The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-16 00:00:00

SIR JAMES OUTRAM'S VICTORY.

(PROI4I A PRIVATE LETTER.)
CAP ALITMBEC. 23.
The expedition of the 22dM December was well designed
by General Outran, and admirably executed by the troops
under his command. He had received information that
the enemy were preparing to cut off our communications
in the rear, and were that very morning about to proceed
to form a chain of outposts between our camp and Butanes,
about 14 miles from here towards Cawnpore, and place
guns in position. For this purpose they had collected
men and guns at a village about three miles from camp, in
the direction of Dilkoosha, near Lucknow. Outram deter-
mined to surprise them and take their guns, and started at
4 o'clock a.m. yesterday morning, with 1,100 infantry,
some 100 or 150 cavalry, and six guns, to effect his object.
We neared their advanced picket just at daybreak. After
we had approached, under cover of a ruined and burnt
village, to within a few hundred yards of them, Outrun
halted us, and sent on his scouts to see and report. The
sth were, as usual, in front, and did all the work, with
the artillery and cavalry. We (the sth) numbered 400 ;
part of the remainder formed a reserve, and the other part
attacked at another point, but met with no resistance.
Well, the scouts passed round the corner of the village
wall, and with a gesture of silence returned to Outram.
All was done in complete silence. Outram went on a
little by himself, and beckoned us on. As soon as we
emerged out into the open plain we saw their cavalry
videttes, who stared at our staff for some seconds in
astonishment before they challenged us ; but as soon as the
column of red-coats showed round the corner they fired
their car bibes and gallopped off to the main body. When
we were fairly in the open the enemy fired upon us from
their tope, where they were encamped, and sent us a
round shot before we could deploy into line. Outram
speedily gave the order to form line and advance. We
accordingly changed our position and formed into line—
the "thin red line" which has on so many occasions before
upheld the honour of England and brought confusion to
the enemy ; and only giving the enemy time for one more
volley, we charged with a hearty British cheer, and carried
everything before us. It is such a splendid thing to wit-
ness a charge of British bayonets. We captured their gun,
with the loss of one man killed and one wounded. On we
went, skirmishing through the jungle on the right, and
having driven them out of their camp, re-formed line and
advanced across a large plain. Just here the Volunteer
Cavalry made a charge and drove the enemy still further
on. We were on the point of charging a second gun, when
a shower of grape came and disabled me. Both my legs
were knocked from under me, just as if somebody had
come and given me a severe rap with a thick stick. I
fell, of course, and at first feared that my legs had
been smashed, or severely injured, so fancy my delight
and thailfulness, after they were examined, to hear that
I had received no more hurt than a hard blow would be
calculated to give. The grape had struck the inside of the
calf of my left leg high up, without touching the bone,
and also of the right leg, merely producing a large lump
and bruise, which will, 1 hope, entirely leave inn in a week
or so, and enable me further to participate iu the punish-
ment of those ruffians. When, therefore, you read of
Ensign D— being slightly wounded in a smart skirmish,
which ended in the capture of four of the enemy's guns,
eleven tumbrils filled with ammunition packed for ser-
vice, elephants, camels, and bullock waggons, with the
slight loss on our side of three killed and seven wounded,
you will, I think, find little reason for regretting the issue
of our morning's business. I retired to a dhoolia and re-
mained with the reserve for the rest of the morning.
While I was being carried away, I heard another cheer,
and kuew we had taken another gun. The enemy was
driven out of their village, which we left burning, They
sent supports from their right ; but as our object was
simply to drive them from this position on their left, and
take their guns, and not to hazard a general engagement
with an enemy overpowering in point of numbers, and as
that object was, by God's help, effected, we quietly re-
turned to camp about eleven o'clock to breakfast. The
General very kindly sent this morning to inquire after me.
He is a kind considerate man, and is much liked by men
and officers. A box of w..rin clothing will be iiivaluable
any price now.
to me now that my kit is lost at Cawnpore, forit is almost
impossible to replace articles of clothing at an

SOUTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ELECTION.

The nomination of candidates for the vacant seat in
the southern division of Northamptonshire took place
yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, in the county hall.
The doors of the hall were besieged an hour beforehand
by dense crowds, who amused themselves with cheering
and hooting and " bonneting" each other. There was
very little speaking, and that little could not be heard,
for from the opening of the doors to the terrninat. __ ion of
the proceedings, cheering, hooting, yelling, groaning,
and whistling were kept np without intermission. Loid
Henley, the liberal candidate, was proposed by Herbert
Llngbam, Esq., and seconded by Mr. Horsman, kJ).
Colonel Cartwright, the c.mservative candidate, was
proposed by Sir Henry Dryden, Bart., andetseeonded by
Captain SE.verne. The show of hands were declared to
be in favour of Lord Henley. Ad
it poll
wsva
sa s
fixeddem a
tuod etda
kine
behalf of Col.inel Cartwright, an
place on Thursday next, and the declaration of the poll
on Saturday. The respective candidates then left the
hall, and addressed! their supporters supporters from the balconies
o
cGoneofirageencae in and Peacock Both sides
cprofessanno
great confidence
andahceresult,tels.
the
contest
the
fail to be severe.

THE OFFICIAL TELEGRAMS.—Is there no one who
can prevent absurd mistakes in the Indian telegrams ?
The last tells us that " Abryule is keeping a sharp look
out for them" (the Dacca mutineers). Without denying
the terrific significance of the omne if/notuni in this
announcement, it may be a more solid satisfaction to the
public to know that " Abryule" is probably Mr. Yule,
the energetic Commissioner of the Bhaugulpore division.)
Carelessness about names is not always so harmless as
is the preneut ease, •