The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-20 00:00:00

THE OVERLAND MAIL.

We have received our usaal letters and papers in
anticipation of the Bombay Overland Mail. We
have dates by this arrival from the 3d to the 19th
July, inclusive.
The following has been selected from Sir llugh
Rose's despatch, dated Gwalior, June 24 :
" On the day of the general action with the Gwalior rebels
on the 19th inst., the force under my command took,
exclusive of the guns in the fort, 16 guns in the
field from the enemy (one of them a 21-pounder),
a brass 18-pounder, a brass 8-inch mortar, seven
or eight English nine-pounders and guns of various calibre,
a great quantity of ammunition, waggons, and warlike
stores of every description, and 10 elephants. The troops
went to occupy the fort of Gwalior after the capture of the
city by storm, Scindiah's auxiliaries having reported to me
that it was evacuated; but the gate was shut, and a detach-
ment of fanatics opened fire on .them, some having caused
the force to be surrendered. Next morning a detachment
of the gallant 25th Bombay NJ. stormed and took it. Its
brave leader, Lieut. Roses was killed. Sent a column of
Horse Artillery and Cavalry under Brigadier-General
Napier, C. 8., in pursuit of the rebels, who fled
in great disorder after the defect of the 19th
instant. I atso despatched another column from Dholepere
to cress the Chumbull and pursue them. Brigadier-Gen.
Napier overtook them on the 21st near Jowra Allepoor,
defeated them, captured five guni, and cut up a consider-
able number. Brigadier-Gen. Napier, who has displayed
the greatest energy and intelligerice in the pursuit, con-
tinues in Sobulgaura. The day after the capture of Gwalior,
I conducted Sir R. Hamilton and the Maharajah with a
squadron of H.M.'s Hussars and rebels to the palace of
Gwalior. The roads were lined by immense crowds, who
received the Maharajah with every appearance of amaze-
ment."

The Delhi Gazette gives the following graphic
and highly interesting account of the pursuit of the
enemy :

" Early this morning a column composed of a troop Horse
Artillery, one do. 14th Dragoons, a wing 3d Light Cavalry,
3,1 Cavalry Hyderabad Contingent, and three troops Meade's I
Horse(altogether six guns and 500 cavalry), proceeded,un-
der Brigadier-Gen. Napier, C. 8., via the Residency, from
Moorar in pursuit. At three p.m a reinforcement of 2 guns,
70 dragoons, and some irregulars was sent to join this co-
lumn, which by night had got to Eunnowlie, 24 miles from
Gwalior. The reinforcement reached the same place at three
a.m. on the 21st, and halted to rest for a few hours, while
the general with the main column continued the pursuit at
daybreak. On approaching Jowra Allepoor, a little before
7 o'clock, the enemy was discovered in front in great force
and with several guns. The general immediately sent for
the detachment in his rear, and moved his force to the cover
of a rising ground which concealed it from the enemy.
After wa:tirg till near 8 o'clock, it became evident
that the enemy was moving off, and the general, with
a resolution that did him honour, considering the dis-
parity of his force with that of the enemy, at once
decided on attacking him. A bold dash was made
by the whole column at a gallop to the right, towards
the enemy's guns, of which nine were clumped in and around
a small tope of trees which formed their left. The Horse
Artillery, led by Capt. Lightfoot, passed like lightning to
the front, and poured in two rounds at 500 yards. It then
limbered up, and dashed towards the enemy's guns, which
were found deserted, the whole of the enemy having bolted
after firing a few hurried and ill-directed shots. In the
meantime, the rest of the enemy were running off in every
direction, and they were pursued and cut up as they could
be got at. More guns too were picked up. By 10 a.m.
there was not an enemy to be seen, all having got away in
various directions. The principal portion, including a large
body of ca‘alry, passed over the bills to the south, and
escaped in that direction.
" Till 1 or 2 p.m. continual reports of more guns having
been found were being brought in, and at length 25 were
collec•ed. The loss of the enemy in men was not so great as
could have been wished, as they got away and disappeared
in the most marvellous manner. About 150 of them, how-
ever, were killed, and numbers of those who escaped threw
their arms away. Much more might have been done if the
rear detachment had joined in time, but it only got up at
the close of the action, and too late to be of any use. Gen.
Napier had only 40 dragoons with him. It is much to be
regretted that he had not every available max of the Bth
Hussars and 14th Dragoons and the 2d troop of Horse
Artillery, for with them he would not merely have routed
the enemy and taken their guns, but he would also have
slaughtered numbers of them. There is uo doubt their
infantry were moving off while be was waiting under cover
of the mound, and their cavalry was so well mounted
(having taken all the Rajah's horses) that there was no
coming up with them."
This brilliant exploit concludes the history of the
short Gwalior campaign of June, 1858. The exer-
tions made by the whole force, considering the in-
tense heat at this season, were most creditable, and
it is no fault of theirs that a single man of the
enemy escaped with his life.
Sir Hugh Rose moves immediately for Poonah.
His career has been a glorious one, and is worthily
crowned by the capture of Gwalior, and the utter
defeat of the rebels. His position is the proudest that
any general has occupied in this country for many
a long day. The gallant Sir Hugh, after having
marched from one side of India to the other, has
been five times engaged with the enemy, and cap-
tured six strongly fortified towns. This is no hap-
hazard assertion. On the 12th January he took
command of Sehore, had 200 mutineers of the Bho-
pal contingent tried for having taken an active
part in the outrages at Indore in July ; had 150
shot, and the rest otherwise disposed of. On
the 23d of the same month he occupied the town of
ilutghur ; on the 28th he defeated the enemy who
attacked his rear ; on the 29th he captured the fort
of Butgliur ; on the 7th of February he relieved
Saugor, and two days after that he captured the fort
of Garracotta. On the 3d of March he forced the
pass of Mundenpore and captured a series of strong-
holds, which opened to him the entire command of
Bundelcund ; on the 10th he burnt Churkaree and
occupied Tal Behut ; on the Ist of April he defeated
the army of Tantia Topee, near Jhansi, and killed
3,000 of the rebels ; two days after that Sir Hugh
captured the town of Jhansi, and on the 7th stormed
and captured the fort. On the 7th of May he cap-
tured the fort of Koonch, in which affair the gallant
general was knocked over three times from his horse
by sunstroke ; on the 20th he was engaged in a
severe battle near Calpee, and drove the enemy into
the fort, and three days afterwards was its master.
On the 16th of June he defeated the enemy
near Gwalior, and on the 18th and 19th he achieved
one of the greatest victories throughout the cam-
paign by capturing the town and fortress of Gwalior.
I can venture to say there are not many generals
can boast of such a five months' history associated
with their names, and it is sincerely to be hoped
that he will meet with a reward equivalent to his
gallantry and his services. The gallant general, I
am sorry to say, is now in ill health, and has re-
signed the command of the Central Field Force.
He is now on his way to resume the command of
the Poonah division of the Bombay army. Gen.
Napier has been placed in command of the force
intended for the occupation of Gwalior.
Consequent on the breaking up of the Central
Field Force, which was composed almost entirely of
Bonibly troops (which arc to return to their respec-
tive stations), it is said that Calpee, Gwalior, and
other places in Central India are to be garrisoned
by Bengal troops. The whole of the Hyderabad
Contingent, which formed a portion of Sir Hugh
Rose's force, has been ordered to return to the
Deccan with all the honours of war, to which they
are justly entitled.
The following general order on the successful
results of Sir Hugh's force has been issued by the
Commander-in-Chief; but it will be observed that
it does not contain a word of encouragement or com-
mendation for the gallant general, who compelled
the rebels to evacuate the town and fort of Gwalior
within 18 days of the usurpation of legitimate
authority. The Government order cannot be
viewed as satisfactory, inasmuch as it does not do
justice to the merits of the man, whose career has
been a most brilliant one, and who has done more
towards restoring our prestige in India than any
other general, for hie victories have been so colll‘