The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EvENI,NG,

beyond this' was unlookod for, prepared as we were to
avenge it, and to protect ourselves against it. A large body
of Seikh troops—about 60,000—having approached Feroze-
en the 15r h, lie division. 7,000 strong, under Majs,r-
General Sir J. Littler, marched out to protect the city. Several
feints were made, but no collision occurred. On the 17th
the enemy moved off to intercept the army under the
Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief, now hurrying
forward at the rate of 30 miles a day, to support General
Littler. A severe encounter took place near Moodkee, 22
miles from Ferozepore, on the 18th, and the battle was con-
tinued with much obstinacy and various results on the 21st
and 22d. Betwixt the evening of the 21st and morning of
the 22d the enemy's intrenched camp, defended by 60.000
men and 70 pieces of artillery, was captured, and in the
course of these various operations no fewer than 90 guns fell
into our hands. Both armies continued for the next eight
days inactive, reinforcements arriving rapidly for both,
when, about the '29th, the Seikhs are reported to have re-
crossed the Sutlej. The fighting seems to have been fearfully
severe—the loss heavy almost beyond precedent. Above 100
British officers have been wounded, and 61 are killed;
amongst these latter are Major- General Sir Robert Sale and
Sir John M'Caskill, with considerably upwards of 3,000 men
killed or wounded. Large masses of troops continue hurry-
ing northward from the Bengal upper provinces, and Sir
Charles Napier is in progress towards Sukkur, to the north-
ward of which he will speedily have assembled under him
an army of 14,000 to 15,000 men, to co-operate with the
grand army under the Commander-in-Chief in a general
scheme of operations against the Punjaub. The campaign
will probably be a protracted and severe one ; the results are
beyond doubt. The country, from the Attock to the Sutlej,
from Cashmere to Moultan, will be ours in four months if we
desire it. There are reports of risings and disturbances in
Upper Sinde, such as might have been expected on the
descent of the Seikhs upon our territory. The country is
fortunately this year healthy, though the present is the period
when sickness usually sets in. India is generally tranquil
throughout. Various financial returns of importance have
just been published. Lord Ellenborough, it appears, so far
from diminishing our expenditure, in two years added four
millions sterling to our debt, and the expenditure of 1844-45
exceeds the income by nearly two millions. Sinde costs a
million beyond its returns. The booty captured at Hydera-
bad in 1843, amounting to above half a million, has been or-
dered to be divided amongst the troops. The share of Sir
C. Napier amounts to about 70,0001. Great apprehensions
are being entertained at Bombay of suffering for want of
water, the fall of rain during the last monsoon having been
unusually deficient.

(From the Agra Ukbar of Jan. 7.)
The battle of Moodkee seems likely, from all that we can
gather of it, to take precedence in military history of those
of Maharajpore and Meanee, as far as regards the bravery of
our gallant forces when opposed to an enemy immensely
superior in numbers. Though this action has not been
decisive as to the results of the campaign—though it secures
no territorial acquisition—yet it fairly equals some of those
wonderful achievements which struck terror into our earlier
enemies, and established and consolidated our power in so
many regions of the east. When we hear of a battle be-
tween 10,000 men or less on the one side, and 60,000 or
upwards on the other, and learn that though the latter
neither lacked courage nor perseverance, and yet were
beaten—most thoroughly beaten—the heart of the man
must be cold as an icicle that warms not with admiration
of the gallant victors. The Seikhs first came down on the
Governor-General and his escort, but notwithstanding they
had him at advantage, he kept his ground till the Com-
mander-in-Chief came up with the main body of the force.
and then went into action in command of a division subor-
dinate to Sir Hugh Gough. The fire of the enemy was
literally one continuous roar of thunder, and was heard at
immense distances, justifying the remark of Sir Henry that
he had never seen one so hot in Europe. Of course our small
army suffered dro idfully—ene-half of the whole force, in-
cluding nearly fifty officers, having been either killed or
wounded—the Governor-General and his staff being through-
out especial objects of aim. No full account of the battle has
been yet received, nor does the last notification give any data
of the manoeuvres. The enemy seems, however, as we gather
from other sources, to have been successful in strategy, in
haying drawn the 3d Dragoons upon a body of their horse,
and then retiring and opening up a destructive fire from a
masked battery, and completing the work by pouring in
upon the shattered corps a heavy body of cuirassiers: only
250 men remained unscathed. Six of the officers were killed
and several wounded. It was probable in the vicinity of the
battery here mentioned that Major Broadfoot lost his life.
Her Majesty's 80th Foot had also a terrific struggle, having
refused to yield ground though repeatedly under ie fire of
artillery, and as often obliged to repel cavalry by forming
squares; their loss amounting to 200 men killed, as also o
officers, including Colonel Wood and Captain Scheberras.
The 29th (Queen's) lost Colonel Taylor killed, and Major
Congreve wounded. The losses up to this time ascertained
in the Horse Artillery are killed, Major Todd,Captain Swin-
ley,
Captain Dashwood, Lieutenant Lambert, and Lieutenant
Pollock ; of the Foot Artillery, Captain Trower and Lieu-
tenant \id heelwright wounded. The heavy sands met on the
line of march seem to have greatly impeded artillery move-
ments, the 12-pounder elephant battery not being in many
places manageable with a single animal. Captain Swinley's
troop of horse artillery having got into very heavy sand
and unable to move, it is feared was destroyed under the
fire of the enemy's guns. They however at last lost all
their own, which are now safe in Ferozepore, and beautiful
pieces they are, ready, if need be, to pay them back in their
own metal. _ _ _ _ _

Colonel Wheeler's action is said to have been a spirited
affair, but a good part of his baggage was made away with
by the Seikhs. They are not likely to think this any very
satisfactory equivalent for what they have lost. Four bat-
talions of Seikhs attempted to cross the Sutlej on the 31st,
but were intercepted by Colonel Wheeler and then returned.
In a day or two some account of these will perhaps be ob-
tained.

We learn that, although the result of the official returns
of killed and wounded is not yet generally known, our loss
in the action of the 18th at Moodkee was 250 killed and 500
wounded, and that in the last two battles of the 21st and
22d, between 1,700 and 1,800 Europeans were killed and
wounded. Particular regiments suffered fearfully, and of the
native corps some appear to have had their full share of hard
knocks. The total loss on our side in the three actions is esti-
mated, of all ranks, at 4,200 killed and wounded. Upwards
of 100 guns have been taken, and probably the enemy could
have but few more on this side the Sutlej. His remaining
artillery, which, however, includes in all probability the whole
of his means wherever being, is estimated at 200 pieces. It
may be supposed that their best guns were brought forward,
and that among the remaining may be net a few in a defec•
tive and unserviceable state. The information in camp is
said to be very bad, even in high places. The communica-
tion with the rear was still dithcult and doubtful ; several
posts have been cut off, and among them the overland ex-
press mail, which would probably have else carried home
some news of the Moodkee affair, and of the other actions
which immediately followed. On the 28th, the report being
that the Seikhs had recrossed the river, the Commander-in-
Chief moved towards the enemy; the Seikhs did not waitito
give his Excellency an opportunity of driving them over
the Sutlej, but prudently disappeared, and were, on the 29th,
encamped on the other side of the river. At Hurreeke
none were found by the cavalry sent on for that purpose.
Tej Singh was in Sir Hugh Gough's hands, considerably de-
pressed. One account would lead us to suppose that he was
a prisoner, and when sent to the rear, for purposes of safety,
kad contrived to escape from his guard. Bahadoor Singh,
one of the
.Seikh generals, was killed during the fighting.
It was rather confidently believed that the army would march
on to Lahore, and even a day, the 20th January, was by some
named as the intended date for such movement in advance.
The Seikhs are represented as anxious for peace, but the
Governor-General is said to have refused to treat until he
arrived at Lahore : and what were his ultimate determina-
tions as to the country and people, and rulers of the Punjaub,
could not be known. Sir John Grey's force has been
directed to occupy Loodianah for the present. We hear that
various officers in staff employ have been directed to join
their corps, among then Captain Blois from Meerut ; but
we do not know whether this be for regimental duty, or to
superintend the pay department of the grand army.
The 60th Native Infantry left Benares on the 31st ult.
for Barrackpore. The 13th N.J. was to leave Barrackpore on
the 30th ult. Her Majesty's 53d Foot was to leaVe Delhi on
the 4th instant, en route for Kurnaul, where it expects fur-
ther orders. The Commander-in-Chief's camp appears to
have been on the 29th at Auruftee, on the banks of the
Sutlej. The loss in the 2d NJ., which, to our regret, lately
killed
rflstploett dahai
ans
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emeeteeedann,na ceasotnaeinvordsmnei
rdtiehlfi:ryeati considerable in
woundedes32i
Lieutenant
theasatnm;t
among
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Captain
oinatives
aveasre
a
is 100 killed and wounded. We cannot refer to this matter
without wishing our gallant friends a speedy and complete
recovery, and expressing our hopes that then the Com-
mander-in-Chief and the Governor-General will find an early
opportunity of rewarding, in tne person of Captain Bolton,
rynleinritAortlioguhsanaimsi dt capablean, a t
isfea thliaerearj,
pwo
rheo,
andl ias
theerveeefiwi
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o
f distinction v
e
has severely suffered during the present short but memorable
campaign.

(From the Delhi Gazette of Dec. 31.)
The head-quarters' camp having reached Moodkee en the
,Bth, were attacked at 4 p.m. by a body of Seikhs, consisting
of 20,000 cavalry, 6,000 infantry, and a proportion of artil-
lery, under the personal command of Raja Lall Singh. The
latter were beaten back, with the loss of all their guns.
The troops marched forward on the 21st, and were joined
by General Littler between Sultan Khanwallah and Feroze-
pore, and the whole body then marched to the attack of the
Seikli army.
Sir J. Littler failed in his attack ; the centre carried several
positions of the enemy, and was obliged to desist at nightfall.
The Seikhs, during the night, having discovered the spot
where the Governor. General and the Commander-in-Chief
were bivouacking, opened a fire upon them, which caused the
death of so many of the staff-officere. The soldiers rose,
and in the middle of the night drove the Seikhs from
their guns.
After a little more rest, the attack w as renewed on the 22d,
and our troops carried everything before them, notwith-
standing the enemy had considerably strengthened their
positions.
The Seikhs returned upon our men while they were en-
gaged in removing their dead and wounded comrades, but
were again beaten otf. Three times this was renewed.
The whole of the contest on the 22d was carried on by the
centre division.
The details of the Ferozepore affairs do not appear to be
well known.

On the 15th the Seikhs advanced closer to the town, and
plundered some villages, and on the next day were seen
forming an immense crescent around the British lines.
The party under Captain Colebrooke came upon 1,000
Seikh plunderers at Asoofwallah, put them to flight, and
killed 40, the chief among the number, and took 50 prisoners.
The report of Mr, Miller's death Is untrue.
The Seikhs fully adalit having been thoroughly beaten.
It is believed the army wjll march upon Lahore on the 15th.
Ws previously mentioned that the head-quarters camp
were to reach llhaga Poorana oil the 17th, Major Broadfoot
having ridden on to examine the ground. This they did, and
on the 18th marched to Moodkee, 22 miles from Ferozepore,
and were quietly encamped, when about four o'clock in the
afternoon (not on the 19th, as had been previously stated on
the very best authority), an alarm was raised that the Seikhs
were in full march upon the camp, seine 30,000 men strong.
This number approximates greatly to that given by our
Lahore correspondent, who says that the detachment which
marched was under the personal command of Raja Lall
Siagh, and consisted of 20,000 cavalry, 12 battalions of
infantry (500 each), and a proportionate amount of ar-
tillery, which would give about the total mentioned in
our English letters. The British troops were scarcely
under arms before the Seikh guns opened upon them, but
the attack was met so resolutely that symptoms of wavering
began soon to manifest themselves. The cavalry and artil-
lery then advanced, closely followed by the infantry in line,
and a little after sunset the Seikhs were in full retreat, leav-