The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-22 00:00:00

14. Pi STr NT,'

(mosque), and our gunners consequently kept playing
at it. The sound is described as having been tremendous,
and the appearance of the vast column of ruin as awiul
in the extreme."
In a second postscript our correspondent: adds,—
The deferred wail to which I alluded is my prece-
ding advice has been further put off from mil-day to
three o'clock tormorrow morning (the 20th), nearly at
at which time I address you these lines. By late adviccs
we learn that Moolraj had prepared to treat, and that Ge-
neral Whish had given him only the option of unconditional
surrender. The Bombay Government, on the strength
of this information, further deferred the mail during the
last fourteen hours; but, if any intelligence has been re-
ceived during the course of to-night as to the submission
of Moolraj, it has not been disclosed.
" A council assembled this afternoon, having refer-
ence, it is understood, to the rumour already -noticed,
that some body or other of the Affghans might invade
Sinde. The Council, I believe, determined that there
was nothing to fear in the event of such an occurrence,
and, if so, I consider that the honourable body have
judged wisely, considering that, were wall disorganized
invaders to take the step in question, they would to a
certainty be cut off. You will not, however, be the less
gild to hear that more troops are, it is said, to be sent to
Sinde."

LONDON,

attack which was to ;lave taken place on the city has
bcen postponed tor sonic reason. . .

"2'p...:d.—No attack to-day; a trarriendcus fire with

shot and live shell has blown-a
partial breach in the fort
walls. The fire in the granaries is still raging, and the
blaze very much increased. The beautiful mosques,
tombs, and trees, are very much damaged by the
enemy's fire; they will furnish memorials of the hot con-
test for a century at least.

"5 p.m—Our breach is fast increasing in size; the
very perfection of artillery practice has made short work
(it the massive rampart; the officers have laboured like
horses to accomplish the work in the shortest possible
time. I have just heard that the explosion of their ma-
gazine killed a great number of their troops; no less
than 300 were engaged in snaking cartridges on the
roof of it. The reliefs have just taken place, and some
more heavy guns are going into battery. To our great
surprise the enemy have opened a heavy cannonade on
them; we thought that nearly all their guns were si-
lenced. The garrison have sworn to die at their posts,
and up to the present time evince every disposition to do
so, end the loss of life on both sides will be great."
A furious cannonade was kept up during the night of
the Ist, and on the second the long-expected orders were
issued to our troops to mount the breach—Colonel
Franks, with 1,000 men, to make an attack on the fort
side, and the Bombay and Ferozepore troops to conduct
assault elsewhere. We here transcribe two or three of
the accounts which have been received describing the
operations in the taking of the town.
The following are from a Delhi Gazelle extra:—
" Camp, Moultan, Jan. 2, 6 P.M.
" Herewith are a few hasty lines to tell you that the
town of Moultan is in our possession, with six regiments
and four guns in occupation. Wheeler's cavalry may be
seen scouring the country, cutting down the routed sol-
diery of Moolraj; except an occasional shell, all appears
perfectly quiet.
" The Bengal force engaged consisted of her Majesty's
32d, the 49th, and 72d Native Infantry. A stubborn
resistance was made at one of the gates (Delhi), and,
the breach being found impracticable, the force moved
off to the other one, and soon effected an entrance. Our
loss, I am told, his small. Lieutenant Garforth, Engi-
neers, is supposed to be mortally wounded, and I hear
another officer of the same branch is slightly so; some
sharp encounters between the sword and bayonet took
place.
" 6 P.M.-I have just heard that the loss of her Ma-
jesty's 32d is two men killed and ten wounded. Lieut.
Taylor is the other officer wounded, shot through the
arm. Moolraj is firing an occasional random shot, but I
do not, think he can hurt our troops, sheltered as they
are by the streets."

We take the following summary of the events at
Moultan from the Bombay Telegraph :
" On the 24th orders were issued to the various troops
to take up their p ,sition in front of the town, and by the
evening of Christmas-day these instructions were obeyed
—the Bengalese taking up a position a little in rear 0:
the place they had before occupied, and the Bombay
troops occupying the spot previously held by the allied
forces under Major Edwardes, Lieutenant Lake, and
General Cortlaudt. On the arrival of the Bombay co-
lumn General Whish had requested the opinion of Major
Scott of the Engineers as to the best mode of operating
against the place, and had been recommended by that
officer to attack the north-east angle in regular form.
Colonel Cheape, however, of the Bengal Engineers,
considered that the suburbs and town should
be first gained possession of, and General Whish
concurring with him in opinion the posts we
have indicated were assigned to the troops. The
first object being to drive the enemy out of the
suburbs, and occupy those localities, in order the more
effectually to attack the town, orders were issued on the
morning of the 27th of December for the formation of
four attacking columns, two to consist of Bengal and
two of Bambay regiments. The former were placed
respectively under the command of Colonel Franks, of
her Majesty's 10th Foot, and Colonel Nash, of the
72d Bengal Native Infantry. Of the latter, one was
under Brigadier Dundas, and consisted of 500 of the
Is Bombay Europeans (Fusiliers), the 4th Rifles,
Turnbull's Battery of 9-pounders, and two squadrons of
horse. The other was under Brigadier Capon, and was
composed of 500 of the 6th Rifles, the whole of the 3d
Regiment Native Infantry, one 9.pounder battery
(Bailey's), and two squadrons of horse. "The whole,"
says the Delhi Gazette, whose version we now follow,
" were under arms between ten and eleven o'clock in
the morning, and moved simultaneously from
their respective ground about one o'clock, a
wing of the Bth Regiment of Native Infantry, and three
companies of her Majesty's 10th Foot, forming a re-
serve, another wing of the Bth, with the 49th and 51st
Regiments of Native Infantry, remaining in the Bengal
camp for its protection; similar precautions being no
doubt adopted in that of the Bombay army, of which,
however, we have no information. The division of Co-
lonel Franks, consisting of a portion of his two regi-
ments, the 52d Regiment of Native Infantry, and other
troops not specified, was directed to move to the right,
and make for the brick-kiln facing the eastern angle of
the fort; the second division, under Colonel Nash, con-
sisting of three companies of her Majesty's 32d Foot.
six ditto of the 72d Native Infantry, and four guns of
Captain Anderson's troop of Horse Artillery, supported
by two 18-pounder howitzers from the Foot Artillery,
to march direct on the Ava Mundee facing the Khoonee
bastion; the 3d or right Bombay column to advance
generally in the same direction, and the 4th to move pa-
rallel to the 3d, on the suburbs nearly south-west of
the town. The whole of the four attacks were quite
successful, and especially that directed on the
Ava Mundee. One letter mentions that the men of
Colonel Franks' division pushed further than was
intended, and so suffered a greater loss from the fire
of the fort than might otherwise have been
sustained, but the advantageous position they secured
within the suburbs, and only 250 yards from the
fort, where trenches were immediately commenced,
amply repaid the impetuosity of the troops. The 2d
division moved direct on on the mound (Ava Mundee),
and were met, for half an hour, by a fire from trenches
and buildings some 300 or 400 yards to their front, the
fort guns at the same time playing over them; but owing
to the column being comparatively so close to the walls,
and within the range of the guns, these did little or no
danger. The fire, however, was becoming disagreeably
hot, when the approach of the right Bombay column,
threatening to turn the right flank of the enemy, Induced
him to beat a precipitate retreat, that presently assumed
the appearance of a rapid flight, grape from the heavy
and horse artillery guns adding wings to their speed.
The Ava Mundee was immediately taken possession of
by the Bombay troops, who placed some light guns on
its summit, and opened at once on the town. The whole
of the suburbs to the right and left were speedily occu-
pied by British riflemen, and supports from camp
rapidly moved up, arrangements being at the same
time made for placing a heavy battcnty on the spot, which
it was understood would be ready by the evening of the
28th, and open its fire on the town wall, the object in
view being to obtain possession of the town as soon as
possible, and thence batter the citadel, as well as from
the position occupied by Colonel Franks, where a mor-
tar battery had already opened its fire during the 28th.
While the British troops were thus engaged to the south-
west, south, north-east, and east of the town and fort,
and forces of the allies under Major Edwardes and Lieu-
tenant Lake moved into position on the west and north-
west, and opened a fire on the walls of the town with
the view more of creating a diversion, we presume, than
that of securing a substantial advantage. These troops
were, on the evening of the 27th of December, in the
same position as that occupied by Raja Shere Singh
previous to his treacherous junction with Dewan Moo!.
raj on the 14th of September. The loss on our side
is thought not to have been so severe as might have
been expected."
Having gained the suburbs arrangements were now
made for holding the posts which had been taken, and
to this end guns were placed in position and reinforce-
ments brought up from the rear. At first the British
had so few men available to secure the advantages they
had attained, that the enemy actually succeeded in driv-
ing them once out of the grove in front of the Blue
Mosque, and even came down upon that edifice itself.
During the night the grove was re-occupied, trenches
thrown up, and covered communications opened with a
chain of posts. The Bombay troops erected a mortar
battery, and commenced siege operations, and the Bengal
regiments followed their example towards morning. On
the 28th the Dewan opened a furious fire on the British
batteries, without, however, doing much mischief in re •
turn for the damage sustained from the splendid practice
of our artillery. Frequently he fired grape, made of stone
or " baked mud," and occasionally he discharged a few
red hot balls. Some large brass or composition shells
were also exploded over the heads of our troops.
By the 29th the rest of our mortars were got up; our
heavy guns were placed in position, and so close had our
troops arrived to the city walls that we were breaching
them at 80 yards distance. Moolraj's fire slackened, and
he appeared badly off for artillerymen. In the evening
at dusk the reliefs took place, and at the same time two
24-pounders and two heavy howitzers were, with some
difficulty, dragged into battery. The new invention,
gun-cotton was used, from the commencement, by the
Bombay portion of the beseiging force with much utility
and efficiency. Information arrived that the most awful
destruction had been occasioned in the town by our shell
and shot practice, a granary in the tort had also been set
fire to and burned, and some small magazines ex-
ploded. All night our batteries continued to play on the
enemy, and early on the morning of the 30th our great
guns opened their fire, but slowly at first, on the bat-
terms and ramparts of the town and fort.
One of the grandest and most awful occurrences of the

" Camp, Moultan, Jan. 3.
"I send you forthwith a few important addenda to the
glorious news of yesterday. It appears that the Bengal
column, on reaching the point of attack at the Delhi
gate, found it totally impracticable. A drop of several
feet would be an insuperable barrier to our advance.
Here it was that our principal loss was sustained, and
Captain Smyth, commanding the Grenadier Company of
her Majesty's 32d, was slightly wounded. The column
then had to retire, and follow in the footsteps of the
more fortunate Ducks, who by that time had penetrated
the city. They may, however, thank us for so good an
entrance, as I believe our artillery opened it, and theirs
acted for us, vice versa. The Adjutant and another officer
of the Bombay Fusiliers, I hear, are killed, and another
officer severely wounded. That corps first planted its
colours on an eminence, and it was done by their brave
Sergeant-Major. Hundreds of fugitives might be seen at
dusk moving across the plain, which is so much intersected
with deep cuts and canals that large bodies of them have
,scaped in the direction of Sirdarpore; one large body of
not less than 1,000 marched off very compactly; they
were soon seen, but the cavalry could not get their four
guns across a deep canal, and they consequently escaped;
ieveral men have been taken prisoners, their arms being
all taken from them during their retreat. A French-
man gave himself up in the afternoon; the fact of itself
betrays another direct violation of the treaty. The
Jemadar of a Ghoorka battalion has given himself up.
That villain Hindoo Singh, who cut down Agnew with
his own hand, is killed; so is Sham Singh, and many
more Singhs too numerous to mention. During the
eight all our cavalry were scouring the country far and
near, as a report had got abroad of Moolraj having at
last bolted; need I tell you that it is not the case?—he
is still determined to die in his fortress. This morning
the plunder is being collected; as yet the live stock only
aro being brought in-25 elephants and numerous horses,
Sze.; 14 guns have been taken, and a vast supply of
grain and supplies. It is said that the grain destroyed
by the great fire was worth 5 lacs of rupees. This was
a serious deduction from our prize property; all the
Dewan's valuables, too, must have been destroyed
by that explosion. During the night there was
one; it is said to have been a mine. From
all I can gather of its effect it would appear that
some of our Bombay troops have suffered. There
aro many similar traps laid for us, we may be sure.
the most certain of which is in the fort ; our shells have
not yet been able to touch it, though a spy has pointed
out the situation of the magazine. At daybreak this
morning we re-opened a heavy cannonade, during which
Colonel Young, who is down there in command of three
companies of her Majesty's 10th Regiment, seeing a
favourable moment, dashed at the only gate left in the
hands of the enemy (I think it is the Dowlut gate), and
took it immediately. The thick smoke of the powder-
, bags employed to burst it opan was at first attributed by
those in camp to another mine, but I have ascertained
the above to have been the cause.

"10 A.M.—Our heavy guns are playing away at in-
tervals. The Mahajuns have offered 15 603 of rupees
to save their property in the city ; but I believe their
offer has been rejected.
"1 P.M.—The taking of that Dowlut gate was a
very dashing affair ; our men scrambled over with
ropes, and charged helter-skelter in the narrow passage
at the enemy, many of whom they disarmed. A good
view of the ditch was obtained ; it is about twenty-four
feet deep. It is certain ►,hat the garrison can depress
the muzzles of their guns into it, for on the party at-
tempting to explore further, same wooden palings were
withdrawn, a gun run out, and a charge of grape fired
at our men; fortunately no one was hit. Lieutenant
Maunsell is the engineer officer who led the party, and
by judicious advice induced the coup de main. Some of
the prisoners were very communicative, and told us that
the llewan was sitting within all forlorn, and that every
hour desertions were taking place. So quiet, indeed, had
the fort become, that it was supposed by our men to
be evacuated; and the shower of grape alone disabused
them."

The annexed interesting communication is from our
ordinary issue of Tuesday:--

Moultan, Jan. 3, Three P.M.

" According to plan and intention the city of Moultan
was taken by storm yesterday about half-past three
o'clock P.M. Our troops, both Europeans and natives,
Bengal and Bombay, behaved most gallantly, carrying
everything before them at the point of the bayonet, un-
der a most galling fire of musketry and cannon from the
Seikhs, who had ensconced themselves in the rear of the
breaches. Our loss, as far as yet ascertained, is com-
paratively small—far,- less than what it was appre-
hended it would be; that of the enemy is said to
be immense, and the streets are reported to be literally
choked with the killed; the greater portion of these
must hare been destroyed by our shell, shrapnel, &c.,

siege now took place—the blowing up of the principal
magazine in the fort of Moultan. The explosion was so
terrific—and the general effect, from the fall of rubbish,

boughs of trees, so startling—that at first it was
thought the place had been visited by an earthquake. For
a shurt time the huge column of dust which was thrown

up some 200 yards in height rendered the fort and sur
rounding objects invisible; there was consequently a
brief pause in the firing; but as soon as the smoke and

dust cleared away the fire was resumed at hotly as ever.
The artilleryman who levelled the mortar that produced
the explosion was at once presented by General Whish
with three gold mohurs, and an additional sum of five
gold mohurs was also given to the company he belonged
to. It is said some of Moolraj's family, with many other
persons, were hurled into the air at the time the maga-
zine exploded; also that the Dewan himself received a
wound. This last report, however, does not seem to
have been true. Our guns were now directed to the sup •
posed positions of Moolraj's remaining magazines, but
without avail, as no further explosions took place. It
became evident that great devastation had been caused
by our incessant fire; as broken masses of masonry,
heaps of brickwork, and crumbling walls could be seen
by looking through a telescope, while the principal bas-
tions appeared riddled by our 241 b. shot.
A breach at the " Delhi gate," on the north-east side
of the city, had by this time been effected, and on the
morning of the 31st, arrangements were made for an
attack at this point; these, however, were afterwards
countermanded, the breach not being considered prac-
ticable. Meanwhile great numbers of fugitives made
their escape from the city; but the majority of them did
so only to fall into the hands of Bhawul Khan's horse-
men. The firing at the breach from our heavy guns
continued; and another breach was reported to have
been made at the Bohur-gate. The Moultanees this day
made a sortie 1,000 strong by the south-west gate, and
attacked the allies. Colonel Sir H. Lawrence and Mr.
M'Mahon (a volunteer) beat them back with great
slaughter. About 1, P.M., a large fire was observed in
the fort, which the Seikhs seemed unable to extinguish;
it continued burning fiercely till the morning of the Ist
of January.
During the last night of the old year the enemy made
strenuous but ineffectual efforts to repair the breach.
The 60th Rifles got under cover of the wall, and
" knocked over " any one who happened to come in sight.
The following extracts from a letter written on New
Year's-day gives a good idea of the progress of the siege:
"9 A.M.—Several beautiful shots have just been fired;
the bastions and overhanging buildings are in a crumbling
state. Masses of brickwork and rafters cover the whole
surface of the fort. Poor Lieutenant Play fair, of the 52d
Native Infantry, died of his wound last night.
" 11 A.M.—Our great guns are now playing on the fort
wall at the bastion near the tomb of 13abawul auk. The

that were thrown into the city from the commencement
of the attack. Ad last night not a shot was heard,
which appeared to us something very strange, we having
become so accustomed to the firing and smell of powder.
Early this morning, however, Moolraj began again from
the fort, and of course was replied to by our batteries on
the right; ever since firing of all sorts has been inces-
sant. Moolraj is in the fort, which, though awfully bat-
tered, still holds out. It was thought it would bo es-
caladed to-day, but appearances denote that no such at-
tempt will be made until some time to-morrow.
1,100 fighting men of all denominations compose the
total force which it is conjectured Moolraj has in
the fort. None of his guns have, it seems,
fallen into our hands, these being all in the
fort. Small arms, however, of every description
have been seized. Loot was abundant yesterday ;
horses, mules, and other cattle being the principal sort of
plunder. This, however, has been put a stop to, by the
General, who has directed the imprisonment of any one
seen pillaging. I have heard that certain Sowcars of
the city came in a body to our officers, and offered three
lacs of rupees if we would prevent the spoliation of their
property. This, of course would, under any circum-
stances, be guarded against. Eleven elephants were
brought into camp last night from Moolraj's stables ;
one of them is that which he took from General Whish's
camp some time ago. The general rumour in camp is,
that after leaving a portion of the Bombay troops at
Moulton, when it is taken in Coto, the remainder will ac-
company the Bengal colamn to Lahore, for service in
the field, under Lord Gough. The siege•train will be
returned to Sukkur. Elephants have gone to bring it
into camp from the battery •, the town having been
taken, it is no longer required there. I have not yet
had time to learn what officer led the storming parties ;
but this I am certain of, that the Europeans led the van;
they were foremost everywhere."

We subjoin the following from the Delhi Gazette :

MOULTAN.
" CAMP BEFORE MOULTAN, JAN. 4, 1849.—Nothing
of much importance has occurred during the past 24
hour?. Major Wheeler, with two squadrons of the 7th
Irregular Cavalry, is on duty in the city, exercising his
vocation of prize agent; it is said that upwards of 20
lacs' worth are already forthcoming, and every hour is
adding to the amount. At'some gates (especially at the
Khoonee Boorj) a strict surveillance is exercised, but at
others the watch must be rather lax, for I see Europeans
and Sepoys bringing in horses, cattle, property, &c., and
offering them forsale. There is a large open space near
the Dowlut Gate full of horses and mules, and there is
also a solitary elephant; but the balls are flying so
thickly that it is not safe to attempt abstracting them. A
European who had dared the heavy fire, add seized two
of the best horses, lost them both on his return, the same
cannon-shot knocked them both over! It is at present
rather dangerous to look at the fort; no sooner are our
heads visible than a dozen balls are fired at them.
We have thrown up a trench and breastwork near the
Dowlut Gate, so that the approach is rendered tole-
rably safe. Spies are about in all directions; one or
more Fakeers have been seized at each of the out-
posts, and one of them was co unfortunate as to be shot
while endeavouring to sneak upon the guard at the
above gate during the night. It was a very bold stroke
that seizure of the gate. When we consider that there
were but three companies of Europeans—that it was
strongly guarded and stoutly fortified—and that not a
man was wounded i❑ capturing it—we may justly say it
was a most gallant little affair. During the night an
occasional shell was thrown from the batteries of both
divisions, and this morning a heavy cannonade has been
kept up to the present hour (11 L.M.). After so much
labour and ammunition have been expended on the fort
walls opposite the blue mosque battery, I fear we shall
have to endure the disappointment of finding we cannot
obtain ingress by that way—such is the tenacity of the

TIFURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22, IMO:

stiff mud bank or wall behind the pucka work; the
shot and shell throw up clouds of dust, but have
otherwise very little effect, barring the disfigure-
ment of the works. I thinl: it will be found that
a large mine will be our di rnier ressort. Were my
poor opinion of any avail, it would be given in
favour of this radical mode of procedure; not the least
of its eMets would be the shaking from their founda-
tions—if nut to say the destruction—of all the temporary
screens, blinds, and stockades, which present themselves
in such grim array on a close inspection; besides, the
crumbling state of the works (induced by that enormous
explosion of the magazine) would further advantage the
overthrow, and assist our ingress—nous verrons. Last
night an intimation reached us that 500 mercenaries
(Rohillas) wished to come in and lay down their arms;
precautions were taken in the event of treachery being
intended; however, our friends were never seen, which
seems rather suspicious.
" Twelve, P.M.-Our batteries have been rather quiet
of late: an occasional shell is bestowed in exchange for
the Dewan's round shot.

" Three, P.31.-I have just been round the city. The
carnage, and other dreadful sights, are beyond all de-
scription. To-morrow I will do my best to give you a
slight inkling of the bloody scene. The utmost vigilance
appears now to be exercised regarding the prize pro-
perty. All camp-followers passing to and fro are
scorched. Yesterday a man was shot while endeavour-
ing to make offwith his booty. A rifleman was also
shot by a woman.—Yours." •
" I hear that mortar batteries are being erected.
When in full play the fort will be untenable for 24
hours."

to go off, 13 guns of different calibre and in good condi-
tion, which it may reasonably be presumed were intended
to be used against Lord Gough and his army.—Star,
Jan. 9.
THE GEORGE ARMSTONG.—The particulars of the loss
of this vessel by fire have reached Calcutta. She had
set sail on the morning of Friday last, at nine o'clock.
On her progress down the river, off the Fort Gloster
Mills, she slipped from her anchor and ran ashore. The
fire was caused by a spontaneous combustion of a quan-
tity of jute which formed part of her cargo. One hun-
dred bags of sugar was all that could be saved of the
whole of the cargo, which fortunately does not appear
to have been very valuable. The spare sails, the chro-
nometers, and the ship's boats, with some stores, were
saved also, and sent up to town in boats by the captain.
The crew, which consisted of English seamen, instead
of lending their assistance to save as much as possible
from the fire, were in a state of helpless intoxication,
having gained access to the liquor cask on board, and
indulged themselves. There were also 200 bags of salt-
petre in the vessel's bottom, and fears wero entertained
that they would explode. To prevent this the bottom of
the ship was scuttled.—Hurkniu, Jan. 9.

MOULTAN—DETAILS.
The intelligence from Moultan contained in our last
extended to the 18th December, at which date a portion
of the detachment under Mojor Hallett, consisting of the
3d Native Infantry and Turnbull's battery, had gone
down to the banks of the Raves to escort the Bombay
siege guns into camp. The train, consisting of thirty
pieces of ordnance of the largest size, had been sent from
Sukkur up the river in boats, and landed within seven
miles of General Whish's camp. A part of the column
under Colonel Dundas had crossed the Sutlej, fifty miles
from Moultan on the 15th ; the rest followed without
delay, and the whole joined head-quarters on the 21st.
The Bengal troops were not slow in examining the
condition and appointments of their newly-ar-
rived companions in arms, nor stinted in their
acknowledgments of the admiration . excited by
them. On Christmas morning 'the right brigade
of the Bengal cavalry and horse artillery moved to their
new position at Seetul-ke-Maree, the remainder of the
column followed a few hours afterwaids. The new camp
was fully occupied by sunset—the sappers and park in
the centre, the infantry on either side, the cavalry and
bore artillery on the extreme right. The order taken by
the Bombay was similar to that of the Bengal column,
the cavalry covering their left. The two were placed in
line on the 26th. Edwardes's troops moved some way
backwards to form a depot. They ultimately took up
the ground formerly occupied by Shere Singh and his
men just before their departure. The enemy were seen
to watch our movements carefully, and from the clouds
of dust observed to rise they were supposed to be moving
in force in the vicinity of their outworks. The Bengal
troops took up nearly the same line of ground that they
had occupied on the occasion of the former attack; the
Bombay column held the position formerly maintained
byiEdwardes, Lake, and Cortlandt. On the morning of the
27th orders were issued for th formation of four co-
lumns of attack. The whole were under arms by eleven
A.m., and moved out about one P.N. A wing of the Bth,
with the 49th and 51st, were left to protect the Bengal
camp; the other wing of the Bth, and three companies
of her Majesty's 10th Foot, formed the reserve. The
attack was opened by Edwardes and his levies, who at-
tacked the bridge at Sheesh Mehul, with a view of dis-
tracting the attention of the enemy. The first division,
under Colonel Young, consisted of a portion of her Ma •
jesty's 10th and the 52d Native Infantry. They moved
to the right, making for the brick-kiln facing the eastern
angle of the fort; this they captured with but little re-
sistance. Colonel Nash's column (the 2d) consisted of
three companies of her Majesty's 32d Foot, six of the
72d Native Infantry, with four horse artillery guns and
two 18-pounder howitzers. (They moved straight to the
attack of the suburbs on the right of the Mundee Ava
mound. facing the Khoonie bastion -of the, fort. The
60th Rifles having taken the mound, the column pushed
on through the suburbs, when Captain King, of the 32d,
with his company, succeeded in getting within a
hundred yards of the Delhi-gate, which post he held.
The Bombay column (3d), immediately under Colonel
Dundas, comsisted of five companies of.the Fusiliers and
four of the 4th Native Rifles, with Bailey's battery ;
while the left division, under Colonel Capon, consisted
of five companies of the 60th Rifles, five of the 3d Na-
tive Infantry, with Turnbull's battery. The whole force
pushed on at once. The column under Colonel Young
formed line under a building and some huge mounds of
earth near the Eedgah beyond Ram Teerut, and then
advanced steadily under a somewhat heavy cannonade
from the fort. Various• straggling posts having been
forced, they soon reached some large, unfinished
trenches, the occupants of which took to their heels.
they then swept past the mounds on which were some
newly-constructed batteries, but no guns, and so on to
the splendid mausoleum of Dewan Sawun Mull, the late
ruler and father of Moolraj. This post, which might
easily have been maintained against largo odds, had
seen left undefended, ands party of our troops took pos-
session of it without resistance, and were left in charge.
The blue mosque was next taken possession of; it was
found full of old men, mostly faqueers, and of women.
They were permitted to remain unharmed in the asylum
they had chosen. Some armed men, who were seen
making their escape from the shops and houses adjoining,
were pursued as far as safety allowed—some of the more
impetuous following them to the edge of the glacis. The
guns were now brought up, and a selection made of the
posts which had been taken. A clump of trees was for
time occupied by 30 or 40 men only, and the enemy
observing this made a dash at it and for a time were suc-
cessful; they then pushed on, and endeavoured to close
with our troops, when they were driven off by
a bayonet charge, and the garden re-occu-
pied The Bombay troops experiwnced but little
resistance until they approached some enclosures,
where a sharp fire assailed them and some
casualties occurred. Some of the Fusiliers engaged hand
to hand with the enemy, and the sword-cuts with which
the dead and wounded were gashed showed how close
and severe had been the encounter. They speedily got
a battery into play, while the infantry pushed on and
captured the enclosures, taking possession of a garden
which was well defended. The right meanwhile made
their way towards the mound of Mundee Ava, 600 yards
from the city, which they captured. The whole of the
columns were equally successful, and as evening closed
in we had everywhere approached close to the walls of
the town. Batteries were now commenced—one on the
right within four hundred yards of fort walls,
another on the Mundee Ave mound, a third Cinse to the

post occupied by Captain King, of the 32d, and a fourth
on the extreme left, about 100 yards from a large bastion
in the city wall. The following were the casualties up
to the evening of the 20th:—Killed—Major John Gor-
don, 60th rifles; Lieut. Younghttsband, 9th Bombay Na-
tive Infantry. Wounded—Lieut.-Colonel Nash, 72d
Native Infantry; Major Case, 32d Foot; Lieut. 11. A.
Playfair (since dead), 52d Native Infantry; Lieut. Hill,
Bombay Engineers; Capt.: Bailey, Bombay Artillery
(arm lost); Lieut. Baugh, 9th Bombay Native Infantry;
Lieut. N. W. Dyett, 3d Bombay Native Infantry,
Tightly; Ensign Napier, 3d Bombay Native Infantry;
Lieuts. Brooke, 60th Rifles, and Straubenzee' 32d Foot;
Lieut. Tyrwhitt, 51st Native Infantry; Lieut. Armstrong

and Ensigns Gillon and Macdougal, 72d Native 'data::
try. Her Majesty's 10th had three men killed and
fire or six wounded. The 52d Native Infantry two
or three killed and 17 wounded. The artillery at
Ram Teerut had one killed and seven wounded out of
12 men. The 4th Rifles had five killed and 18 missing,
of whom 13 were supposed killed, and the remaining five
were known to have been taken prisoners. The Fusiliers
had six killed and twenty wounded. The casualties in
the 3d Bombay Native Infantry are said to have been
twenty; in the 9th and 19th Native Infantry two each.
The troops bivouacked in the posts they had taken pos-
session of, and were relieved next morning. The Bengal
an i Bombay mortar batteries were both at work by

dawn. These and a few other batteries continued to
play on the town throughout the whole of the 28th. The
riflemen held the suburbs everywhere, and the day was
chiefly spent in relieving and re-posting troops, and
making arrangements for the attack of next day. To-
wards evening the vertical fire became tremendous.
During the night of the 28th we commenced shelling the
city and fort from the mound and extreme right battery,
firing a shell every ten minutes. On the 29th the 18-
pounders opened on the Delhi-gate, and next morning
the heavy guns were actually breaching within 80 yards
of the wall. A plan, combining the recommendations of
Colonel Cheape and Major Scott appeared to have been
adopted; the town, according to the suggestion of the
former, was attacked, and its walls breached, but with-
out any view to its being stormed. The attention of
Hooka) was desired to be distracted, and his guns to
be turned in this direction, until we should be enabled to
establish a heavy battery under the walls of the fort,
which would, it was expected, be in full operation before
he could move his artillery. The injury inflicted on the
enemy must have been severe; repeatedly was the town
seen to be on fire, end the masses of dust raised by the
shells showed how fatal our mortar practice must have
proved. Still the defence was most gallantly maintained;
the guns of the insurgents were most admirably directed;
their fire continued unslackened. After four hours'
firing from the whole of the four batteries, a tremendous
explosion occurred in the fort early in the forenoon,
which must have spread devastation on every side. The
grand magazine was supposed to have blown up; clouds
of dust and smoke rose above a thousand feet into the air.
and resembled the discharge of heavy ordnance close by.
Sir Henry Lawrence reached the camp on the 28th, and
the same day visited the different posts round the fort
and town, in company with General Whish and Major
Edwardes. During the whole of the 30th and 31st the
fire continued incessant, the batteries of the Bengal co-
lumn on the one side answering those of the Bombay
troops on the other. The walls were now tottering
everywhere, but still no signs of a breach such as could
be- attempted with hope of success. Moolraj's guns
slaekertet their fire for a little from time to time, but
continued to be worked with wonderful activity and per-
severance. The fire was, however, not very destructive.
On the 31st December, the enemy, still undaunted, made
a sortie from the city on the allied troops under Ed-
wardes; they were met by a detachment headed by
Colonel Sir H. Lawrence, and Mr. M‘Mahon, a volun-
teer, and driven back with heavy loss. About noon a
tremendous conflagration burst out in the fort; it
continued to rage all day with unabated fury, and when
night set in it lighted up the firmament and landscape
around. It proved to be the principal store of the be-
sieged;o 50,000/. of grain were afterwards unfdoellstod
and
The to have been destroyed, while vast quantities o
other combustibles added fury to the flames.
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artillery continued uninterrupted throughout the
day.
The most experienced officers admitted that
nothing could surpass in perfection the practice

of both armies. Shells were in the course of the
night thrown in threes end fours at a time; the epectecle
presented was indescribably awful. An attack haclt been
resolved upon for New Yeer's-day, but though the
breaches were fast widening as the day advanced, none
were considered practicable when night set in. An at-
tack was, however, ordered to be made next morning,
and a furious cannonade was maintained throughout the
night. Early on the morning of the 2d, accordingly, the
Bengal column, consisting of her Majesty's 32d, and the
49th and 72cl Native Infantry, advanced on the breach
near the Delhi 'gate, the Bombay troops pushing en for a
part where the wall had been knocked down on the oppo-
site tide. The former body on approaching experienced a
fierce and determined resistance, and found the entrance
impracticable, a large mass of wall remaining undo-
stroyed. They retraced their steps accordingly, and made
their way as speedily as possible to the other side of the
town, in hopes cf gaining admission: here they found
that the Bombay column had been able to enter. They,
too, had for a time been stoutly withstood, when they
forced their way at the bayonet's point—the Fusiliers
first planting their colours within the city. On this cc •
casion the following officers were wounded :—General
Staff—Captain T. Tapp severely; 60th Rifles—Major
M. G. Dennis; Ist Fusiliers—Captain R. W. 1). Leith,
severely; Lieutenants E. Dansey, \V. Gray, severely,
E. A. -Law, severely, and W. M. Mules; 3d Bombay
Native Infantry—Ensign Shaw; 4th Bombay Rifles
—Lieutenant T. S. Warden, severely; 19th Bom-
bay Native Infantry— Eusign Gordon ; Lieutenant
Garfortb, Bengal Engineers; and Lieutenant Taylor,
her Majesty's 32d Foot. A single gate, and a
part of the city, still remained in the hands of
the enemy. During the night a mine was
sprung on us, from which the Bombay troops
suffered severely. Next morning the cannonade was
renewed against the fort. At daybreak on the 3d,
Colonel Young, with three companies of her Majesty's
10th, made a dash at the Dowlut-gate. The men
scrambled over by the help of ropes, and charged the
enemy in the narrow streets and lanes. Their success
was complete. The total number of fighting men now
believed to be in the fort was considerably under 2,000.
The spoil from the town and neighbourhood now began
to be collected—anything like pillage was strictly pro-
' hibited. Some native bankers had offered 30,0001. for
the protection of their property. Some elephants, and
a large number of baggage-cattle were brought in. A
Frenchman who had been in the insurgent service sur-
rendered himself, and various other prisoners were vo-
luntarily placing themselves in our hands. Many fugi-
tives had escaped, the country being so intersected
by canals as to prevent pursuit. One body
of about 1,000 strong had marched off in order.
Our news extends to the evening of the 4th:
before the steamer leaves we shall most likely hear of
the capture of the fort, and be in possession of much
more full particulars than those we are now able to
give. We mentioned in our issue of the 17th of De-
cember that Narain Singh had on the Ist left Moultan
with a force of some 2,000 men and two guns, and taken
the route to the Salt Range by the river. He was at
first supposed to have been desired to move on Ruing
to raise supplies and make preparations for the retire-
ment of Moolraj and the garrison, expected to attempt
to escape when they felt themselves pressed. In our
last it was stated that Jacob'e Horse had on the 18th
been sent out to prevent their return with stores to
Nloultan; Emaum-ood-Deen, who had been sent out to
watch his movements, having foiled him in his pur-
poses. Conjecture on all points proved at fault : Mool-
raj and the garrison had determined to fight it out
to the last ; and Narain Singh and his troops having
no stomach for the fight, which could not but end in the
overthrow and destruction of the insurgents, chose to
withdraw while retirement was in their power. Emaum-
ood-Deen was successful in driving the Seiks from the
neighbourhood of Jhung, and compelling them to take
the direction of Shere Singh's camp. The Commander-
in-Chief having heard of their upward march, on the
31st of December. dispatched a detachment to intercept
him. It consisted of her Majesty's 9th Lancers, the sth
and Bth Light Cavalry, with two troops of Horse Artil-
lery (Duncan's and Fordyce's)—the whole commanded
by Brigadier White. The force had not been able to
learn anything of the object of their search, and returned
to camp on the evening of the 4th of January. Narain
Singh had before made overtures of service to General
Whish on terms we did not at the time care to accept of, and
ho is said to have made proposals to Lord Gough, which
are not likely to be closed with—the Seikhs having, most
probably, determined to be guided by circumstances.
Ho would most probably hear of the fall of Moultan by
the time our troops got near him, and finding that no
better could be done, he may, very probably, offer to
join us as an ally instead of meeting us as an enemy. It
must, at the same time, be remembered, that it has of
late but rarely happened that conjecture in reference to
Seikh purposes has been verified by fact. If Narain
Singh is really anxious to join the insurgents in the
field, it will be very difficult indeed in such a country
for any force of ours, however strong or well commanded,
to prevent him, when it is so easy to pass to the right or
left of us. Our latest letter from Lord Gough's camp
mentions the prevalence of a rumour that he had been
seized by Emaum-ood-Deen, and was a prisoner, in his
hands.

INVASION OF SINDE BY THE
AFFGHANS.

(From the Bombay Telegraph and Courier Extra.)
" Telegraph and Courier Office, Bombay, Jan. 19.
" Official information has been received of the advance
against the Sindo frontier of 12,000 Affghaus, with 14
guns, under Dost Mahomed's nephew and one of the Can-
dahar chiefs. They are said to have traversed the
Khajuck Pass, and to be now marching on Shirkarpore.
We know not how they will get through the Bolan;
which at this time of the year is covered with snow. An
extra council sits to-day, doubtless to consider the ne-
cessity of fresh reinforcements being sent to Sinde."