The Express.
London, England, 1857-10-26 00:00:00

(Stamped ld. Additicaal.) [TWOPENCE.

LETTERS FROM INDIA.

THE BATTLE OF NUJUFORUR.

The best account we have seen of this gallant
affair is in the following letter from a young officer
who had a part in it, to a friend in York :
Camp before Delhi, August 27.
On the evening of the 24th inatant, just as I was about
to write to you, orders came that our brigade, under
Brigadier-General Niehaus, was to march at daybreak next
morning—the object being to cut up • party of several
thousands of the sexy, with an immense body of cavalry and
16 guns. They were said to be 17 mile. out tram our camp,
towards Rhotuck, on the 25th, on their way to cut off our
siege train ooming from Kurile!. I had just time to Sze off a
newspaper to you, make my arrangements and turn into
bed, knowing that I bad • hard day before me on the morrow.
Off we started at 3 a.m., our form being as follows:-1st
Fusiliers, 3.50 strong; her Ilsjesty's Glat, 360 strong ; two
@quadri:mot her Majesty'■ 9th Lancers, and some hone artil-
lery, with 16 field guns; our native troops were Coke's Men
400; Green's ditto, 600; and 400 native cavalry. We heal
30 elephants with us to carry the men when sick or tied.
Off we went acmes the country, by • bed native road,
having no other. There was great difficulty in getting oar
guns along, some places being under waist. luny galloped
through at • dash, bat leveret of the horses fail, and one all
but drowned in the water and soft sand ; the Wintry
had, in many places, to drag the guns across. On we went,
sticking at no difficulty. At three p.m. oar outriders came
galloping in, saying, " The enemy are drawn up In position
three miles ahead, waiting for you. They have some sixteen
or moreguns in position, and arc about 8,000 strong." Our
baggage was put into a safe place with a strong guard, and
on went the force to within ball a mils of the enemy, when
oalsomaced for action.

The reed is about 500 yards from the Beral, and is well co-
vered Gem the enemy in please by rising ground. On we went
pest the enemy's camp, end were halted and drawn up fur
beetle on thls aide of the rising ground opposite the Seral.
Here my regiment and the 61st advanced, and laid down In
Ilse behind the ridge ; the horse artillery ran up before us,
end blared away at the guns in the Semi for some titue—ell
their guns firing round shot, shell, &e., at na. After our
guns bad given them • few rounds, the General said, " Stand
up," and addreseei toss follows " Now 61st end Ist Fusi-
liers, prepare to charge the Para, and take the guns at the
point of the bayonet ; don't fire • shot until you are within a
few yards of them." Our guns then event sway to the flank.
Wo got " Fix bayonets, and trail arms, quick march ;" on we
went in • beautiful line at • Weedy pace. I commanded No,
2 company, and was slap In front of the guns, which gave
use volley just es we began our advance. On we went, and
we got within some 50 yards of them, when the men gave
• howl, sad on we dashed, and were slap in to them before
they had time to depress the guns. It was bayonet
to bayonet for • few momenta, but we eat them
up, and spiked their guns. The guns were ordered
to be spiked when taken, as the enemy were so strong,
and we feared • recapture. The rest of the enemy bolted out
of the other side of the Seral, and made for the amp. We
had wen few men killed in the charge, ea we got in before
they fired the grape. Lieutenant G—, filet, was bayoneted
by a Sepoy after cutting down two. N— shot the man that
did it. He had his hoiee shot under him, and I saw him
band to hand with a Sepoy, whom he polished off with his
sword. My company came right up to • howitzer loaded
with grape, and I put my hand on it; the fellows at it bolted
se we were rushing at it. On we went slier the brutes, sad
eat up • heap at the Saral and behind it. We then drew up
In line, rallied, and went at the camp, took it, sent • party to
take the
.village, sad then we went and took the guns at the
bridge, over which the enemy was bolting in thousands.
Here we took six guns more. Up came our guns, and blazed
away at the enemy, and off they went, leaving a host of
stores, &e., all along the road.
It was beginning to got dark, so we halted, and I went up to
the bridge, and held it with my company and No. 1, under
Captain C—, whilst the enemy drew up in line on the other
aide of the canal, and set to work tiring away at us on the
bridge, with grape, &c. Our guns came closer up, and mowed
them down, sad o—, of the engineers, came up to blow up
the bridge As we bad cut up heaps, boned their game, camp,
&c., and had a storming party still in the village in rear, the
destruction of the bridge was • grand thing. It was the
only one they had to get over by, sad we were ordered to find
it and destroy it; well, I "edited 0— in emptying the
tumbrils, and making a heap of powder on the bridge, which
was covered with Wipe, Art. A train was laid and we
fired it, hoping it might de, as it wee impartible to get •
working party just then, sad we wise under fire all the time.
They all left the bridge, but I went back by myself end looked
if it was broken. It was not, and the enemy were still on the
other side, so I took bayonets and spiked two of the gnus
close to the bridge. They were trying to get them over with
them when we first came up.

As I wee coming lack I met the General on foot, coming
up by himself to see if the bridge was broken. I
said, " I have just been up there, air ; what do you
want to know?" "Ls the bridge broken ? " he aid ;
so I told him no, end that the enemy were still on the
other side, but that I had spiked the two guns. He asked
mo my name, and said, '• Well done," my boy, end
asked me if I was any relation of Major E—, of the
Punjaub ? I then got a party of our men up, and he sent
0— with a working party, and ea the enemy bad all but shut
up their firing, holes woe dug, a proper train laid, and the
bridge was destroyed bodily as if one had never been there.
It was now all but dark; our men laid down for the night
en the ground, and a party est to work and blew up all the
enemy's camp, stores, ammunition, &c. ; it was going on all
night. I was so tired I laid down on a hide end fell ealeep.
Next morning the work of destruction was finished, and off
we marched with a lot of treasure, 6:c., and 13 guns, and
brought all safe into camp, slier a hard march, arriving at
the camp bridge just in the cool of the evening, when the
camp turned out to meet us, gave r " three times three,"
and played us in with some lively airs.
We have quite smashed the enemy's chance of getting at the
&retrain, end disabled him for taking the field. Thank God I
was not touched ; the gallant charge saved us from showers
of grape and canister. We were at than before the gunners
could set—niggers are m slow. The heaviest fire I weals
during the day was at the bridge ; they sent grape at us, and
one allot blew up one of the ammunition boxes on the bridge,
killing one man and wounding seven'. Considering what a
grand business it was our leas is rosily nothing. Captain 8.,
and Lieut. 0., and Dr. 1., and Lieut. E.—two former killed
and the latter, I fear, mortally wounded, some others slightly
hit, and about 100 men killed and wounded. The enemy
mode no stand till they got to the other aide of the canal,
and it was too dark, and we were too much done to
follow them up. and Nicholson kept hie cavalry in
band in carte of any sudden rush from the enemy. I law
plenty of roadies killed, but se they did not stand
there was no great elaughter, though 1 fancy our gyms
moat have killed a heap at the other side of the bridge, end
about 100 were killed in the village.
Whilst we were out the Delhi fellows came at our
amp; I hear 200 of them were killed. The siege
train will be here in a few days, when we shall run
up the guns end batter the place. There is a scarcity
of artillery Aker.. Volunteers from camp aro called
for —Addiecombe men. I have cent in my name, end
_ _

I expect to find myself an artillery offiocr in a few days. It
will be hard work pounding the plea, but I shall not have to
storm the city, which will, I fear, cost us 1,000 men. I hope
not, but randy fights well behind wide The poet to just
going off; more news next time. Adieu.

NOVA-SCOTIA GARDENS, DETIINAT.-GREEN.—The
notorious sits of Nova Bootia-gardens, in the parish of St.
Matthew, Bethnal-green, was formally taken possession of
by sheriff's writ, on Friday left, and orders given for Its
cocksure. A well-known benevolent lady bag purchased
the waste Owe. An architect is about to prepare plans for
the erection of suitable dwellings for the surrounding popu-
lation, which will pomese an arreagenteat somewhat similar
to that adopted at the Victoria Lodging-house for Soldier.,
in Pimlico. Doubticsa, when the building' are finished and
occupied, some of the many rich sad benevolent, who will be
tempted to visit them by their benevolent founder, may be
induced to follow her Mips to do dens of the wretched and
poverty-stricken, end land their aid in the recome7 of other
viols Onms.—The "Weld?.
ORWELL ?ALSO& ws• Oers Bllituro DAY.—
fixivinAT OCT. 9.4.—disakefews OD payment, 2,029; ditto
by Nam Ili* No; 1.1.1. 1,4109.