The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-03 00:00:00

THE BOMBAY MAIL.
We have received by way of Marseilles our
papers in anticipation of the overland mail which
left Bombay on the 9th ult. We take the follow-
ing summary from the Bombay Times :
"Our latest advices from the North-West are
dated Agra, the 26th inst., from which we learn
that Col. Seaton's column, which marched from
Allyghur on the 13th, en, route for Etah and Myn-
poorie, fell in with a force of the rebels, 3,000
strong, at Gungeree on the morning of the 14th.
Their surprise was complete, and after a brilliant
charge of the carabineers the enemy fled in disorder
along the Futtehghur road, leaving several guns
behind thorn. They were hotly pursued for some
distance by this corps and Hodson's Sikh horse,
their loss amounting to 350 or 400 men. The
casualties on our side were 48 killed and wounded.
Our loss arose from the unfavourable nature of the
ground, covered with thick and high shrubs, in
which the murderers ensconced themselves, and
from their hiding-places " potted" at our officers
and men. Next day the column marched to Kas-
gunge, but the enemy had fled, and it was said was
posted at Sahawur, a village 10 miles distant on the
-Puttehghnree On the ,l6t,h the column reached
gahawur, only, howeVei, to find that the enemy
had continued his flight. Some 70 insurgents,
who were not quick enough in their flight, were
cut up by Hodson's Horse. Col. Seaton then de-
ter mined to follow them to Putteealee, 10 miles
further, although his information of the move-
ments of the enemy was never to be relied on ; still
he knew that they had a number of guns, and the
heavy, sandy nature of the roads led him to con-
clude that they could not march so rapidly. On
the morning of the 17th his advanced guard came
upon the enemy drawn up in position in front of
the village of Putteelee. Their position, which was
well chosen, was reconnoitred personally by Capt.
Hodson and Lieut. Greathed, of the Engineers.
Their centre and left were posted behind some
very ugly ravines, and their right rested in a tope
of trees in front of the village. Col. Seaton made
his dispositions immediately, halting the main body
in order to Ore the men a short time for rest
and refreshment. The light artillery soon went to
the front, and the action commenced with a pretty
sharp fire on both sides, which disclosed better the
position of the enemy and the number of his guns.,
Colonel Seaton then ordered the cavalry to the
right, to avoid the ravines and to take the enemy in
flank. While these operations were being carried
out his main body, advancing in battle array, de-
ployed into line from quarter-distance columns. As
the infantry, under Major Eid, came in sight of the
' enemy, the artillery firing on both sides had reached
its hottest point.
" At the first flash, however, of the advancing
bayonets gleaming in the morning sun the enemy
fled en masse, while the rapid and precise fire of
our artillery told with terrible effect upon his ranks.
The cavalry had now cleared the ravines in front of
the position, and went off in close pursuit ofthe
fugitives for 7 miles. Their camp equip ige, guns
(13 in number), baggage, ammunition, and stores
fell into our hands, while it is supposed that not
fewer than 600 of them were killed upon the field
or in the pursuit. Not the least gratifying feature
of this success is the small amount of cost at which
it was purchased, not a single European having
fallen on our side, and but three or four being
wounded, and that only slightly. One of Hodson's
Horse was killed.
" The little force which has achieved this brilliant
and decisive success, under its gallant leader Col.
Seaton, fitaripil from Delhi about a month ago, and
was composed as follows
" Europeans—One troop Horse Artillery, one
squadron 6th Carabineers, 300 bayonets Ist Bengal
Fusileers, 6 rank and file 9th Royal Lancers.
"Natives—Hodson's Sikh Horse, 7th Punjanb
Infantry, two companies Sappers and Miners.
" This important success in conjunction with the
decisive victory gained by Sir Colin Campbell at
Cawnpore a few days previously, must render the
Doab no longer safe for the fugitives, as the whole
extent of country between that city and Agra will
now be swept by the combined forces.
" The reverse sustained by General Windham at
Cawnpore, from the impending and disastrous
issues of which he seems only to have been rescued
by the rapid advance of Sir Colin Campbell, has
called for some remark in the papers ; but his sub-
sequent appointment by the Commander-in-Chief
to an independent command at Limbellah would
appear to indicate that uo very serious blame at-
taches to him in the matter. Reports were rife at
one time to the effect that he had resigned his com-
mand, and at others that he was in arrest, but they
appear to have been but exaggerated statements of
Sir Colin's natural impatience of the reverse.
" The scene of bur future operations of any mag-
nitude will of course be the left bank of the Ganges,
which is in all but undisputed possession of the
rebels, the destruction of the Gwalior Contingent,
and Col. Seaton's brilliant victory having rendered
its right no longer tenable to them.
" Sir James Outram at the date of our last ad-
vices was still holding the palace of the Alumbagh,
and we have received the following gratifying de-
spatch, by telegraph from Madras, of a success just
achieved by him there Outram attacked and
di-persed the enemy near Alumbagh on the 22d of
Dec., and captured four guns,
one elephant, and
much ammunition. Our loss was very trifling.'
" Since writing the above we are in possession of
the following Mofussilite extra, bringing our news
front the North-West down to the 28th inst. :
" Agra, December 28, 1857.
" Cawnpore. —A strong column under Brigadier
Walpole left Cawnpore, on the 18th instant, and
reached Akbarpore, half way to Calpee, on the 19th.
It remained there for two or three days engaged in
settling the surrounding country, which has been
so long disorganised by the insurgent troops.
" With this column are the Rifle Brigade, two
battalions ; 38th Foot ; Bourchier's Battery and
Blunt's Troop of Horse Artillery ; Ist Punjab
Cavalry, and three squadrons of the 9th Lancers.
It will proceed towards Etawah.
" With the Commander-in-Chief, when his Ex-
cellency moves westward, will be the following
regiments :—Remington's troop of Horse Artillery,
Smith's Battery Royal Artillery, the Naval Brigade,
with six 24-pounders, two 8-inch howitzers, and
mortars ; two companies of Sappers and Miners,
Bengal ditto and two companies Punjaub ditto, the
cavalry which went down with Grant's column,
the Bth Fort, 23d Fusiliers, 42d Highlanders, 53d,
64th, 82d, and 93d Highlanders, with a regiment of
Punjaub Infantry.
" The 32d, 34th, and 88th Foot remain at pre-
sent at Cawnpore, with the faithful remnants of the
Lucknow corps, who behaved with great gallantry
and fidelity.
" With Sir J. Outran], at Alumbagh, are one
Royal battery, two Bengal field batteries, a heavy
Bengal battery, a company of Madras Sappers, the
Military Train, two squadrons of Dragoons, some
Irregular Cavalry, H.M.'s sth Fusiliers, 78th
Highlanders, 84th Foot, 90th Light Infantry, Ma-
dras Fusiliers, and Fcrozepore Regt. There is a de-
tachment of Horse Artillery and troops at a station
midway between Cawnpore and Lucknow,
" The 7th Hussars are about to be formed at
Allahabad, where horses are being collected for
them.
" A strong brigade, under Colonel Franks, has
been organised at Benares, for service on the east-
ern frontiers of Oudo. The 20th and 97th Foot,
with a wing of the 10th, and a Royal troop and
battery, will form part of this force, with Madras
troops and Ghoorkas.'
"The following message, announcing the re-
occupation of Mynpoorie yesterday by Col, Seaton's