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Leader (1850-1860), 19th December 1857, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1203

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      The fulness of the telegraphic summaries which we published last week renders the detailed accounts received from India at the commencement of the present week of less interest than they usually are . One rather startling anecdote , however , did not appear in the telegrams . The Corumander-m-Chief "was nearly taken , prisoner by the rebels on his road from Calcutta to Gawnpore ! "He and his staff , " says the Bonibay Times , " appear to have been proceeding very injudiciously , without an escort , when they suddenly came up with a body of the mutineers

      of the 82 nd Native Infantry . These were mounted on elephants , and were accompanied" l ) y ' seventy-five native troopors . ' The- Cotnraan < Ier-in-Chief , as soon as he observed the / enemy , retreated , till he found refuge in a bullock-train some ten ' miles in tlie rear . The troopers continued for awhile to hover round , and the marvel was that this piece of unparalleled rashness should not have terminated fatally . " Had the enemy succeeded in capturing Sir Colin , the rebels would of course have heen greatly encouraged ; so that it is really not much to the credit of Sir Colin's judgment that he should have run so serious a risk .

      Sir Colin Campbell crossed the Jumna in Cawtipore on the 9 th of November , and is stated to have 7000 men with him , to march on Lueknow . Captain Peel , ZR . N ., is at Alumbagh with a . few of his men . and some 32-pounder guns . BR 1 OADIER GRANT ' S VICTOK . Y AT KAXOCOr . The following is the official account of Brigadier Grant's victory at Kanouj : — . " This force has achieved another brilliant success , though , upon a smaller scale , at Kanouj , on tbe 23 rd inst .

      "A . portion of the forces discomfited by the Carwnpore troops , composed apparently , in part at least , of the Delhi fugitives , were making for Futtehghur as our column was advancing ftona CJoorsuhaigunge . Some of their guns were left , in thehurry of their flight , with . the Nawab ' s Tehseeldar at ELanouj ; and these we took possession of . "On learning tbe approach of our column , a body of about three httadred of the enemy with five gums endeavoured to effect an escape towards Oude . Tvro hundred of the Laaiceis and Native Cavalry were seat hi

      pursuit ; and , a smart firing being immediately heard , Brigadier Grant followed with , a second squadron of the Lancers , and two guns of BourcluerV Battery . The enemy attempted to form on crossing : the Kalee Nuddee , and fired on our cavalry . They soon gave way before the guns , when our cavalry at once crossed and followed , them up . The fugitives were now hemmed in between the Kalee Nuddee and the Ganges , and but few of them escaped . Some , both cavalry and Sepoys , were drowned in attempting to swim across the Ganges . Nearly two hundred were cut up , the remainder taking refuge in the fields .

      " We captured their five guns , of which two ( a 24-pounder howitzer , and a 6-pounder gun ) turned out to be our own . The Cavalry were the 15 th Irregulars . On our side Lieutenant Watson received a slight injury in the hand , and two Sowars were wounded . The rapidity and the completeness of this affair will produce the best results on both banks of the Ganges . "

      DELHI . A crore of rupees has been demanded of the inhabitants of Delhi as the ransom of the city ; and they have already offered eighty lakhs . One of the King ' s sons has escaped . Our troops , it is stated , have become rather unruly , and , having used their bayonets too freely , are now armed only with stout sticks . A correspondent of the Lahore Chronicle writes : — " Delhi is nearly in ruins from the effect of the heavy artillery fire . The church is riddled with shot holes , and the college and magazine as -well . The ground outside the city bears unmistakable marks of the conflict . Hindoo Rao ' s house is a shell , as -well as many of the

      houses in Subzee Mundee and Kishen Gunge . The bouglis of the trees are lopped otF , and many of them are wholly felled by round shot , and the ground , from the glacis to the ridge , is strewn with shot , grape , and pieces of shell : large quantities of treasure are being daily dug from the walla of houses and tykhanahs . It is expected the amount of prize money will be very large . The Jhujjur Nawab came in two tlayH ago to stand his trial . The city ia deserted by the inhabitants , and . at night is silent as a grave-yard . The Military Governor is judiciousl y strict in allowing no one to enter without a pass .

      I hear some Europeans , as well ns natives , have "been creeping into the city through a drain or water-course , the iron bars of which were broken . They were soon caught , and will probably be severely punished . Their object was to loot , no doubt , They say there are many Sopoys still hidden in the city 5 if so , they should tit once be shot . When one hears tho sickening details of the almost incredible cruelties practised by these miscreants on the Knglish ladies , women , and children , mercy to the wretches appears , and is , a sin . Such an example should be mndo of them as would bo handed down to succeeding generations with horror . In Delhi ,

      nobbing has heen done in the way of retribution . The besiegers lost more than the besieged . "

      MISCELLANEOUS FACTS . The ' Civilian' who has already addressed the Times from vari ous Indian localiti es now writes from Allahabad , November 1 st * He states : — " The movable column in- its march from Agra to Cawnpore met with no serio-ns opposition , and passed through , to all appearance , a very friendly and wellcultivated country . Nothing is more surprising than the way in wbich , amid the crash of empire , the people have this year not only cultivated , but , in many districts , cultivated almost as well and as extensively as ever . Once out of the Googar country , the rebels do not seem to have resumed to the full the desolatino habits of their ancestors , and perhaps plunder the people less than our troops now do ; in fact , ' beyond supplying

      their necessities , the Sepoys have not generally ventured to assume the character of masters and tyrants © f the country . The Mahomedart Nawab of Furruckabad ha 9 established his rule in tbe Futtehghur districts We cut up his posts as we passed , and at one of them took three English guns left by the Delhi mutineers when they fted from Cawnpore . B-ut the cry for aidto Luck > now -was so great that it was determined not to attempt to occupy the country through which , we passed , and passing we have again abandoned it j so that , though a junction has been formed by--the troops , the communications between the upper and lower country are not at all re-established . From Agra to Cawnpore , the road ia quite closed . From Agra upwards and Cawnpore downwards , it is open : but that there should still be a break

      is a very great subject of regret and of political weakness . . . . . . I am too recent an arrival to know much of the politics of these parts 5 but one thing strikes me strongly , and that is the change in the state of things ia regard to Sepoys as ire get down country . Down to Cawnpore , it was enough to ascertain that a man was a Sepoy ; we should as soon have thought of sparing a mad dog , to inquire whether it could be proved that lie had bitten any one , as of sparing a Sepoy . The only question was , Sepoy or no Sepoy— -and many ingenious devices were resorted ¦ to , sach as drawing the prisoners up in a line and suddenly shouting ' Attention ! ' when all who showed any signs of attention were carried off" to the rear . But down herej to our horror and ' surprise , * ~ we see Sepoys of the old stamp coolly-walking along the public roads in broad , daylight , and find that the Government seem to ha-ve taken them under their especial protection . "

      Byrapersaud , the great banker at Benares , with his Jemadar and eight Hurkarus , have been tried at Jaunpore for carrying on treasonable correspondence with the insurgents in Oude . They were all condemned to be hung . The banker offered four lakhs for his life ; but of course he was not listened to . We read in the daily papers : — " A collection of rules fox preserving health'has been drawn up for the use of the East India Company ' s service , by Dr . James Harrison , and issued to the troops by Sir Colin Campbell . The chief points insisted on are

      the necessity of keeping the head lightly covered from the rays of the sun and the fall of the dew , and the advantages of ventilation , dry clothes , bcdclin g , and frequent bathing . Animal food is not so necessary in hot climates as in cold , and the use of vegetables and fruits indispensable to tho preservation of health ; moderate exercise , with a due amount of repose , and not dramdrinking , are the proper remedies for the debility induced by a warm climate . These simple rules are applied to the peculiar circumstances in which the troops in India are placed . "

      The official despatch from General Wilson , describing tho capture of Delhi , and containing the thanks of the commander to the persons who chiefly distinguished themselves , has been published . " It does not , however , present any noticeable features . " General ; llavelock , in one of the new despatches , " says tho Morning Star , " modestly tells the story of his junction with the garrison of Lueknow , and he romarks that , to form a notion of the obstacles overcome in effecting relief , a . referoncc must be made . to the evcnt 3 that are known to have occurred at Buenos Ayres and Saragossa ; for his advance to the Residency ivas through

      streets of flat-roofed houses , cacli forming a separate fortress . lie states that tho number of those who fell into tho hands of a merciless foe iu this operation was four hundred and sixty-four , officers and men ; und General Outmm , he writes , had received a flesh wound , but that nothing could subduo his spirit , and , though faint from loss of blood , he kept on his horse aud only dismounted at the gate of tho Residency . This despatch of General ILivclook is dated from , tho Lueknow Itesidency , 30 th September , and was received by telegraph from Cawnpore ; but by what means it was conveyed from Lueknow to Cawnpore is not stated . "

      ATT INCmilNT OP THE INDIAN MUTINY . ( Ext met from a Private Letter . ) Shikarpore , (> th October . —Wo have had a jolly scrimmage here , dear 8 . It began thus : —On September 23-24 , at about twelve or half-pnut a . m ., Lloyd and Millar ( Robert Millar , Assistant-Surgeon of what was tho 14 th N . I . Bombay ) wero awoke by the report of guns firing in enmp . They were sound asleep at tho commencement of tho firing , having Bat up lato ,

      as Lloyd only slept in Millar's house that night , as his kbit had gone on in . anticipation of hi * march at two A . M . in charge of two of the guns on Sukkeer . Gowind ( a driver ) went to call them , and on the way do wo they thought it might be a mere trap into which they-were being led , but also felt that if the mutiny were a general one , half an . hour of existence would be a matter of little moment . I give you these accounts partly from what I saw , aud also my gleanings from those preseat . After the fight , and from some good letters that were shown me with full details , these two went to Captain Murray ' s , but found liim out , and concluded he had . gone to the guns , and therefore went in that direction . While going , they heard the rolling of wheels , a » d were ihen

      sure that the drivers had joined , and that they had harnessed the horses to the guns , and were going to attack the bungalows . However , to their great delight ^ it was only Mrs . Munro's carriage . On going towards the guns , Lloyd saved Millar ' s life ; for , never doubting , as they had never heard the guns , that the 16 th were in the square , Millar was going straight , when Lloyd called out , " No , no—don't go there ! " The words were hardly out of his mouth , and they out of the line of fire , when the space between the gun-shed and the barrack was swept by a shower of canister . On going behind the barracks , the men of the artillery rushed towards them . They could not see the expression of their faces , for it was dark , and they both thonght they were about to be

      made prisoners . However , such was not the case . They were most glad to see them , and nothing could have been greater than / their care and kindness to them the rest of the night , same leading Llojd by the hand through the dark barrack-room , and the others never leaving Millar for a moment , who asked the subahdar-rnajor and the jemadar how many men there were , and they said " About four or five" ( there were really * about twenty ) . Millar called out , "What ! only those ? And shall we allow them to keep the guns ? " They replied , " Wait a little . " Then , they arranged their few muskets , and still fewer cartridges . Millar with his own hands helped to unfasten their white belts , and before they began to shoot , lie promised them , from his own funds , thirty

      rupees for every man they should shoot , and , in tbe excitement of the moment , increased the promise to fifty rupees , which he actually paid ! Just like " Millar—a fellow that -would risk anything in a moment of service . He ( Millar ) then said to the subahdar , " Sutmhdar , lend me the pair of pistols which I came to your house to-day to see—the . present of Mr . Frere—and 1 will go in and try to shoot them . " The subahdar replied that they had no ammunition ; so they had to wait . Lloyd and Millar were among the artillery for three-quarters of an hour before any one joined them , and during all that time the men were saying , " But where is the captain-sahib ?" As they did not know , they replied , "He will be here directly . " 'It ;' afterwards' appeared that lie had gone to Colonel Macd

      ougall , who had directed him . to go and hurry up the 16 th . Well , about the end of the thueequarters of an hoar , Montgomery ( of the police ) caiae up , and said , " Where is Murray and the IGth ? " They replied they did not know- During all this time the firing was going on from the big guns aud the muskets of the very few loyal rnen , who had a small number of cartridges . Millar then said : " I wQl tell you what it is , Montgomery . If tbis goes on , and no one comes quickly , these men will think we are not worth fighting for , and join the mutineers . Let us tempt them to discharge all their guns , and then we will charge them and seize them . " He answered , " I -will ; and I will go and get my rural police . " He had or . ly his mounted men with him , and did not think it safe to dismount them . He then left

      Millar , who did not meet him again till the end of the fight . Millar told me that some time after ( how long he couldn't say , fox he was very anxious , and the time naturally appeared long ) Murray came up with a lot of the 16-th , under Yongo . Ho then desired them to take off their cap covers ( tltis was Lloyd ' s suggestion ) , and Millar , seizing ono of the muskets , was one of the very earliest , if not tho first man , ia the barracks . H « then got Yonge ( who was in sick quarters , from fever , a-ad so weak h « could hardly stand ) to desire his men to load aa fast as they could for him ( Millar ) , and he would lire , lie desired tho Jemadar of Artillery to dt o the same , and thus they went on to the end of th « right . Millar ' a fingers wero all burnt from the friction o > f the hot muskets , and Ms shoulders black aad blue from firing—und lots of us can swear he wa » nearest the

      gums , uot naoro -than thirty paces vrhile attacking them , and they vomitiug forth showers of grape , and firing ' round shot , so that the verandah over our heads was often struck by round shot , and shattered by grape , "while the incessant fi-ro he kept up from tho last arch "was bo annoying to the ouomy , that th > ey directed their chief fire upon it . There was an artilleryman who stood . clo . se to Millar all tho timo ( -whom he lias moat strongly recommended to Murray for promotion ) who kept saying

      to him , " Come along , sir , and wo will sei / . o it ; " but he pulkd him bncl-c , saying , "No , 1 can see they are hiding their port fire . " At that instfi / nfc the gun flashed in their faces , and tho canister puttered against tho verandah where they 8 too < l . Millur was against tho " Ceaso firing , " as ho said ho was sure tho men only rau out of cover then and fired nt us , and our only chance was to try and hit them , to prevent them firing , until wo could , ascertain when w «! would rush in and cut them down . He also wanted Lloyd to Bond the men to creep behind

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      THE IID . I AX REVOLT . A ¦ . . '

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      No . 404 , December 19 , 1857 . ] THE GL E AD E B . 1203

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 19, 1857, page 1203, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2222/page/3/