The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-07 00:00:00

NEPAN EE.

MARCH s.—We have the pleasure of laying before our
readers a deci.iled account of the taking of th t Nepanee
fort by the detachment from Belgaurn, under Major V,vian,
by an eye-witness. We think it high time all these strong-
holds in the Southern Mahratta country should be cis-
mantled, or small garrisons of our sepoys placed in them
to prevent disturba,,ces like that which has lately occurred,
and which caused much expense, trouble, and loss of va-
luable life, without any glory to the army, or advantage to
the State.

On the 19:h of February the force artived at this place
much disappointed at having had no brush on the road with
some Pindarecs, whom we were told had been employed by
the garrison to plunder and annoy us on the line of march.
On approaching the tort to take up a position to the
eastward of it, the Rifle Company and some of the 4th
King's Own occupied some unfinished buildings 500 er 600
yards from the fort, and from which some matchlock-men
slowly retired as we approached, and without fi,ing a shot
seate I themselves on the glacis, eyeing the " Tornasha,"
they bad previously determined not to fire the first shot.
Our position having been taken up about 12 p.m., fatigue
parties were ordered out to throw up a breastwork before,
and level the ground for the mortars, which by sunset was
completed. During this time Captain Hall and the com-
manding officer reconnoitered the fort, which was found to
be remarkably strong. Nothing of moment occurred dur-
ing the night, but at 4 a.m. the men, who hail been ordered
to be ready accoutred, and had be:m so the whole night,
were quietly desired to " fall in," and (24 artillery men,
the light company of 4th King's Own, a rifle company of
26th Native Infantry, and grenadier company of the 18th
Regiment Native Infantry) went off with a 9-pounder to
the t a,tern side; on approaching the principal gate, the
front of it was found occupied by a considerable number of
the enemy, who, after a sharp fire and some cold steel bad
been administered, were driven in.
The infantry having taken up a position under the walls
of a court-)and , the gun was run up, a part of the wall
having been thrown down, so as to command the batteries ;
it commenced taking them, whilst the Light Bobs and
Wfles continued sniping from the tops and eaves of houses.
The mortar battery had now commenced operations, and
doing its duty in excvl!ent style; towards evening some
sheds, in which the enemy had crowded, having been
pretty well riddled, and the curtain above the gate and
otner works having been knocked to smithereens, the fire
slackenlcd, nay almost terminated. A Sergesnt of the Ar-
tillery having observed three guns still in statu quo on the
glams, exclaimed, " Ough,'blood and thunder an ouns, boys,
they'd be afther turning them on us in the night; hurrah,
boys, let's dismount 'em ;" and rushed out, accompanied by
four dashing fellows, who, before you could hardly say,
"by your lave,' took a whe.l of each, arid turned the
whole upside down. As a heavy fire was kept up, on
them whilst doing it, this was a daring act, but they were
not long about their work, and were soon safe amongst
their comrades.

Yet as daring a one was the bringing two men of the
King's Own from under the very muzzles of the ene ny's
guns, alto had b.?en shot early in the morning. Their
comrades now volunteered to fetch them, and with one
consent a few of them joined for the purpose. On reach-
ing the poor fellows we were overjoyed that one of them
was still living, although he had been lying five or six
hours in the sun (and I am happy to say is still alive and
likely to do well.)
The sniping and sin Ding continued at intervals until the
following evening, when the garrison surrendered. N.•-
e, for its site, is one of the strongest forts I have
seen in India. It is said to have been built by a French
engineer. Nothing could surpass the cool and gallant
conduct of our troops on this occasion ; officers and men
vii ing with each othr r in the execution of their duty, and
obedience to commands.

The enemy kept up a rattling fire on the first evening,
and, until their guns a ere dismounted, they showed a
good Share of br.sery. Their loss must have been se.
very—,o or 80 at least killed, and wary wounded (23),
some of which are at present in the hospital in our camp.
Upwards of 50 p cc- s of ordnrinee, principAly br,ss,
were found in the fort, About 70 A,abs are now under
escort to Vingoria, ;lid a number of the natives of India
prisoners in Olt Camp.