§ On the Motion that the Bill be read a Second Time.
GENERAL CODRINGTONsaid, that the statement quoted by the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Friday, of the circumstances under which the Victoria Cross was given to Sir Henry Havelock had caused some pain to the officers of a gallant regiment, which he 1082 should be glad, if possible, to remove. The 64th regiment accompanied Sir Henry Havelock, from Allahabad, on his first march. They were with him in several battles which he fought against large odds, and no regiment could have behaved better in every respect. At the battle of Cawnpore the regiment charged the enemy under a severe fire, and connected with this battle was the gallant deeds of the son of the late Sir Henry Havelock. The account quoted by the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer was a telegraphic despatch from Sir Henry Havelock, which some of the officers of the 64th regarded, not as a slur upon the regiment, but as implying a want of conduct on the part of the commanding officer of that regiment. The passage was as follows:—
I called up the regiment to rise and advance Without any other word from me Lieutenant Havelock placed himself on his horse in front of the centre of the 64th, opposite the muzzle of the gun. Major Stirling, commanding the regiment, was in front, dismounted; but the lieutenant continued to move steadily on in front of the regiment at a foot pace on his horse. The gun discharged shot until the troops were within a short distance, when they fired grape. In went the corps, led by the lieutenant, who still steered steadily on the gun's muzzle, until it was mastered by a rush of the 64th.Major Stirling, who commanded that regiment, and who lost his life while gallantly leading his men, had distinguished himself in many severe and well-fought battles. Sir Henry Havelock, speaking of the action at Aherwa on the 16th of July, says:—On the left Major Stirling with the 64th was equally successful against another village, and took three guns.Again,—The enemy sent round shot into our ranks until within 300 yards, and then poured in grape with such precision and determination as I have seldom witnessed. But the 64th, led by Major Stirling and by my aide-de-camp, who had placed himself in their front, were not to be denied. Their rear showed the ground strewed with wounded; but on they steadily and silently came; then, with a cheer, charged and captured the unwieldy trophy of their valour. I must reiterate my obligations to officers commanding, &c, and to Major Stirling, who was slightly wounded.Some hurry in a telegraphic despatch and a feeling of partiality to a son who had thus escaped a great danger was very natural, but it was certain that Sir Henry Havelock could not wish to cause the slightest uneasiness or doubt as to the manner in which the commanding officer of the 64th had done his duty at the battle of Cawnpore.