LATEST INDIAN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 558, 10 March 1858, Page 3

LATEST INDIAN NEWS.

THE ARRIVAL OF SIR COLIN CAMPBELL

AT CAWNPORB, AND THE GALLANT EXPLOIT THAT FOLLOWED.

The following is from the summary of the ' Overland Bombay Times/ of 4th December, and relates to the events in Oude only:—".Colonel Grant's column arrived at Cawnpore on the 27th October. When crossing- the Ganges, they arrived at Allumbagh on the Ist November. It had now become known that Outram and Havelock were not only holding their own, but were suffering comparatively little injury from the almost unceasing fire kept up upon them by the enemy. They were provisioned for weeks, and" as there were understood to be above 100,000 rebels in arms around; Sir Colin Campbell wisely resolved to delay the final attack, until the force at his disposal should have assembled in-sufficient strength to be irresistible. His Excellency and staff reached Cawnpore on the; 3rd, having, as formerly stated, narrowly escaped being captured by the enemy on the. road. Although it was known in August that 30,000 men were on the way from England, the arrangements for pushing them on appear to have been deferred till close on their arrival. To this source of detention, the teasing delays that followed are mainly to be ascribed. Troops were now mustering in strength at Cawnpore. On the 9 th, the oth, 53rd, 84th, and 93rd, with portions of other reg-iments, crossed the Ganges, and were speedily followed by the Naval Brigade, who dragged their 24 guns, along with them as though the}- had been toys. Large supplies of provisions had by this time been sent into Allumbagh, and arrangements of all sorts were made with the caution required, and deliberation permitted by the occasion. Sir Colin Campbell left Cawnpore on the ilth, and rode forty miles at a stretch in the direction of Lucknow. The sick and wounded ? ' left by Havelock at Allumbagh, were sent into his camp, with the view of returning to Cawnpore, under a guard of Sikh i horsemen, an arrangement which nearly proved fatal. As they approached tl>e British camp they were mistaken by tie i ! seamen of Peel's Naval Brigade for the advanced .guard of. the enemy, when the guns, loaded with grape, were levelled and about to be fired. Luckily the face of the European surgeon was recognised in time to prevent mischief. The Commander-in-Chief had with him a European Horse Battery, two troops of Horse Artillery, sixty Royal Artillery-men, with two 18-pounders, and two 8-inch mortars; 320 of the 9th Lancers; detachments of H.M.s sth," Bth, 53rd, 75th, 93rd, and 300 of the Naval Brigade, or, including the 900 joining him from Alhimbagli, above 3,000 Europeans in all, besides a squadron of Seikhs and of Hodson's horse, 1,000 Seikh Infantry, Sappers and Miners, <fee, or an additional 2,000 natives. On the 13th he advanced to the banks of the canal, dispersing the rebels who approached him, and capturing' all their guns. On the loth, the rebels, after a running- fight of a couple of hours, were driven from the Dilcosha, and La Martiniere. They shortly after rallied, however, and made an attack on the British position, when a severe repulse was sustained by them. During* these three days, Lieutenant Mayne, Horse Artillery, and Captain Wheatcroft, Carabineers, were killed. We had chiefly depended on our artillery, wisely avoiding* the needless exposure of our infantiy to desperate men. On the Kith, the canal was crossed which

separates Allumbagh from Luoknow, the1 Chief advancing- on Secunderbag'h, which was carried after a severe struggle, the enemy suffering- terribly. Having- garrisoned each position as tve advanced, Samuch was attacked about three o'clock in the afternoon, and, after a tremendous cannonade, was carried about dusk. Sir Colin Campbell describes it as one of the most severe fights he had ever witnessed, —and few men have seen more of hard fighting than he. Early on the moraine* of the 17th, communications were opened to the left rear of the barracks towards the canal. A heavy cannonade having been kept up all the morning on the messhouse, that very strong position was carried by assault at 3 p.m., when the troops, pushing on rapidly, were able to seize the Motee Mahal before dark. Sir Colin Campbell now approached the brave garrison, who had been closely beset since the 25 th September, when Generals Outram and Haveloek came out to meet him. Although the enemy was not yet completely subdued, the communications with the rear were all re-opened, and the sick and wounded, the ladies and children, were all ■ despatched under escort to Cawnpore. Our loss, though considerable, was less so than might have been looked for. Captain Herdlv, Royal Artillery, Captain Dalzell, 93rd Highlanders, Captain Lumsden > of the late 80th Bengal N. 1., attached to the Lieutenant Frankland, 2nd Pimjaub Infantry, Midshipman Damiea, Naval Brigade, were killed. Thirty-two officers were wounded, two dangerously, and eighteen severely. Our latest tidings extend only to the 21st, and have been supplied by electric telegraph alone, so as to be in the last degree meagre and incomplete. On that date two telegraph assistants were murdered at Allum-bag'h. Our loss in men, on these glorious days, is not yet known. Of officers, five were killed and thirty were wounded. The following remarks on these successful operations of Sir Colin. Campbell are taken from the ' Overland Englishman/ quoted by the 'Spectator:'—

"From private sources we learn that our loss in this very serious engagement has ' been small .j that of the enemy very great, Being estimated at 7,000 men. The Coni-mander-in-Chief did not follow the examples of Generals Gutram and Havelock, who endeavoured' to force their way through the narrow streets of this large city, where every house is said to be loopholed and filled with armed men. This

[ they only accomplished with a loss which I totally crippled their small force and reduced them to the condition of the garrison, having been ever since besieged in the Residency. Sir Colin Campbell, as will be seen by the map, avoided the town, and by making a circuit through the suburbs has spared his troops and accomplished his object, though it is believed that the force of rebels and mutineers assembled at Lucknow is so great that he will not be able to subdue or disperse them without considerable reinforcements. These are now fast pouring in, and every day is adding* to the strength of the British troops in all the intermediate stations. It ought not to be omitted that Generals Outram and Havelock had no time for deliberation; had they waited another day or two, the garrison in Lucknow would have been destroyed. However much we may regret the terrible loss they sustained in penetrating to the Residency, we must wait for their explanation before censuring them for rash-

ness. " Although the Commander-in-chief's success is highly important, and will greatly discourage the insurgents, it must not be hastily concluded that the work is done. The whole of Oude is in arms, and the adjoining district of Rohilcund is also disaffected and disturbed, so that even if no large body should still contend for Lucknow or concentrate themselves elsewhere, it will require a considerable time to put down all resistance, to punish marauders and plunderers, arid to restore obedience." "We think that few will read the accounts of Sir Colin Campbell's operations who will not feel their hearts stirred by the veteran's indomitable vigour and resolution. AbilhVf, too, as great as either. The killing1, also, 7,000 men, is a capacious draught of satisfaction. The retribution at Delhi was feeble in comparison to that at Lucknow. Our soldiers must have absolutely waded in the blood of the Cawnpore murderers. On Sir Colin Campbell^ rest the eyes of all India- The conqueror of Scinde never spoke a truer word than when he eulogized the qualities of the hero of Lucknow —the war bred,. Sir Colin.' "

List of officers killed and \younded on the 16th and 19th November, 1857, in relief of the British' Garrison at Lucknow. kixijgd. "Naval "Brigade.— Midshipman M. A. Damien. x JRoyal Artillery. —Captain Herdly. 93rd Highlanders. —Captain Dalzell ; Captain Lums'den, 30i.h N. I. (attached to tlie 93rd.) 2nd Punjauh Infantry. —Lieutenant Erankland. WOUNDED. General Staff]— General Sir C. Campbell, G. C. 8., Commander-in-Chief, slightly; Major Allison, Military Secretary to Commander-in-Chief, severely; Captain Allison, A. D.-C. to Commander-in-Chic/, slightly; Capt. Hon'ble A. Anson, A.D.O. to Brigadier General Grant, slightly. , . . Naval Brigade. —Lieutenant Sallod, severely ; Midshipman L. L. Clinton, slightly. Royal Artillery. —Captain Travers, slight!}'; Brevet Major Pennycuiclc, slightly; Lieutenant Ford, slightly: Lieutenant Milman, slightly; Assistant Surgeon Veale, severely. • Bengal Artillery.— Captain Hood, severely; Captain Hammond, severely. JT.lf. 53rd. —Captain Walton, severely; Munro, dangerously. S.M. §Qlh. —Major Bamston, severely; Lieutenant Wynne, slightly; Lieutenant -Powell, slightly. H.AT. $3rd Highlanders.-- Lieutenant --Colonel Ewarfc, slightly; Captain Burroughs, slightly; Lieutenant Cooper, severel}'; Lieu.tenant Welch, severely : Lieutenant Goldsmith, sevei'ely ; Lieutenant Wood, severely; Ensign -Macnamara, severely. Ist Madras Fusiliers. —Lieutenant Dobbs, -slightly. 2?id Punjxtiib Infantry. —Lieutenant Watson dangerously.

•LlJv Punjauh Infantry.— Lieutenant Paul, severely; Lieutenant Macqueen, severely ;Lieut. Oldfield, severely. JETodsou's Horse. —Lieut. Hackett severclv.

The force now in Oude amotmts in all to close on 12,000 men, consisting of the 9fch Lancers, the* JYaval Brigade, the Ist Madras Fusiliers, H.M.s" sth, Bth, 23rd, 32nd, 53rd, 64th, 75th, 78th, 32nd, 84th and 90th, Regiments, with a magnificent park of artillery, a portion of the Rifle Brigade, Royal and Madras Sappers and Miners, the Seikh Infantry and Cavalry,— ably commanded and in the highest state of efneienc} T.

sin colin's stratagem

A Cawnpore correspondent of the 'Phoenix' states that he had received, a letter from Lucknow, mentioning 4 that the rebels were disputing every inch of ground | with xi s, and fighting with>the dogged de- i ■termination of desperate men. The same ! correspondent has the following mention of j an excellent i stratagem' resorted to by Sir Colin Campbell, though on what occasion does not appear. It seems that the Commander-in-Chief "made an advance with a portion of his force close up to the position of the enenry, who could be observed in swarms in the houses with which the place was crowded, when suddenly a retreat was ordered to the no small dis- ! satisfaction of the men, the Europeans in particular. Seeing the Commander-in-Chief and his party retiring as fast as they could, the enemy took heart of grace, and, emerging from behind brick walls, gave chase, though at rather a respectful distance. Sir Colin Campbell and his men, however, seemed to show no inclination for a contest, but pursued their retrograde career for about three miles, the rebels still after them, when-the apparently retiring force halted, quickly turned round, and, to use the words* of the narrator, in a twinkling the men want like bull-dogs at the enemy. The unexpected attack commenced with three volleys -fired in quick succession, which being done, the cavalry outflanked the rebels, -and the infantry charged. The result of this simple but admirable strategic movement may be easily conceived. The Lancers, it is stated, drove their lances through three at a time, the rebels were so thick together; and in one place only, fifteen hundred of them were found killed."

A BRAVE OFFICER AND A BRILLIANT AFFAIR. Lieutenant Kerr, with a 'detachment of one hundred sowars, left Beejapore at 8 a.m. on the 30th November, and. performing one ef his extraordinary marches, arrived at Hulgullee, fifty-four miles south, by 10 p.m. Hulgullee is a village situated amidst some strong hills near Kulladghoe. fie immediately summoned the Beders, one thousand strong, to surrender: they answered by opening fire at once. Fighting on both sides immediately commenced, find Kerr, with a handful of sowars, three rimes fought his way into a fenced enclosure: but overwhelming numbers of the enemy prevented his' retaining his ground. He therefore, retired on to the plain and posted pickets, against whom the enemy

kept up a hot fire all night.- A body of the enemy, braver than the rest, advanced close up to the sowars, when Lieutenant Ken- • charged them in the style the Southern Mahratta-Horse know how to charge, and dispersed them with great loss. The enemy had likewise suffered, severe loss at the enclosures, as thirty bodies were counted near them on the following morning-. At daybreak on the Ist instant, the Adjutant, La Touche, arrived with one hundred and sixty more sowars. Ken* then, leaving the horses in charge of ghorrawallah, carried some hills in skirmishing order; whilst La Touche with another party charged over others —clearing them before him. The enemy now retreated into the village, Ken* and his men following and pressing them hard and vigorously, winning street by street by means of a sharp firing and a close hand^ to hand fighting. The place was well nigh taken when Colonel Malcolm arrived, and soon after the whole was in our possession. Fifty men of the 28th N.I. also arrived shortly after, but were too late to take a part in the engagement. In this encounter Iverr again proved his wellknown energy and. excellent skill as a swordsman, having- despatched some seven or eight with his own hand, and taken thirteen prisoners. Many of his sowars killed four or five each, and mostly in sing-le combat sword to sword, which also proved their superior skill and weapons, i More than one hundred dead were counted after the fight on the part of the enemy. On our side, one sowar killed, one russeldar, and twelve sowars wounded, and two of the 28th .N.I. wounded ; the wounds were chiefly sabre cuts. A surprise of the village had been previously attempted, when a troop charged rig;ht into the centre of it j but the fire from the houses was too hot to enable them to take the centre at once. Colonel Malcolm pursued a number of rebels who had escaped, and cut them up or made prisoners of the whole. About mid-day, when Colonel Malcolm was away in pursuit, a number of rebels who had secreted themselves attempted to surprise the picket in the centre of the village; but the busy sowars were down on them like

lions, and sabred them to a man. The village was now laid in flames and destroyed ; the rebels determined on a desperate resistance, having1 previously sent away their women and families. On the 2nd instant, the whole force marched to Moodapoor which immediately surrendered ; and another refractory village, IS elgood, on the 3rd. The rebel chief is reported to have died of his wounds. The ! Southern Mahratta Horse have again signalised themselves by individual cases of gallautry, and they now stand at the head of our Irregular Corps. Lieutenant j Kerr, in the middle of the fight, revolver in hand, and sword reeking with blood, jumped into a small court yard and found -thirteen men armed to the teeth j his hands and face grimed and gory, his warlike appearance and eye of iire quailed their cowavd hearts, and they cried for j mercy : " Down with your arms then, or I'll down with you, 1' said he-; they obeyed the order, and thus were thirteem prisoners taken in a lump. The young Adjutant, I La Touche, has proved himself of true j metal, a fit coadjutor of the brave Malcolm l stnd Kerr, and worthy of the corps which he has only lately joined. He had a narrow escape; a matchlock was levelled directly at his face, when a pusseldar made ,a cut at it with his sword, severing the barrel at a blow. When in the village, the sowars fell short of ammunition, and, until fresh an-ived, kept up a shower of stones on the enemy from tops of houses. Colonel Malcolm may well be proud to have the command of two such officers as K&rr and La Touche—and the Government may be equally proud to have such a Colonel and such a corps, who have by their determined . energy, splendid gallantry, and fidelity to the state, not only on a former occasion been the means of saving perhaps the whole Presidency from the flames of rebellion and mutiny, but have now. performed a brilliant piece of service with signal success that might in the ordinary way have required a fully equipped field- force for its accomplishment, as is proved by such a force having actually left, Belgaum for the district. As for Lieut. Kerr, he has not only proved himself a gallant soldier, but gives promise of having all the qualities which -should be possessed by a skilful general. The anair lias had the best effect over the whole of the Southern Mahratta districts; and though you may expect shortly to ?f i anotliei' scrimmage or two, they will be the last for some time to come. -telegraph and Courier, Dec. 9.