Telegram from Major Ellis to the Secretary, Government of India. I am confused by the dates. At the bottom it is stated as despached on the 13th June whilst the header is dated 26th June, 1857 and June 29th 1857. 13 days seems a long time for a telegram to be in transit.

To add to the confusion, in Forrest, the main part of the text ('For some time since...') is ascribed to a 'written deposition of one present'. Perhaps Ellis simply took one of the accounts as representative of all.

Copy of Service Message received by Electric Telegraph

From
Major R. R. W. Ellis, Pol. Asstt. for Bundlecund & Rewah
Nagode June 26 via Mirzapore June 29, Monday 8/25 P.M.

To
Secretary, to Govt. 0f India, Calcutta

(Words 649 S. R.)

Accounts of the Jhansee massacre from the evidence of a Sowar Mahomedan and of two Khalassis Bugwandoss Native Surveying Estabt. and of one Khalassie of Mahomed Ismail Native Surveying Estabt. who were all four shut up in a fort with the Gentlemen and who on their release thence on the 10th Instant, came to me at Mhoaba and related the occurrence. I sent the men to Mr. Caine the Collector who also examined them.

For some time since the Gentlemen had been in the habit of passing the night in the Fort, and spending the days at their Bungalows. Captain Burgess and his Estabt. had their tents pitched within the Fort and every thing was being put in readiness to retreat into the Fort so soon as there should be occasion to do so which occurred on the evening of the 4th, some few effected their escape from the place altogether, one Gentleman name unknown reached Burwa Saugor, where meeting with a Native Surveyor of the Canal Estabt. Sahib Raee, he gave his watch and horse, and procuring a Hindoostanee dress escaped on foot he was scarcely out of sight when two Sowars who were hotly pursuing him arrived there and recognized the horse; took Sahib Raee and the Thanadar prisoners bound back to Jhansie, where they were still when last heard of. Lieutt. Turnbull was not so fortunate, as not having been able to join the Fort he climbed a large tree he had however been seen and was shot on the tree. From the evening of the 4th until the morning of the 8th the Gentlemen in the Fort kept good their position. The Ladies assisting them in cooking for them, sending them refreshments, casting bullets. There were 55 in number altogether, inclusive of the Ladies and children and they began to get very straitened from want of provision &c., behind all the gates they had piled high heaps of stones to strengthen them & kept up defending that, one of the Cannon which had been brought too near the gates was abandoned and it was only by fixing ropes to it in the night time that the mutineers were able to regain possession of it. Lieutt. Powys was the first person killed in the Fort; the way he met his death was this Two men, brothers, in Captain Burgess employ one was his Jemadar declared that they would go out they were told they would be shot down if they attempted it, but they said that they might as well be shot as stay there to be starved and accordingly commenced undoing the fastenings; one was shot immediately, the other turned on Lieutt. Powys who happened to be near him, and cut him down with his Tulwar; this one also was directly shot by Captain Burgess; the only other person killed inside the Fort was Captain Burgess himself, who received a Bullet in the head after having, I am told, killed no less than 25; all the Natives spoke of his great skill as a marksman. The Mutineers at last having forced the Ranee to assist them with Guns and Elephants succeeded in effecting an entrance at two of the gates they promised the Gentlemen that, if they laid down their Arms and gave themselves up quietly, their lives should be saved. The Gentlemen unfortunately trusted to their word and came out; they were tied to a long line between some trees, and after a short consultation had their heads struck off. Such Ladies as had children had to see them cut in halves before their eyes: the Sowars, it appears, bore the principal part in all these atrocities. This took place in the afternoon of the 8th.

Sd/- d. Kerchoff, Sergeant
Asstt. Overseer
Electric Tele. Office Bundlecund Irrigation Works
The 13th June, 1857
Despatched 3/50 P.M.