The Express.
London, England, 1858-10-04 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA.

we have received, b special empress, our letters
end papers by the Overland Mad via Marseilles.
The dates are Bombay, Sept. 9; Calcutta, Aug.
11; Meg Yong, August 11.

(PROM Ova !SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)
BOMBAY, Barr. 9.

As has been well said in the columns of a local
journal here, the pursuit of the rebels throughout
Eajpootana, Central India, and Behar, is nothing
tows than a battue on a grand scale, not unlike that
which took place once before her Majesty Queen
Victoria at Cobourg, or those which are known in
India as grand sAilcars for wild pig. In the latter
case the difficulty is to get the beasts out of their
jangle, and make them by that means a prey to
the lances of the hunters. That difficulty being
overcome, there is a run on the fugitive, who is
assailed vigorously, and who either escapee by
doubling or is killed after showing more or less fight.
The grand hunts of Rajpootana and Central
India have given a few good runs ; but the game has
been generally shy and hard to head. Roberta's
force, for %Maass, has returned to Nursers-
bad, after a aeries of labyrinthine pursuits almost
unparalleled since the Peishwa fled from Poona
forty-five or six years ago. The rebels, after a series
of attempts to proceed northwards towards Jeypoori
at length were driven down west of Tonk and on
to the spurs of the Morelli range, the lower crests
of which ran into the Meywar Valley, near Oodey-
poor. Headed near the Chatterbhooj Pass by the
gremedien from Gmerat, and other troops hastily
assembled, the rebels turned again and made for
the Chambal, between Neemuch and Mhow.
Roberts's force, however, was at their heels, and
before they could make good their escape they were
met at Nathdwara. How Roberts got so near them
is a wonder. He left Nasseembad early In the first
days of August, and on the 4th reached Champaneer.
The rebels were then flying on there'd to Neemuchi
and they were caught up midway between the two
places at Sauer. Darkness was coming on when
they were men disposed in three columns, and very
numerous, supported by large bodies of cavalry and
the four bran pins recently captured at Took,
and separated from our force by • broad
stream. They were immediately attacked with
the whole of the force then at the gene-
ral's disposal, namely, three guns (Brown's bat-
tery), her Majesty's 83rd, • wing of the 13th Bombay
Native Infantry, and a company of Native Sappers.
The attack was well directed. Two companies of
the 83rd, tioder Major Austen, mooted the river sad
ossapied • village oa the enemy's right, whilst the
Erin body of our force crossed directly in front;
seder the protection of Brown's gam. The enemy
made no stand, but as usual ran, and under cover
of the darkness made their escape, with a toes of
about 60 men only. Holmes' brigade, with the
cavalry, being absent, no pursuit could then be
organised, and the troops encamped for the night.
Oa the 9th a halt was made to enable Major Holmes
to jets, and this desirable object having been
attained, the whole force moved off on the 10th, sad
made breed marches daily till they reached the
neighbourhood of %mares, about 30 miles from
Oodeypers. The enemy, es will be seen by this
movement, had left the Neemuch road, and were in
hill eight towards Guaira. Whether they had any
serious intention of entering that country it is diffi-
cult to say. I doubt it, and cannot conceive
their engaging themselves amongst a population
which is • total stranger to that of Central
India. They got, however, to the mouth
of the Chatterbhooj pass, and there found
their advance westward impedrd. They turned
just as Roberts's force reached Nathdwara, and en-
camped at Bowes, six miles distant, where they
were attacked on the morning of the 14th of August-
Here again they had all the advantage of good posi-
tions, They had the Banes, river before them, and
high ground of a precipitous character to hold to.
But they made no use of these advantages. Whilst
oar artillery unlimbered to the front, and thundered
at them across the stream, the infantry was led over,
and took them in flank. The Bth Hussars and
Lancers supporting the Hone Artillery charged into
the midst of them, and a headlong pursuit ensued,
during which the four brass gam from Tonk were
, taken, five or six hundred men killed, and the rest
, dispersed, with the lass on our side of the sergeant-
major of the Bth Halms and a sepoy of the 12th
Native Infantry killed and 16 wounded. The
Museum under Tantia Topea's charge was not taken,
as the rebels took oars to send it away before the
action in charge of 1,200 men. The total loss of the
enemy is estimated at 1,000 men. It was toeless for
General Roberts to follow. He knew that the
Chumbul was watched, and he left the care of farther
pursuit to the Mhow and Neemuch columns, return.
ing leisurely back to Nusseerabad, where he now
Colonel Smith's brigade, you will remember, had
been some time before Powrie, and had endeavoured
to obtain a surrender from Mann Slog. The latter,
however, would not aooept the tonne oared to
and it became apparently necessary to Menge his
stronghold, and take it by reeler appetising. llbe.
this a siege train was necemery ; and, aseeedegly.
gnus of heavy metal were sent from Owalice, with
the force under Brigadier-General Napier. This
addition to Smith's brigade, consisting of 100 of her
Melastyls Sikh, SOO of the 26th Bombay Native In-
lientry, some of Mead's Horse, three field gym, and
ISM foot artißminsmi engineers, made the force at
Pewrie tones* peeing. Still it was not soli-
isiently nameews to enable the generals to surround
the place; and whilst batteries were being erected
en one aide, • difficult piece of ground on the other,
intersected by deep ravines and covered with heavy
jungle, remained open for the retreat of the enemy.
On the 20th of August the whole force took up a
concentrated position near the fort ; mortars were
placed in positioe, and a vigorous shelling was
kept up on the works. A breaching battery was
likewise commenced within 3100 yards of the wails,
the 93th,with their Beholds, keeping op &galling firs
at 400 yards on the besieged wherever they showed
themselves. The enemy replied actively enough
with musketry and round shot, but with uncertain
aim, and Captain Fisher, of the 93th. was shot
through the body, but not mortally. The breaching
battery was complete on the morning of the 22nd,
bat became useless, for in the night the rebels had
fled through the ravines and juogle, taking
ilt!
them two guns. Colonel Smith's brigade
diately started in pursuit, when it was known that
the rebels had fled S.W. to Hajghar, half way
between Indere and Pawls,. Atter a march of 22
mike through thick jungle during the day the form
came up with the enemy's encamping, which had
just been evacuated. Their retreat had been so pro-
agitate that the two guns were a sad w
hand by Brigadier Smith in • tent Ism,
amble to track tee fugitives through an
huskies._ jungle, returned to Powrie on the fleadic
General Napier, however, not despairing of eat
ism of the rebel*, sent out another force, sew
=part of the 10th and 25th Bombay Native
try, 200 European infantry of the 88th sad