The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-02 00:00:00

VI ,LAND MAIL

INDIA.

COMPLETE DEFEAT OF
THE SEIKHS BY LORD
GrOUGH.
The mail of the 4th of March from Bombay
brings intelligence from the theatre of war in the Pun-
jaub to the 21st of February, on which day a battle
was fought by tile united forces of Lord Gogh
a
General Whish, which ended in the complete rout of
the Seikh army. Of this victory, however, no details
have arrived by this mail, as the dispatches of the
Commander-in-Chief bad not reached Bombay when
the steamer left. We are enabled to state,
however,
that semi-official accounts leave no doubt of the com-
plete success of our arms.
The proceedings of Lord Gough from the date of
our previous letters and up to the 10th of February
were chiefly confined to the defence of the position
which the British army occupied at Chillianwallah.
The Seikh forces, having received some addition to
their numbers by the junction of Chuttur Singh,
the father of their leader, Shere Singh, took up
positions to the right of Lord Gough's camp, as if
with an intention of out-flanking the British. This
movement led to the supposition that the Seikhs con-
templated an attack ; but nothing of the kind took
place. The enemy caused a good deal of
s; annoytanco
e
to the grass-cutters and camp-follower bu n
serious encounter took place, for Lord Gough per-
sisted in his plan of waiting for the arrival of the
Bengal division under General Whisb, and of the
Bombay column commanded by Brigadier Dundas.
During several days, from the 6th to the 12th of
February, various skirmishes took place, but no
serious encounter, as the British General continued
to act on the defensive. Provisions were abundant in
the British camp.
On the Bth a prisoner was brought into the camp,
who gave the news that Dost Mahommed was
collecting the revenue in the ttock districts, and
that he had built bridges over the Indus and the
Leandue.
On the 11th the Seikhs advanced to a village near
the British camp, as if to bring on an engagement,
and the whole line was turned out, but no fight took
place. The Seikhs plundered the outward and inward
=nails from the camp.
A proclamation (which will be found elsewhere)
was published by Sir Henry Lawrence, in the name
of Dhuleep Singh, the young Maharaja of Lahore,
which promised forgiveness for the past to all those
who should retire to their homes, and threatened
condign punishment to all who persisted in the
rebellion.
This proclamation was supposed sufficient to pro-
duce an effect amongst the Seikh chieftains, many of
whom were not satisfied with the course which the
campaign had taken, as they found that money and
provisions were wanting.
On the i%th the Seikhs, who during the late feigned
attacks on Lord Gough's camp had found !beans to
remove their heavy guns from their entrenchments at
Russool, drew up their cavalry in the village of
Coira; and under its cover struck their tents, and
vnarched towards Goojerat. This retreat allowed the
British an opportunity of examining with attention
the ground on which the battle had taken place on
tha 13th of January. That position of the Seikhs
was found to be immensely strong, and consisted of
a double line of intrenchments, in front of which
they had planted large bushes in every direction, so
as to mask themselves, and to prevent the movement
of cavalry. Their camp had been pitched upon the
slope of a hill, with a battery in the midst of broken
ground. Close to this battery was a deep and rugged
ravine with a narrow bridge. To the rear of this
natural fortress was a perpendicular wall of rock near
the Jhelum. This was the strength of the Seikhs on
the memorable 13th of January. An advance upon
that position would have cost many more lives than
those lost in that battle.
The plans of the Seikhs during several days showed
that they wished to entice Lord Gough into an attack
on that position ; but failing in their schemes, they
retired from this spot at three o'clock on the morning
of the 13th of February, and encamped at Needun
and Chimbur, with the evident intention of moving
in the direction of Goojerat.
On the 15th it was known that the Seikhs had
gone towards Wuzserabad, as if with the intention
of crossing the Chenab there and of proceeding
towards Lahore. Fortunately General Whish with
his cavalry and a portion of his infantry had reached
Ramnuggur, and a ,part of his force was detached
from Ramnuggur to Wuzrerabad, so as to prevent
the passing of the Seikhs at that ford. The Seikhs
plundered all the districts between the Jhelum and
Chenab, and took up a position near the town of
Goojerat.
On the 16th Lord Gough marched from Supooree
to Sudalpoor, a village about five miles from the
Chenab ; while General Whish constructed a bridge
of boats over the Chenab at Hurreke Puttam, which
facilitated his movement to join the Commander-in-
Chief.
On the 18th the troops were hastening towards
the point at which they were to concentrate. The
Bombay column, under Brigadier Dundas, arrived at
Ramnuggur, and on the 19th marched to join Lord
Gough.
On the 20th the last preparations were made for
the conflict, and on the 21st Lord Gough attacked
Shere Singh in his position near Goojerat, defeated
him on all points, and routed the Seikh army. Shere
Singh fled, leaving a great portion of his guns and
of his ammunition, as well as his standing camp, in
possession of the victors, who were engaged in the
pursuit of the dispersed Seikhs when the intelligence
left.
The news of this victory reached Bombay by ex-
press late at night on the 3d of Marcb, and a royal
salute was fired in its honour on the 4th, at one
o'clock in the afternoon. The steamer started in the
evening of the 4th for Suez.
The victory was announced in the following pro.
clamation

"NOTIFICATION.
"POLITICAL DEPARTMENT.

BOMBNY CASTLE., Alagctr 3

" The Right Hon. the Governor in Council has the
gratification of publishing for general information the
following notification by the Right Hon. the Gover-
nor General of India, announcing the rout of the
Seihh army under Raja Shere Singh, on the 21st ult.,
by the forces under the command of his Excellency
the Commander-in- Chief.
A salute of twenty-one guns will be fired at
every principal military station in this Presidency on
receipt of this notification.
"By order of the Right Honourable,
the Governor in Council,
" A. MALET, Chief Secretary."

" NOTIFICATION.
"FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.
" CAMP, FEROZEPORE, FEB, 23.
" The Governor-General has the gratification of
intimating to the President in Council, and notifying
for public information, that he has thin day received
a dispatch from Major Mackeson, C. 8., Agent to the
Governor-General, with the Commander-in-Chief,
conveying the intelligence that the forces under his
Excellency the Commander-in Chief, on the 21st
instant, attacked and routed the Sikh army in the
neighbourhood of Goojerat.
" 2. The enemy was beaten at every point, and
retreated in disorder, leaving in the bands of the
British troops, by whom he was pursued, a great por-
tion of his artillery, his ammunition, and the whole
of his sanding camp.
" The official dispatches of his Excellency the Com-
mander-in-Chief will be published as soon as they are

received.
" The Governor-General directs that a salute of 21
guns shall be fired at every principal station of the
army on the receipt of this notification.
" By order of the Right Hon. the Governor-
General of India,
" M. ELLIOT
" Secretary to the Government of India,
" with the Governor-General.
(True copy.) "A. MALBT, Chief-Secretary.”
The news of the battle arrived in Bombay too late
for the ordinary editions of the
Papers but
lowing extras were published :
the fol-
lowing
the Telegraph and Courier.)
" March 4, 1849
" An express, with dispatches dated the 25th nit.,
arrived late last night from the camp of the G
v eGeneral, bringing the important intelligence of aZtr.
ie
having been tenght on the 21st between the British army
wader Lord Gough, and the insurgent forces headed by
the rebel Sirdar, Shere Singh.
" The Seikhs, we are informed, were beaten on all
sides, with the loss of several, but not the whole, of
their guns. Their ammunition, and the whole of their
standing camp, were taken by the British. Nothing is
said as to the loss sustained on either side; and, indeed,
official details on this head can hardly as yet have heen
received. By the last advices the British were still in
pursuit of the foe.
" A salute has been ordered by the Governor-General
to be fired in honour of the victory.
" The above brief account (embracing all the news
which has 3et come to hand) seems to indicate that the
Seikhs have at last received a sound thrashing. As the
ammunition and standing camp, however, were taken by
Lord Gough, it seems odd that any of the Seikh guns
should have been allowed to be carried off from the
field. We have been so accustomed to false or imper-
fecthardly official statements that until the arrival of details
we knew whether a completo victory has been
Inn or not.

the fleeing foe.
" SUNDAY AFTERNOON, ONE &CLOCK.
" A royal salute has been fired from the battery in
honour of the victory of Lord Gough over the Seikhs."
(From the Bombay Times.)
"An express from the Governor-General's camp,
dated the 25th ult., was received by Government last
night shortly after eleven o'clock, bringing the highly
important and gratifying intelligence that on the 21st
the Seikh army under Shere Singh had been attacked in
their position at Goojerat by Lord Gough, and put to
the rout. The enemy are said to have retreated in the
greatest disc,rder, leaving a great part of their artillery,
and the whole of their standing camp, in our hands.
Further particulars cannot reach Bombay by ordinary
dak before to-morrow morning. A royal salute was
fired at noon today from the battery in honour of this
auspicious event."
The intelligence from other parts of India is not
of an exciting nature. Moult= is under the superinten-
dence of Major Scott, of the Bombay Engineers—
about to become the Gibraltar of the Southern Pun-
jaub, and promises also to be soon an emporium for
British manufactures.
From Bombay we learn that Mr. Reid has left the
Council and come to Europe. Mr. Blane has taken
his place.
The following admirable journal of the operations
of the army is taken from the Gentleman's Gazette.
" Camp Chilltanwallah, Feb. 6.
" In the afternoon of the 4th there was a royal salute
fired on the right flank of the Seikh position, which for
a moment raised our curiosity. We afterwards heard,
however, that it was fired by Uttur Singh, who com-
mands the right wing of the Seikh army, in honour of
Chuttur and Shere Singh', who had been over to inspect
that portion of the army.
" I understand there is a great scarcity of provisions
and forage in the Seikhs' camp. We are, lam glad to
say, well off in these necessaries, since the arrival of the
convoy of 2,500 camels, of which I told you in my letter
of the 3d.
" I hear that General Whish is with the leading divi-
sion of his force, which may be expected to reach Ram-
nuggur about the 12th instant.
" Since yesterday a large portion of the Seikh army
has taken up a position on our right, at a distance of
about six miles. About 8,000 of them, accompanied by
12 guns, are said to have encamped at the foot of the
ridge of hills (to which I have so often alluded), and
outflank our right in such a way as to embrace even a
part of our rear, and they occasionally annoy our patrol-
ling parties by firing on them.
" Sir Joseph Thackwall is gone with a few squadrons
of cavalry, and a troop of horse artillery to Dingee,
where the Seikhs are said to have a party with some
guns—but up to the present moment (2 P.M )we have
heard no firing from that direction. A few squadrons
of horse and some guns under Colonel King are also on
a reconnoitring expedition in the direction off Noor
Juwall. I should not be surprised to hear that one or
other, if not both these parties, have clashed with the
Seikhs, who are certainly inclined to be most insolent.
" We hear that Shere Singh is with the troops on
our right, threatening our communications with Goo-
jerat and the villages between us and the Chenab. Our
game, however, must be to try and keep the enemy at
play till we are reinforced by Whish's troops, and by
those expected from the direction of Laho.e. The six
companies of her Majesty's 53d Regiment must by this
t,rne be at Ramnuggur, where, I fancy, they may have
orders to await the arrival of Whish's first division.
" It is probable that we shall change ground slightly
in a dayor two to meet the attempt of the Seikhs to turn
our flanks.
" I do not think that the Seikhs will attack us,although
they have evidently every wish to do so, and all I can
say is that, should their daring lead them to do so, I
have no doubt they will very soon find the difference be•
tween attacking us in our entrenchments and defending
',hemselves in theirs."

" Feb. 7,

"We are in all respects in statu quo. The Seikhs,
and m,,re especially the few Affghans, who are with
that portion of this army which has established itself on
our right, give us a great deal of annoyance, by plun-
dering our poor grass cutters, who venture beyond the
protection of our pickets.
" The 53d have not yet come in, and it is doubtful
when they may arrive. No one seems to know whether
they will remain at Ramnuggur until Whish's force
makes its appearance, or whether they march direct to
join us here. _ _ _

" The position of our enemy is calculated to give us
some uneasiness with regard to our communications, but
the 53d, if sent on from Ramnuggur, will, of course,
be duly supported.
" No dak has arrived, the Seikhs may have inter-
cepted it.
•' The Seikhs are evidently moving a portion of their
force towards Dingee. We have anticipated this, and
have sent guns and cavalry in that direction.
" A fortnight hence we expect to win a decisive vic-
tory, which will, I trust, settle the whole business, and
enable us to return to more comfortable quarters before
the hot weather sets in.

" February 8.
" Our enemy have for the last day or two been on the
move, evidently with the intention of attempting to out-
flank us, and to disturb our communications with the
Chenab. Lord Gough, however, changed ground slightly
yesterday to our right, so as to admit Campbell's infan-
try into our lines; and the front we now present to the
Seikh division encamped at or rather near, Corea, is a
most formidable one, and one which I do not think is at
all likely to tempt the Seikhs to an advance.
" A squadron of the 14th Dragoons, which was sent
yesterday to Bazaarwalla, a village about four miles to
our right rear, was obliged to return by a very large body
of S,!ikh cavalry, with whom they skirmished as they fell
back upon our camp.
" A party of Tait's Horse, on a reconnoitring excur-
sion, fell in with a body of the enemy's cavalry, and gal-
lantly dashed at them—killing nine of their number on
the spot, and wounding many others. This will, I doubt
not, have a salutary effect, in some degree damping the
ardour with which bodies of marauders from the Shore's
camp are in the habit of carrying on their depredations
upon stragglers and camp followers belonging to our
force.
" Markham's brigade of General Whish's army may,
I believe, be expected at Ramnuggur on the 12th.
Should Whish make an immediate advance from that
point upon the division of the Seikhs encamped upon
our right rear, he might deal a most effectual blow
before they could receive reinforcements from the main
body of their army, which is still at Russool.
" Flour, in the villages in our immediate neighbour-
hood, is selling at 10 seers the rupee, which, considering
the number of mouths to be filled, is not much out of the
way.
" In the Seikh camp, we hear that they are put to great
shifts to gain the wherewithal to keep body and soul to-
gether. _ _

" The day on which this letter reaches Bombay, will,
I think, be about that, which will, please God, see Lird
Gough the victor in the battle of the Jhelum, and in
possession of the guns of the Shere.

" However, be that as it may, you will no doubt hear
of a great battle being fought very shortly after Which
joins us. Of the result with such force there can be no
doubt.;

Feb. 9,

"All with us continues quiet enough. The enemy en•
camped on two sides of us, occasionally skirmish towards
our pickets, evidently with the wish to provoke us to at-
tack them, but too wise to take the initiative of attacking
us in our entrenched position.
" Whish must be with us in a few days now, when
I trust our chief will make a signal example of Shere
Singh and his Kbalsss.
" A man was taken prisoner by some of the patrols,
and brought into our camp last night; from the sole of
his shoe he produced a Persian letter, in duplicate, which
purports to be trom some one of the name of AmeerKhan,
who states that Dost Mahommed is collecting the re-
venues of the country he occupies; and further, that he
bas built a bridge of boats over the Loondye, near
Jehangheeru, and a second one over the Indus, near
At took.
"It is quite impossible to say what the Dost's inten-
tions may be, but I have no doubt he has entered into
some arrangements with Chuttur Singh. He may also,
it is said, be jealous of seeing us in possession of coun-
ries bordering so slosely on his own kingdom, but I can-
not think he will ever join the Seikhs.
" Provisions are again growing rather scarce in our
camp—however they must be still more so with the
Seikhs."

" Feb.

"There is a strong report this morning that the enemy
are advancing in torte upon Burrs Oomrah, about half
a mile to our new front, facing the position lately taken
up by Chuttur Singh, near Coira, which has caused our
whole line to turn out, and they are now under arms.
" The patrolling squadrons, consisting of one of the
Lancers, one of the 3d Dragoons, and some of the Light
Cavalry, had been skirmishing for the last two hours in
in the plain as a
front of our pickets. The 14th Dragoons, with Warner's
forming the second
Ist
p!srewoeit
sp,
epao.as
Irr.noodt
dft;
loth
tHorseachk hes ris
infantryt
ie,a Artillery,
andr regiments
i are
amite,
ns
tHs drawn
osr
tse uf
op
their several alarm
"Should the Seikhs advance beyond the limits of
" The
goinge ik h li managed
down
the jungle they will meet with such a reception as they
little dream of from our entrenchments aad heavy bat-
the Shere has had ttj'lLe
Yesterday,
dons. I hope he
" Whish, with his cavalry and
Ramnuggur to-day, and that instead of my letter of
soto cut off both our outward and
to enliven your columns, no doubt
will be of studying my lucubra-
bettor of his studies.
rand horse artillery, reached
will ()In us the day after to-
morrow.

" The Seikhs are no doubt puzzled at Sir Henry Law-
rence's proclamation, not knowing what effect it may
have upon the country at large.
" Sir Henry assumes the Government in the name of
Dhnlcep Singh, and promises forgiveness for the past to
all who now become loyal subjects by retiring to their
homes, and threatens all who continue rebels, after this
warning, with condign punishment.
" Sir Henry makes no reference whatever in his pro-
clamation to Dost Mahommed or his acts. The Dost
may therefore look to himself.
"To-morrow's letter may contain matter of greater