The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-12 00:00:00

be easier to effect a breach, as it could be better seen anti
a more direct fire could be brought to bear.
"I therefore directed the camp to be pitched on the south
side, about a mile from the fort, and withdrew from the
north side, wheretit would have ben dangerous to pass
the night, as it was surrounded by thick jungle.
"This morning at daylight Major Brind, Bengal Artillery,
and Captain Lennox, Royal Engineers, proceeded to again
reconnoitre the place thoroughly before re-commencing
operations, and found that the enemy had evacuated it,
leaving their guns behind them (five iu number), ammuni-
tion, a large quantity of attah, and some tents. As some
of their carriages were found without their guns, and the
track of a gun carriage could be traced to a well, where
the water is very deep, I have no doubt other guns have
been thrown down it. I had information that there were
more in the place, and it is certain none were carried out.

" The reports as to the numbers of the enemy vary so
much that it is impossible to arrive at any certainty upon
that point ; but I am inclined to think the number stated
in my despatch yesterday, viz., about 1,500, to be nearly
correct, but the strength of the garrison consisted in the
nature and situation of the fort, not in their numbers.
" I regret to say that this operation has cost us above
100 officers and men killed and woanded, and I have deeply
to deplore the loss of Brigadier the Hon. A. Hope, from
whom I had received the greatest assistance.
"The loss of the enemy it is impossible to ascertain ;
it must have been heavy from the tire of our guns, and espe-
cially from our howitzers and mortars. A few bodies
which seem to have been overlooked, and three large
funeral fires with the remains of the bodies smouldering,
were all that remained of their dead on our entering the
place this morniug.
" The fort, which has overawed this part of the country
for the last year, is being destroyed under the superinten-
dence of Captain Lennox, Royal Engineers, and 1 am in
hopes that its destruction will be of the greatest advantage.
" I have received the most willing support from all under
my command during this operation, and I bog particularly
to offer my best thanks to Brigadier Hagart, Commanding
the Cavalry, and to Major Brind, Commanding the Artil-
lery, for their most able and valuable assistance ; also to
Captain Lennox, the Senior Engineer Officer, to Lieut.-
Colonel Hay, Commanding the 23d Regiment, who suc-
ceeded to the command of the Infantry Brigade on the
death of Brigadier Hope ; to Lieut.-Colonel Cameron,
commanding 42d Regiment ; Lieut.-Colonel Taylor, com-
manding 79th Regiment ; to Captain Cafe, commanding
4th Punjab Infantry, who, I regret to say, was severely
wounded ; to Lieut.-Colonel Tombs and Major Remming-
ton, commanding troops of Horse Artillery ; to Captain
Francis, commanding heavy guns, to Captain Coles, com-
manding 9th Lancers ; and Captain Brown, commanding
2d Punjab Cavalry.
" I beg also to return my best thanks to the officers of
my Staff—Captain Barwell, deputy assistant adjutant-
general ; Captain Carey, deputy-assistant quartermaster-
general; Captain Warner, aide-decamp; and Lieutenant
Eccles, Rifle Brigade, my extra aide-de-camp.
"Enclosed I beg to forward a list of the casualties, and
likewise a sketch of the fort, which has been made in
hurry, but will afford information of the nature of the
work.—l have, &c.,
" R. WALPOLE, Brigadier-General, Command-
ing Field Force."