Extracts.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 615, 29 September 1858, Page 3

Extracts.

SIR COLIN CAMPBELL,

The following interesting account is from Lieut.-Col. Allison's speech at the dinner given to-him.in Glasgow, on his return from India:— Gentlemen, there is one part of Sir C. Camphell's career to which I trust you will pardon me if I for.a few minutes advert—because I think in this country it has been misunderstood —and that is the delay which occurred between his arrival at Calcutta on the 13th of August, and his taking the field in the end of October. [ know, gentlemen, he, has been blamed for this; but yet that was precisely the period when his marvellous activity, his ceaseless energy, were most displayed, and when he laid the foundations sure and strong upon which all his subsequent successes have been built. Gentlemen, when he first set foot on the Indian soil, nothing (•onld well be more disastrous than the news which awaited him—Oude in arms, Rohilcund revolted, the Doab in the hands of the enemy, all Central India in confusion, one great magazine captured at Delhi, our gnu carriage manufactory lost at Futtyghur, all communications with the Punjab cut off—a small British force struggling to hold a position of observation, not of siege, before Delhi—Lucknow and Agra, rocks _ rising out of the surrounding surge of rebellion, which threatened every moment to enguif them—Havelock, with matchless skiil .md courage, maintaining himself in the neighbourhood of Cawnpore, against overpowering numbers, and the ravages of a deadly epidemic —Allahabad, our only sure point of footing in the Doab—in Calcutta itself anxiety and dread, a small European garrison overawing the loose native population, and watching three disarmed Sepoy regiments in the vicinity. In other words, gentlemen, the mutinous army of Bengal. 100,000 strong, and the revolted" population" of Oude and the north-western provinces to contend against, and what to meet them? In Bengal, and subject to the direct orders of the Commander-in-Chief, a force numbering not 7,000 English bayonets, with about 2,000 native tfoops who could be relied upon. And this, gentlemen, not one body united on a single field, but scattered over that vast extent of country which lies between Calcutta and Cawnpore— having to hold the river line of communication to Allahabad, 800 miles in length— to keep open rhe land route to the same point,.soo miles of road—to maintain a threatening head under Havelock, 130 miles, further in advance at Cawnpore—and to hold down with an iron hand the great cities of Benares, Patna, and Calcutta in the rear. Gentlemen, the odds at first seemed too unequaj, and one almost listened to hear the crash of a falling empire. (Cheers.) The fall in the Ganges had rendered the river route to Allahabad both tedious and uncertain, and it became necessary to organize another and surer method of forwarding the reinforcements to the front. This was done by establishing along the Great Trunk Road a mode of transport by which 200 men a-day were regularly forwarded in covered carts drawn by bullocks, which were relieved at regular stages; and to such perfection did this system attain, ih it when the troops arrived at their halting places, they found their meals regularly prepared for them, as you won:d do at a railway station in this country, while the road was kept clear of the rebels by small moveable columns of infantry and artillery, who marched along it at regular intervals. I believe military organization never was carried further than in this instance, where 200 men a-dav were regularly forwarded, along 500 miles of road, through a country intersected on all sides with rebel bands, without a single detachment beins: ever out off. In such ceaseless cares and anxieties was the time spent at Calcutta by Sir Colin Campbell passed, and upon the system then established were all our futnre successes based. (Cheers.) At length, by the middle of September, Haveloek's force, which at one time had been reduced by sickness and the sword to 800 effective bayonets, had been raised by the arrival of all the reinforcements under Outran) to nearly three thousand men, with about twenty guns, and he set forth upon that heartstirring march to Lucknow, the events of which are still fresh in the memories of you all. I need hardly recall to yon. gentlemen, that glorious episode when the "Sth Highlanders and Sikh Regiment of Ferozepore threw themselves into that long and fatal street, which—with musketry flashing from every window—lay before them, gaping like a very mouth of hell, and ceased not from their headlong charge till exhausted soldiers threw themselves into the arms of Inglis's heroic band. But, gentlemen, glorious as was that feat of arms, its first effect was most unsatisfactory. Istead of the Residency being relieved and its garrison withdrawn, the relieving force became itself besieged, and was. as it were, ensrulfed in the arms of the great city into which it.had entered. All our disposable men had been sent forward, and. they were •ill swallowed up. A new army had to be drawn together, another effort to be made, and this was done by Sir Colin in person. The China regiments were now arriving, and night and day they were hurried up to the front. By an almost providential coincidence, the capture of Delhi had now rendered disposable a small ' but highly organised force, which was strong exactly in the points where we were weak.— namely, in cavalry and field artillery. This column, forcing its triumphant way, tinder Greathed, right down through the Doab, united at Cawnpore with the ,reinforcements from Calcutta, ami formed the nucleus of the new relieving army. (Cheers.) To that great and difficult operation, .the relief of the Residency and the withdrawal of its garrison, full justice has been done in this country; but I do not think it ; I Ss: geuerally. known how very small was the I force at the disposal of..the Commander-in- i Chief to effect it with;. Gentlemen, when Sir. Colin Campbell set out on the morning of the i 14th November from Alumbagh, to force his , way into the Resideucy, not 4,090 bayonets were-' grouped, round his standard, while GO,OOO ivash: in arms held the great city in his front, and theGwalior contingent, 10,000 strong, were moving: to intercept his sole line of retreat and coramurnication at Cawnpore. So nicely timed, so exactly calculated was that operation, that when, on our march back from Lucknow, the roar of a

heavy but distant cannonade came wafted to u» by the lazy breeze of evening across the spreading plains of Oude, we all knew the cause. (Cheers.) It wag Wyndhain struggling in the grasp of the Gwalior Contingent > and when, after a forced march of thirty miles, we arrived at night on the banks of the Ganges, it was to see tiie balls from an enemy's battery falling on the bridge, and the sky red with the flames of our burning magazines. Then it was, gentlemen, that Sir Colin Campbell galloped on with a few of the stafF over the bridge and up to the entrenchment. At this time the firing was heavy on both sides, but no sooner was the old man with his grey hairs recognised, than the whole garrison, springing upon the ramparts, sent forth a cheer so loud and long that the enemy even ceased their fire, and for some minutes not a sound was heard, save when a rifleman, stepping from the ranks, expressed in simple but touching language the feelings of all, —"Thank you for coming, sir; thank you for coming." (Cheers.) Simple, gentlemen, were the words, but they expressed much, for they showed the confidence of an army in a man. At the time they were uttered it was not known that he had brought a single soldier with him; and. let me tell you, gentlemen, that that confidence is one not lightly accorded by the soldier —not easily won by the commander. (Cheers). Gentlemen, it was long said of Sir Colin Campbell that he was too rash to be intrusted with the command of an army—that he would squander too recklessly the lives of his men. Never, perhaps, was a greater mistake made, a more unfounded judgment uttered. Caution in conception, rigour in execution, are the great characteristics of his mind. A very miser of his soldiers'blood, he is a spendthri tonly of his own.