demand the release o £ the Jemadar of the 1 st Nizam , ' a Cavalry , who had beea . eaught and delivered av-er to the resident by Salar Jtmgv Major Itavidson ascted with ranch decision , and opened fire upon the rabble from , several guns , which , caused them to disperse . Several o € the RohiUais and > others were killed , and many of them made prisoners b-y the Nizam's mercenaries . The

    leader of the . Rohillasy who was mortally wounded , waa afterwards captured . Tha eity has since remained quiet . To prevent any further outbreaks of tha turbulent Rohillas * who were believed to be ripe for sedition , the wing- of the 12 th Lancers , stationed at Kirkee , has been ordered to Hyderabad . A field , force ,, consisting : of several regiments of the Hyderabad Contingent , under the command © f Major W . A . Orr , is ; being formed oa the northern frontier of the Nizam ' s dominions , and will act . in conjunction : with the Bombay movable columns , to put down , revolt in eeutral India . " The Bengal Hurharusays : —

    " The Supreme Government has announced that it will raise subscriptions to = the- new five , per cent , loan , half in cash , and half in four per cent paper . A Getvernment loan , of six : per cent ., has been opened in the Punjab for one year only . The Department or Public Works is , as . a measure of necessary economy , to be-reduced throughout the country . The Governor-General , in Council , has proclaimed a reward for the apprehension of mutineers and deserters . " A fearful retribution has overtaken the disaffected at Benares , where thirty Zemindars were hrxng in one day ~ An attempt to recapture the place -was made by a body of Rajpoots ; bat it failed , and one hundred of the insurgents -were killed . The ex-Ameers of Scinde—Meer Shadad Khan , and Meer

    Hussan AIHe—have expressed titeir regret to- the Supreme Government at the mutiny of the Sepoys , and have offered their services against them . The Sikh Sirdar Shere Sing has also offered his services to Government , stating his willingness to leave his family as- hostages , should his faith be doubted . Jung Bahadoor , of Nepal , has sent troops to . India to act with our own men ; and the Bajahs of Putteala , Jheend , Ulnar , &c , as well as many of the minor chiefs of the Northern and Central " districts , have volunteered assistance . Government has instructed all Mofussil magistrates ; ' to keep in custody , when that course- seems desirable , instead of taking bail or security from them , religions mendicants and other suspicious characters found within their districts . '

    An officer , writing from Futteihpore on the 12 fch of July , gives the following account of the battle there : — " We are just come from battle , have gamed a complete victory , taken eleven guns—all they had—and all their baggage . It's an utter rout . And now I'll tell you all about it . Wo started at twelve at night , and came on , eighteen miles , to Belinda , joining Renaud ' s force on the road . We got in about half-past six , and the orders - were to remain in order tiTl we should ascertain the news from a reconnoitring- party sent two miles on . Well , I for one thought it bosh , and we generally had the idea that the enemy would never come near us . So I strolled over as usual to tho Fusiliers , under a tree ,

    imagine who they had to serve it . Two or three of our guns were brought to the river aide , and plied them with round shot and shell ; somejof the latter evidently bursting among the enemy and taking eflfect . While this game at long bowls was going on , Nicholson went to have a look at their camp , at which the Sikhs flew like vultures . There were three or four gharees of sorts . I took shelter in one for half an honr , and bathed my head with eau-de-cologne , a bottle of which I found , and qualified the Kavce water with essence of ginger , winch I also found . Competent judges say that wo killed and

    to get tea and a pipe . A little -while after , one said , ' Here's our party returning—rwhy , they haven't been two miles . * I casually took out my glass to look , and tben , by Jove , beheld a large body of cavalry coming down , about 1500 yards off . Tho alarm sounded , the men were in their places instantly , and the- order was for artillery to move on and open . So we did . I ' m bound to say that the first practice was not very good , b-ut it emptied same saddles , and lasulo them keep at a respectful distance . Then they spread , trying to outflank us , bttt the skirmishers and . tha Enfiolds went , out and soon stopped that mauoouvrfr . Meanwhile , the artillery were pushing on to . the front to . engage at closer quartora— -they in centre , infantry on either flank . And

    wounded two hundred or three hundTed of the enemy . I should not have put their loss at so high a figure as the smaller . Our own is said" to be under ten killed and twenty-five wounded ; but I do not know cortainlv" Nicholson felt sadly the want of cavalry , and tha enemy made , tho most of the dofieiency on our part . Their tactics were admirable . They attacked us on both flanks and in Tear , which they could not havo dona had we had one hundred reliable horse . Their crossing : the ltaryeo at Trnirnoo > is unintelligible , -Ulricas' it be that their information about the- movnblo coltunn was defective . "

    A very exciting account of an escape from . Sealrkftte ia given ia an oilicer ' a letter , dated GoorjjajawoJla ,, July 14 th :. — "About half-way beiwoerc foart andcantonmonta ,. I saw six troopers drawn up on the side of tha road . I drew ray revolver , though of no uae , and tb « re , b * ing no othci escape ^ proposed to run . the . gauntlet with my herse at full speed . L came opposite the' first ,, who fired hia paatol ; tho re 3 t did likewise as I corao opposite them , bitfc - without effect . The laat gave cha « e > drawing hia second pistok I covered , liinai with my revolver , which lutpt him off for some tinne , but ,, suddenly cloaing -within

    now their guns opened- on us , and the round sluot . came hopping to tho battery ; but wo . deacedi sooa settled tha first three guns and took them , anil so wo -went oa and on , blazing- into them , following up for several miles into Futtehporo . I wasi astonished , at tho -way the bullocks worked . Most of . our adyaitoco was through rice-swamps , andjuat oft' an eighteen mile march , tooit was wonderful . As we went on , we .-found , gun aftes gum abandoned . At tlie entrance of Futtchpeae ,. whore , if they had chosen to stand , tho ground waa such that wo must have lind an nwful iight , there was a barricado

    of hackeries across , the road , and we thought we were in for it ; but this turned out to bo their baggage mixed" up in one jam , and a couple of six-pounders in complete order , never been fired , caught in tlie midst . Thorowas lota of plunder hero , mid amongst it many evidences , alas ! of tho sack of Cawnporo—ladies' dresses , incn ' a overcoats , saddles , pictures , Ike . Two tumbrils of treasure ) wcro taken—ono plundered by tho men , the other caught and brought in l > y tho Silcha . Our last gunn wcro fixed at tho retreating enemy on tto Cawnnore wido of Futtelmoro . "

    t-wa yarda , he took a . steady aim at my head aiul fired . I Cult as if I had been hit a Havcra blow with a stick on t ? i « right , aim , luaving covered myself as well oa possible with it- llo gave a hIiouL and closed ; I thought it was all up with mo , but , finding I could draw my sword , began to feel rather jolly ngiiui . Whan ho cauio aloirgaido , I rammed it into him , but having no Htrongth , could only get it in about two inches into his side . He knocked it out with Iun pistol . I Htruckhim aguinwi ' Cli lileo cnuct . ILo then aUot ahead . 1 put wpura to my nag , and , as I camo up , bunged aC him . Ho bent forward to avoid , nnd I only got about one inch into Mm ,

    Untitled Article

    -lfo > . 389 , SHFgBMBra By 18 & 7 . 3 THE LEADER . § 4 ^

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 5, 1857, page 843, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2208/page/3/