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POINT DE GALLE.

Our correspondent at Point de Galle, writing under date the 20th of October, says, with respect to Indian news:—

From India., the news regarding the rebellion cannot be said to be very cheering. The pacification of the country is as far distant perhaps as it was a year ago. The cold weather campaign has commenced. It is understood that preparations are being made to commence active operations. On the 25th of August Sir Hope Grant had sent 1200 infantry and two guns, for the purpose of attacking the rebels at Sultanpol'f?, and where. Banee Madho had joined them ' with ■■ 13,000 men. Our troops Qeaapied three villages to their front, meeting with.little oppo-. sitimi. On the morning of the 29th the cantonment was occupied without opposition and destroyed. The rebels then retired to Sassenpore, where they drove the thannadar. They were attacked by.Lieutenant Smith, from Bundee, with 500 police infantry, 40 sowars, and a three-pounder gun; the rebels fled without offering resistance. Several skirmishes have alsotaken place, and on one occasion the rebel artillery surprised unexpectedly our artillery _t >Tawabjfiinge,_ and cut up a good many of our men although' they were total!}' defeated at the end." Hordes of'-'r.ibels are traversing Gdrruchpore, and the garrison of Bansee, consisting of 250' Seikhs, was attacked by 2000 sepoys.' They have been, however, beaten back. The Seikha arc reported to be without ammunition, and if not reinforced, may be obliged to «uccumb. The Nana is stated to be near Whorjjharee, where he*entrei/ched himself in a jungle. The Begum is < reported to be in the north with 20,000 men.' 'The Rajah of Gonda has 20,000 men more under his own command. The fortifications of the city of Lucknow are progressing rapidly.

A successful attack baa been made against the rebels posted in an island in the Gogra river —three thousand rebels were driven out ot their entrenched position by two companies of Europeans, with the Kuppnrtbnlla contingent. It is stated that about one thousand of the enemy had been killed on the occasion. The enemy at Sebinpore has likewise been attacked by 200 European Infantry, 400 Police Cavalry, and two9-pounders. The position of the rebels was most strongly entrenched, a prolonged fight ensued, which "resulted in the loss of *O0 killed on the part of the rebels. On the 29th the Kappur Shulla contingent, aided by eighty of Hudson's horse, attacked some 2000 rebels located about fifteen miles from Burreabad; oO of the enemy were killed. The most "important event has been the meeting at Mooltan, where the 62nd and 69th Regiments, N. 1., and the 4th troop of artillery, broke out into open revolt. If not for timely intimation, which reached Lieutenant Mules, adjutant of the Bombay Fusiliers, the consequences resulting would have been dreadful. Lieutenant .Mules has been killed.

Tantia Topee has defeated the chief in the district of Jalra Paton, obliging him to surrender, and took possession of the town, with all his treasure. Gen. Michel on the 15th Sept. totally routed tlie Tantia, losing twenty-five of his guns. Randhum Sing has fallen on Anjzea Tchseildaree, where he is concentrating a large force. Colonel Robertson has totally defeated the Powree rebels at Bijah, on the Purbutby river. They left 450 dead on the field—the intention of these rebels had been to join Tantia Topee's force. Matters in Behar are just as was three months ago, the rebels have undisputed possession of the Juddispore jungle. Many of the districts apear to swarm with rebels. It is understood that orders have been issued by the Commander-in-Chief for the organisation of 3000 Europeans and 2000 Seikhs, for the purpose of Clearing the Shahahabad district. From another source, we gather the following information:— The most important intelligence from India is that" the.Tneditated rising of the 62nd and 69thdisarmed Native Infantry Regiments had been -efficiently suppressed- at Mooltan. The -1,700 in number—were Compelled .to flee*. A'rapid pursuit was .-at once organised, and .the result was attended v?ith great success. Large numbers of the mutineers "were killed in the flight, and others were broughtback prisoners and summarily disposed of. Of the entire number only 350 remained to be accounted for.

Our.correspondent writing under date of 16th October, gives the following particulars concerning the arrangements for opening the next campaign in Oude:— - '

Bombay, 16th October, 1858. Since I last wrote you, the preparations for the coming campaign have been, more active. Sir Colin Campbell is at Cawnpore gathering together his resources to open tlie ball in Oude and Rohilcund; while in Central India, the various columns are proceeding by forced marches in the direction of Candairee into which Tantia Topee has just thrown himself. On the side of the enemy the greatest activity everywhere also - prevail?. Tlie Begum is still at Bonnree, but her licentious conduct is said to be alienating the affections of her followers. The Kana Sahib is at Chnrdraput, although the main'body of his troops and thirty guns are at Byraetch.- It is stated that his object is to form a junction with Tantia Topee, but it is difficult to penetrate his * real design. Beni Mahdo Sing with 25.000 men and 24 giiun, is still in the Salone districts, - busily employed repairing his forts and strengthening his 'position.

Tiie prices offered by government for the heads of these worthies vary from £10,000 to •£SOO, —thtii* capture is, therefore, a consideration.

Iv .the Punjaub all is quiet; the disbanded regiments have been sent to their homes without any disturbance, and the whole couutry wears, an asppct of repose and tranquility. Unpleasant rumours found their way some time ago into the Bengal papers, regarding tinattitude recently' assumed by Jung Bahadoor with regard to India; but they have beer, authoritatively contradicted, and it is affirmed that our relations with Nepaul were never on a more cordial footing than they are now. The Affghans and Hill-men are all quiet; but is to be regretted, that Sir John Lawrence and Colonel Edward os. are so soon to relinquish the!. ]v /-;i;s It l- feared that the moment they ie-'ive India, tlie country will be. exposed to ■immif.ciit danger. Hitherto Lord Canning has had only to deal with Oude; and men therefore '.'remble for the result when. Peshawar and the Punjanb also devolve upon his shoulders. In more peaceable times- Lord Canning would have been a model governor-general. He is kind, good, and amiable, possesses talents of a high order, and he is deeply imbued with the spirit of the age; but he lacks that firm and determined organisation, which can alone face the elements of discord which are. now-abroad

In Central and Western India we have had the usual amount of desultory Warfare. Oh the Agra and Bombay road the rebels'are said to b<^ swarming under the leadership of Gurtga Sing, hut as Citpt. Bacher waa to be at Sohore on the Bth, we trust soon to hear that the road has been cleared. It i.s ahso satisfactory to learn that Tantia' Topee ia being followed' closely up. He was compelled to evacuate Seronje, which oar cavalry entered on the 30th tilt, itix force only amounts to about 10,000 men of all arms, with four small guns. He is, Moreover, hampered with about a thousand women and children,' and many sick and wounded, and has therefore thrown himself into Chundaire. Our columns seem to hfe

nearly all in motion; Gen. Michel is marching on Seronje, Brigadier Parke on Agra, and Cnpt. Buckle has reached Oojein. It is also satisfactory to learn that Seeteeram, the Bheel of Candeish, has been killed by Major"Keatinge. A number of his men also fell, and several of his officers were captured. As soon, as the season is propitious and the jungle penetrable our troops will be able to givo an excellent account of these marauders.

When once the campaign commences our generals will.no doubt, be equal to the occasion. It is, however, to be regretted that important commands ar« still'in the hands of leaders who did not shine particularly last cold season. Upon the dispersion of tho Oude rebels the issue of the war in a great measure depends. If the Commander-in-Chief, collecting all his strength for one grand coup, and moving a vast army at fifteen miles a day, should again suffer them to escape, the Pindaree war will recommence. Goruckpore and Azimghur, Rohilcund and the Doab will again be flooded by hordes of desperadoes, whom it is as impossible to catch as to neglect. They must either be destroyed, or so utterly and completely cowed, that their reunion, even in large gangs, shall be impossible. If this can even be accomplished by amnesties, let us have amnesties, for the country craves for peace. But let us not have great armies let loose out of Baraiteh and Gonda, and then be told that the dispersion of the enemy fulfils all the ends of civilised warfare. It is only by strong columns organised with special attention to speed, and entering all quarters at one and the same time, that Oude can be pacified without driving the mob back upon our older provinces. It is by the Commander-in-Chief's use or neglect of such columns that the public will estimate the chance of the campaign. There is but little local news to communicate. Trade is rapidly improving both as regards imports and exports. The promised reinforcements are pouring in daily by hundreds, and our regiments will consequently be brought up to their legitimate strength. The Governor has returned to the Presidency, and the Com-mander-in-Chief is preparing for his customary trip to Mahabeshwur. Much surprise is felt at the delay in the publication of the long-pro-mised proclamation from her Majesty to the people of India. Great p3Totechnic and other preparations are being made in Calcutta to inaugurate the assumption by her Mnjestj- of her new supremacy ; but in Bombay there is no symptom of any preparations being made for either demonstration or display. . .

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18581204.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 634, 4 December 1858, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,657

POINT DE GALLE. Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 634, 4 December 1858, Page 4

POINT DE GALLE. Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 634, 4 December 1858, Page 4

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