64th, 78th, and 84th regiments, and some companies of artillery, which had arrived at Allahabad since Havelock took his departure from that place some two months before; the whole amounting to about 1,700 men. up While rapidly progressing on his march the country, Sir James received information that a party of rebels from Oude were crossing the Ganges into the Doab, at Koondhun Puttee, between Allahabad and Futtehpore, and about twenty miles from the last-named town. The importance of frustrating this movement was evident; and, on the 9th of September, an expedition from his main body, consisting of 150 men, with two guns, was entrusted to the charge of Major Vincent Eyre, R. A., whose instructions were to pursue the rebel troops and destroy them. The major arrived at Hutgong-where he was joined by forty troopers of the 12th irregular horse, under Captain Johnson-by dusk on the 10th; and, after resting his men, made a moonlight march to Koondhun Puttee, where he arrived at daybreak on the 11th. The enemy, taken by surprise, fled precipitately to their boats, about half a mile off, and endeavoured to escape punishment by recrossing the river into Oude, but were quickly pursued by the cavalry, who intercepted them before they could reach their boats, and kept up a galling fire of musketry on them. The infantry coming up soon after, caused great havoc among the crowded boats; but the insurgents, now at bay, stood their ground until the two guns opened upon them; when, no longer able to endure the chastisement they had provoked, the now panic-stricken wretches threw themselves madly into the river. Showers of grape were poured upon them; and the sword and rifle brought them down in numbers, and completed their destruction; only a few scattered survivors, out of a body of 300, escaping with life. Considerable importance was attached to this service by General Havelock, who, in a subsequent despatch, said "I now consider my communications secure, which otherwise must have been entirely cut off during our operations in Oude; and a general insurrection, I am assured, would have followed throughout the Doab, had the enemy not been destroyed, they being but the advanced guard of more formidable invaders." The following is a copy of the despatch from Major Vincent Eyre to the military secretary of Major-general Outram, K.C.B.: "Camp, Koondhun Puttee, Sept. 11th. "Sir, I am happy to have it in my power to report, for the information of Major-general Sir James Outram, K.C.B., that the expedition he did me the honour of entrusting to my command has been attended with entire success, and the daring invasion of this territory from Oude has been signally punished. I arrived at Hutgong last evening at dusk, where I was joined by Captain Johnson's troop of the 12th irregular horse (forty in number.) As they had marched twenty-four miles, and were in need of rest, I halted until about half-past 1 A.M., when we had the advantage of moonlight to pursue our march to Koondhun Puttee, where we arrived at daybreak. "The Oude rebels, having been apprised a little previously of our advance, had fled precipitately to their boats, about half a mile off. I ordered the cavalry, under Captain Johnson and Lieutenant Havelock, to pursue them, and followed up myself with all practicable speed with the infantry and guns. We found the cavalry had driven the enemy into their boats, which were fastened to the shore, and were maintaining a brisk fire on them from the bank above. On the arrival of the detachments of her majesty's 5th fusiliers and 64th foot, under Captains Johnson and Turner, the fire of our musketry into the densely-crowded boats was most telling; but the enemy still defended themselves to the utmost, until the guns under Lieutenant Gordon opened fire, when the rebels instantly threw themselves, panicstricken, into the river. Grape was now showered upon them, and a terrific fusilade from the infantry and cavalry maintained until only a few scattered survivors escaped. Their number appeared to be about 300. Previously to their plunging into the river they threw their guns overboard, and blew up one of their boats, which had been boarded by a party of infantry, whereby, I regret to say, one man of her majesty's 5th was killed, and ten more or less injured (of whom five were Europeans and five natives.) All the officers mentioned above distinguished themselves highly, and the conduct of the men was all that could be desired. "Lieutenant Impey, of the engineers, and Mr. Volunteer Tarby, have likewise, by their zeal and usefulness, merited my thanks and commendation.-VINCENT EYRE, "Major, commanding Field Force." While the force under General Outram is proceeding on its route to Cawnpore, it will not be uninteresting to refer to the following letter from that place, as descriptive of circumstances that prevailed there at the beginning of September. the bank-side, having received no damage. The bank on this side of the river is much higher than that on the other, and we therefore command a better view and range than they do. Their shot drop far short of the land on this side; ours, though of the same calibre, carry well across. It is contemplated to leave the whole of the sick, with 400 effective men, in the intrenchment, the main body of the army going on to the relief of the garrison at Lucknow. After this is effected, our gallant boys return here, and, should we be required, will move on to Delhi; but this can scarcely be, as Delhi must soon be in our hands. The fort has been for some days surrounded by our troops, and several sorties were made by the besieged, but were repulsed with immense loss, our killed and wounded amounting to about forty of all ranks. It is, I believe, the wish of government to save, if possible, the fort and town of Delhi from total destruction. Were it otherwise, the whole would long since have been levelled. The men of our small army are in most excellent health and spirits, and wish impatiently to have Lucknow in possession. Only two casualties occurred during the week, and the prevailing disease now is fever of the common type. Cholera has totally disappeared; but it was, indeed, the bane of our little army. Our heroic general is in excellent health and spirits, and goes his rounds morning and evening. Mighty preparations are being made for the crossing of the army. We have about 1,500 bayonets, and twenty guns go on to Lucknow. We shall get across in less time than we did before, as lots of boats are moored along the bank of the Ganges. I trust we may come off as scot-free this time as we did the last. Is it not strange that this force, since its formation in Allahabad, has never had either protestant minister or Roman catholic chaplain ?" "Cawnpore, September 12th, 1857. "In the course of the past week we have had augmentations to our army from the lower provinces, and more are daily expected. General Sir J. Outram, with 700 bayonets and one horse field battery, is to come in to-morrow from Allahabad; and it is said that we await the arrival of some 800 more, ere a move to Lucknow will or can be effected. Morning and evening parades and roll-calls are quite the order of the day, together with the training of the volunteer cavalry in the use of the sword, &c., as also our new horse battery, which has made wonderful progress. This morning, the battery was out manoeuvring the guns, firing blank to see the effect of the shock on the young horses. I am told they stood the fire well, and with a few more exercises will be deemed efficient for the field. The enemy are working incessantly on the other side of the river, erecting breastworks, batteries, and mining the roads. A few days since, they had an experimental explosion of one of these mines; but the simpletons had the train set on the wrong way, and when a great mob had congregated to witness the burra tamasha-tamasha in truth! -for it sent some three to four hundred kicking in the air. Yesterday we sent a reconnoitring party of one hundred men on board the Hon. Company's steamer Berhampootra; but the vessel, on crossing the Ganges, got foul of a sand-bank and stuck fast. No sooner did the rebels notice this mishap, than they thought it a good chance to sink the vessel, which they considered a great bore, and blazed away their guns at her. On hearing and seeing this, we replied to them by the 24-pounders from our intrenched camp, and several of the insur-a gents were floored, together with one elephant, the whole of its hind quarters being carried clean off with a round shot. This proved sufficient for the enemy; and they were seen scampering off in search of the road home. Last evening they again assembled close to the river-side in thousands, and fired off a few of their 9-pounders. We again returned the compliment by our monsters, and a few shots sufficed to scatter them. Boats were sent for the unsuccessful reconnoitring party, and the steamer soon afterwards floated, and is now safe at Resuming the narrative, we find that, in the early part of September, a telegraphic message from Brigadier Inglis reached General Havelock, with the following information: - I "Lucknow, September 1st, 1857. "Your letter of the 22nd has duly reached me, in reply to mine of the 16th ultimo. regret your inability to advance at present to our relief; but, in consequence of your letter, I have reduced the rations; and with this arrangement, and our great diminution confirmed by government, he may be induced to afford us active help. His followers are estimated to be 6,000 in number." A copy of this important letter was forwarded to the governor-general as requested, and its receipt was acknowledged by the foliowing telegraphic message from his excellency in council to Major-general Sir James Outram : "Calcutta, September 12th, 1857. "I have received this morning Brigadier Inglis's letter of the 1st of September. Maun Sing may be assured that if he continues to give to the governor-general effective proof of his fidelity and good-will, his position in Oude will be at least as good in numbers from casualties, I hope to be able to hold on to the 20th or the 21st instant. Some stores we have been out of for the last fifteen days, and many others will be expended before the same date. I must be frank, and tell you that my force is daily diminishing from the enemy's musketry fire, and our defences grow weaker daily. Should the enemy make any very determined efforts to storm this place, I shall find it difficult to repulse them, owing to my paucity in numbers, and the weak and harassed state of the force. Our loss, since the commencement of hostilities here, has been, in Europeans alone, upwards of 300. We are continually harassed in countermining the enemy, who have above as it was before the British government astwenty guns in position, many of them heavy ones. Any advance of you towards this place will act beneficially in our favour, and greatly inspirit the native part of my garrison, who hitherto have behaved like faithful and good soldiers. If you can possibly give me any intimation of your intended advance, pray do so by letter. Give "Whatever promises may have been the bearer the pass-word, "Agra," and ask made to Maun Sing, or to others, by Sir him to give it me in person; and oblige me Henry Lawrence, are confirmed, and shall by forwarding a copy of this to the gov-be fully redeemed. None, however, have ernor-general. been reported to me. "Copy sent to General Havelock from commanding officer, Allahabad, for information and guidance, with the further remark that Maun Sing, who was promised a jagheer of two lacs conditionally on his affording us assistance, is reported to be still holding on; therefore it is by no means improbable that, if [the following line is entirely wanting, the paper being torn], that Sir H. Lawrence's promise shall be sumed the administration of the country; whilst the proprietors in Oude, who have deserted the government, will lose their possessions. The same assurance may be given to any other chiefs, who will be rewarded in proportion to the support they may afford. "I send the above message to Mr. Grant, as well as to yourself. He will endeavour to convey the assurance to Maun Sing by a sure route, in case your communication with Oude should be interrupted. "I hope you will be able to send a reply to Brigadier Inglis; and to inform him of the exertions which have been made for the relief of his brave little band, and of the anxious sympathy which is felt for them."* * The state of the pent-up garrison at Lucknow their fate; and they know the incomparable comhad now become a source of most painful apprehen-mand of resources, the all-conquering might of Engsion throughout British India. Among other re- land; and they say to one another, We have but marks upon the subject, the following extract from to hold out a few days, and an irresistible force shall the Bombay Guardian, will not be found devoid of appear.' They learn even that a force is on its way. interest to the English reader :-"There is something They fix a day when they are confident that it will inexpressibly affecting, and tragical even we may make its appearance. That day arrives, and brings say, about the position of the little band at Luck- no help. They fix another day, and encourage one now, as it is presented to our conceptions by the another to wait for it. It, too, comes in vain. Perlast advices from the neighbourhood. Encompassed haps some reproachful thoughts of their long-tarryby an immense force in what is now the heart of ing friends arise. When they heard (as possibly the enemy's country, cut off from communication they did) that General Havelock had crossed the with their countrymen elsewhere, they have nothing Ganges, and was on the direct road to Lucknow(under heaven) to sustain them but the hope, so less than forty miles off; then less than thirty-five; long deferred, of the arrival of a British force to less than thirty, twenty-five, twenty-hope must save them from a frightful death, and restore them have waxed strong; they must have felt that now to liberty. Weeks and months pass by. They feel assuredly the hour of deliverance was at hand. that all Britain will be stirred with profound Perhaps already a spirit of praise began to mingle sympathy, and nerved with determination to suffer with their prayers. But the days come and go; no obstacles to hinder the prompt dispatch of suc- no succour yet; the force has been obliged to recours. They know how impossible it is that their treat. Twice they pass through this agony of suscountrymen should be for a moment indifferent to pense; twice the expected troops come so near that |