The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-24 00:00:00

useless.

We have papers from China to the 6th of January,
but the news they contain is unimportant.
The Governor•• General has ordered levies to be raised
and trained to the amount of 10,000 men, to keep the

regiments on service in full effective strength.
Our loss in killed and wounded is about 600, that of
the enemy not known, but very severe.
THE PUNJAUB.

• We delayed publication to the latest possible hour at
the dispatch of last steamer, in expectation of receiving
full and authentic tidings of a reverse said to have oc-
curred near Loodianah," but obtained none. Sir Harry
Smith's division—which occupied a position at the ex-
treme right of the British force, nearly opposite Hurre-

kee—proceeded aecordicg, to orders about the 19th, to

march in the direction of Loodianah to reinforce the di-
vision under Colonel Godby, considered too weak to
be opposed to the formidable body of Seikhs then
entrenched in the neighbourhood for the purpose of
annoying them. The division consisted of the Ist and
2d brigades of infantry, viz., her Majesty's 31st and 24th;

42d, 47th, and 48th Native Infantry, the 9th and 16th
Lancers, three troops of horse artillery, and the 4th irre-
gular horse. Her Majesty's 53d had been ordered to join
on the way, and the junction was effected at 7 P M. on
the 20th, to the east of Dhurrumkote, the Europeans
having marched 17 miles for this purpose; the force in
all amounting to nearly 8,000 men. On the 20th an
express arrived, intimating that the Loodianah regiments
were hemmed in. The Seikhs had crossed the river in
force, and taken up such a position as they considered
suitable for intercepting our troops and preventing a
junction. The reinforcing division marched about half-
past one on the morning of the 21st ; 25 miles had to be
traversed before they reached their destination. Colonel
Godby had been written to, announcing General Smith's
approach, and desiring him, as soon as he saw the dust
of the advancing column, to move out and meet them.
When about five miles from the conclusion of the
journey, the Seikh troops were unexpectedly descried
close at hand. The present object was a junction, not a
battle; and a considerable detour was immediately re-
solved upon to promote the furmer and avoid the latter.
The column was headed by her Majesty's 31st-53d
bringing up the rear. The enemy's artillery did them
their usual service ; their cavalry made some demon-

strations, but speedily withdrew ; ours, consisting of
the 9th and 16th, Lancers, the Ist and 3d Light Cavalry,

and 4th Irregulars were commanded not to charge,
though eager for the fray. The Umballah force had
moved out about nine o'clock that morning, and were at

this time rapidly approaching. General Smith con
tented himself with returning the fire of the enemy's
cannon. The haste with which the circuitous movement
was executed for a time exposed the baggage, a portion
of which fell into the hands of the enemy. Our casualties
amounted to about 200 killed and wounded. Lieutenant
Hideout, of the 47th Native Infantry, and Lieutenant
Campbell, Aide-de-Camp to the Governor-General, were
slain ; Lieutenant Cavanagh, 4th Irregular Horse, and
Lieutenant Grey, her Majesty's 53d, were wounded.
From the 21st to the 24th every effort was made to re-
store comfort to the brigade—loss of tents in the burning
sun of India being a much more formidable matter than a
similar occurrence at home. The greater portion of the
troops were encamped between Buddewal and Loodianah
—the :36th Native Infantry and Nusseeree battalion
being alone near the town. The Seikhs now apprehend-
ing an attack, in turn abandoned Buddewal, and with-
drew to a more advantageous position lower down the
river. Colonel Wheeler's brigade, consisting of her
Majesty's 50th, the 47th, and 48th regiments of Native
Infantry, joined on the 25th, and a few days being al-
lowed for rest and arrangements, it was resolved that an
attack by the united force should be made on the 28th.
The Seikh force had originally consisted of 20,000 men
with 56 guns : on the 26th they were reinforced by the
addition of 12 guns and 4,000 men—all regular well-
disciplined troops. Their rear rested on the river, they
were entrenched strongly on the flanks; the strength of
their position was the village of Aleewal. On the 28th
the united divisions, consisting of 12,000 men and 32
guns, marched at daybreak from Buddewal in the direc-
tion of the enemy's camp. At the village of
Churck we first got sight of the enemy. They ad-
vanced some distance beyond their entrenchments
towards our division, and commenced a heavy can-
nonade on our troops, which continued for half-an-
hour. The village of Aleewal, the important point,
was now stormed by our troops. Colonel Wheeler's
brigade, consisting of her Majesty's 50th, and the 47th
and 48th Native Infantry, led the advance. The whole
line now pressed on and stormed the batteries every-
where, carrying the guns at the bayonet's point. Charge
after charge of our cavalry broke and cut up the enemy
as they endeavoured to rally. The 16th Lancers and
3d cavalry suffered most severely ; of the former 110
were killed or wounded in charging the enemy's guns
and in striving, and that most successfully, to break a
square of a Khalsa regiment, which was quickly dis-
persed or cut to pieces. In this latter service 200 of
the Irregular Horse, under Captain Hill, and 700 of
the Shekawattee Brigade eminently distinguished,
themselves. The Seikhs fought gallantly, and their
guns were excellently served ; they opened at ten, and
were not silenced till one o'clock—many of the artillery-
men remaining till bayoneted at their posts. By noon
the enemy were broken : they were driven by repeated
charges of cavalry and infantry into, and across, the
river. Many were drowned in attempting to escape.
Sixty-five of their guns were captured ; the remaining
three were left unserviceable. Nothing could exceed
the gallantry of the troops ; the artillery practice was
precise, steady, and destructive ; the cavalry charges
brilliant ; and the infantry everywhere as determined,
steady, and orderly, as if a ball-practice p2rade, and
not,a pitched battle, had been in hand. Sir Harry Smith
was present everywhere, encouraging and leading on the
men. Four European officers were killed in this affair,
and thirteen wounded. Their names are as follow:
Killed.—Her Majesty's 16th Lancers—Lieutenant H.
D. Sweetman, and Cornet or Lieutenant Williams.
50th Foot—Captain C. R. Grimes.
55th Native Infantry—Lieutenant Smallpage.
Wounded.-16th Lancers—Major Smith ; Captain
Fyler, severely.
31st Foot—Lieutenant Du Vernet, Ensign Purcell
(Qy. 50th Foot).
50th Foot—Captain Pringle O'Hanlon (Major of Bri-
gade), Lieutenant H. J. Frampton, Lieutenant William
P. Elgee, Ensign Farmer.