The Press.
London, England, 1857-04-04 00:00:00

THE PERSIAN EXPEDITION.

THE intelligence of an engagement fought between
the British and Persian troops at a place called
Kooshab on the Bth ult., has reached us this week.
Sir James Outram, learning that a large body of
Persians, under the command of Soojah•ool Moolk
in person, was hovering around Bushire, resolved
at once to bring matters to an issue. The troops,
consisting of the 3rd Cavalry, the Poonah Horse,
the 04th Foot, the 2nd European Light Infantry,
the 78th Highlanders, the Sappers and Miners, the
20th Native Infantry, the 4th Rifles, the 26th Native
Infantry, the Beloochees, 3rd troop Horse Artillery,
3rd and sth Light Field Batteries—numbering ) all
410 sabres, 2,212 European Infantry, 2,02.2 Native
Infantry, and IS guns, marched from Bushire on the
evening of the 3rd of February. They were without
tents or extra clothing of any sort; each man carried
his great-coat, blanket, and two days' cooked pro
visit ns.

Sir James Outram, in an official despatch of Feb.
10th, details the proceedings :

10. After a march of forty.six miles in forty-one hours,
during which the troops were exposed to the worst of
weather, cold nights, and deluging storms of rain, they
reached the enemy's intrenched position on the afterno,m
of the sth, and found it abandoned; the enemy, on hear
ing of our approach, had evacuated his intrenchments the
previous night so precipitately that his tents and camp
equipage and ordnance magazines were left behind. The
former were being rapidly carried off by village plunderers
operating for some hours before we arrived. I endeavoured
to intercept the retreat of some of the " Eilkhanee's
Horse, who had held the camp during the night, and were
still in sight, and a little skirmishing took place, but even•
tually they made off.
11. The enemy having succeeded in withdrawing their
guns to the strong passes, where I did not deem it prudent
to follow them, and being satisfied with the moral effect
of our occupying their position for two days, I decided
upon moving the troops back to Bushire. The return
march was accordingly commenced on the night of the
7th, first destroying their magazines, found to contain
about 40,0001b5. of powder with small•arm ammunition and
a vast quantity of shot and shell, and carrying away large

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stores of flour, rice, and grain, which the Persian Govern-
went had been collecting for a long time past for their
army, thereby effectually crippling their future operations.
Some of their guns are supposed to have been cast into
wells, and as their wheels and axles fell into our bands,
it will be impossible they can be used again for Cie present.
12. At midnight an attack was wade upon the rear
guard by the enemy's horse, and parties threatened the line
of march on every side. The troops were halted, and so
formed as to protect the baggage, and resist the horsemen
in whatever direction they might attempt to charge. Four
of the enemy's guns of heavy metal opened their fire upon
the column, while the darkness of the night prevented any
steps being taken to capture them.
13. 1 should here state that, on abandoning their posi-
tion, Soojah-ool•Dtoolk, with his force, had taken the direct
road to Shiraz by the " 111hak " Pass, and the Eilkhanee
with his horse had retired by the one leading to the' Huft
Moolla," and from information subsequently received, I
learn that they had planned a combined attack upon our
camp the night we marched! Indeed, the explosion of
their magazines gave them the first intimation of our
departure, when they hastened after us in the expectation
o: being able to attack us on the line of march, and possibly
create confusion and panic in the dark.
14. At daybreak the Persian force, amountir.g to be-
tween 6,0(K) and 7,0(X) men, with some guns, was discovered
on our rear left (north•east of our line of march) in order
of battle.

15. Our artillery and cavalry at once moved rapidly to
the attack, supported by two lines of infantry, a third pro-
tecting the baggage. The firing of the artillery was most
excellent, and did great execution ; the cavalry brigade
twice charged with great gallantry and success ; a standard
of the Kashkai Regular Infantry Regiment was captured
by the Poona!' Horse, and the 3rd Light Cavalry charged
a square and killed nearly the whole regiment ; indeed,
upon the cavalry and artillery fell the whole brunt of the
action, as the enemy moved away too rapidly for the in-
fantry to overtake them. By ten o'clock the defeat of the
Persians was complete. Two guns were captured, the gun
ammunition, laden upon mules, fell into our hands, and
at least seven hundred men lay dead upon the field. The
number of wounded could not be ascertained, but A must
have been very large. The remainder fled in a disorganised
state, generally throwing away their arms, which strewed
the field in vast numbers, and nothing but the paucity of
our cave]," prevented their total destruction and the cap-
ture of the remaining guns.
Id. The troops bivouacked for the day close to the
battle-field, and at night accomplished a march of twenty
miles (by another route) over a country rendered almost
impassable by the heavy rain which fell incessantly. After
a rest of six hours, the greater portion of the infantry con.
tinned their march to Bushire, which they reached before
midnight, thus performing another most arduous march of
forty-four miles under incessant ram, besides figbtirg and
defeating the enemy during its progress, within the short
period of fifty hours. The cavalry and artillery reached
camp this morning.—l have the honour to be, &c.,
J. OUTRAM, Lieutenant-General,
Commanding Expeditionary Force.
Total Killed—Europeans, 8 ; Natives, 7.
Total Wounded—Europeans, 31 ; Natives, 31.
Grand Total—Killed, 10 ; wounded, 0.2-72.
Died of Wounds since the Action-3 Europeans at 4
3 Natives.
M. Srovem., Superintending Surgeon.
The name of the officer killed is Lieuienant A. C.
Frankland, of the 2nd European Regiment and
Acting Brigade Major of Cavalry, Field Force.
Among the officers wounded were Captain J. Forbes,
:3rd Light Cavalry, ball through right thigh severely ;
Captain 11. Mockler, Her Majesty's 64th Regiment,
contusion of calf of right leg front a round-shot ;
Lieuten ant J. Greentree, Her Majesty's 64th Regi-
ment, seriously, by a round shot, which caused loss
of left foot; Ensign Wooicock, 2nd European Regi-
ment Light Infantry, slightly, gunshot, left shin ;
and Assistant-Surgeon J. M. Barnett, 26th Regi-
ment Native Infrantry, slightly, by spent ball, right
arm. This brilliant affair was to be followed up by
another expedition te Mohammerch, at the mouth of
the Karun, where a strong Persian force is collected.
It is hoped, however, that intelligence of the conclu-
sion of peace will arrive in time to prevent any fur-
ther effusion of blood. A letter from the camp of the
18th February says :
I understand that Soojah 001-lloolk has been disgraced,
and that an army of 30.000 men is being collected just
below the mountain passes. Nothing would be more oppor-
tune than the descent of this army into the plains, since
there can be little doubt but that our troops would give
them a severe handling, and thereby open a more easy
transit through the passes. A messenger who has just
reached Bushire states that tire banks of the river near
Dalike were strewed with hundreds of the wounded from
the battle below Borazgsum, but which, having occurred
nearer to the village of Kushab, may with more propriety
be called the Battle of Kushab.