The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-20 00:00:00

THE REECHNA DOAB.

Brigadier Wheeler, who is at the head of a strong
force in this part of the Punjaub, has achieved a vic-
tory over the rebels at a place called Killawalla (or
Khuleelwalla), where two brothers, Chunda and
Goordut Singh, have been recently creating disturb-
tnces. I copy from the Delhi Gazette the following
graphic account of the operations :
"On the 18th, at 10 p.m., and after having already
marched on the same morning to Emamabad, a distance
of sixteen miles, we received orders to start at two A.M
%%lei a view to join the advanced divisions of Cureton
and Campbell, whose joint position was threatened by
the enemy. We were, of course, delighted at the pro
spect of some work, when, to our great disgust, a dis-
patch reached our column, six miles on this side of our
previously fixed destination, directing us to halt wherever
the said dispatch reached us. Next morning we retraced
our steps, and in two marches, each eighteen miles, ar-
rived here (sans the 61st, who were ordered to push
on to join Cureton and Campbell). The Brigadier
was informed that our retrograde move was for the
purpose of taking three forts of which the enemy
had possession, and which it was unsafe for them to hold.
Two of these forts we found empty en route here; but
this (the third) we learnt was strongly garrisoned, and
determined to hold out to the last. The Brigadier, when
we got within six miles of the place, directed the cavalry
consisting of the 7th Light Cavalry, 2d Irregulars, and
the 15th Irregulars, with Swinley's troop of Horse Ar-
tillery, to advance at a hard trot, whilst the 3d N. I. the
horse battery, and bullock guns were ordered to come
up as fast as possible. The object was to cut off the
chacce of the enemy's escape. The matter was managed
r:ght well. In halt an hour we reached the fort, the
Brigadier leading us, and every soul went to work with
a will—both European and Native. The 7th Light
Cavalry were ordered to scour the southern side; the
2d and 15th did the same on the northern and eastern
sides. The troop of Horse Artillery drew up
on the western face. A large number of the
rebels took to their heels: these we pursued, and cut
up at least 200, leaving them dead upon the field.
Those who escaped (all Seikhs) will have a whole-
some dread of the future. They did not ask for quarter,
and they got none. On the remainder of the force
coining up, the fort, which is very strong, and of con-
siderable size, was regularly invested. At about two
o'clock P.M. we took up a position to the northward, and
pitched our camp. At half-past three P.M. the Artillery
returned to the front, and at a distance of about 250
yards from the gate, at the south-west angle, battered
away till sunset.
" A sharp fire of zingalls, zumboeraks, matchlocks,
and some iron 2-pounders, being directed upon us by
the people in the fort, a continued fire was kept up on
both sides during the greater part of the night. The
enemy tried to effect
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as i
othis; tifletlinteolneitheitwLaiuilyn the immediate neighbour-
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We contrived, kly
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h
lieve the lesser number is nearer the mark. Considering
that cur loss is only six wounded, and one man of the
2,1 Irregulars killed, we have no reason to be diisatistied
with the performance. What may be our movements
no one, except the Commander-in Chief, knows. It is
`reported' that we go hence to a place called Belaspore,
or Nelaspore, and thence to Sealkote."

LAHORE.
At the Seikh capital all was quiet by the last ac-
counts. The garrison consisted of some six thousand
men, and another corps of irregular cavalry was
expected to reinforce them. Guns were being placed
in position on the walls of the citadel. An Umritsir
correspondent of the Telegraph and Courier gives the
annexed account of a supposed plot for the abduction
of the young Maharaja. The story is almost incre-
dible, yet there can be no doubt that were Dhuleep
Sing removed, a great obstacle to annexation would
be got over :

" It is said, and strongly credited, that Government
cannot annex the Punjaub in the face of the present 1
treaty, and that the only way to untie this gordian knot
is by endeavouring to persuade the poor boy Dhuleep, the
present Maharaja, to run away from Lahore, and throw
himself, nominally for: protection, into the arms of his
intended father-in-law, Chuttur Singh; by which means
the difficulty is surmounted, and no further hitch occurs
in the intended annexation. I saw a letter yesterday
from —, who has been for twenty years to the
Lahore Durbar, in which he mentions the names of two
of the conspirators, men in our play, and friendly to our
views, who have agreed to steal away the infant Dhuleep
and carry him to Chuttur Singh! * • * * A
native report, in the city of Umritsir, this very morning,
states it to be the gup in the Bazar that Dhuleep has
been carried away from Lahore. * • *
"The same writer supplies us with the following list
of regiments in, or on their way to the Punjaub or the
banks of the Sutlej. This may be of use to people at
home :

"3d, 9th, and 14th Dragoons ; 10th, 24th, 29th, 32d,
53d, and 61st Foot ; 2d Europeans ; Ist, 3d, 4th, 7th,
Bth, 9th, 13th, 15th, 18th, 22d, 23d, 25th, 28th, 29th,
30th, 31st, 36th, 37th, 45th, 49th, 50th, 51st, 52d, 53d,
56th, 69th, 70th, 71st, 72d, rand 73tl Native Infantry.
All these corps are either in the Jullundur Doab, at
Lahore, or Moultan, or with the Commander-in Chief.-
Grand total-3 Regiments Dragoons, 6of Queen's In-
fantry, 1 of Europeans, 32 of Native Infantry, and 7 of
Native Cavalry-in all 49 Regiments of the line.
" For the reserve, under Sir Dudley Hill, we have the
98th Foot at Umballah, the 18:h Roy al Irish on their
may up from Calcutta, the 2d and 47th Native In-
fantry- at Umballah, the 17th marching up to the frontier,
the 19th ditto, the 20th ditto, the 34th ditto, the 58th
and 60th ditto, the 61st ditto, and the 62d ditto, and the
Sirmoor battalion from Deyrah. Grand total-Two
Queen's corps of Infantry, and twelve corps of Native
Infantry. Why, the whole of our provinces are quite
denuded of troops, and if the Nepaulese should come
down, they will carry everything before them. Su much
for the second Punjaub war."