The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-18 00:00:00

BLAND MAIL

':;DICA AND CHINA.

THE

VICTORY OF GOOJRAT.

We have received from Marseilles dispatches in
advance of the overland mail, which left Bombay on
the 17th ult.
They contain full particulars of the decisive vic-
tory-achieved over the Seikhs on the 21st February
last, a brief announcement of which arrived by the
last mail. Oa this occasion no doubt need be enter-
tained of the decisive character of the success, the
enemy having been completely routed with the loss
of his guns, ammunition, and camp equipage.
Lord Gough's army, which amounted to nearly
25,000 men with 100 guns, encamped on the 20th
in order of battle within four miles of the enemy,
whose force was estimated at 60,000 men with 60
guns. They occupied the ground around the village
of Goojrat, in a position as well chosen as the nature
of the country permitted.

The British army moved to the attack early in the
morning of the 21st, in a line nearly three miles from
right to left. The action began with a heavy can-
nonade, in which our artillery, which was admirably

served, did such execution that the enemy's guns

were speedily silenced. The infantry then advanced,
driving the Seikhs before them in the utmost confu-
sion ; the cavalry division was sent in pursuit, and
hung upon the rear of the flying enemy until flight
prevented further operations. Of the 60 guns which
the Seikhs brought into action, 53 were captured,
with an enormous amount of ammunition, and the
rest have, doubtless, been since taken by the corps
detwched in pursuit. Nor was this really decisive
vie tory purchased by the terrible loss of life which
have rendered Lord Gough's previous battles a source
of mourning rather than of triumph. The British
army has to lament 5 officers and 92 men killed, and
24 officers and 682 men wounded.

On tha day after the action General Gilbert, with
a force of 11,000 men, was dispatched towards the
Jhelum, to seiss and occupy Rhotas, Attock, Pesha-
war, and the whole frontier up to the passes of
Affghanistan.. He crossed the Jhelum on the 28th,
and took possession of the town of that name, with
some mortars and ammunition which had been
abandoned 14y the retreating army on that day.
The ad vices from General Gilbert's corps reach to the
2d of March, at which date they had been compelled
to halt on their advance to Rhotas by the extreme
inclemency of the weather. A report had, how-
ever, been received that he had taken possession of
Rhotas.

The principal objects of the campaign being thus
achiev'ed, it waa expected that the main army under
Lord Gough would soon retire into quarters.
Our advices from the Commander-in-Chief's camp
are to the 3d of March, on which day Lord Gough
reviewed and inspected the whole of the troops.
Permission to return to their appointments had been
already given to several staff officers. 'There seems,
indeed, every reason to believe that the Seikh chiefs,
who have twice sent Major Lawrence to treat for
them, will submit to the only terms which have been
conceded to them—an unconditional surrender.

It was said that Lord Gough had sent in his resig.

nation.

No decision had, it was understood, been arrived at
as to the annexaticn of the Purdaub.
India generally was tranquil and contented.
Sinde was free from any apprehension either of
rebellion or foreign attack, and the garrison left at
Moultan remained unmolested.

Sir J. Littler had been appointed President of the
Council of India and Deputy-Governor of Bengal,
in the room of Sir T. H. Maddock, who had retired.

We subjoin the fullest details of the victory of
Goojrat, and the subsequent operations, beginning
with the
OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS OF THE ACTION AT GOOJ-
RAT, uN THE 21sT OF FEBRUARY, 1849, BE-
TWEEN THE BRITISH FORCES UNDER THE
PERSONAL COMMAND OF GENERAL THE
In(urr HONOURABLE HUGH BARON GOUGH,
G.C.B , COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE FORCES
OF INDIA, AND THE REBEL ARMY UNDER
SIRDAR CHUTTUR SIGH AND RAJA SHERE

SINGH.
GENERAL ORDER. BY TIIE RIGHT HON. THE GOVERNOR•

GENERAL OF INDIA.—FoREIGN DEPAILT3IENT.

Camp, Ferozepore, March 1, 1849.
The Governor-General having received from his Excel-
lency the Commander-in-Chief a dispatch, reporting the de-
tails of the brilliant victory which was gained by the British
army at Goojrat, on the :list ult., directs that it be published
for the information of the army and of the people of India.
The &Ma army, under the command of Sirdar Chuttur
Singh and of Raja€here Singh, combined with the Affghan
troops in the service of the Ameer of Cabul, were posted in
great strength n ar to the town of Goojrat. Their numbers
were estimated at 60,000 men, and 59 guns were brought by
them into action.

On the morning of the 21st they were attacked by the
forces under the personal command of his Excellency the
Commander-in.CWef. A powerful and sustained cannonade
by the British artillery compelled them, after some time, to
retire from the positions they had well and resolutely main-
tained.
The subs went advance or the British army drove them
back at on, from every point, and retreat having been
speedily converted into rout, they fled in the utmost disorder;
and, abandoning their guns and throwing away their arms,
were pursued by the artillery and cavalry till the evening for
many miles beyond the town.
Fifty-three pieces of the enemy's artillery, his camp, his
baggage. his magazines. and vast stores of ammunition, left
in the hands of the British troops, bear testimony to the
completeness and to the importance of the victory that has
been w,)n.

The Governor• General, in the name and on behalf of the
Government of India. must cordially congratulates his Ex-
cellency the Commander-in-Chief and the whole army on
the glorious success which, under the blessing of Divine
Providence, their skill and gallantry have achieved, and he
offers to his Excellency, to the generals, the officer, non-
commissioned officers, and soldiers of the force his grateful
acknowledgments of the service they have thus rendered to
the Government and to their country.
The Governor-Generil begs especially to thank Maj-r-
-tireneral Sir Joseph Thackwell, K.C.B. and K.H., Major-
General Sir W. Gilbert, K.C.8., Major-General Whish.
C. 8., Brigadier-General Campbell, C. 8., and Brigadier-
General the Hon. H. Dundas, C. 8., for the ability and j udg-
ment with which they directed the operations of the divisions
respeCtively under their command.
To the Chief Engineer, Brigadier Cheap, C. 8., to the
offi'..!e-s commanding brigades, Brigadier Brooke, C. 8.,
Bri,,adier Huthwaite, C-8., and Brigadier Leeson ;to
Brigadier White, C. 8., Brigadier Hearsay, and Brigadier
Lockwood, C.B. ; to Brigadier Hervey and Brigadier Mark-
ham; to Brigadier Mountain, C. 8., Brigadier Penny, C. 8.,
Brigadier Capon, and Brigadier Hoggan ; Brigadier Carnegy
and Brigadier M'Leod, the best thanks of the Governor-
General are due.

The services of Brigadier-General Tennant. and of the
artillery of the farce, have been recorded in the dispatch of
the Commander-in• Chief, in terms of which they may justly
be proud.

The Governor-General cordially joins with his Excellency
in acknowledging their merit, and in bestowing upon them
the praise they have earned so well.
To Major Lugard, to Lieut.-Colonel Gough, C. 8., and to
the officers of the general staff of her Majesty's army; to
_Lierd.. Colonel Grant, C. 8., to Lieut.-Colonel Garden, C. 8.,
an to the officers of the general staff of the army; to Cap-
tain R imsay and the officers af the commissariat department ;
to Mr. Franklin, inspector-general of her Majesty's hospitals;
to Dr. Kenny, and the officers of the medical department;
and to the officers of his Excellency's personal staff, the Go-
vernor-General offers his best thanks, and assures them of
his full appreciation of their services.
And to all the troops of every arm, European and Native,
the Governor-General desires to convey his entire approba-
tion of their steady and gallant conduct throughout the day ;
particularly to a portion of the 9th Lancers and the Sinde
Horse, for their charge against the Affghan Cavalry; to the
3d brigade of Infantry, under Brigadier Penny, C. 8.. for
their attack on the village of Kalra, and to a portion of Bri-
gadier Hervey's brigade, for their charge led by Lieutenant-
Colonel Franks, C. 8., all of which have been specially re-
ported by his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.
The Governor-General estimates highly the important
resaalis which the battle itained on the 21st ult. is calculated
to produce. He entertains a hope that the conviction which
the events of that da must force upon all of the vast supe-
riority which the British army derived from the possession
of science and military resource, will induce the enemy
shorty to abandon a contest which is a hopeless one.
The war in which we are engaged must be prosecuted
with vigour and determination, to the entire defeat and dis-
persion of all who are in arms against us, whether Seikhs or
Afghans.
The Governor-General has ever felt, and feels, unbounded
confidence in the army which serves in India. He relies
fully on the conviction that their services will be given
cheerfully and gallantly, as heretofore, whatever may be the
obstacles opposed to them ; and he does not doubt that, with
the- blessing of Heaven, such full success will continue to fol-
low their ell'orts as shall speedily give to the Government of
hetie. the victory over its enemies, and restore the country
tw ttie enjoyment of peace.
The Governor-General will not fail earnestly to commend
the plat services of this army to the favourable con,idera-
lion f liar .Majesty's Government, and of the Honourable
East. India Company.
A salute OE2I guns has been ordered to be fired at every
principal station of the army in India.
By order of the Rig.'it Honourable the Governor. General
of India.
•

H. Secretary to IO the Gc.‘ t. of India, wi LLIOT,
th the E
Guy.-Genl.

THE BATTLE.
(Copies. )
FROM THE EIGHT HON. THE COMMANDER-IN-CH/EF OF
INDIA, TO TILE LIGHT HON. THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF
INDIA.

. . Head-quartem Camp Goojrat, 26th Feb., 1849,
My Lord—By my letter of the 21st instant, written on
the field of battle, immediately after the action, your
Lordship will have b,-;en made acquainted with the glorious
esult of my operations on that day against the Seikh army,