The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-24 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

THE 14TH DRAGOONS.—We published yesterday
a letter from the Mofussilite, a Meerut cotemporary, de-
fending the conduct of the 14th Dragoons in the battle
of Chillianwallab. The brigade positively assert they
received the order, " Threes-about," when in line.
Now, cavalry officers assert that such an order was most
likely to cause confusion, particularly where so many as
four regiments were advancing in line. It is asserted
that the blame rests entirely on the officer commanding
the cavalry of the " right," and that there was no reserve
to fall back upon. Oece (say they),order a regiment to
retire in line, and you place the troop officers in rear,
and cause the greatest disorder, particularly in broken
or jungly ground. Had the Brigadier commanding re-
tired " by threes" from right of squadron, and formed
up in rear of his artillery, the latter might have been
Used with effect, and, if necessary, the cavalry brought
again to the front through the intervals by the same
Movement. We commend to our readers the plan of
the action of Soodoowalla, published by Mr. Wyld: the
troops are shown both on the line of march and in
action, and the manner they were handled does credit
to the distinguished officer who commanded. If Sir
Joseph Thack well had been in command of the cavalry
of the right, instead of the artillery and cavalry on the
extreme left, we venture to say we should have had to
congratulate the 14th on adding fresh laurels to those
they so gallantly won on various and far more trying
occasions. The officers entreat a searching inquiry, and
in justice it should be granted.—Chronicle.
The under- mentioned ships have been taken up for
the conveyance of the 75th Regiment to Calcutta, and
they are engaged to sail from Cork : —The Queen of
England on the 25th April; Baron of Renfrew, Ist May;
Mary, 2,1; Madagascar, sth; Duke of Argyle, sth; and
Nile, sth.
We regret to announce the death of Town• Major
White, which took place in this garrison this morning,
after a lingering illness, in which he was most attentively
watched by Mr. Rolph, surgeon of this place, as well as
the medical staff of the garrison. The deceased was a
Most gallant officer, and distinguished himself early in
the field. He entered the army in the Guards in the year
1791, and served chiefly in the field from the period of
the expedition to Flanders, under the late Duke of York
in 1793, until the end of the war in 1815; he was engaged
in upwards of 40 general actions with the enemy, was
wounded four times, and at Vittoria so severely as to
prevent his participating in the after victories of that
glorious campaign. At the time of his demise he had
Completed a period of actual service on full pay of 58
years, and yet the army rank of the brave old soldier
Was only that of Lieutenant! In the late war decoration
distribution, the gallant deceased received a medal with
six clasps as a reward for his distinguished bravery after
58 years' active employ in the service of his country, the
chief portion of it passed in the battle-field! He had
been Town-Major of this garrison upwards of 25 years.
lie leaves a widow and family, and a large circle of
friends to regret his loss. By his conduct in private life
as well as his known bravery, he endeared himself to all
'within the circle of his acquaintance. No man ever left
behind him a better name.
The depots of the sth, 20th, and 3d battalion of the
Eifie Brigade will be removed from Gosport and Tipner
on Tuesday to the Isle of Wight, and will be replaced
on the same day by the depots of the 36th, 56th, 69th,
and 76th Regiments. '
CHATHAM, MAnca 23.—A number of those men who
have been recently discharged from various home regi-
ments have re-enlisted in the depot in this garrison
forming the provisional battalion. The 24th have en-
listed 140; each of these men, with their bounty money,
&c., will cost the country between 71. and 81. per man.
The following detachments from Scotland arrived at the
Invalid depot, Fort Pitt, to he discharged on pensions,
Viz:-2 privates of the Ist Ro)als, from Aberdeen; 1
sergeant, 2 corporals, and 10 privates, of the 93d High-
landers, from Stirling; and 4 privates of the 21st 1 usi-
hers, from Edinburgh, with 2 women and 1 child. These
troops came by steam-vessel to Gravesend.
LIMERICK, MARCH 21.—Orders are issued for the fol-
lowing drafts to embark for Canada:-19th Foot: 2 offi
cers, 82 men, from depot at Boyle. 71st Foot : 1 officer,
61 men, from depot at Naas. 79th Foot: 2 officers, 52
men, from depot at Nenagb. Nova Scotia-38th Foot:
2 officers, 82 men, from depot at Castlebar. Cape-6th
Foot: 1 officer, 61 men, from depot at Fermoy. 73d
Foot: 3 officers, 42 men, from ditto. Head-quarters of
the 47th. from this garrison, arrived at Butrevant this
day, and replace the 41st, which move on to Cork to-
morrow. Captain Villiers's company, 47th, landed yes-
terday from Kilrush, and marched this morning- for But-
tevant, head-quarters. The last division of the 83d,
under Major Swinburne, embarked at Cork on board the
Zion Hope transport, for Calcutta, the division consist-
mg of 6 sergeants, 113 rank and file, 16 women, with
Captain D. Anderson, Ensign J. Sprot, and Quartermas-
ter W. Colburne.—Limerick Chronicle.
Captain John Pitt Kennedy, agent to the Devon
estates in this county, left Newcastle on Sunday last, en
route for India. Edward Curling, Esq., has been ap-
pointed agent to the estate.