The Express.
London, England, 1858-02-15 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA.

(Fgow ouft SPECIAL CO]

CALCUTTA, Jas. 9.
Although the last fortnight has been less full of
stirring events than its immediate predecessors, it
has yet witnessed the performance of good work.
The Commander-in-Chief, with the Bth Foot,
23rd Fusiliers, 42nd Highlanders, 63rd, 64th,
82nd Foot, 93rd Highlanders, a regiment of
Punjasib Infantry, Remington's Hone Artillery,
Smith's battery Royal Artillery, the Naval Brigade
with six 24-pounders, two 8-inch howitzers, and.
eight mortars, the 9th Lancers, two regiments of
Sikh Cavalry, besides Sappers and Miners, advanced
towards Fettebgnrh on the 24th ult. He arrived at
Ohowbeepore, 18 miles distant, co the 25th, at Poore.
ea the 26th, at Urnowl, 40 miles from Cawnpore, on
the 27th. They found the country one sheet of culti-
eatim, although the villages were deserted. It was
limpactioe to send Sikh skirmishers in advance and
• She looks ; they had been very succeashil in
lidnolnigM priemere. As many of these as were
peeved to have been in arms against us were
tieteght to a drum-heed court-martial on the
*se, INA Veto at 'ad* &Owed at
salutary proceedings had been attended with the
beet passible effects. The rebels had at last began
to feel that we were in earnest, and desertions
from their ranks had been numerous. On the 29th
ult. the faros reached Jellalabad, • small village two
marches from Futtehgurh ; hare, for the first time,
an enemy made his appearance in the shape of •
large body of matehle,lt men with several guns.
No particulars of the affair have reached Cal-
cutta; it is only known that Sir Colin
Campbell instantly attacked the rebels, and
after a nominal resistance defeated them,
capturing eighteen guns and a large quantity of
small arms. On the following day he continued his
route to Futtehgurh, but on reaching the Kalee
Nuddee, about 15 miles this side of the Cantonment,
the suspension bridge was found to have been broken
down, and all the boats had been removed. A
working party was at once set to work to open com-
munication with the opposite bank. The necessary
repairs bad almost been completed when the rebels
came down upon our party in great force. Had
they attacked two or three hours earlier, they
might, from the nature of the ground on the other
side of the Salve, have caused us considerable annoy-
ance. Fortunately they delayed till the bridge was
traversable. No sooner did they open fire on the
working party than our troops, defiling over the re-
paired bridge, attacked them. To borrow a noble
and most just expression of Lord Ellenboroagh's,
" the lions were led by a lion," and in an incredibly
short space of time the rebels were put to flight, and
all their guns, eight in number, captured. Two of
them were 18-pounders. Our loss was comparatively
slight in numbers, but amongst the wounded appease
the name of Captain Henry Maxwell, ooe of the
wet scientific and distinguished officers of the Ben-
gal Artillery. This officer had lately returned to
India ; he had made the campaign of the Danube
with Omer Pacha, and had subsequently devoted
himself to a study of the French and German sys-
teme of warfare. He arrived in India in sufficient
time to marehto Lucknow with Sir can Campbell's
relining force ; for his services there he
was thanked by Captain Peel, to whose bri-
gade he was attached, in the presence of
the whole battery, and was likewise mentioned
lia Sir Colin Campbell's despatch. He returned with
dm may in time to rescue Gen. Windham from his
pares position, and 'subsequently moved on with
the Commander-in-Chiere force. He would be no
ordinary loss to his oountl7, and it is to be hoped
that his wounds, though severe, may yet be curable.
That same night the rebels abandoned Futtehgurh,
and, crossing the river, retired towards Lacknow,
leaving all their heavy guns in position. The light
field-pieces they managed to take away with them.
On the following morning Sir Colin occupied Fut-
tehgurb, and opened communications with Colonel
Seaton's force, the movements of which it is now
time to follow.
On the 13th of December a small force under
Colonel Farquhar, me rching to the 'south-
ward. from Bolundshnhur, arrived at Gaugheree,
a large village on the Kale. Nuddee, twenty-four
miles from Allygurh. The rebels, who were in great
force in the neighbourhood, hearing of their arrival,
and of the smallness of their 'umbels, resolved to
attack them on the following morning ; but
before their plans had been matured, Co-
lonel Seaton's force, consisting of three or four
thousand men, • large proportion of which were
cavalry, arrived at Gaugheree, on its way to
Futtchgurh. They had scarcely been encamped
two hours, when a large body of the enemy's cavalry,
unaware of the reinforcements which had come up
during the night, appeared in front of our camp and
prepared to attack it. Instantly the Carsbineers,
Hedson's Hone, and some Horse Artillery went at
thsm, and drove them off in confusion. A heavy firs
mu 'hetet immediately opened on our advancing
bens, from two six-pounders and a nine-pounder.
The Carabineera at once prepared to charge
them. As they advanced, three charges of grape
were poured into them at a hundred and fifty
yank, which told fearfully. Bet our gallant troops
were not to be daunted ; they pushed on, charged
bps, sabred the gunners, and seised the guns. The
enemy lost in killed alone between four and five
Imsdred. The Carabineers lost twenty-five horse,
Oa at seventy, and our other cavalry in a nearly
equal proportion. Our loss in men was twelve
Wiled and fifty wounded.
On the following day, Colonel Seaton punned his
march towards Futtehgurh; on the 18th he found
the enemy at Punish*, • town about 80 miles north-
west of Fattehgarh. When within three mike of
their position Colonel Seaton halted and formed his
line. The lions Artillery he placed on either flank,
the cavalry on the right and rear. He them ad-
ranted. As he came on, the enemy opened &eft=
a battery of twelve guns, which they had formed in
front of the town. Our artillery replied, and under
cover of their fire the infantry advanced. Bat the
enemy did not await the charge of the "thin red line."
Oar light guns suffieed to silence their artillery, and
then it was Darr* qui pout. Our Horse Artil
and cavalry dashed on with a cheer, and completed
the rout. 'heir guns, standing camp, ammunition
and supplies were all captured, and seven or eight
hundred men were killed. The rebels were on dd.
occasion commanded by Ahmed Yar Khan and
Mohson Ally, two Mahommedan &minders, wheel
the Nawab bad appointed Lietitenant-Governors of
the eastern and western districts of Futtehgurh. It is
almost needless to add, that they were the first to fly; one
of their subordinates, Hakindes, was not so fortunate.
He fell into the hands of our army, was tried se a
traitor, condemned, and shot. Our loss was almost
nominaL This victory opened the road to Fatteh-