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should be furnished with bazaar supplies for followers, which I trust will have been forwarded under suitable escort before this reaches you. Gun and musketry powder, 5 and 8 inch shells, 24-pounder shot, good fuzes, with proportion of stores and Enfield ammunition, are most required, and should be sent with the relieving column.

Mark what I wrote to you, through Bruce, of the necessity of the Delhi column coming on to Alum Bâgh as soon as possible, and inform the Commander-in-Chief of what I say on the subject. I hear there is a letter for me from his Excellency at Alum Bâgh, marked "private," which there has been no means of sending to me. Please, in your telegraph to the Commander-inChief, tell him this.

Sir J. Outram to Captain Sibley, Alum Bagh.

Lucknow Residency, 16th October, 1857. A camp follower who has made his way from Alum Bâgh informs me that you charge the poor followers one rupee a seer for atta! I directed that the Mahomedan and meat-eating castes should be furnished with meat, by slaughtering the cart bullocks necessary to supply them, and that the castes who cannot eat meat should be furnished from the European supplies, until bazaar supplies arrived from Cawnpore; but this did not warrant your charging famine prices for the articles so supplied, or charging one fraction beyond the price they cost at Cawnpore; so I trust I am misinformed.

I learn from Bruce that the strange omission to furnish bazaar supplies with Major Brigham's detachment, is owing to your having specified as required, only "rum, tea, sugar, and tobacco." This is the more strange, indeed, as you had written to me on the 29th, "Not a

seer of atta in camp for the followers; they and the cattle in great want of food." Yet, notwithstanding this, no intimation of their wants was made to Cawnpore, and consequently the convoy brought nothing for the followers. You, therefore, are answerable for the lamentable straits to which the poor fellows are subjected.

Bruce also writes on the 21st-"I wish Sibley would not change my men. The note you mention having been sent by a return cossid, came in by one of Sibley's people, and has taken just nine days en route." This is an allusion to a note I wrote from Alum Bâgh on the 24th. How it came into your hands I know not.

P.S.-Did you keep the note sent you for the officer commanding the Delhi column-as of course I intended you should do-or did you send it with the other enclosure to Bruce?

Sir J. Outram to Captain Bruce, Cawnpore.

Lucknow Residency, 16th October, 1857. Circumstances cause me to suspect that Munsoof Ali has been tampering with our cossids. My letter of the 6th, which you acknowledge on the 8th, was sent by one of Thomson's men, Bissas Sing; but instead of his returning with your reply, it was brought on the 11th by a cunning little chap (name I forget), late naib nazir of Durriabad, with whom, my suspicion not having been then excited, I sent you a long letter on the 13th. As Bissas Sing has not returned, it appears to me too probable that Munsoof Ali must have got hold of him, taken his quill, and, after copying the contents, perhaps forwarded it to you, and got your reply, which, after reading, he sent on to me; thus obtaining for his emissary a thorough insight into the

state of this garrison, and getting a sight also of my reply to yours, which of course he will have sent on that he may see your answer in the same way.

Unfortunately, you write always in English, which Munsoof Ali knows as well as you or I. Mine, luckily, have always been in Greek character, which it is to be hoped he cannot read. But if he learns what is said on one side, he must have a tolerable guess as to what is written on both. Your letters to me (those dated 7th and 8th) which came together, mentioned the intention to despatch a party with the bazaar supplies for Alum Bâgh-400 Europeans with two guns. Your messenger, the naib nazir, left with my reply on the night of the 13th; and on the 14th troops marched hence in the direction of Cawnpore (the Nana with them, it is said), probably to enable Munsoof Ali to intercept the expected convoy.

I know not if the convoy has started, or if this will be in time to put you on your guard. As possibly my letter of the 13th may not be delivered, I send duplicate. Write your letters in Greek characters. Tell me the dates of all you have received from me, and all you have despatched. Of course Brigadier Wilson will open this, should you have accompanied the convoy; and I beg he will kindly carry out what I have requested you to do. I hear Munsoof Ali is disposed to serve us, and keep open the communication with Lucknow, if assured by me of future protection; this you may grant him in my name, as well as immunity for the past, if he should desire to open negotiations with you. If the Nana has actually gone in that direction, possibly he may be induced to earn the reward for that villain's capture.

P.S.-The name of Lieutenant Wild, 40th Native Infantry, was entered by mistake among those mentioned to you as killed, in my letter of 26th ultimo.

Sir J. Outram to Brigadier Wilson.

16th October, 6 P.M.

The commissary has just informed me that after the strictest scrutiny, he finds that our atta and bullocks (we have nothing else) will last only till 18th proximo, on half rations for natives, and three-quarters for Europeans.

No possibility of our obtaining any supplies unless previously relieved. The Delhi column must push on to Alum Bâgh. Spare no cost in sending express to Greathed, urging his immediate advance, and let there be no delay in bringing troops up from Allahabad.

Enclosures, mentioned in the accompanying to Bruce of this morning, will be forwarded to-morrow, being too bulky for a quill.

Colonel Wilson to the Chief of the Staff

(Telegraphic.)

Cawnpore, 15th October, 1857, 3.15 P.M. As already telegraphed on the 12th instant, the officer commanding the convoy brought no intelligence further than that occasionally a cossid, with difficulty, made his way from the Baillie Guard to Alum Bagh; that they heard constant firing, and that they were not molested on their road here. As far as Alum Bâgh, with a strong detachment and guns, I consider the road safe. I beg to refer you to my message of the 12th instant, more particularly as we have not had any communication from Lucknow since, which fact is daily telegraphed to you.

Captain Bruce to the Governor-General of India and the Commander-in-Chief.

(Telegraphic.)

Cawnpore, 15th October, 1857. Letter from General Outram, dated Lucknow, 13th. He desires me to urge strongly the imperative necessity for supplies, to the utmost extent that our escorts from this can guard. Represents how imperative he considers it that reinforcements for Lucknow be organized at Alum Bagh, not at Cawnpore, where the assembly of forces would have no effect at Lucknow; whereas, concentration at Alum Bâgh would favour communication with friends in the city, and encourage loyal zemindars to come forward. Reinforcements at Alum Bâgh can be supplied from

Cawnpore with perfect safety; the road so far open, that native police posts, as far as Nuwabgunge, are unmolested, and detachments at Busseerutgunge, Nuwabgunge, and Bunnee, will amply secure the communication. Alum Bâgh is a well-fortified wall inclosure, with open country around.

The Chief of the Staff to Colonel Wilson, Cawnpore. (Telegraphic.)

Calcutta, 16th October, 1857. If you believe that the road to Lucknow is not more obstructed than when the last detachment marched on, send a party to the relief of Alum Bâgh, made up to 500 rank and file, with four guns; the whole being under the command of Major Barnston, with Captain Bruce as staff officer.

Having thrown in provisions, which should be sufficient for a month at the very least, including a due supply of atta for the use of the native troops, this party should return, if possible, bringing back unladen elephants and camels, as otherwise they would eat up all the food they take. Send some police sowars with it, if you have any, as scouts, and impress upon Major Barnston the necessity of taking every precaution when returning. He must bring back his guns.

If, on due reflection, Major Barnston thinks it absolutely necessary to reinforce Alum Bagh with a company of Europeans, he must do so; but his Excellency is of opinion that, if such a step can be avoided, it would be much better for the garrison on account of supplies, as well as for the safety of the returning column.

Colonel Wilson to the Chief of the Staff.

(Telegraphic.)

Cawnpore, 16th October, 1857, 8.50 A.M. Captain Bruce read to me Sir James Outram's letter, dated 13th, upon which the telegraphic message was forwarded, as despatched last night to the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief. I have the party and provisions all ready, and only await the Commander-inChief's orders to despatch them.

Captain Bruce, for Major-General Sir J. Outram, to the Governor-General of India in Council. (Telegraphic.)

Cawnpore, 16th October, 1857, 11 a.m. General Outram has issued proclamation to those men of the 7th Light Cavalry, 13th Regiment Native Infantry, 48th Regiment Native Infantry, and 71st Regiment Native Infantry, who were granted furlough by the Chief Commissioner in Oude in June, as well as those who went as usual on leave previous to June, to repair to the officer commanding at Cawnpore for duty, upon the understanding that, if

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