The Press.
London, England, 1858-01-09 00:00:00

THE PRESS

—the skirmishers of the 03rd and the Royal Engineers
pushing up on both sides of the road. The enemy's artil-
lery was well served, and did great execution, and the flank
fire of musketry was very severe. The gallant Colonel
Powell himself, on the left of the road, pressed on the
attack, and had ust secured two guns of the enemy, when
he fell dead with a bullet through his forehead.
In the meantime the Naval Brigade had advanced on the
right of the 53rd, and carried the enemy's position in
their front. It was then that the death of Colonel Powell
was reported to me, and I was requested to assume the
command. The great force of the enemy, the long line of
their defences, and the exhaustion of both officers and men
after such long marches, rendered our position truly
critical. The front of the battle had become changed to
the line of the road, and the enemy, with all their force be-
hind their embankments, threatened to intercept our rear.
I left Lieutenant Hay, R.N., supported by the two nine-
pounder guns, to hold the position which his party had
gallantly carried, and which secured our Rank ; and col-
lecting as many fresh troops as were available, assisted
principally by Lieutenant Lennox, R.E. (Captain Clarke
being unfortunately severely wounded ), and by Ensign
Truell of the 53rd, we rushed across the road, and passing
round the upper end of the embankments, divided the
enemy's force, and drove them successively from all their
positions. The enemy then retired in confusion, leaving
us masters of their camp, and with two of their guns and a
tumbril in our possession.
The late hour of the evening (half-past four when the
enemy fired their last shot), and the excessive fatigue of
the troops, prevented any pursuit. We therefore spoiled
their camp, and leaving it with cheers, formed on the road
by the bridge near the village, and sent out parties to col-
lect our dead and wounded.
With the body of the colonel on the limber of the gun he
had so gallantly captured, we then returned, and encamped
near the village of Bunker.
Our loss was severe, amounting in all to ninety-five
killed and wounded.

The despatch from Captain Boileau relates the
defeat, by the Ghoorkas, of a body of rebels at
Mundree. The coarage of the Ghoorkas is especially
to be noticed. The enemy we►e strongly posted, the
village of Mundree covering their centre, and exten-
sive fields of sugar-cane (then at its greatest height)
protecting both their flanks, with a grove of mango
trees in rear:—

They had received no notice of my approach, and I am
told that many parties had quitted their camp in search of
plunder—the number left amounting to not less than 1,000
men with three guns.
When within a quarter of a mile of their position, the
Ghoorkas broke into five columns, and advanced with great
rapidity and spirit to the attack, rushing straight to the
guns, receiving their fire, and capturing them in less than
ten minutes after the first shot was fired.
The insurgents retreated at once, and were pursued
for nearly three miles, losing men at every step. They
finally dispersed in the sugar-cane. The country is
covered with fields of this plant, and afforded an admirable
sheter to the enemy, whose loss on this account was much
less than it would otherwise have been. We were also un-
able to make use of our guns against them, as, owing to the
rapidity of the advance, they were unable to keep up with
the troops.
Captain Boileau " estimates " the loss of the
rebels at some 200 killed. Our loss was two killed
and twenty-six wounded.
The third despatch, from the camp at Neemnch, is
not so satisfactory as the preceding, for it unhappily
relates a check we received in the attempt to capture
the fort at Jeerun. As an illustration of the nature
of " fort-fighting " this instance is worth notice.
Captain Banister writes:—
Our main body arrived in front of the walls of Jeerun
at *boa half-past seven a.m. The enemy were assembled
200 yards in front of the walls on the brow of a hill, when
our column first saw them. They remained till our
9-pounders moved forward and fired a few rounds ; they
then retired slowly, taking up a stronger position behind
some huts. At about this time I was sent with a squadron
to the other side of the town to cut off stragglers, and
consequently did not see the action ; but, on returning
after the action, I was informed that our infantry hail at
first failed to dislodge the enemy from their position ; that
in their advance fur this purpose Captain Read, command-
ing her Majesty's 53rd detachment, had been killed, and
Captain Soppit, commanding 12th detachment Native
Infantry, had been dangerously wounded ; that both in-
fantry detachments, seeing their commanders fall, made a
momentary retreat ; that the enemy, emboldened, rushed
upon them and took one mortar and were nearly on the
guns, when Captain Simpson, with Lieut. Blair, Lieut. Le
Geyt, and Ridingliaster Steers, charged with a squadron
upon the enemy, retook the mortar, and dispersed the
rebels, who fled to the fort.
In this charge Captain Simpson was very severely
wounded in the head, Lieutenant Blair was wounded
severely with a sword, and Lieutenant Le Geyt slightly by
a ballet.
The day was now fast coming to a close, and we heard
some reports that another column of the enemy was ad-
vancing on Neernuch from another direction.
Captain Simpson being unable to perform his duty, the
command devolved upon me.
I omitted to state, which is an important point, that a
great part of the ammunition of the mortar was never re-
covered, but fell into the hands of the enemy. For this
reason, as well as on account of the great natural strength
of the place, which would have rendered it impossible,
with the small force at my command, and no breaching
guns, to take the town, also on scount of the fagged state
of the men, the want of offices to command the detach-

meats, and the necessity of returning to protect Nee-
much, I ordered a retreat, which we effected before night
closed in.

Our loss in this untoward affair was three killed and
fifteen wounded. Since then we are glad to say the
rebels have evacuated the position, which has been
occupied by our troops.
The Delhi mortality returns of June and July are
also published, with thoselfor Havelock's force since
leaving Cawnpore to 29th September.
The Gazette of last night publishes farther re-
turns of "persons killed by the rebels."