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

EVINING, MARCH 3, 1849.

SATURDAY

OVERLAND MAIL

THE PUNJAUB.

SANGUINARY ENGAGEMENT
WITH THE SEIKHS ON THE
JHELUM - SURRENDER OF
MOULTAN TO THE BRI I ISH-
FALL OF ATTOCK INTO THE
HANDS OF THE AFFGHANS,

(From the Chronicle.)
BOMBAY, APRIL 3.

The intelligence by the present mail is of greater
interest and importance than any which has for years
past been dispatched from the shores of India. A
most sanguinary conflict has taken place on the bank
of the Jhelum, nearly on the spot which formed the
battle-field of Alexander and Porus, and though the
British have come off victorious, their triumph has
been purchased by a sad effusion of blood, no fewer than
26 officers having been killed, and 66 wounded, while
nearly 2,500 men were slain or disabled. Amongst
the officers who fell were Brigadier J. Pennycuick
and Lieut.-Col. Brookes, of her Majesty's 24th Foot ;
Major Ekins, Deputy-Adjutant-General; and other
distinguished names. But the slaughter which
occurred was perhaps not the worst feature of the
engagement. One of the Cavalry brigades was
struck with a panic, and the unusual spectacle was
presented of a regiment of Britisk Dragoons flying
from a 'Wive foe. A Bengal Cavalry corps (the sth)
fled in great disorder. Moreover, we lost six guns,
only four of which could be recovered. The Seikhs
were beaten from their positions before dusk, with
frightful carnage, and with the loss of twelve guns,
besides others which were spiked; but they soon
rallied, and took up another position on the left bank
of the river, firing a salute in the evening, as though
claiming the victory.
Our disastrous triumph was achieved on the 13th
of January. Lord Gough had originally intended
to await the fall of Moultan before encountering
Shere Singh; but the delay in the capture of that
fortress having proved greater than was anticipated,
and there being rumours current that Chuttur Singh
was on his way to join his son with large reinforce-
ments, while the long delay was evidently producing
an injurious effect on the native mind, his Lordship
suddenly altered his determination, and on the 11th
instant inspected the troops, amounting to about
22,000 men, with 125 or 130 guns, and
gave the order for a move in advance of
their encampment, which was situated about mid-
way between the Jhelum and the Chenab. Whether
the decision to attack the enemy was at all in-
fluenced by instructions from the Governor-General,
we are unaware ; but as Sir 11. Lawrence (who had
communicated to Lord Dalhousie the tidings of the
capture of the town of Moultan) arrived at the
Commander-in-Chief's camp, from Lahore, just pre-
vious to the march of the army, it is quite possible
such may have been the case. The troops marched
on the morning of the 12th for Dinghee, in the
direction of the Jhelum, and, having halted
here for the night, resumed their march
next day, when they soon came in sight of the
enemy. They were now directed to form, and ad-
vance in order of battle. About eleven o'clock A.bi,
the leading column came upon one of the enemy's
outposts, " a low, bare hill," and the heavy guns
were ordered forward, and soon cleared this place,
the enemy retreating with their artillei y. The Seikh
army occupied a long line, extending from their ori-
ginal position, called Moong, to a place bearing the
name of Russool or Russoolnuggur ; the latter being
a strong post, where the enemy's magazines were
established, and near which was a narrow gorge,
well adapted for retreat in case of disaster. Lord
Gough had at first intended to throw all his
strength upon it, and thus turn the enemy's flank,
according to the plan usually adopted under such
circumstances. In an evil hour, however, he
abandoned this course. The Seikh position was seen
to be strong ; the Jhelum was in their rear, with a
well• constructed bridge spanning its waters, and
their centre was protected by field-works, which had
the advantage of rough and jungly ground. Between
one and two P.M., Lord Gough decided on postponing
the attack till next day ; and as the troops were ex-
hausted, and hut little time remained to fight a battle,
unquestionably the determination was a wise one. A
few shots, however, from the enemy's batteries, which
were within range, happened now to fall close
to the Commander-in• Chief ; and with a
rashness which cannot be sufficiently deplored, his
Lordship at once determined to engage the Seikhs
without delay. He would hear no reason—listen to
no advice, and even, it is said, threatened to put any
one in arrest who should dare to offer him counsel !
Abandoning the idea of attacking Russool, he re-
solved to endeavour to penetrate the centre of the
enemy's position, and, accordingly, without making
any preliminary reconnoissance, commenced a can-.
nonade, which was answered by the enemy, and is
said to have lasted between one and two hours. Bri-
gadier-General Campbell, who commanded the divi-
sion of infantry, on our right was now directed to make
a flank movement, and in obeying the order, exposed
the flank of his own troops to a terrible cross fire
from Seikh batteries on his left, which had not pre-
viously been observed. The 3d and 4th Brigades
reach the Seikh guns—the latter of the two leading
the way—and so tremendous a fire then opened
upon them that they were compelled to give way,
her Majesty's 24th Regiment, in particular, sus-
taining severer loss than has ever befallen a
British corps since the Cahul massacre. Un•
supported by artillery, retreat was inevitable ;
and the native regiments, as well as the 24th, left
numbers dead and wounded upon the field. On
this occasion fell the Brigadier commanding, Colonel
Pennycuick, Lieutenant-Colonel Brookes, Major
Harris, and numerous other officers ; while this oc-
curred on the right, Brigadier Hoggan's brigade, on
the left, carried everything before it, gallantly storm-
ing the enemy's batterie&And spiking-their guns.
The brigade under Cain., MolitaiOrwas sent.'
against the enemy's eentk;;;.biit after gseizedl
an& spiked a battery of Seikh ginisCfoOticK the-
enemy s infantry close Upon them, and' Were com-
pelled to retire.
" In the mean time," says the Delhi Gazette, " Bri-
gadier Godby, with Major-General Sir W. Gilbert as a
leader, who was on the extreme right of the infantry
line, moved forward, and, after marching through a
dense jungle for some minutes, came upon the enemy's
infantry ; the brigade opened their tire, but tho enemy
were in such numbers that they easily outflanked
them ; two companies of the 2d European Regiment
were wheeled up, showed front, and the whole charged,
but had not gone far when they found they were sur-
rounded. They immediately faced right about, kept up
some file-firing and charged, rear rank in front. At
this juncture Hawes's battery came to the rescue, and
having beaten off the enemy, their guns were taken.
While the infantry were thus highly distinguishing them •
selves, and earning imperishable laurels, the cavalry
on the extreme left under Brigadier White had made
a dashing charge, and contributed much to the defeat of
the enemy, while the cavalry on the extreme right. con-
sisting of Brigadier Pope's force, with the 14th Light
Dragoons temporarily attached, having been taken in
advance of their Horse Artillery (Lane's, Christie's, and
finish's troops), were directed to charge a body of the
enemy's cavalry, variously estimated at from 1,000 to
500; instead of obeying the orders given them, they
faced about, and in spite of the energetic endeavours of
their own and other officers, left the field (with the ex-
ception of a body of the 9th Lancers, who were rallied),
and made direct for the Artillery; on coming up to
which, instead of pulling up, they dashed through
Huish's and Christie's troops, upsetting a waggon,
and some horses, and directing their course to the
field hospital. The enemy, seeing the advantage they
had thus unaccountably ensured, followed our Cavalry,
got amongst the Horse Artillery, cut down no less than
seventy-three gunners who had, by the flight of the
cavalry through their ranks, been deprived of the means
of defending themselves, and carried off six of their
guns, two of which were subsequently recovered, and
would have done much more harm had not Colonel
Lane been fortunately enabled to draw his troop out of
the melee, and pour in grape so energetically that the
Goorchurras thought they had done enough and fl ed
It is stated that the 14th Dragoons retired, because
ordered to do so. This point, however, requires to]be
cleared up. The conduct of the 6th Bengal Light
Cavalry appears to have been very reprehensible.
" On the left," it is stated, " the enemy were pushing
forward boldly and successfully, when a squadron of the
3d dragoons and the sth light cavalry were ordered by
Thackwell to charge them. On approaching the foe, the
native cavalry broke and fled; the dragoons unsupported
as they were, charged through the Seikhs, and were for
a time lost sight of. It was feared they must have fallen
into an ambush and been annihilated, and terrible was
the anxiety and suspense, when they quickly re-appeared
in the rear of the enemy, and were seen gallantly cutting
their way back. Captain Unett, the heroic officer who
led them, was severely wounded; Lieutenant Stisted,
slightly; and 46 men were found to have been killed and
wounded in the charge. The sth cavalry, said to have
thus forgotten themselves, have for long been considered
one of the finest regiments in the Bengal army; a portion
of them distinguished themselves at Caubul; another
portion formed a part of the heroic garrison at
Jellalabad."
The fight was finally put an end to by the shades
of evening drawing in. Of the officers and men
killed And wounded, I copy the following list OM' _

piled by the Bombay Times, and which I believe to
be tolerably correct :
KlLLED.—Brigadier J. Pennycuick, ll.M.'s 24th Foot;
Lieutenant Colonel R. Brookes, H.M.'s 24th Foot; Major
C. Ekins, De puty• Adjutant-General; Major I). Rim-
field, 56th NJ.; Major H. W. Harris, H.M.'s 24th Foot;
Captain W. 11. Rosa, 30th N. 1.; Captain E. Christie,
3d troop Ist Brigade Horse Artillery (died on the
15th); Captain C. Lee, 24th Foot; Captain R.
W. Travers, ll.M.'s 24th Foot; Captain C. R. Harris,
H.M.'s 24th Foot; Capt. J. S. Shore, ll.M.'s 24th Foot;
Lieut. G. Phillips, Il.M.'s 24th Fcot; Lieutenant 0. B.
Payne, ll.M.'s 24th Foot; Lieutenant G. A. Wood..
gate, H. M.'s 24th Foot; Lieut. A. J. Cureton, H. M.'s
14th Dragoons; Lieut. A. Money, 25th, N, I.; Lieut. A.
M. Shepherd, 6th Cavalry; Lieut. J. A. Manson, Ar-
tillery (died the same night); Lieut. A. N. Thompson,
36th N.I. (doubtful); Quartermaster Price, H.M.'s 24th
Foot (doubtful); Lieut. W. W. Warde, 56th NJ.; Ens.
F. W. Robinson, 56th NJ.; Ens. A. C.sde Moroi, 30th
N. 1.; Ens. W . Phillips, ll.M.'s 24th Foot; Ens. H. C. B.
Collis, H. M.'s 24th Foot; Ens. Pennyculk, H. M.'s 24th
Foot.

W OUNDED-Brig.- Gen. A. Campbell (slightly);
Brig. A. Pope, C.B. (in the head, reported dead);
Maj. H. Paynter, H. M.'s 24th Foot (mortally); Maj.
G. C. Punsonby, Assistant Adjutant General (eon.
tusion); Maj. M. E. Lottie, 30th N.I. (severely);
Maj. C. Steuart, H. M.'s 14th Dragoons ; Maj. M.
Smith, H. M.'s 29th Foot; Captain W. J. E. Bays, 6th
Cavalry; Capt. W. C. Campbell, 30th N. I.; Capt. J.
Morrison, 30th N. I.; Captain H. S. Evart, 30th N. I. ;
Capt. W. H. Dunmore, 31st Native Infantry; Capt. F.
A. Carleton, 36th Native Infantry; Captain H. W. Era-
ser, 45th N. L; Capt. B. Haldane, 45th N. I ; Capt. J.
A. James, 69th N. I.; Capt. B. Christie, sth Cavalry;
Capt. C. F. Fenwick, 30th N. I.; Capt. the Hon. 11.
Powys, H. M.'s 9th Lancers (doubtful); Capt. M. Dawes,
Foot Artillery; Capt. W. G. Brown, H. M.'s 24th Foot;
Capt. L. H. Bazalgette, H. M.'s 24th Foot; Capt. W.
Unett, H. M.'s 3d Dragoons; Lieut. G. E. L. Williams,
H. M.'s 24th Fuot; Lieut. A. J. Macpherson, 11. M.'s
24th Foot; Lieut. B. A. Crokar, H.M.'s 24th Foot; Lieut.
W. Hartshorn, H. M.'s 24th Foot; Lieut. J. C. Thel-
wall, her Majesty's 24th Foot ; Lieut. C. F. Berry, her
Majesty's 24th Foot; Lieut. Archer, H. M.'s 96th Foot;
Lieut. the Hon. H. M. Monckton, H. M.'s 29th Foot;
Lieut. J. Nagle, H. M.'s 61st Foot; Lieut. A. G. C.
Sutherland, 25th N. I.; Lieut. Austen, 30th N. I.; Lieut.
H. It. Grindley, 6th Cavalry; Lieut. A. P. C. Elliott,
sth Cavalry; Lieut. F. V. B. Jervis, 56th N. I.; Lieut.
L. B. Jones, 56th N. I.; Lieut. F. Jenne, 25th N. 1.;
Lieut. and Adj. C. S. Weston, 36th N.I. (reported dead);
Lieut. IL Swinhoe, 30th N. I.; Lieut. J. S. Mason, 14th
N. 1.; Ass- Quar-Gen. (badly, in arm); Lieut. W. Ellice,
15th N. I.; Lieut. G. G. Anderson, 15th N. I.; Lieut. W.
C. Gott, 67th N. I.; Lieut. J. H. Bacon, 56th N. I.;
Lieut. J. W. Delamain, 56th N. I. (lost an arm);
Lieut. J. Nisbett, 69th N. I.; Lieut. J. D. Magnav,
36th N. I.; Lieut. F. J. S. Bagshaw, 37th N. I.; Lieut.
T. H. Stisted, H. M.'s 3d Dragoons; Lieut. C. S. Dun-
das, Horse Artillery; Lieut. H. I'. Metge, 11. M.'a 29th
Foot; Lieutenant J. Massey, her Majesty's 61st Foot;
Lieutenant M. H. Nightingale, 2d Europeans (severely
in the head); Lieut. J. Bleep:l34'e, 2d Europeans; Lieut.
J. Palmer, 45th N. I.; Ens. C. J. Godby, 36th N. I.;
Ens. J. C. Wood, 30th N. I. (amputation necessary);
Ens. Leicester, 30th N. I.; Ens. T. Pierce, 30th N.J.
(doubtful); Ens. W. L. Trotter, 45th N. I.; Ens. M. H.
Coombe, 45th N. I.; Ens. Bamfield, 56th N. I. (doubt-
ful); Ens. G. H. Nevi'', H. M.a 29th Foot; Ens. Parks,
H. M.'s 61st Foot.

XILLED. WOUNDED.
Offs. Men. Hi. Offs. Lien Hs.
General Staff ... ••• 2 0 0 4 0 0
14th Dragoons ... ... 1 3 7 1 7 8
9th Lancers ... ... 0 4 0 0 8 0
3d Dragoons ... ••• ... 025 0 217 0
24th Foot
... 13 213 0 10 244 0
29th Foot "• ••• 031 0 4 205 0
61st Foot •. ••• ... 011 0 3 100 0
2d European Regiment •.. 0 6 0 0 529 0
let Light Cavalry ... 0 3 4 0 6 7
6th Light Cavalry 0 6 7 2 2 7
6th Light Cavalry •
168 2 8 7
Bth Light Cavalry ... 0 1 0 0 2 0
Tait's Horse ... 0 0 0 0 0 0
Christie's Horse .. • 0 0 0 0 0 0
Christie's Troop 11. A. ... 113 31 0 9 0
Lane's Troop H. A. ... • 0 0 0 0 1 0
Warner's Troop H. A..... ... 0 2 1 0 2 2
Huish's Troop H. A. ..„ 0 5 0 0 6 0
Fordyce's Troops H. A.... ... 0 0 0 0 0 0
Duncan's Troop, H. A.... . 1 1 6 0 2 2
Shakspere's Battery ... 0 3 0 0 8
0
Robinson's Battery's ... 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kinleside's Battery ... ... 0 0 0 0 5 0
Dawes's Battery 0 0 4 2 5 0
lith NJ. ••• ••• ... 075 0 2 0 0
26th N. I. ... ... 199 0 299 0
30th N. I. ... •.. 278 0 10 209 0
31st N. I. ... •.. ... 0 3 0 114 0
96th N. I. 123 0 771 0
45th N. I. ... ..• ... 017 0 558 0
46th N. I.
••• 0 3 0 0 51 0
56th N. I. ... •.• ... 382 0 5 223 0
96thN. 0 0 0 2 0 0
7Uth N. I. 0 8 0 019 0

Total ... 26 731 68 66 1446 33
The annexed abstract, showing the loss in the dif-
ferent brigades, is taken from a letter in the Tele.
graph and Courier

ABSTRACT.
BRIGADIER MOUNTAIN'S BRIGADE.-11.M.'s 29th Foot
—Officers killed and wounded, 5; men 240. 13th N. 1.;
Men unknown. 30th N.I. Officers killed and wounded
12; men 340. 56th N.I. Officers killed and wounded
10; men 279. Total, Officers 27; nun 859.
BRIGADIER PENNYCUICK'S 13RIOADE.-11.M.'s 24th
Foot—Officers killed and wounded 23; men 540. 25th
Regt. N.I. Officers killed and wounded 4; men 204.
22d N.I. Men unknown. Total, Officers 27; men 749.
BRIGADIER GODBY'S BRIGADE.-2d Europeans. Offi-
cers killed and wounded 2, men 66. 31st N. I. Officer
killed and wounded 1, men 32. 45th N. I. Officers killed
and wounded 5, men 70. 70th N. 1., men 12. Total—
Officers 8, men 180.

BRIGADIER PENNY'S BRIGADE.-15th N. I. Officers
killed and wounded, 2; men unknown. 20th N. I. Offi-
cers killed and wounded unknown; men unknown. 69th
N. I. Officers killed and wounded, 2; men unknown.
Total—Officers, 4; men unknown.
BRIGADIER HOGGAN'S BRIGADE.-11. M.'s 61st Foot.
Officers killed and wounded, 4; men, 114. 36th N. I.
Officers killed and wounded, 6; men, 200. 46th N. I.
Officers killed and wounded, unknown; men, 70.
Total, Officers, 10; men, 380. Grand total of In-
fantry officers killed and wounded, 76; Infantry men,
2,167. Infantry officers killed and wounded, 76; staff,
3; cavalry, 10; artillery, 4; total, 93. Infantry men,
2,167; artillery, 63; cavalry and Penny's Brigade, about
270; total, 2,500.

The British force bivouacked on the night of the
18th a little in rear of the field of battle. The
Seikhs withdrew to Nussort, where they placed their
guns in the position of a besieged force, and fired a
salute—a rather odd combination of measures! In
the night parties of the enemy returned to the battle
field and carried off the guns which had been spiked
by our troops ; all the wounded men found by the
Seikhs were murdered, and the dead robbed and
mutilated.

The following is from the Bombay Times:—
'• They now took up their position on the heights of
Russool, watching the movements of Lord Gough's army
at the distance of five miles, and in daily hopes of re-
ceiving an accession to the strength. Chuttur Singh
Ted not wget joined, 00;‘,. ome 10,000 Affghans were
;,the port 'of them w: ring the turn of events. The
,10;000 Seikh troops sentr-by Slhoolab Singh, under-eol.
Steinbach, to coenperate -with us, were only waiting
see on which side victory should declare itself, to attach
themselves to the winning cause. The Commander• in-
Chief seemed to have been at first utterly at a loss what
was to be done; at first an immediate retreat on Dinghee
was spoken of, but as this would have been too unmis-
takeable an acknowledgment of success, he re-
solved at length to entrench himself where he
was, calling up Wheeler's brigade of about
5,000 men, engaged in quelling disturbances in the
Baree Doab, and summoning the 13th and 22d from
Ramnugger and H.M.'s 53d from Lahore; sending back,
in exchange, the regiments that were disabled. Lord
Gough having ordered that no letters should be sent
from camp until the dispatches were in readiness, wrote
a brief notification to the Governor-General, stating
that the troops under Shere Singh had been entirely
defeated And driven back at every point with the loss of
many of their guns, and had relinquished all the posi-
tions in which they had been entrenched. The ruse was
of no avail. For three days silence was successfully main-
tained, when such a host of letters from officers with the
force appeared in all the newspapers, bearing so obvi-
ously the stamp of thehighest authority that the dispatches
when they do arrive will take a very secondary place in
the rank of documents. The baggage-cattle had been
under their burdens for more than thirty hours before
sufficient leisure was found to attend to them. On the
17th, two European Lancers who had been ts4sen pri-
soners were returned to us ; and the Seikh General of
Artillery, with his two sons, and a couple of other men
of note, are said to have surrendered on the 19th. Lord
Gifford and Sir H. Lawrence quitted the camp of Lord
Gough for that of the Governor-General on the 18th.
A field-work had been thrown up on the right. Major
Tucker was to succeed Major Ekins. Colonel Carnegy
had reached camp, and been appointed Brigadier in
Pennycuick's room. Chuttur Singh had not, up to the
20th, our latest date from camp, joined his son, though
daily expected. The weather was delightful, and the
spirits of the troops are said to have greatly revived.
The wounded were doing well. The Seikhs are said to
have lost 3,000 men killed and 4,000 wounded—our
casualties being rather more than a third of this.
The enemy were busily engaged entrenching them-
selves—they aro reported to be 60,000 strong.
The latest news from the camp of the army of the
Punjaub is thus given by one of my correspondents,
in a letter received this morning :—" The mound
taken by our troops on the 13th has been entrenched
to the village of Chilliani on the left, and to our camp
on the right. Entrenchments for two regiments,
right and left, and a battery in the centre, have been
thrown up on our right, facing the north. Four
lancers, who went out on the 15th, in search of the
wounded, were surprised by the enemy. Two of
them escaped, but the other two were made
prisoners, and taken to the presence of Shere
Singh, who treated them well, and sent them back
on the 19th, with a vakeel to Lord Gough. Terms
were proposed by Shere Singh, which, however,
could not he listened to. The Commander.in-Chief
reviewed the troops on the 19th, and in riding down
the line expressed his satisfaction at the conduct of
the troops in the action of the 13th. The wounded
are doing well, and no case has been heard of likely
to terminate fatally. Halin Buz, who commanded
the Artillery at Peshawur, escaped from the camp
of Shere Singh, accompanied by ,his son; and a few
other artillerymen are said to have reached the

'

British camp. The weather has changed fur the
better. The rains and cold weather which prevailfd
after the action of the 13th had a most depressing
effect on the spirits of the Sepoys, who were scarcely
able to cook their food. The weather is now delight-
ful, with every prospect of its continuing."
I enclose you the Notification issued this morning
by the Government of Bombay, announcing the
unconditional surrender of the fort of Moultan. The
news first arrived here on Thursday last, and was
published by the Telegraph and Courier newspaper
thirty hours before the arrival of the Government
express with the official information—a fact which
must lead to the belief that Indian expresses are
somewhat slow-coach affairs after all.

" NOTIFICATION.
" POLITICAL DEPARTMENT.
" Bombay Castle, Feb. 2, 1849.
" The Right Honourable the Governor in Council has
the satisfaction in re-publishing for general information
the following Notification, issued on the 25th ultimo, by
order of the Right llonourable the Governor-General of
announcing that on the morning of the 22d idem,
Dewan Moolraj surrendered himself and hie whole gar-
rison unconditionally to the a itish Government.
" His Lordship in Council directs that in honour of
this event a salute of 21 guns be fired to• morrow at
noon, from the saluting battery, and that a similar salute
be fired on receipt of this order at all the principal
military stations under this presidency.
"By order of the Right lion. the Governor in Council,
" A. bIALET, Chief Secretary.
" Bombay Castle, 2d Feb. 1849."
"NOTIFICATION.
" FOREIGX DEPARTMENT.
" Camp Mukkoo, the 25th January, 1849.
" The Governor-General has the highest satisfaction
in intimating to the President in Council, and notifying
for public information, that he has this day received in-
telligence, that on the morning of the 22d instant, when
practicable breaches having been effected, the troops
were about to storm the Citadel of Moultan, the Dewan
Moolraj surrendered himself with his whole garrison
unconditionally to the British Government.
" 2. The Governor-General directs that a salute of 21
guns shall be fired at every principal station of the army
as soon as this notification shall be received.
" By orer of the Right Hon. the Gov.-Gen. of India.
(Signed) " H. M. ELLIOT,
" Secretary to the Govt. of India, with the Gov.-Gen.
"(True Copy.)
" A. MALET, Chief Secretary."
There are no letters from Moultan later than the
21st, and the only two of that date, which have been
published, appear in the Telegraph and Courier of
this morning. They are given below. Communica-
tions of the 22d will arrive this evening, giving the
particulars of the surrender. They will, however, be
too late for the mail.

The Fort of Attock has been surrendered to the
Affghans, who, it is said, plundered the town and
violated the women. Lieut. Herbert made an endea-
vour to escape down the Indus, but fell into the hands
of Chuttur Singh. Capt. Abbott is still at large, but
there are no recent tidings of his whereabouts. Major
and Mrs. Lawrence, and their children, are in the power
of the rebel chief. It is said Sir H. Laurence is very
anxious to prevent Dost Mahomed obtaining posses-
sion of his brother, as he has an "ancient grudge"
against him, which he would not fail to " feed fat,"
were he to secure his person. The Dost himself is
said to be on the banks of the Indus, watching the
progress of events. Strong reports are still afloat of
a close league having been formed between the
Affghans and Seikhs, but it is certain that
the former have not given the latter what
they must want more than all armed
aid. The general opinion seems to be, that
if the Ruler of Caubul can get our consent to the
retention of Peshawur, he will be satisfied; it is as
difficult, however, to fathom the depths of oriental
avarice as to trace out the windings of oriental
intrigue. A late letter from the north says that the
Mussulman Chiefs of Peshawur have formally con-
ferred on Dost Mahomed the title of Defender of the
Mahomedan Faith I

There has been an unpleasant little affair in the
Baree Doub, where a British force has suffered
a somewhat severe loss in attempting to storm and
take a strong stockaded position, occupied by Ram
Singh and a large body of Seikhs. The fullest
account of this is contained in the .llofussilite (Meerut
paper). I give it below :
(FROM BRIGADIER WHEELER'S CAMP.)—" CAMP
BELOW DULLAE, 17 JAN.—We attacked and carried
Ram Singh's position yesterday, although, as it turned
out, its almost inaccessible nature rendered it impossible
either to seize him, or inflict such a lesson on the
mass of his followers, as would have naturally resulted
under more favourable circumstances. On the morn-
ing of the 11th instant our force marched to Shapore,
the 4th Regiment native infantry being that day
detached for the purpose of taking up a position to
the northward of the enemy's post, and intercept-
ing bim should he attempt to escape in that direction.
Our main force then halted till the 13th at Shapore,
on which date a practicable road had been con-
structed through some seven miles of difficult defiles and
ghats as far as a small village called ' Cote,' on the
course of the Ravee, and about three miles distant from
the hill occupied by the enemy. On the following day
we took up ground under the heights of Dullah, at our
present encampment. Between the date of our arrival
here, and the evening of the 15th, the enemy's position
was reconnoitred as far as was practicable, and arrange-
ments made for transporting the guns and mortars on
elephants, cutting roads, and the like, Captain Hicks, of
the 3d N. 1., being dispatched on the forenoon of the 15th
with four companies of his regiment, and a party of
about 150 of the Guido Corps under Mr. Hodgson, to
occupy a position to the westward of the Dullah heights
and on the opposite bank of the river. As ill luck would
have it, rain, which had threatened for several days,
began to fall on the 15th, and continued to pour heavily
during nearly the whole of our operations of yesterday;
being exposed to it, as we unavoidably were, therefore,
from gunfire to gunfire, was not over pleasant, to say
the least of it. But to return to our operations. The
small village of Dullah is situated on a short platform,
upon the ridge of a hill, or rather series of hills extend-
ing from east to west in the valley formed by the Rene,
as it debouches from the mountains. It is composed
chiefly of soft grey sandstone, dipping almost perpen-
dicularly, and presenting, accordingly, nearly through-
out its northern and southern aspect, a series of vertical
scarped precipices, varying from twenty to eighty feet
in height. In fact, so completely is this range defended
by these natural bulwarks, that the narrow, rugged
pathway (if a collection of boulders deserve any such
name), ascends, almost entirely by zigzags, between
these precipices, averaging not more than eight feet
in breadth l In short, it would be difficult to pick
out another position throughout the length and
breadth of the land that required less human labour
to render it impregnable under proper defenders. The
plan of attack was as follows:—The 4th Regi-
ment N. I. were to take the firing of one of our guns
as a signal for their advance upwards on their side the
bill. The detachment 3d N. I. and Guides were at the
same time to commence their descent from their post,
and mirOthasillipA§Aummit of a high peak to our
left, tip viiplalitom-ihtsesside. On their crowning the
latter,,ineettoned heigl?,/, Major Butler, with the re-
esainclesseof the 3d N. I. and 200 of the 2d Irregulars—
Oho kisel volunteered with Lieut. Swinton to serve on
foot—were to advance from a point near the small vil-
lage of Chubarah, situated on the left spur of the hill to
our front, and upon which the party, followed by the
horse artillery guns, carried on elephants, the remainder
of the 2d Irregulars, under Captain Jackson, and two
squadrons of the 15th Irregulars, under Major
Fisher, had marched about eight o'clock, A.M.
The latter force was to be held in readiness to
mount the heights, if practicable, in case of necessity,
and of course mounted or not, as might seem expedient.
Two parties were sent off to the right, consisting of
some howitzers and mortars, under escort of the remain-
der of the 15th Irregulars under Captain Hicks, jun.,
and Major Davidson, with about 170 of bis corps: the
16th Irregulars and 150 of the lit Seikh Light Infantry,
under Lieutenant Peel, were ordered to ascend the front
of the heights facing camp. Owing to some difficulty,
however, or obstacle, no party appeared to crown the
peak from the opposite side, notwithstanding that the
signal gun was fired, and several shots discharged from
the batteries at the strongest points occupied by the
enemy. Major Butler was accordingly directed, about
eleven o'clock A.M., to move up the hill. He did so, and,
in conjunction with Lieutenant Swinton's dismounted
party, gallantly made good his advance, and took posses.
sion of Dullah.' Major Davidson, in like manner
assaulted a stockade erected about a quarter of a mile to
the eastward, and also situated on a small platform on
the ridge, and carried it. The remainder of the force
from Chubarah followed the 8d Native Infantry. The
enemy kept up a heavy fire upon our people for about
two hours and a half, and I deeply regret to add, with
too deadly effect. Poor Christie, of the 7th Light Ca-
valry, who had already undergone two very narrow
escapes with his life at lialawallab,' fell, whilst
rushing impetuously forwards at the head of a few of
the 3d Regulars, to storm a barrier erected near the
summit. He was shot through the heart, and lived only
to utter a word or two to the Resaldar, who was
fighting by his side. Alas! poor fellow I ho died
nobly, but might have poured out his heart's blood
in a better cause. His only fault, extreme
courage. amounting to temerity, cost him dear ;
for on both occasions with his close encounters with the
enemy at Kalawallah, as at this his last one, he was a
volunteer, without permission to be one. He is to be
buried this evening with military honours, and his grave
will exist, when perhaps one worked by the hands of the
sculptor would have crumbled into ruin, on one of the
heights around us, and amongst the mightiest work of
Creation. Poor Peel, too, was dangerously wounded,
when nearing the stockade. He received a ball through
his lungs; when lying prostrate, he was rushed upon by
one of the enemy, and received no fewer than seven
frightful tulwar cuts. He is of course in a very precari-
ous state, but bears his fate like a true, noble-hearted fel-
low, as he is I Davidson was shot through the hand, but
is doing well. Of his party, some fifteen or twenty were
killed or wounded. Ot the second Irregulars one sower was
killed and two wounded. The enemy's loss was about
twenty-five killed. How many were wounded it is im-
possible to say, for the mass, consisting of Ram Singh
himself and several hundred of his gang, escaped. Nor
was it in the power of men to prevent their doing so,
taking into the scale the strength of their position, and
the utter impossibility of getting at them, except by the
one or two causeways before alluded to. I have just
heard that Captain Hicks and his party of guides were
misled, and unable, from the nature of the ground
and weather, to make good their advance in time.
They were Gllt in the midst of She hills She whole