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124i T HE LEAD ER, [No. 411, February 6,...
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SPECIAL LETTERS FROM INDIA. (From a Mili...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Uspdia.It Revolt. _: « Owing To The ...
" The reverse sustained by General Windham at Dawnpore , from the impending and disastrous issues of which he seems only to have been rescued by the rapid idvance of Sir . Colin Campbell , has called for some remark in the papers ; but his subsequent appointment by the Commander ^ in-Chief to an independent command at Umbdllah would appear to indicate that no very serious jlame attaches to him in the matter . Eeports were rife at one time to the effect that he had resigned his command , and at others that he was in arrest , but they appear to have been but exaggerated statements of Sir Colin ' s natural impatience of the reverse . " The subjoined intelligence is from the F riend of India : —
" The Chittagong routineers have killed the women who followed them from Chittagong . They remained in independent Tipperah for about a fortnight , and then attempted to make for the North-West through the Mymensing district . That road , however , was in the possession of a detachment of H . M . ' s 54 th ; so they struck off to the North East . On the 9 th of December , they entered the Sylhet district , and marched in a northeasterly direction . They suffer greatly from want of provisions , and some are said to have killed themselves . They state that they are going to the Mohneepore Rajah . The Sylhet battalion have been sent to intercept them in their road , and tokens have been sent to all the wild tribes , calling upon them to rise and slay the robbers
who are seeking to enter their territory . The Dacca mutineers , after looting a few considerable villages , have crossed the Teestah , and are now in Bhootan . They have been joined by some three hundred upcountry men in the service of the Rajah of Kooch Behar * a district lying to the south of Bhootan . On the 11 th of December , a detachment composed of fifty Europeans and forty Ghoorkas , all picked men , left Jelpigoree to attack the mutineers . They hoped to take them by surprise . They had a long , harassing march of 25 miles . They arrived at the encampment . of the rebels at daybreak , and found them posted in a most formidable position , To the rear of the rebels there was a dense jungle , their left was protected by small nullahs ,
and their right by a thick field of long grass . In front , they had three large ravines , filled with water . The bottom of all the ravines was composed of shifting sands . The ravine upon which the front of the enemy immediately rested was unfordable , and the bank no less than twenty , feet high . The detachment unhesitatingly plunged into the first ravine , and advanced on to the second . There they were terribly embarrassed . The sand was up to their knees , and to advance seemed almost impossible . The enemy fired a few shots , but they passed harmlessly over the heads of those advancing . Directly , however , they had emerged from
the second nullah , they were received by a well-directed fire . They took shelter behind a sand bank , and returned the fire as well as they were able . Some soldiers then reconnoitred the third nullah , and , on its being found impassable the word was given to retire . The mutineers , directly they saw the English and Ghoorkas in full retreat , laughed , danced , and hooted . The English and Ghoorkas were under fire for about half an hour ; but none of them were killed , and only two were wounded . They reached their camp that same evening , after accomplishing a march of fifty miles in twentythree hours . The Dacca mutineers are said to have decamped . "
THE ENTRY ( UNDER HAVBLOOK ) INTO LTOKNOW . A civilian , in a letter to his parents , gives an account of the entry into Luck now of the relieving force under Havelock and Outran ) , and of their subsequent blockade by the rebels . Ho writes : — " The fire from the Palace ( known aa the Keisah Bagh ) was so severe that we had to run double quick in front of it as hard as we could , and a scene of great confusion ensued when wo halted—guns and infantry mixed up , soldiers wandering in search of their companies , and the , wounded . in the , doolies carried hero and there without any orders . Wo had been there about half an hour when the second brignde joined us , passing in front of the Palace , emerging from a narrow lane close to it ; here they had to pass under the very walls , while the scoundrels on the wall hurled down stones and bricks , and even spat at pur follows , a fierce fire being kept up from the loopholed wall . After a little time , order was
re-established , and after a fresh examination of the map the column was drawn up and wo started again . It was cruel work ; bravo troops being exposed to such unfair fighting . What can men do against loopholed houses when they have no timo to enter a city taking house by house ? In fact , wo ran the gauntlet regularly through the streets . After wo passed the Palaco , our men being laiocked ~ down- 'like-8 lieep- \ vithout-beiugv-ablo _ to ~ roturn the lira of the enemy with any effeot , we passed on somo little way , when we oamo to a suddon turning to the left with a huge gateway in front , and through this wo had to pass under a shower of balls from the houses on each Bide . The Sikhs and 5 th Fusiliers got to the front , and kept up a steudy flro ut the houses for somo timo with the hope of lessoning' tlio musketry , but it was of no use ; oxoltod man can seldom fire into loopholes with Any certainty , and wo luid to make the best of our wny up the street , turning sharp round to the right , when we found ourselves in a long wido street , with shoots of
fire shooting out from the houses . On we went , about a quarter of a mile , being peppered from all sides , when suddenly we found ourselves opposite to a large gateway , with folding-doors , completely riddled with round shot and musket balls , the entrance to a large enclosure . At the side of this was a small doorway , half blocked up by a small mud wall , and the Europeans and Sikhs were struggling to get through , while the bullets were whistling about them . I could not think what was up , and why we should be going in there , but , after forcing my way up to the door , and getting my head and shoulders over the wall , I found myself being pulled over by a great , unwashed , hairy creature , who sit me on my legs , arid patted me on my back , and to my astonishment 1 found myself in the long looked-for Bailey Guard . What an entry compared with the one we had promised ourselves ! We expected to march in with colours fly ing and bands playing , and to be met by a starving g arrison , crying with joy ; ladies waving handkerchiefs on all sides , and every expression of happiness ; but instead of that we entered as a disorganized army , like so many sheep , finding the whole of the garrison at their posts , as they always remained , and a few stray officers and men only at the gate to meet us . The next morning we began to consider the state of affairs , and to our dismay we found that the scoundrels had not bolted as we expected , and that we in our turn were besieged . While the greater part of the infantry went ahead , it was found impossible to bring on the heavy suns , and they remained out with a portion of the force
till the morning , when a strong party was sent out from the Eesidency , which took possession of the Old Palace , a long row of palaces and gardens , including buildings known as the Terah Kotee , the Terah BUk , and the Cbuttur Munzil . These buildings extended along the bank of the Goomtee river , upon which one side of our position rested , for nearly a quarter of a mile , and the communication being then open our guns were brought up . We were then blocked off from all communication with Alumbagh and the world in general . We learned that the supplies were so numerous that , -with care , the entire united force could hold out till the middle of December ; good news for us , for , if we had . been then forced to evacuate the place , but few would have escaped , with such a number of helpless women , and children to escort . "
THE BATTLE OF CAWNPORE . A boy of nineteen , in writing to his mother , gives the following vivid account of the fighting at Cawnpore at the close of November : — " The Entrenched Camp , Cawnpore , Dec . 2 , 1857 . " My darling Mother , —Thank God , I am safe and well , and through God ' s mercy I hope to remain so . We have had terrible hard work here fighting the Sepoys ; -we have been at it five days together . The first day I was on my legs from four o ' clock in the morning until six in the evening . We paraded at four o ' clock , and , after standing on parade for an hour or two , we marched off 1500 strong . Nobody knew where we were going to , but I had a dim idea that we should see service that day , and sure enough we did . We
marched along cheerily enough for two or three miles , the bands playing now and then in front . Presently there was a halt , the band came to the rear , and the fighting 88 th ( the Connaugbt Rangers ) came to the front . Whereat there were sundry murmurings among the officers of ' ours , ' because our right—by seniority- — of fighting first was thus taken from us . The word is given to ' Advance ! ' Bang ! goes a heavy gun , and whiz comes the immense mass of iron over our heads , and I am afraid I must plead guilty to feeling an extraordinary sort of sinking in my stomach . On we go , somejeornmand is given , and the left wing of our regiment " goes away somewhere ( I am in the right wing ) . Bang ! again . This time they have the right range , and the grape-shot tsars through the column . Tho word is given , ' Extend into skirmishing order to the left . '
Away we go , rushing on all th « time ; we jump over a bank of earth , and a man falls at my side . I think , Oh ! lie only tripped up ;* I turn , and see the rod blood gushing out on to the earth . And now . tho bullets come round us fast and thick . My spirit-flask has the top grazed by a bullet . I am lost in astonishment that I am not hit . I seo thousands of rcd-coatod Sopoys flring-away at us , and I got into a rnge , and shout' Come along , my boys . ' Remember Cawnpore ! ' but in a feeble voice , trying to fancy myaolf bravo , but fail totally In tho attempt . We come to a stop at length , and thank goodnoss for it , for I am terribly blown . Hero they rally tho men , and got thorn together preparatory to taking three guns in front . A ohoer , a long hoavo of my breath , a clenching of my hands and tooth , and away I go once more into tho bullots . * Tho guns . aro . ouraLlIiirrab . lv __ ^ ^ ^ " Three days more , something like this ; I will not ' bothor you with tho fourth day . Tho last part wo had boon skirmishing all day , and towards six o ' clock tho blackguards made a rush , somo 4000 or 5000 of them , to tho bridge , which I was defending . Then oamo a fight botwoen 1500 tirod Englishmen , and 5000 or more of frosli Sopoys , for those wore tho roporvo . Thoro aro somo 20 , 000 of thorn hero . Ploaso Goodnoas , I hope never to boo such a hailstorm of bullet a again . I Haw man fall on every side of mo ; splinters hit mo , plocos of < w » rt !» from bullots , & o ., and thoro wo wore obliged to
stay . Our orders were ' to keep the bridge as long as possible ; ' the keeping' consisted in standing still while a hurricane of balls passed through us . I must own here that I lost my presence of mind ; I said the Lord ' Prayer , and thought I should never see you darling , and all my dear friends again ; but God ( thanks to him for it ) has hitherto preserved me . We after some time retreated into the fort , and defended it until relieved by Sir Colin Campbell . " I sleep on the ground every night . I have hard biscuit and rum to live on . I never am able to sleep more than three hours at a stretch , but I have a capital appetite , good health , and I say my prayers every night that I may be allowed to see you again ; and I am very happy and comfortable , so do not worry about me , darling . " *
124i T He Lead Er, [No. 411, February 6,...
124 i T HE LEAD ER , [ No . 411 , February 6 , 1858 .
Special Letters From India. (From A Mili...
SPECIAL LETTERS FROM INDIA . ( From a Military Correspondent . ~) Nagpore , December , 1857 . In my former letters I have frequently alluded to that general disaffection throughout India , which has been rapidly increasing in bitterness and restlessness ever since Lord Dalhousie assumed the reins of Government at Calcutta in January , 1848 . Where general disaffection and distrust prevail , the mere ostensible pretext or provocative to actual conflict , is never long wanting . Anything will cause an excitement ; anything will serve as a cry ; anything will be caught at and exhibited by the designing leaders , and accepted by the angry multitude as the crowning injury and insult , the last intolerable infliction , which must be opposed azid
resisted , or endured for ever . Greased cartridges will do , fetters for refusing them will do , modern-antique prophecies will do , anything will do for an exciting cause , ¦ when discontent , suspicion , and credulity reign . What excuse was there for the attack on the Tuileries in August , or the prison massacres in September , 1792 ? Where an immense population is subjected to a foreign and alien race , and especially where the natives and the conquerors are of different colours , there must exist some amount of repugnance and heartburning ; and nothing but the most scrupulous respect for ancient rights , and a thoroughly efficient administration on the part of the dominant race , can overcome the natural aversion to a foreign yoke , and secure permanent or
even long-continued submission and peace . From want of sympathy with the natives , and our pride of superiority , and the ever-increasing lust of patronage , we have excluded the natives from all share and interest in the Government , and from almost all posts of dignity and high emolument ; and we have done nothing to initiate that human fellowship between the races , without which our mission in the East must for ever remain dark and barren . It has gradually come to pass that there is no human relation between the English and the natives of India , neither that of master and slave , nor that of patron and client , nor until 1857 even that of open foes : but a hard misunderstanding and mutual
distrust subsist , which but a few individuals on either side can break through . And within the last twenty years , but more particularly within the last ten yeats , from the extension of our territory , and the consequent employment in greater numbers of young and inexperienced men , the inefficiency , oppression , and corruption of our judicial and magisterial establishments have been aggravated and in some districts have become intolerable . * And within the same period we have gradually shown more and more disregard for ancient rights , less and less consideration for tho most legitimate and cherished feelings , and predilections of tho bestinstructed and most influential classes of the natives .
It was not always so ; wo did not gain our possessions and power in India by such means . ^ Vc cannot keep thorn so . While the founders of our Indian Emp ire wero maintaining and strengthening a precarious position , controlling and conciliating allies , and contending will ) poworful enemies whom they could not but respect and admire in somo degree , tho English in India continued to place a high value on tho good will and good opinion of the natives . While thoy were evoking poaco mm order out of a chaos of conflicting interests , they learned at every stop to appreciate both tho value of native tuct in negotiation , and tho poworful influonco of our own reputation for honour and fuir dealing . And as in nil times of conquest , crisis , and real difficulty tho work w « s done by a few heroes and statesmen , our most celebrated tasks of tho pacification , settlement , and organization of largo provinces woro effected yy one or two able and oxporioncod English oilleors in eneii province , by moans of somo special nativo agency ana tho ^ toWneJtoftl ^ te ^ porlenced mon— -first-rato , sccond-nUTT " "" ™ " " , ° ' aoldlera or administrators — never mako themscn os offensive to tho nativos , never doapino U > o inhabitants " > tho country , or think lightly of tlioir ancient rltfiiw , privileges , customs , or prejudices . In f « "t ) they wmK'i " ( Stand tho natives and can make thoinaolvos mulorstuoa andrespootod by thorn . Search tho works , tho oniciiu writings , and tho official acts , of such inou as Lord i \ mcalfo , Sir Thomas Munro , Frederick John Shore , an * This will bo explained in detail in a future lottor .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 6, 1858, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_06021858/page/4/
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