The Press.
London, England, 1858-04-03 00:00:00

BRIGADIER A. HOPZ, LIEI

93RD mon-

'ANDERS, COMMANDING 3RD BRIGADE OF INFANTRY, TO
THE CHIEF OF THE STAFF.
Camp near Futtehghnr, Jan. 20, 18.59.
Sir,—l have the honour to report that, in accordance
with the commander in-chiel's orders, communicated by
you, I marched from this camp (leaving the tenth standing)
on the 26th instant, at 11 p.m., with the troops noted
(2 squadrons of 9th Lancers, 200 Hodson's Horse, 1 troop
Bengal Horse Artillery, field battery Bengal Artillery,
4 guns, 42nd Royal Highlanders, 33rd Regiment, 4th
Punjaub Rifles), and hailing for three boars short of the
village of Kooshinabad, proceeded at daylight on the 27th
towards Shumsbabad.

A thick fog compelled us to move cautiously, and it was
nine o'clock before the column closed up under cover of
the village of Shumahabad.
The rebels, in considerable force, had taken post about
three•gnarters of a mile beyond that place. They occupied
a commanding knoll on the edge of the plateau over•
looking the plain, which stretches towards the river some
sit miles distant. On the knoll was a brick building, the
shrine of a Muasulman saint, and the place was surrounded
by the remains of an old intrenchment, upon which they
had raised a sandbag battery. Their front was defended
by a mine (impassable for cavalry or guns) which runs
at right angles across the road to Mhow, along which we
moved, and to the right of which their position was.
As the head of our column emerged from the village the
fog cleared off, and some cavalry outposts of the enemy
having been driven in, we moved over some broken ground
towards their camp, now distinctly risible. They imme-
diately opened upon us a well•d rested fire of round shot,
by which Lieutenant M'Dowell, of Hodson's Horse, a
most active officer, was mortally wounded.

Captain Remmington then led his troop of Horse
Artillery at a gallop across the bridge where the road
crosses the ravine, and, supported by Captain Hodson's
Irregular Horse, wheeled to the right and opened fire on
the flank of the enemy's camp. The rebel sowers made a
daring attempt to outflank and cot off these guns, but were
very boldly met by Captain Hodson, afterwards supported
by the 9th Lancers under Captain Steel ; and in the charge
which ensued were driven over the steep bank into the
plain below.

Meanwhile Captain Blunt brought his guns into action
in an excellent position on the right bank of the ravine,
arid the line of infantry was formed on the right, consist.
ing of the 4th Punjaub Rifles, under Captain Wyld ; the
42nd Royal Highlanders, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Cameron, being on the ext•eme right ; the 51rd Regiment,
under Major English. being in second line.

The enemy were unable to withstand the admirable fire
of our guns, and I ordered the infantry, who had been
screened in n hollow of the ground, to advance ; end soon
after, seeing the camp nearly abandoned, the 4th Punjaub
Rifles were directed to secure it, which they did in a very
spirited manner, shooting down many of the retreating
enemy.
- - - - - - -

A gallant charge of the 42nd, and a rush of cavalry
and horsa artillery at the retreating masses, com-
pleted their defeat. Brigadier Hope believes the
enemy's force to have consisted of two regiments
from Bareilly, the Pathans of Mhow, Shumshabad,
Kaimgunge, dcc., and a good many of the armed
rabble collected by the hope of plunder. He esti•
mates their loss at 300 men, including two or three
of their chiefs. Our loss consists of 1 European
officer, 5 rank and fi!e, and 3 horses, killed ; 2 Euro-
pean officers, 15 rank and file, and 6 horses, severely
wounded ; 3 European officers, 19 rank and file, and
2 horses, slightly wounded ; 8 rank and Ale missing.