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

interest. I only hope it may reach you, instead of find-
ing its way into the Shere's hands."

" Feb. 12.

" After all the apparent readiness to attack us, as
evinced by the Seikhs yesterday, their advance has ended,
as it began, in smoke. Their design evidently was to
draw Lord Gough out of his strong position; but having
failed in this, they have, we learn, moved off; but in what
direction is not known.
'• I should not be surprised to learn that in anticipa-
tion of our reinforcements reachiag us they are concen-
trating their forces. Some officers who have just re-
turned (2 P.m.) from Bazsarwalla say, that with the aid
of telescopes, they could plainly see the Seikh camp,
near Coira, and that they distinguished a large body of
the enemy's regular cavalry drawn up in rear of the vil-
lage of Coira, while a picket occupied a mound called by
us Mungulwalla; but all remained perfectly still, till at
12 o'clock the boom of a heavy gun in the camp of Shere
Singh was distinctly heard by those at Bazaarwalla.
" This appears to have been a signal gun, for all the
tents at Russool are now struck, and it would not sur-
prise me to hear that a portion of the Seikh army
has crossed the Jhelum. Detached parties of them
are plundering in all directions, especially towards
Goojerat.
" I have heard that money is a very scarce commo-
dity in the Seikh camp, and that Shore Singh has not
the means of paying his troops.
" You have, no doubt, heard of the surrender of Nar-
rayon Singh to General Whish. This must have con-
tributed to damp the spirits of our foe, who, as the vil-
lagers about us say, is beginning to lose heart. Be that
as it may, he will very soon find us too strong to bo
trifled with." _

" Feb. 14.
" I fully intended to have written to you yesterday,
but was prevented doing so, as I went over to Russool,
and did not return to camp until after post hour.
" The position which the enemy have just vacated at
Russool is immensely strong, and consists of a double
line of entrenchments, in front of which they had
planted large bushes in all directions, as well with the
view of masking their position as to render the ground
difficult for our cavalry to act upon. Beyond these, on
the slope of the hill upon which their camp was pitched,
was a battery, the ground about which was much broken;
but still not sufficiently so to impede the advance of

infantry.
" Passing over the site of this battery. towards the
Tillage of Russool, we crossed a narrow bridge (whether
natural or artificial I cannot say) over a deep and rugged
ravine. This it was that constituted the strength of the
Seikh position. Had we on the 13th advanced upon this
almost impregnable position, the Seikhs would, no
doubt, have been able to resist our attack for many

•
hours.
" The rear face of this natural fortress is a perpendi-
cular wall of rock, along the base of which, in a per-
fectly level plain, I saw the Hydaspes threading its tor-
tuous way.
" From this description you will understand bow
strong the defences of the Seikh position at Russool
were, but yet it was not without its disadvantages.
"A well conducted attack upon it by a force advanc-
ing along the crest of the ridge, at one extremity of
which it stands, would have rendered the situation of the
occupants most desperate, as then their only means of
retreat would have been cut oil; and fully aware of the
impossibility of carrying off their guns, under emer-
gency, the enemy retired from it about 3 o'clock on the
morning of the 14th, evidently with the hope that their
movement might induce Lord Gough to make the at-

tempt to storm it.
" The principal portion of the Seikh army is now en
camped at Needun and Chimbur beyond Coira, but i
would appear that they contemplate a move towards
Goozejat. At any rate it is certain that large bands of
plunderers have gone in that direction.
"As yet I see no sign whatever of any intention on
the p irt of Shere Singh to cross the Jhelum.
" Our patrolling parties, one of which General Gilbert
accompanied, have gone out this morning, and they will
no doubt bring in correct information regarding the
whereabout of our foes and their movements.
" As we retired from Russool we passed down the bat-
tle•field of the 13th ult. Many bodies, both of Seikhs
and of our own men, were discovered lying upon it.
Among these the body of young Cureton was disco-
vered, and identified by a portion of his uniform and
some of the buttons, which still remained on the corpse.
His remains were interred this morning at 10 o'clock.
" Some prisoners (Affghans), who were taken by one
of our patrols, report that the Seikh army is moving
from Guojerat, but that the road to Jhelum is occupied
by a large body of the Shere's men. I do not place
much dependence upon what these men say, for never in
my life did I see more ruffianly looking fellows.
" The impression in camp is that the Seikh army is
shaking a little, and that the slightest reverse would see
it fall to pieces.
" Whish's whole force will very soon be at Ramnug-
gur, where the advanced brigade is now halted."
• " Camp Suparee, Feb. 15.
" We moved this morning from our camp at Chillian-
wallah to this place, having,heard that the Seikbs are in
full march for V,zierabad.
" To-morrow General Whish, with two brigades, is
expected to join us, and then I fancy Lord Gough will
go straight at the Seikhs wherever he may find them.
" We hear that General Whish has detached a por-
tion of the force from Ramnuggur to Viaierabad, to
operate as circumstances may require, against the
Seikhs, should any attempt be made to cross the Che-
nab. This :detached force consists of the six com-
panies of her Majesty's 53d Regiment, and one Regi-
ment of Native Infantry, with Holmes' Irregulars,' and
two guns.
"The. plot is evidently thickening. The Shere's men
are plundering right and left in all directions, but as to
the actual position of the principal portion of his army
we are still in the dark; but if they have any intention
of going towards Lahore I rather think he has made a
false move, for with the Lahore force in his front,
Whish's on his flank, and Lord Gough in his rear, I do
not think he has much chance of a successful issue to his
present movements. At any rate a day or two will
show—and depend upon my keeping you informed of all
his movements, so far as I am Ale to give them to you."
"Camp at Sadulapore, Feb. 16.
"We marched this morning at sunrise from Sapoores
via Oogude. Cheye, &c., to this place, where we are
now encamped in front of the village of Sadulapore, and
between four and five miles from the bank of the
Chenab. General Whish, with all his force, has been
able to frustrate the Shere's attempt to cross the
Chenab at Viaierabad, and the Seikh army has con-
sequently taken up a position in the vicinity of
Goojerat. General Whish has a bridge of boats across
the Chenab at Hureke Puttun, about fire miles from
Ramnuggur, and is now preparing to join Lord Gough.
The Shere, we learn, managed to send a force with a
few guns to Goe,jeranwalla, where he compelled the
principal inhabitants to disgorge some thousands of
rupees. Marauding parties of the Seikh soldiery are on
the right bank of the Chenab looting in all directions.
I do not think Lord Gough has any intention to attack
the Seikhs till after the Bombay brigade comes up.
This they will do in the course of a day or two, when
his Lordship will have an army at his disposal that
shinld enable him to compete successfully with any num-
ber of enemies that may appear against him. Shere
Singh's design, in his last movement on Vizierabad, has
evidently been to create alarm and confusion, by making
a threatening movement on the capital. We shall see
ere long what the result of his manoeuvres is likely to
be, now that Whish has succeeded in frustrating the
passage of the Chenab."

" Camp near Koomja, Feb. 17.
"We marched again this morning from Sadulapore to
within a short distance of Koomja. This move is no
doubt with the view of effectually intercepang any ad-
vance the Sher may feel inclined to make in the direc-

tioo of Vialerabad. -
" Our present camp is within about six miles of the
Seikh position at Goojerat. General Whish has crossed
over to our side of the Chenab; the force which accom-
panies him consists, I believe, of the 10th Queen's, the
72d, and Bth Native Infantry, and some guns; while six
companies of her Majesty's 53d, the 53d Native Infantry,
and some guns, are at Vizierabad, but should an en-
gagement bo about to take place our whole force will no
doubt be concentrated.

" The Bombay division has not yet reached Ramnug
gur, but I believe they are expected to arrive there to-
morrow. We are all anxiety to see Duudas and the
gallant regiments he is leading. Of the Sinde Horse
all who have seen them are loud in their praise. They
will, no doubt, ere long have an opportunity of showing
us a repetition of the deeds of valour which have won
for them the high name they bear.
" Major Lawrence came into our camp to-day. The
Shere has given him unlimited leave on his parole, and
the Major intends I hear to avail himself of it so far as
to visit his brother, Sir Henry, at Lahore. I hear
Major Lawrence reports that the Seikhs are confident of
giving us a good beating at Goujerat. Shere Singh
paraded the whole of his troops before Major Lawrence,
observing to his prisoner—` These are the the troops
with which I intend to defeat the army of the Engrese
Surkar: Lawrence's reply was characteristic—" It you
'had 200,000 such as these, Sirdar, you could not do it.'
" The country around us is a perfect level plain, thickly
studded with villages."
" Commander-in Chief's Camp, Feb. 18.
"From orders that have just been issued, I think it is
very probable that we shall march ere many hours pass
over our heads, and I can but believe that we are now on
the very eve of a battle. What the result will be, with
our force, no one can, I think, for a moment doubt.
"The Seikhs who have been computed to number
70,000 men cannot, I understand, from the best passible
sources, muster above 30,000 men. At Chillianwallah
we had about 12,000 men, and some 40 or 50 guns en-
gaged. We have now upwards of 18,000 men, and from
70 to 80 guns available.
" We hear the Seikhs are intrenching themselves at
Goojerat. The right of our position now rests on the
village of liillidar, a town belonging, I am told, to
Deena Nath. I can write no more now. To-morrow's
dak will, I think, tell you of a fight, and, please God, of
a victory.
(From the Delhi Gazette, Feb. 21.)
The aspect of affairs on the banks of the Jhelum,
and indeed beyond the Chenab generally, has under-
gone a total and rather untoward, certainly unexpected,
change since the issue of our last paper. We left the
Commander-in-Chief and his army labouring under the
impression on the morning of the 11th of February that
the Seikhs, disheartened by the
.known approach of the
Moultan force, the scarcity of money, and the want of
provisions, were seriously thinking of sending in Major
Lawrence with fresh and less objectionable proposals,
and the arrival of that officer was hourly expected.
d thhaedabr
arrival
madeof G General
ers
Arrangements
wounded,assielkookanedd
for with the utmost impatience and many cheerful
anticipations, as, immediately after his junction with
aelndWoliffishthwe
the force under Lord Gough, the supposed final steps
of the campaign were to be adopted, and the Seikhs
to be %tucked, should the proposed gtompt at

further neptiation, on their part, be unsuccessful, and
at inducing a surrender on ours be eventually rejected
by them. The Seikhs had, as we have previously
mentioned, very materially altered their position sifter
the 2d inst., concentrating their forces at and about Rus-
sool, and carrying their lines along the low hills runnieg
north of Chillianwallah, and parallel, or nearly so, with
the river Jhelum. In this range, which averages a
height, near Russool, of about 200 feet, and further up
the river of about 300, there is a pass, at no great dis-
tance from Chillianwallah, say about six miles, leading
to Pooran an Khwar, on the Jhelum, and affording a
practicable passage for the high read from Ramunggur
to the town of Jhlum, on the right bank of the river,
and ultimately to Rhotas and Attock. Through this
pass the Seikhs managed to obtain their supplies from
the country towards the north-east of their position as
far as Goojerat and even Seeslkote; and there is much
reason for believing that the convoy for the protection of
which they manoeuvred so ably during the 2d, 3d, and 4th
of February, as to induce Lord Gough to believe he was
about to be attacked, came from Goojerat, where our
own commissariat officer was busy purchasing stores for
our army, and passed on to Russool through this pass.
So eonfident was the Cummander-in-Chief, nevertheless,
of the satisfactory state of affairs, that " plans" were
already drawn out which contemplated the attack, on
the junction of the Moultan force, of the pass in ques-
tion, in front by General Whist), while the main body
of the army were to operate on Russool; at the same
time that the intended dispatch of the sick to Ram-
nuggur indicated a belief that the country, in the direc-
tion of their progress at least, was not likely to be occu-
pied by the enemy. (The exact number of wounded
who actually started on the 12th was 24 officers and 630
men, European and native.) We omitted to mention,
in the proper place and at the time, that an ;escort, con-
sisting of one squadron from every mounted corps, with
some guns, left the camp at eight o'clock on the night
of the 9th instant for Hailah, to meet a large
convoy from Ramnuggur with ten days supplies, and
returned all right, on the next day about one o clock P.M.
Matters were in this position when, on the morning of
the 11th of February, information was brought in (pro-
bably sent in, according to the fashion of the Afoul=
hurkarns) that the enemy were certainly bent on at-
tacking the British force during that day. The de-
parture of the sick was consequently delayed, and the
army prepared accordingly ; the three signal guns, from
the heavy battery on the mound in front of the camp,
were fired, and the British line turned out in battle
array,theSeikhs being at the same time drawn up within
sight of our camp in two strong columns, one threaten-
ing the rear of Lord Gough. They remained in that
position for between two and three hours, when they
withdrew. The disappearanee of many of thtetents of
the enemy from Russool ,was noticed soon after they
had withdrawn from their threatening position; and by
the next morning they had so entirely removed that a
reconnoitring party, consisting of a detachment of Irre-
gular Cavalry, was sent forward, under Major-Gen. Sir
W. Gilbert, to ascertaiu whatcould be the cause of this new
and unexpected movement, especially as a large body of
troops which had taken up a position to the north-
eastern, opening into the plains of the pass to Khwar,
had not moved from the post of Khooree, which they
bad previously occupied. The party moved forward un
interruptedly till they reached Russool; which they were
not a little surprised to find totally abandoned by the
enemy. So entirely was the place evacuated that the
General had an opportunity of leisurely examining the
locality, which was found so strong by nature, aided by
entrenchments of a very secondary consideration, how-
ever, that the abandonment of Russool was looked upon
as a great advantage gained, especially as news (most
likely brought in by those same pliable intelligencers
already hinted at, 'on whom it is clear no reliance
can be placed) came in that the Seikhs were in full
retreat towards Jhelum, with the determined inten-
tion of crossing the rver. The news spread like
lightning all over the map, and by the time it reached
Meerut and ])elhi it had changed its complexion
into a positive assertion that the Seikhs had crossed the
Jhelum and given us the slit?. Our information, however,
led us to doubt the truth of these statements, especially
as it was mentioned that the strong body outside the
pass continued located at Khoree during the 12th and
13th, and while they were being spread far and wide
we were quietly looking for the consequence of the
move of the enemy, which we were informed, from a
" sure hand," had extended only to Pooran, the village
on the north-west entrance of the pass to which we have
alluded above, but wish what specific object was not
known even in the best-informed quarters. On the
morning of the 13th Brigadier Chespe arrived in camp
with a portion of the 11th Irregular Cavalry, Master's
(two squadrons had bean left in the rear with Brigadier
Hervey's column), Robtrts's detachment of the 14th Ir-
regulars (Skinner's), atd the party of the 11th Light
Cavalry already mentioned, all of which had preceded
Major-General Whish bom Chunout by forced marches,
and rather astonished some of the quidnuncs by the ra-
pidity of their movements. On the same day the sick
were sent off to Ramnuggur under a strong escort, the
impression that the Seikhs had retreated probably in-
ducing a belief -that there was even less chance than
before of their being interrupted in their progress. On
the same day, also, the Commander-in-Chief went
in person to examine the abandoned position of Rus-
sool, wondering, we doubt not, how the enemy came to
give up a spot in whice it was quite evident they would
have had an opportunity of resisting an attack with the
great advantage of position. Daring the 13th the large
body of the enemy at Khoree remained on apparently
the same ground as before, our intelligence department,
continuing in blessed ignorance of their proceedings, and
especially of the causes that had led to their evacuation
of Russool. The impression that they, or any portion
of them, had crossed the Jhelum, was, however, com-
pletely effaced, and those in search of news was at their
wit's ends, and reduced to calculating what would hap-
pen next. The next was not long in developing itself,
for it began to be bruited abroad at early dawn on the
morning of the 14th of February, and was very
generally known by sunrise, that a large portion of the
Seikh army, if not the entire body, had marched from
their previous positions, and were, at the time of
writing, actually in_ possession of, the town of Goo-
jerat, where they took a detachment of Nichol.
son's Affghans, who were in the tort, by surprise
(one of them is supposed to have escaped, and to have
been the only person who brought in this " plea-
sant" piece of intelligence), and whence they threat-
ened an immediate advance upon Wuzeerabad, investing
the place in which the Affghans were posted so com-
pletely that there was small chance of their escape. They
s da manhastepeido instant
by
w naatstart,
a
sent word, however, that if speedy relief were promised
them they could easily hold out for seine days. The
whole camp was naturally in a state of intense excite-
ment, and orders were issued, about 9, for the immediate
march of the army, which, of course,
re-
ports that had been spread. The march was, however,
subsequentlymwhade nethe
ed
a ardour
oe deferredur everything
thaiegt
the
iel
wast lr2o ;or
petashdeywfor
utmosta confirmed thes
stillr t
thirdt
order, intimating that the march was to be postponed
until an early hoar next morning; nothing having, ap-
parently, occurred to induce any further delay.
The number of guns with the Seikhs was known to be
53, ours is 110, including those with the Bombay troops,
which may, however, not be in time for the fray,
Chuttur Singh had crossed to the left bank of the Jhelum
and held the posts the Seikhs had abandoned with his
force and seven guns.
While this was passing in the camp of the Commander-
in-Chief at Chilliaawallab, General Whish was hastening
on without his own cavalry (which had, as already men-
tioned, preceded him by forced marches, according to in-
structions from head-quarters), with Brigadier Mark-
ham's Brigade, to reach Ramnuggur, and had brought
up the 11th Light Cavalry to his own column from that
of Brigadier Hervey.
On the evening of that day an order was issued for
the immediate departure of. Captain Anderson's troop of
horse artillery, and they marched about 8 o'clock at
night, and arrived at half-past 3 A.M. on the 13th, having
completed a distance of 61 miles in 4$ hours. They
n sasnedl v
remainderGe
ewn iet
General
elt
fhwe
theprospecthis
Whish
r fi og ua ndodef
were at a loSs to find out why they had been sent for in
ni:Thseeiderable force, consisting of
suchtw e drieyhurry,s, re
sta and consoled
leest.
dolt
himself marched
at
in
the
en
head the samee of
a
her Majesty's 32d and 53d Foot, the 13th, 20th, 51st,
53d, and 72d regiments of Native Infantry, with, how-
ever, but one troop of horse artillery and three regi-
ments of cavalry—the 11th Light, the 12th (Holmes's)
Irregulars, and the 13t1 (Quin's) Irregulars. The
General, we believe, Ilse found orders to remain there
until the whole of the Moultan field force should have
closed up; and fortunate it was so, as his position at
Ramnuggur, connected with the threatened movement of
the Seikhs, by Wuzeerabad, onLahore, must have proved
most important.
The 'effect of the movement of the Seikhs on Goojerat
was not slow in being felt st Ramnuggur. On the 14th
of Feruary, information having been received by General
Whish that 500 Seikhs had actually crossed the Chenab
at Wuzeerabad (one account from head-quarters' camp
says'they Merely sent a party to examine the ford), he
issued orders for the_ immediate departure in that direc-
tion of two nine-pounder gnus (Miles's Battery) and of
Quin's Irregular Horse.
On the 13th instrustions mere ,issued for the imme-
diate departure, in the same direction, of her Majesty's
53d Foot, the 13th Regimentof Native Infantry, and the
12th Irregular Cavalry (Holmes's), with two horse ar-
tillery guns, in charge of ,Lieutenat Alexander, from
Anderson's Troop; the whole commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Byrne. They marched -the whole day, and ar-
trhigehret
bankthey
hetheaht,nthabe, Sifetihk
lived at Wuzeerabad about four in the afternoon, and
ehys had returned to the
had ever crossed. It
was ascertained, however, that they were actually in
force some 4,000 strong, with some guns, at no great
distance on the opposite side of the river.
Brigadier Hervey reached Ramnuggur on the morn-
ing of the 16th of February, and Brigadier-General
Dundas was expected on the 18th. On the first-named
date General Whish issued an order for the march of
Brigadier Markham's Brigade (her Majesty's 32d Foot,
and 51st and 72d Regiments, Native Infantry, the 49th
being still on the way from Moultan), and of two squa-
drons of Master's Irregular Cavalry (11th), towards the
ford, half way between Ramnuggur abd Wuzeerabad.
A general action was also looked for with much cer-
tainty in General Whish's camp ; and we have no hesi-
tation in saying that the speed with which he got over
the ground has saved a very large amount of trouble, as,
had he not been on the spot at the time he reach( d Ram-
nuggur, the whole Seikh army would, in all probability,
have been in the Manjha on the 17th, without the pos•
sibility of their being stopped by the force under the
Commander-in-Chief.
(From the Delhi Gazette, Feb. 24.)
We now resume our narrative of the movements that
have been communicated to us in the various letters
received—beginning with those of the Commander-in-
Chief. It appears that the march from Chillianwallah
was principally delayed in consequence of the
difficulty in getting in the camels from the
grazing grounds, to which they bad been sent as usual in

the morning. Information, of a nature to be relied on,
having been received during the 15th, while the head•
quarters' camp continued near Lusooreea, that the
Seikhs were still nearly in the Vim° position in the
vicinity of Goojerat as the day before, it was deter-
mined to move iu the direction of that place, but tokeep
in close communicssion with General Whish's force on
the left, bank of the Chenab. The march, consequently,
commenced about sunrise, on the 16th, and concluded
about ten, in the vicinity of Sadoolapoor; one letter is
dated, " Musseetwallah, one mile north of Sadoolapoor."
Late on the afternoon or the same day (the 18th) Major
George Lawrence arrived in camp, and after remaining
there till the morning of the 17th, proceeded onwards
with all expedition towards Lahore, with the supposed
intention of ultimately visiting the camp of the G overnor-
General, near Feroz 'pore, as the bearer of overtures
from the rebel chiefs; that is, according to the common
belief in camp; but we have some reason to know that
alejor Lawrence has been merely allowed to quit the
enemy's camp on a week's " leave," on private affairs
only, he having steadily refused to be the bearer of any
message, the unsuccessful issue of which, he explained
to Shere Singh, might be laid at his door
by the Seikh soldiery. The proposition to treat
of which it was supposed Major Lawrence was
the bearer, does not appear most properly to have
made any difference as to the movements of the army,
, which again marched, on the 17th, about six miles fur-
ther towards Goojerat, almost parallel with the course of
the Chenab, and encamped at Koonjah, with the con.
tinued prospect of encountering the enemy on the 19:h
or 20th at furthest. On the new ground the very desir
able arrangements of reducing camp equipage and fol
lowers were entered into con amore, the Commander in•
Chief setting the laudable example of confining himself
to one small tent, and only the servants he absolutely
required (one letter, however, has it that his Excellency
retained his horse tents, which, we trust, is a mistake),
as well as by sending in all the records of the several
departments with the officers connected therewith to
Ramnuggur, and therefore calling upon every one, with
a safe conscience, to double up two officers in one tent,
and to send back all unnecessary baggage, and all ser-
vants whose presence was not urgent. The reduction
thus effected is said to have been enormous, involv-
ing carriage to the amount of between 7,000 and
8,000 camels. The only fault committed was the
sending in the records to Ramnuggur without any
officer in general charge. It was ale arranged
that the camp should thenceforth move with
rations for five days only, and everything else was
made proportionately "snug." It had been ascertained
in the meanwhile that the Seikhs had not crossed the
Chenab at any point, as had been erroneously reported
to General Whish, but their chief, probably their only
end, in quitting their strong positions at Russool, was to
secure more ample means of subsistence than they had
hitherto obtained, and also, very likely, to plunder the
agricultural population of the very large sums which had
been spent among them by our commissariat officers
during the previous month; allowing Major Lawrence to
come in,with the faint hopes of staving off an attack un-
til they should have collected a stock of provisions suffi-
cient to last them for some time, when they would once
more return to their strongholds on the Jhelum. This
view of their movements was, however, only taken after
General Whish bad secured the passage of the river at
Wuzeerabad. Had this not been achieved in proper
time it is impossible to say what the Seikhs would have
done; the probability is they would have taken advantage
of the unguarded state of the river, and crossed a large
portion if not the whole of their army.
Meanwhile Colonel Byrne remained stationary at
Wuzeerabad during the 15th of February, with the most
explicit orders to risk nothing, should the enemy offer
to attack him, but to retire at once on the force in his
rear—viz., that of Brigadier Markham. On the morn-
ing of the 16th of February Lieutenant Alexander was
ordered by Colonel Byrne, who had received intimation
that Shere Singh threatened to cross over a detachment
at Sodra Ghat, to proceed to the spot, to inspect the
ford, and see if guns could be placed in position there.
On his return, about four P.M. (the distance is said to
be about seven miles). orders were issued for the imme-
diate march of the following troops, as it had been in
the meanwhile ascertained that the enemy had brought
a detachment of 6,000 men with six guns to point oppo-
site Sodra—viz., the two guns of Anderson's troop of
Horse Artillery, the:two 9-pounders of Miles's battery,
two regiments of irregular cavalry (Quin's and Holmes's),
580 bayonets of her Majesty's 53d Foot, and the 13th
Regiment of Native Infantry. The move had not only
the desired effect of preventing the Seikhs from crossing,
if they ever had any real intention of doing so, but the
one of inducing them to abandon their p mt, and retire
on their main body in the neighbourhood of Goojerat.
Brigadier Markham had on the 16th instant duly
reached the place to which he had been ordered, and
used such diligence in collecting boats, that he had al-
ready 40 in his possession on the 17th, and would thus
be enabled to pass over his brigade at the shortest no-
tice, whenever he might be called upon to cross the
river, and join the head-quarters' force, which was then
at no great distance from him.
General Whish's force, consisting of a respectable
body after the junction of Brigadier Hervey (we should
have mentioned in our last that this officer came on with
her Majesty's 10th Foot and the 52d Native Infantry,
leaving the Bth Native Infantry in the rear to bring cn
the heavy guns, which only reached Ramnuggur on the
17th), had been directed to join the head-quarters' camp,
whither the General went in person to confer with the
Commander-in-Chief with as little delay as possible.
Brigadier Hervey, consequently, crossed the river, and
effected his junction with the main army on the 17th,
and it was understood the heavy guns of his column, with
the Bth Regiment of Native Infantry, would be up on
the ltith, or one day, if not two, before it was expected
the enemy would be attacked.
We now come to a very disagreeable part of our task,
as faithful chroniclers of the doings of the day; and, if
we had not the strongest evidence of the entire correct-
ness of our version of the affair in question, should cer-
tainly not allude to it; but, with the facts as they are
before us, we cannot even attempt to conceal them. The
moment there appeared any probability of an early en •
gagement taking place orders were dispatched to Briga-
dier-General Dundas, through General Whish, to leave
the native p alion of his troops behind, and hurry on
with his artillery and two European regiments, so as to
insure his arriving at Ramnuggur on the 17th. Instead
of hastening to obey this order the officer in question
replied to the effect that he saw no necessity for alter-
ing the rate of his progress, which was in accordance
with the instructions previously sent to him,
and that as a European court-martial was then
sitting, of which Major Blood was president, he
wished to have the proceedings concluded before he
moved forward. It may bo easily imagined that such a
reply was not to the taste of Lord Gough, who sent off
such a peremptory dispatch that we will venture to say
that Brigadier-General Dundas did not wait to read it a
second time. But in the meanwhile the object is fru:-
trated and the mischief done, and great will be the dis-
appointment of the two corps, and of Brigadier-General
Dundas himself, should he be too late for the battle, or
should his delay have lost a day and enabled the Seikhs
to retire on Russool.
A second dispatch desired the Brigadier- General to
send on the 60th Rill, s, by a forced march of 30 miles on
the 18th, which would leave them 15 miles to get over to
join the head quarters on the 19th. The Commander-
in-Chief intimated to Brigadier General Dundas that he
might remain with the native troops if ho chose!
So far our letters up to yesterday evening. We did
not learn whether the Afl'ghans in Goojerat had actually
been compelled to surrender or not, but we should
hardly suppose it possible that they can have held out
against the fearful odds the Seikhs had in their own
favour.
The dak of the 18th, from camp, furnishes the follow-
ing additional intelligence:—On the 18th the army
marched four and a halt' miles towards, the enemy, from
whom they were then distant about six miles, the Seikhs
being encamped about one mile and a half from Gooje-
rat, in a very indifferent position, with a nullah running
in their front, which promises that the battle (which will
now have been most probably fought on the 20th instant,
not the 19th, to enable the 60th Rifles to join) is likely
to have been a very complete victory. Brigadier Mark-
ham crossed the Chenab on the 18th, and was so close to
the Commander-in-Chief's camp that he would be able to
join at a moment's warning. On that day, therefore, the
Chief was within remits of the Seikh head-quarters, at
the head of about 15,000 men, with somewhere about 70
(24 heavy) pieces of artillery,:Colonel Byrne at Wuzeer-
abad and; Sodra with artillery, cavalry, and infantry,
Brigadier Markham close on the right rear of the Chief,
with infantry and artillery, and General Whish ready
to inove.up the Ramnuggur force, including the Euro-
peans of the Bombay division, so that a combined move-
ment on the 20th must to all appearance have brought
the Seikhs to action, and insured such a victory as will
put an end to the campaign, provided the time spent in
the movements wo have detailed has not enabled the
Seikhs to make good their retreat.
We omitted to mention, in the proper place, that Bri-
gadier-General Wheeler had been directed to move his
force from Dcenanuggur, across the Rechna Doab, in
the direction of Wuzeerabad. He would, however, of
course, be too late for the fighting, as the distance is
between 80 and 90 miles.
From Lahore we hear that precautionary measures,
calculated to meet any emergency, had. been taken by
Brigadier Godby, whose arrangements are said to have
given every satisfaction. Major George Lawrence
reached the capital on the evening of the 17th, and
passed on towards Ferozepore. Our latest thence is to
the 19th. Our news writer informs us that Narrain
Singh had arrived at Lahore.
SIR 11. LAWRENCE'S PROCLAMATION.

The following is a copy of the proclamation recently
put forth by Sir H. Lawrence:—
" Proclamation for the information of all men who
are with•the Seikh forces, and•those who are in rebellion.
" Feb. 8, 1849.
"On the 18th of November, 1848, the Hon. Sir F.
Currie, Bart., published a proclamation, and I re-publish
the same, for the information of all men, by order of the
Right Hon. the Governor-General of India, who now
proclaims,
" That any person who is now with the Seikh forces
in arms against the British army has the option offered
to him of being safe and protected, except Sultan
Mahomed Khan 13errukzaee, regarding whom no stipu-
lation is herein made.
"Firstly, it is announced that the lives of all those
who come over at once will be spared. The lives of
those who come over will not be endangered on account
of their rebellion.
" Secondly, all soldiers with the Seikh forces who lay
down their arms will be permitted to return to their
homes unmolested, and remain there without any appre-
hensionof harm. The Sirdsrs, who are Jageerdars, will
not be deprived of their comforts; they will receive a
sufficiency to supply all their wants.
" Let it be well understood, that to entitle those who
desire it to the mercy herein offered, it is necessary that
they should come in without delay.
• "H. LAWRENCE."
•

The state of Moultan has of course ceased to be a
subject of much interest during the stirring events
between the Jhelum and the Chenab. We extract,
however, from the Delhi Gazette, the followin.4 ac-
count of the arrangements for its defence. It is
dated Feb. 9 :

Here we are all stagnant. The heavy guns are fflent,
the busy army is gone, and even i‘loolraj is gone. A
battered ina,s of rained fortifications and a dt sorted

city, of which scarcely a house has not been ventilated
for over with a shell, arc all that is left to tell of the

Moultan rebellion. Here and there, too, a tomb is

rising up over the remains of some brave fellow who will
lead on no more. Major Scott, of the Bombay Engi-
ueers, is making the tort defensible again, by clearing
out the exploded ditch, scarping and stockading the
breaches, and mounting the guns. Both the native in-
fantry regimebts are to be in the fort, and the Ist Lan-
cers in the Am Khas garden below it. Moolraj's family
(containing there mothers, among other things!) are to
be removed out of the fort to some retired house in the
suburbs. Their privacy has been scrupulously regarded,
and two of the Moolraj's younger brothers, bhatu Singh
and Ram Singh, are like Cerieri on guard, in case any
dandy `• grandee" should strut too frequently below the
lattice. Lieut. Lake has gone wi'h Which.
Major Ed wardes has assumed civil ch trge of these pro-
viuces, assisted by Lieut. James, from Stride.
Lieutenant Young, of the Engineers, with a detach-
ment of Edwardes's Irregulars and two guns, has gone
against one Mujum Chund, a Kardar of Moolraj's, who
is yagee in the strong fort of Hurrund, under the
southern Sooleernunnee range, west of Dura Ghazve
Khan. _

Lieutenant Reynell Taylor is encamped still at the
fort of Lukkee, in Murwut, which doubtless you heard of
his taking the other day single•handed, after a long siege.
Along with him are Lieutenants Pollock (assistant-
resident), and Pears() (Madras Artillery), Colonel James,
and 11. M'Mahon, also Dr. Cole, all commanding the
now scattered fragments of Edwardes's levies and Cort-
landes regiments; altogether, I understand, about
5,000 men and eleven guns. The object of this strong
force at the head of the Trans-Indus is to prevent the
Affghans whom Dost Mahomed has sent into Bunnoo
from occupying the Trans-Indus countries given by
Chuttur Singh to the Dust.

Chunout surrendered to General Wbish on the morn-
ing of the 9th, and at three P.M. of that day Sheik
Ematn-ood-Deen was placsd in occupation of it. The
materiel de guerre consisted of two guns of small ca-
libre, ten zumbooruks, 200 horses, and a large col-
lection of swords and matchlocks. The garrison
actually numbered 2,000, as villanous looking a horde
as could possibly be selected. The arrangements for
disarming and marching them out were the same as
those lately in force at Moultan, the precaution of first
'surrounding the walls with our troops having been taken.
It was rumoured that great wealth had been collected
from the surrounding villages and stored up in the fort
by this band of freebooters, but such has not been proved
to be the case; although a strict search has been made.
Some miscellaneous property, grain, and some few mules
alone complete the list of captures, but it has been pro-
posed to levy a considerable fine on the Bunnecas, and
other moneyed inhabitants wbo may have aided or abetted
Narrain Siegh's forays; this stern task has been in-
trusted to the vigilant Sheik, who will be found exceed
ingly apt at the work. The furmc ris rather a fine look-
ing Sirdar; he is exceedingly talkative and bombastic,
appearing to consider himself a perfect Roosturn. I ex-
pect that he will acc mapany Moolraj to Lahore; it will
be somewhat amusing to witness their meeting under
present circumstances. Sadik Mahomed alone is want-
ing to complete the play.
The fortifications of Chunout are sorry in the extreme,
consisting of a rather high puka wall, flanked with half-
a• dozen small bastions; the Sheik could make ro im-
pression on them with the Lilliputian artillery, so he had
recourse to mining; a breach was of course the result, but
his troops did not admire storming, and the siege re-
mained in statu quo. The besiegers appear to have suffered
equal loss (and that, too, very considerably) by the
matchlock firing. This place is surrounded by isolated
rocky hills of considerable height, from one of which it
is entirely commanded.
General Whish halted here one day, and then pro•
ceeded by forced marches towards Ramnuggur; he ex-
pected to reach head-quarters' camp in five marches, the
proper number being nine.
All the cavalry were also ordered on with all possible
haste some days ago. Brigadier Dundas is coming up
fast; I expect that he will pass our heavily encumbered
brigade soon, as we are obliged, from the weary state of
our cattle, to halt to-morrow, and consequently cannot
think of double stages.
Lieut. Graham, Horse Artillery, has died at Moultan,
of the wounds he received durinx, the siege.
The ransom for the city has not yet been realised,
though our demands had dwindled to 20 lacs; most ot
the rich merchants had not returned to their houses,
and it was even feared that we should have to put up
with a paltry sd. Daily discoveries were being made in
the fort, and the prize prospects were looking up, thanks
to Major Wheeler and Captain Hobson (ot the Bombay
division), whose experience renders him au fait at the
.ask.

_...
We have very damp, cloudy weather, and I fear we
shall have to endure all the miseries of a wet camp ere
long.

SUMMARY.
(From the Overland Bombay Times, March 3.)
The intelligence given in our issue of Feb. 17 came
down to the 3d from Moultau and the camp of tne Com-
mander-in-Chief. At this date the whole of the late be-
sieging force, with the exception of the garrison left to
occupy Moultan, were on their march to join head-
quarters, where they were experted to arrive about the
20th. On their way they were stopped for a little, re-
ceiving submission from Narrain Singh, who occupied the
fort of Chutsout with a garrison of 2,000 men, who gave
themselves up as prisoners. He had here been shut up
for some weeks by Sheikh Emaum ood-Deen, dispatched
at the time of his withdrawal from Moultan to watch his
movements. Various letters of importance had been de-
tected in the possession of Moolraj—one in particular, of
very recent date, from Dost rslahomed, encouraging him
in resisting, and giving assurance that assistance was at
hand. From the beginning of the second week in
February, the Commander in-Chief continued engaged
in fortify ing the position he had taken up
at the time of the battle of Chillianwallah on the 13th
January. A battery judiciously advanced uncomfortably
near the Seikhs, caused them to shift their position on
the 6th, and this was followed by a slight alteration in
our arrangements the following day. The Seikhs seem
now to hive resolved on a new order of defensive opera-
tions—they advanced their outposts, entrenching as they
went, till they threatened to outflank us and get into our
rear. Their object seemed to be to force or tempt us to
attack them behind their field works, and beyond the
protection of our own. Ou the 11th a general move-
ment was observed amongst them, and on the following
day they were found to have struck their imp') and
evacuated all their works. The rumour now ran that
they had retired in safety across the Jhelum without our
observing them. The erroneousness of this position
speedily appeared, anti on the 14th Lord Gough first
heard that, instead of retiring before him, the great body
of the Seikh army had passed him, and taken possession
of the town of Goojerat, some seventeen miles iu his rear;
that their irregulars were crossing the Chenab, end
threatening Wuzeerabad. After various orders and
counter-orders, preparations made to start and then
abandoned, Lord Gough, at four on the morning of the
15th decamped from Chillianwallah, and abandoned the
position he had for a fortnight been eng iged in fortify.
ing; and after a march of from twelve to seventeen miles
reached the neighbourhood of Sadoolapore, upon which
Shere Singh had withdrawn after his engagement with
Thackwell on the 3d of December. Whish had arrived
at Ramnuggur on the 13th with Markham's brigade.
Here he found her Majesty's 53d, three regiments of
Native Infantry, and two of Irregular Horse. He was
joined on the 16th by Hervey's brigade—the force at
Ramnuggur being thus brought up to nearly 12;000 men,
while Brigadier-General Dundas's column, expected on
the 18th, would give 4,000 more. On the 14th,
General Whish being informed that 500 Seikhs
had crossed the Chenab at Wuzeerabad, ordered
two 9 pounder guns, with a regiment of irregular
horse, to proceed up the bank of the river. On
the 15th they were followed by H. M. 53d, the
13th N. 1., the 12th Irregular Cavalry, and two horse
artillery guns. They reaced Wuzeerabad late in the
afternoon, but found that the insurgents had retired;
4,000 of them were said to be posted on the further side
of the river, whither our troops proposed immediately to
cross. On the 16th General Whish himself, with a
strong body of men, moved up to Hurree-ke-Puttun, ten
miles up the river, and halfway between Ramnuggur and
Wuzeerabad. Here there was a bridge of boats. On
the 18th our army had advanced to within f ur miles of
the enemy's position. A battle on the following day
appeared inevitable. Shere Singh was entrenching him-
self; he had in all about 30,000 men on whom he could
depend, while the force under Lord Gough mustered
no more than 18,000 effective soldiers, with 70 or 80
guns. Our army was encamped on as open plain
studded with villages. This morning's post will
most probably bring the news of a glorious victory
having been won by our troops on the 19th.
Major Lawrence had obtained unlimited leave from
Shere Singh's camp on parole. He reached Lord
Gough's army on the 17th, and Lahore on the 19th,
from whence he was about proceeding to join Lord
Dalhousie at Feroaepore. He brought a message from
Shore Singh to the effect that all the prisoners would be
returned to us immediately. The Resident at Lahore
has caused a proclamation issued by Sir F. Currie on
the 18th November, to be re-proclaimed, promising in-
demnity for the past to all who will now lay down their
arms, and assuring the feudatories of the Crown that
they will be allowed to retain their lands—a strong evi-
dence this of how anxious we are in any way to close
the campaign. Moolraj will, it is said, be confined in the
fortress of Govindghur. Lord Dalhousie continues at
Ferooepore, anxiously watching the progress of affairs:
he is said to have written home intimating that either a
new Governor General or Commander-in Chief must
be sent out immediately. We have had a month of the
most extraordinary misty weather ever experienced in
Bombay at this season of the year. Trade continues dull.

(Vrom the Bombay Telegraph.)
The sick and wounded from Wuhan arrived from the
Kiddawary branch of the river Indus in the steamers
Sesestris and Medusa, on the 18 h and 19th ultimo re-
spectively. We give below lists of those who have come
down. _ _

List of the Sick and Wounded Officers and Alen from
the Moultan Field Force, arrived by the llon. Com-
pany's steam-frigate Seiostris, from the mouth of the
Kiddawary branch of the river Indus.
Captain Thomas Tapp, Ist Bombay European 11-,gi-
ment Fusiliers, Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-General
Moultan Field Force. Has a musket ball through the
shoulder, and two sabre cuts on the right shoulder—
(doing well).
-capt4iu Robert W. Disney Idea, Ist I39robay LtlCO-