The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-01 00:00:00

and which ever since bad been annoying us. We
succeeded, but not without heavy loss. Up to this
time five officers had been killed and 21 wounded, and
nearly 200 men had been killed and wounded. A
furious attack was made on Ed wardes' camp on the
13th ; and on the 14th we carried a strong outwork
which enabled us to bring our guns within easy
breaching distance. At this time what we have no-
ticed at the beginning threw all our plans into con-
fusion. The Durbar leader, Shere Singh, with 4,000
Seikhs, deserted us, when it became plain the attack
could no longer be continued with any hope of-suc-
cess. The -following are the names of those who
have been killed or wounded :
KILLED.--Lieut. Colonel R. T. R. Pattoun, and
• Quartermaster G. Taylor, her Majesty's *2nd Foot ;
Major D. S. Monfizambert, 10th Foot; Ensign C.
'O. Lloyd, Bth 'Native Infantry; and Lieutenant T.
Cubitt, 49th Native Infantry.
WOUNDED.—Lieutenant!Colonel T. H. Franks,
C. 8., Captaiu M. Macgregor, -Lieutenants H. A.
Hollinsworth and J. S. Herbert, her Majesty's 10th
Foot; Lieuteriant-Colonel F. Markham, Captain A.
L. Balfour, Lieutenants C. T. King, J. Swinburne,
and W. A. Birtwhistle, her Majesty's 32d Foot;
Major Napier and Lieutenant Lake, Engineers ;
Lieutenant- Mangy, Horse Artillery; Lieutenant E.
0. Vibart-, 11th Cavalry; Lieutenant W. Christopher,
LN., Indus Flotilla; Captain F. T. Wzoughton,
Lieutenants A. Turnbull and H. R. Drew, and
Ensign F. H. Kennedy, Bth Native Infantry ; Lieuts.
J. F. Richardson, T. H. Flumer, and W. Irwin,
49th Native Infantry.
Expresses were immediately sent off requesting re-
inforcements. An army of above 20,000 was ordered to
be immediately formed at Ferozepore, of which we
presume about one-half will proceed to Moultan. Nine
thousand Bombay troops were directed to rendezvous.
at Roree, on the Indus; as it will be Christmas before
they can reach Mooltan, they are not likely to see
much of actual war. General Achmuty is ordered to
take command of the troops in Sinde ; Brigadier
Dundas heads the Roree army; General Gilbert tha

at Lahore. The Punjaub generally is in a disturbed
and unsatisfactory state. Four chiefs at Lahore have
been placed in arrest; our troops have occupied
Govindghur as a measure of precaution. A detach-

meat of 4,000 men has marched from Jullundhur to
' quell the tumults in the Hazareh country. The
Noorpore insurrection has been put down. Captain
Abbott and Lieutenants Nicolson and Robinson
are endeavouring to keep Chuttur Sing and the
insurgents near Attok in check. Attok itself is
safe. The Peshawur force are moving, but
on the whole it is hoped they may not break
out into open rebellion. We could scarcely
hope for three cold seasons to end without a war.
The Governor-General will shortly be on his
way to the North-west provinces; the Commander-
in7Chief is-about to proceed to Ferozepore almost
directly. Colonel Low, formerly Resident at Condi),
has been appointed agent for the Governor-General
in Rajpootana, in succession to Colonel Sutherland.
The Union Bank schedule of assessment has been
publiihed • it amounts to upwards of 520,0001., the
individual assessments varying from 5001. to 30,0001.
It is not expected that it will be agreed to by the
shareholders. An offer of 25 per cent. made by the
bank to its creditors as payment in full of all de-
mands, has, it is said, been accepted by nearly all.
The ship Belleisle, from Glasgow, was wrecked in
the Hooghly, on the Reef Head, on the 12th of
September; and the ship John Wood, outward-
hound for Mauritius, off Point Palmyras, on the
Bth. The Governor and
_Commander-in-Chief of

Bombay are still at Poonab, but on the point of
returning to the Presidency. The rains seem now
entirely over. The crops are fine in most parts of
the country. Maiwa is said to be threatened with
scarcity.

MO ULTAN.

The intelligence from Moultan given in our last over-
mid summary came down to the 24th of August. At
his time the columns from Lahore by the Raven and
Chenaub, and from Forozepore by the Sutlej, had joined
close to the scene of future operations. The battering
'rain was about to proceed from opposite Bahawulpere,
where it had landed on the 18th, and remained till the
28th preparing for the march; two companies of her
gajesty's 32d, for which boats-could not at first be
procured, were on their way down the river. Escorts
rom the 11th Irregular Horse and 49th Nativo Infantry
waited upon both detachments to protect their baggage.
The 32d had 90 sick on their arrival in camp, and had
lost 18 men on the way. On their arrival they speedily
began to recover, and aro now, like the other troops
around Moultan, in the highest health and spirits. The
insurgents continued indefatigable in their exertions,
and were every now and then able to seduce a few
Seikhs from our side, and to capture considerable
numbers of baggage, camels, and bullocks. The Dewan
Moolraj tried to corrupt our Sepoys by an offer of a
shilling a day of pay to them, with leave of absence
once every three years, and a suitable pension ; and a
couple of deserters did on one occasion cross over to
him, and were seen next day and recognised by their
accoutrements. On the 29th, the whole force moved
forward a few hundred yards nearer the fort, and en-
camped in a line. Meanwhile the party engaged in cut-
ting off the supplies of the water-courses from the Che-
naub were actively engaged some seventeen miles from
Moultan, protected by the steamers in the river, and by
1,000 Seikhs under Malice Singh, who were defended
by heavy guns and entrenchments. Tee river rapidly
rose, and twice were bunds of wool, stone, and mud
they had thrown up, burst through, when, the waters
once more subsiding, everything was gotcomplete. These
works were placed under the charge of Malice Singh,
with a powerful detachment of Seikhs ; they were de-
fended by strong entrenchments and heavy guns. The
work irg party was next directed to cut down jungle
and brushwood for fascines and gabions, ten boat loads
of which were ordered to be sent down for the use
of the besiegers. On the Ist of September the General
and Staff, with a body of engineer officers, reconnoitred
the fort, and Lieutenant Edwardes, with Lieutenant
Lake, Colonel Cortlandt, and Etnam-ood-deen, with
nearly the whole of the original attacking force, were
sent round to the opposite side to make a feigned attack,
and distract the attention of the enemy. They pro-
ceeded to take possession of a garden, where a picket of
the enemy, which fired on them and then retired, was
stationed. The troops now drew up in line. The Dewan
hearing the firing, made immediate arrangements to re-
inforce the outposts, and sent orders to them to maintain
their ground as long as possible. Some sharp skirmish-
ing appears to have ensued, when the Moultanees were
driven back at all points, and obliged to seek shelter in
a ravine close to the town. Daudpootras were at one
time hardly pressed, but, being reinforced, rapidly re-
covered their ground. The artillery force for a short
time occupied the position they had forced, when, as
evening drew on, the object of their mission having
been accomplished, they returned to camp unmo-
lested. The reconnoitring officers consisted of Gene-
ral Whish, commanding the forces; Colonel Franks,
her Majesty's 10th; Colonel Markham, her Majesty's
32d; Major Napier, Engineers, with a number of ama-
teurs. The escorting party was a strong one; it con-
sisted of her Majesty's 10th, two companies of her Ma-
jesty's 32d, wings of the Bth and .52d Native Infantry,
six guns, a troop of the 11th cavalry, and 18 troopers of
Wheeler's Horse. They made their way to the temple
where Mr. Agnew and Lieutenant Anderson were mur-
dered, at about 800 yards from the ramparts. So ef-
fectually had the garrison been occupied by the skirmish
on the opposite side, that it was some time before the
reconnoitring party were observed. So soon as they
were perceived a number of guns were brought to bear
on them; the practice was beautiful, and the shot fell
close beside them, One struck the temple, another
struck the wall under the feet of Dr. Thorp, of the Irre-
gular Horse, and passed just over the head of the Ge-
neral; another fell amongst the Sappers, but
luckily did no harm. Major Napier ascended
the minaret, and had a fine view of all the
works and of the ground immediately around.
The fire becoming disagreeable, the party returned by
a detour some 1,100 yards from the ramparts, the guns
firing on them all the way, the distance being such that
the shot nearly all fell short. It was now apparent that
the place was much stronger than has been imagined.
The fort is about a mile, the city two miles in circum-
ference. The former is surrounded by a ditch twenty
gouflatrhley con-
structed.for
t
feet
wide
atTbhoettowall and
ththeetodwefnenjoeisnsarteharte
The approaches are difficult in consequence
ouenmceofnds formedthegroves
of large trees, the enclosed gardens, and
by old brick-kilns, which everywhere abound. The
latter furnished excellent positions for the gnus of the
defenders, and will probably require to be taken in de-
tail. The number of watercourses cutting the country
in all directions was incredible—scarcely could a rider
stir without falling in with some of them, indicating the
extreme care bestowed on cultivation and the great capa-
bilities of the country. It was free of marsh, and mostly
well adapted for encamping ground. At this date head-
quarters were about two miles from the east corner of the
fortress; Edwardes, Lake, and the Bahawulpore troops,
about three-quarters of a mile south-east of the town,
and the Seikhs under Shere Singh immediately to the
west. The besieging force, as may be remembered, now
stood pretty nearly as follows :—Her Majesty's 10th
from Lahore, and 32d from Ferozepore, or in all about
2,000*; the Bth, 49th, 51st, 52d, and 72d Native In-
fantry, 3,700 Native Infantry-5,700 in all; the 11th
Light Cavalry, and 7th and 11th Irregular gorse. The
artillery portion of the force consisted of the sige train
of 34 guns, two troops of horse and a company of foot
artillery, with sappers and miners, and a full engineer
corps—the whole British portion amounting- nearly to

* The royal regiments in India are generally kept
un at about 1,100 strong. We have assumed her Ma-
ji,sty's luth and 32d at nearly 1,000 bayonets each. The
Native Infantry regiments at present are about 750; and
on this we have grounded our estimate.

7,000 men. The strength of the force near Moultan,
before the arrival of that under General Whish, seems
to have stood as follows—bat here we are far from being
assured of the accuracy of our facts : the troops of the
Bahawul Khan are estimated at 6,000 or 7,000; those
accompanying Colonel Cortlandt and Captain Edwardes
from the Derajat at from 4,000 ter s.ooo—probably
12.009 in all, with twenty guns. though sonic
e.itimates bring them up to 10,000 before the junction
of Sirdar Utter Singh, with 6,000 men, ten guns. and
two mortars, on the 14th of July. These may be
guessed in all, therefore, at probably not under 23,000
men, with 30 guns. Besides these, Shore Singh, the
Durbar leader, sent out in May from Lahore, had 3,000
men under his command; so that the total number,
regular and irregular, can scarcely fall emelt short of
32.000, with some 75 pieces ordnance of one sort or
another at their disposal. If' we are uncertain of the
strength of our own army, we are wholly in the dark as
to that of the enemy; latest accounts reckon it at from
7,000 to 12,000, with 52 guns. From the determined
attitude of defiance now assumed by him, with a force
so overwhelming as that already enumerated before him,
we are led to suspect the accuracy of much of the in-
formation formerly received in reference to his fears.
It is sufficiently apparent, from the state of matters
on both sides, that both he and we are under the
conviction that the friends of his cause through-
out the Punjaub are numerous and powerful. On
the morning of the 4th the siege train arrived
and took up its `position in the open space reserved
for it. It consisted of 34 pieces of heavy ordnance.
It was accompanied,by an escort of the 11th Irregular
Horse and 49th Native Infantry. Two hundred and
eighty bullock carts and 3,500 camels were required
to carry their stores, and such-;s the length of the
train that the head of it arrived at Moultan before the ,
other extremity had got out of camp eight miles be-
hind. On the sth a grand parade of all the troops was
ordered, and a royal salute was fired in honour of the
occasion. Prize agents wore at this time appointed by
the General—rather prematurely, as will presently
appear. This was returned by a continued discharge
from the ramparts—which proved harmless, the shot
having fallen short. A proclamation was now made
and distributed about the town, intimating that for
the next twenty-four hours such of the inhabitants as
desired it would find protection in the camp ; after this
no one would be suffered to pass the gates. On the
evening of the 6th the mortar batteries opened, and a
large number of shells were thrown into the town, doing
considerable injury and occasioning the utmost alarm.
Rungram Singh, a kinsman and principal officer of the
Dewan, had been detected communicating with the La-
hore Durbar, and was in consequence thrown into prison
by his master. Six 18-pounders and four 8-inch mor-
tars were ordered to be advanced towards the town in
the course of the night. The howitzers and mortars
were to be put in position about 1,200 yards from the
south-east angle of the town, and when the suburbs and
intervening grounds were cleared of the enemy by their
fire the 18-pounders were to be moved up within 400 or
500 yards of the walls, and battering to be
commenced. A breach was expected to be es-
tablished in the course of the day. when the
town was to be carried by assault; the storming
party to consist of her Majesty's 32d, the 49th and
51st Native Infantry, to be accompanied as far as pos-
sible by M'Kenzie's Horse Artillery. It was expected
that the storm would be attempted late in the afternoon
of the 7th or at daybreak on the Bth. Further consi-
deration induced the General to alter the whole plan of
his operations, and on consideration of the extreme de-
termination of the enemy, the strength of the
place, and the severity of the conflict likely to
he carried on in the streets while the citadel
continued in the hands of the insurgents, it was
resolved to avoid so heavy and so superfluous a sacrifice
of life as this was likely to occasion and to proceed by
regular approaches. It turned out afterwards that the
enemy had improved their time, and very skilfully en-
trenched or fortified every tenable point betwixt our
camp and the walls. On the evening of the 6th we had
begun to throw shells into the town. The troops were
ordered to assemble at three o'clock on the morning of
the 7th, and the quartermasters of regiments to meet the
Quartermaster-General at daybreak, to take up new
ground for the force. Some time before daybreak the
72d Native Infantry, three guns under Captain Ander-
son, and the greater part of the llth Irregular Horse,
proceeded to take possession of a hamlet and mound
where a gun had been placed from which the enemy
used to lire on our pickets. So soon as daylight allowed
them, the 72d threw out its skirmishers, and the artillery
got into a position well sheltered from the guns both of
the fort and city. After some sharp firing in which
the Rifles played a conspicuous part, the enemy,
at least five times as numerous as their assailants,
were driven from their position. They took shelter in a
village right under the elms of the city and fort ; from
this they were quickly driven at the bayonet's point by
our troops—nor did they slacken their speed till fairly
within the town. The Dewan continued to play his guns
unceasingly from the walls ; the shots passed over the
heads of the parties for whom they were intended, and
came rolling down towards the camp. The sappers and
miners continued incessantly at work in the trenches,
800
.Einropeans taking the place overnight of a cor-
responding number of eiepoys kept at work throughout
the day. On the morning of the Bth the 52d Native In-
fantry made an attack upon another outpost ; they filed
a heavy volley into the village, and then drove the enemy
before them at the bayonet's point ; scarcely any injury
was sustained by them. Throughout the day it was held
by three companies of the 52d. On the following morn-
ing the 52d was relieved by the 49th, and the post pre-
viously held by the three companies of the former was
now occupied by a like number of the latter carps
amounting to 120, under a captain and subaltern. The
enemy were in possession of a strong post about
100 yards in front—from this they maintained a
dropping matchlock fire on us, so well directed that
the moment a man showed himself he was sure to be
hit. It afterwards appeared that they had here strongly
entrenched themselves, and as soon ,as night drew on,
and the European soldiers of the 10th began to excavate
a new parallel, a furious and deadly fire was opened
upon them. This they immediately returned, hut with
small effect, in consequence of the denseness of the
thicket, and the shelter around. The officer command-
ing in the trenches at length attacked the garden and
village from which the enemy were annoying us. Some
companies of the 72d hero joined in the fray, and at
first the enemy were driven out of their cover. The
post in the garden was a strong one ; in the village one
large house full of men was loopholed; and though the
door was forced by Lieutenant Richardson, the troops
failed to effect an entrance. Su hot meanwhile was the
fire of the enemy, that the European soldiers were com-
pelled to seek shelter, and ultimately to retire. The
enemy pressed on them until they had fallen back on
the entrenchments; they then moved off in line to re-
occupy the garden from which they had at first been
driven. The fire was not, it is said, surpassed in fury
at Moodkee or Sobraen. Out of 90 men engaged her
Majesty's 10th had 40 wounded almost all of them
severely ; the 49th Native Infantry 28. Brigadier
Markham, Lieutenants Hollinsworth, Richardson, and ;
Irwin were all wounded. The post assailed was
about 600 yards from our outworks; the assault was
boldly made, but the place was much too strong for cap-
ture. The detachment of the 49th was now strengthened
by one company of her Majesty's 10th, and the Rifle
company of the 72d. All night long the enemy con-
tinued to cannonade them, but luckily without doing
much mischief. At daybreak on the 13th some guns
were got into position, and a tremendous discharge of
round shot, grape, and shrapuell, was maintained
three hours—to all appearance, however, without
effect; the enemy were well protected from danger, and
seemed not to suffer from alarm. In the course of the
forenoon a battery was got advanced to within a very
short distance of the post, and a heavy fire recommenced,
but without better results than that which had preceded.
During the whole of the 11th a virtual armistice was
maintained on both sides, but the insurgents were now
aware of the strength and importance of their position,
and of the effect of night attacks upon us, and began to
establish a regular battery in the garden. An order was
now issued by General Whish directing an attack to be
made on them about seven o'clock on the morning of the
12th; the attacking force to consist of a troop of horse
i re-
pulsed About
artillery, a squadron of cavalry from each of the three
regiments, twelve companies of European, and two re-
giments
which vth enall.th
e 9th batteries
of Nativeh begano e 2,500 y to
had
prepareon
Infantry,
above
nseevaernt ine the
building morning
from
theyw
us. They were attacked by one European and
two native regiments. The Europeans, remembering
Anh
suffered,aorwmr narrow
theirnw e square,
qhfucoa
aoudrmge
fought
taea
been
nledi comrades hebh al
ofodutwr boinere
seu. np bayonetedfoiled,bTy h etyh e
fmao
enu:nd
eac;rnhyd4ooowhonue mennthdoefrye hundreds
had
sn a
them ao df.
scorched and shattered bodies were found piled over the
ground. Sixty of those who had cut down Ensign Lloyd
when, parleying with them were destroyed by her Ma-
jesty 10th—only five of the party escaping. The ar-
tillery destroyed 100 in one mass. Colonel Pattoun and
Quartermaster Taylor, of his Highness's 32d; Major
Montizambert, of her Majesty's 10th; Ensign Lloyd, of
the Bth Native Infantry; Lieutenant Cubitt, 49th Native
Infantry, are said to have fallen. Wounded—Captain
Balfour, her Majesty's 32d Foot, slightly; Lieut, King,
ditto, slightly; Lientenant Swinburne, ditto, slightly;
Lieutenant Birtwhistle, ditto, slightly; Captain !'Gre-
gor, her Majesty's 10th Foot, slightly; Colonel Franks,
ditto, slightly ; Lieutenant Herbert, ditto, ditto ;
Major Napier, Engineers, ditto; Lieutenant Lake, ditto,
Lieutenant Binney, Horse Artillery, 'ditto; Captain
Christopher, Indian Navy, badly; Captain Wroughton,
Bth Native Infantry, slightly; Lieutenant Turnbull, ditto,
ditto; Ensign Frederick Kennedy. ditto, ditto; Lieu-
tenant Vibart, 11th Light Cavalry, ditto. Major-
General Whish had a horse shot under him. A troop
of Horse Artillery, a squadron of the 11th Cavalry, the
7th and 11th Irregular Horse, five companies of her
Majesty's 10th, with as many of her Majesty's 32d, the
Bth and 49th Native Infantry, were the troops engaged.
Colonel Franks commanded one column of five companies
of Europeans and a native corps, Colonel Pattoun an-
other— the whole under Brigadier Hervey. The success,
though dearly purchased, was of much importance. It
placed all the defensible points on this side the city in
our hands, and enabled the battering guns to be advanced
within 600 yards of the wall—a position they could not
have attained by regular approaches in less than a week.
About two o'clock is the morning of the 13th a furious
attack was wade ou Adwardca' camp, fatungely with-