Note 207 — CENTRAL INDIA. January to June, 1858.

One of these, the defence of Arrah, is most remarkable. Sixteen Europeans and fifty Sikh soldiers, made a noble stand against three thousand mutineers. The Europeans were Mr. Littledale, judge; Mr. Bombe, collector; Mr. Wake, magistrate; and Mr. Boyle, railway engineer—all civilians. The first attempt to relieve them failed; on the 27th. of July portions of the 10th. and 37th. regiments, and some Sikhs, about four hundred in all, were sent up the river from Dynapore in two steamers, one of which grounded: this caused a delay, but in the evening of the 29th. the troops were disembarked. Captain Dunbar pushed on until he reached the outskirts of the town, when the Sepoys suddenly opened a destructive fire of musketry from the wood, a great number, including himself, being killed, the survivors being hotly pursued to the steamer. Major Vincent Eyre, of the Bengal Horse Artillery (author of the well-known work on the disasters at Cabool), who was in command of a flying force, on hearing of this event advanced from Shawpore, a distance of twenty-eight miles, and on the 2nd. of August encountered the rebels near Goojerajunge; and although the odds were twenty to one, gallantly defeated them. Mr. Ross Lowis Mangles, Assistant-Magistrate at Patna, and Mr. William Fraser M‘Donell, Magistrate of Sarun, both of the Bengal Civil Service, received the Victoria Cross for their services; the former for volunteering to serve with the above, having, on the morning of the 30th. of July, after Captain Dunbar’s death, during the retreat, with signal gallantry and generous self-devotion, and notwithstanding that he had himself been previously wounded, carried for several miles, out of action, a wounded soldier of the 37th. regiment, bore him in safety to the boats, after binding up his wounds under a murderous fire, which killed or wounded almost the whole detachment; and the latter for great coolness and bravery on the same day and occasion, in having climbed, under an incessant fire outside the boat in which he and several soldiers were, up to the rudder, and with considerable difficulty cut through the lashing which secured it to the side of the boat; on this being cut the boat obeyed the helm, and thus thirty-five European soldiers escaped certain death. In this feat of arms, by which the gallant garrison was relieved, one hundred and fifty-four men of the 5th. Fusiliers, under Captain L’Estrange, maintained the ancient fame of their regiment, and shared with the first company of the 5th. battalion of the Bengal Artillery, and the Buxar Gentlemen Volunteers, in this important result; so honourable to them and to their daring commander. Captain Scott, Ensigns Lewis Oldfield (wounded), and Mason, and Assistant-Surgeon Thornton, were the other officers of the detachment of the 5th. Fusiliers.