The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-18 00:00:00

THE PUNJAUB.

(From the Overland Calcutta Star, of October 7.)
The defection of Shere Singh has induced a mutinous
spirit among the Seikh troops beyond the Indus, and
movements towards the central provinces have been re-
ported on their part. But the fords the mutineers have
been occupied, and it is expected of the river will be kept
in check, till General Walsh receives such reinforce.
ments as will enable him to resume offensive operations.
The disturbances in the Kaagra and Noorpoor dis-
tricts have been suppressed; the leader, Ram Singh was
signally defeated by Major Fisher, his party entirely
broken up, and himself a fugitive whose capture is ex-
pected every instant. At Peshawar down to the 18th
inst. all was well; an attempt to effect a seizure of the
guns of the division at that capital was frustrated in
the contemplation of it, and though emissaries are hard
at work to induce a demonstration in favour of Chuttur
Singh, they have not yet been successful. Major Law-
rence is, however, sensible of the jeopardy in which
he stands, and he demanded troops from La-
hore without loss of time. Captain Abbott is still
in face of Chuttur Singh at Nara. He yet re-
frains from marching: towards Moultan until he can
obtain the co-operation of the Peshawur division.
and there are strong fears that' he will obtain it. At
Lahore, it was resolved by a coup de main to garrison
the fortress of Govindghur (which commands Umritsir)
with British troops ; the attempt was made with great
skill and crowned with success, and the Seikhs who
had held possession in the name of the Durbar, were
shown the door with much politeness. Meanwhile
there is a general move of our army upon the north-
west frontier. The complement of each regiment has
again been raised to 1,000 men, and the officers of those
corps which are now in the Punjaub who are on the
staff duty have been ordered to join without delay.
Some of these gentlemen have been twenty years absent
on civil employment, and would have been better disposed
of by being permanently removed to such employment,
their regimental places being otherwise supplied.
The following is the latest advice from—
Govindghur, 22d Sept., 1848.
" Cocks left for Lahore this morning, in high spirits at
the success of his trip; he remained an extra day, so as
to complete all arrangements with Cul. McSherry. It
was a very wise precaution taking charge of this fortress.
Another day and we should have been too late, for the
Sekhs bad already commenced making arrangements to
give any troops who might presume to approach a warm
reception. A party of 150 of the Guide Corps first of all
obtained admittance into the fort, under the pretence of
escorting prisoners, which was one of the Lahore ruses.
The Seikh soldiers left the fort in a most sullen
way, and the feeling in the city of Umritsir is
very strong. The people are in an excited state,
and publicly speaking of taking off the head
of the Killadar, should opportunity offer; the poor man
is quite happy at having us in the fort; and
he says ho now sleeps comfortably without the prospect
of losing his head. He seems to he an intelligent young
man, speaks a little English, and is most anxious to
learn and write—and become a real Killadar.
" The 14th Irregulars leave to-night for Lahore, and the
Ist, I fancy, will remain here for some time, until the
army is formed, when it will be relieved. Col. M`Sherry
is too good an officer to be cooped up here, when there
is anything to be done in the field."

Tt:e following is from a correspondent at Noorpoor.
The letter bears date 20th Sept.:—
" The following is an exact account of what has been
going on here. You have heard ere this that a party
was sent to this to catch Ram Singh, the son of the
Vizier of the Noorpoor Raja, who was removed by
the Commissioner in a somewhat summary manner,
and according to all accounts dealt will too
harshly. Ram Singh, disgusted at the treatment
received by his father. joined Mahraja Singh, the
Gooroo, but upon that worth's proceeding towards
Moulton, he returned to Noorpoor, and took up his
quarters first in one place and then in another, and at
last on a hill overlooking Noorpoor. Here he col-
lected oae hundred and fifty followers, defied all autho-
rity, looted the country, made prisoners et travellers,
committed murder in cold blood, and eventually fired
at the commissioner and officers who were with
him. Orders were then dispatched for mere
troops, and one company of the 29:h from Flake-
poor, four companies 71st from Rhoden Find, 250 men
of Major Hodgsoo's Seikh corps from Hoshearpore,
besides strong parties of the 15th and 16th Irregulars,
1 and 150 of the Hill Seikh Regiment tinder Lieutenant
Wallace proceeded hither by forced marches, from dif-
ferent stations; and on the night of the 18th all arrived
in camp outside Noorpoor. The hill on which Ram
Singh was encamped is a low, though steep spur—
surrounded on three sides by the dry bed of a river, co-
vered with thick jungle, and accessible only by rude foot
paths, on the dry bed of hill streams, and traversable only
by ono man at a time. On the fourth side is the junction
of the hill—to some low broken ground, wild and tjungly'
—by a narrow ridge with dens, jungle on Dither side.
We attacked the enemy on the morning of the 19th. The
troops moved out of camp at hours corresponding with
the respective distances they had to go. There were
four parties. The Seikh Loantry, under Major Hodg-
son, and the Company's of the 29th under Lieutenant
Johnson, attached the hill on the west by two paths.
The 71st under Captain Rind, attacked the south
side, and the hill men, under Lieutenant Wallace,
attached the north side. The two latter forces,
meeting at the top went along the ridge and thus
got the enemy in front and rear. Ram Singh's pickets
most olostinwely defended their poets—firing steadily at
the advancing troops—and while they were. retiring,
stopping to re-load and fire again. The loss on
the part of the enemy, which mustered 250 or
thereabouts, was between 50 or 60 killed and
wounded. Our loss was as follows:—The 29th, 1
killed and 4 wounded. Tho Seikh Corps, none
killed, but 4 or 5 wounded. The Irregular skirmished
along the foot of the hill, and took 15 or 1G prisoners;
but unfortunately Rain Singh escapd. Ono cannot
have any sympathy with such a cold-blooded animal ;
yet, it is generally believed that harsh and unnecessary
measures have driven him to desperation. Major Fisher,
of the Irregulars planned the attack, and displayed
throughout that zeal and activity which in both services,
met with commendetion.'