The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-02 00:00:00

THE TAKING OF GWALIOR.

(From the Daily News Corresponclent.)
BOMBAY, JULY 5.
I believe it can now be said with truth that the
rebellion of Central India has been effectually put
down. Gwalior is re-occupied, and the artily of
the so-called Poshwa out down and dispersed with
the loss of its guns. A few of the dispirited rem-

nants may yet rally in the north, at Jeypore,
whither Tantia Topee ani other chiefs appear to
have directed their steps, but measures have

already been taken to meet them there, by the
despatch of a force from Musseerabad, which will
have the effect of overawing the disaffected, and
preventing the fugitive chiefs from gathering any
more of the discontented round them.
The news of the fall of Gwalior reached us by
electric) telegraph on the 20th of June, the very
day of the departure of the last mail. The sketch
then afforded has gradually been filled, and I can,
I believe, give you something like a complete
picture of the operations.
The two brigades under Sir Hugh Rose having
joined each other in advance of Indoonhee, on the
11th of June, marched to camp at Soopoorlee,
within ten miles of the Gwalior cantonment of
Aloorar, on the 15th. The force underlStuart, of
the Bombay service, and Colonel Napier, had been
brigaded as follows :-Ist Brigade : Brigadier C.
S. Stuart, commanding ; Left Wing, 4th Light
Dragoons, 3d Hyderabad Cavalry, No. 4 Light
Field Battery, 2d Company Royal Engineers, Born

bay Sappers and Miners, H.M.'s 86th Regimen'
25th Regiment Bombay N.I. ; a siege train, con.
slating of two 16-pounders, four 8-inch mortars,
and one 8-inch howitzer. 2d Brigade ; Brigadier
General R. Napier, Bengal Engineers, command,
ins ; Head-quarters and Right-Wing, 14th Light
Dragoons ; two troops 3d Bombay Light Cavalry ;
Ist (or Leslie's) troop of Bombay Horse Artillery ;
No. 18 Light Field Battery ; Madras Sappers and
Miners ; Right Wing 71st Highland Light Infan-
try ; Left Wing 3d Bombay European Regiment ;
4 companies 24th Bombay Native Infantry ; sth
Regiment of Hyderabad Infantry ; a siege train,
consisting of three 18-pounders, two 10-inch mor-
tars, and four 8-inch mortars.
Moorar, from all I can learn, is to the south-east
of Gwalior—that is, in the direct line of march
taken by Sir Hugh Rose. From the southward
another column, of smaller numbers than that of
Sir H. Rose, but comprising Orr's brigade of Hyde-
rabad troops and Smyth's force. The 05th, 10th
Native Infantry, Ist Bombay Lancers, Hus-
sars, and Artillery advanced on the 15th from An-
tree. To the north Dhlpore, on the Chumbul,
was held by Riddell's column of 3d Bengal Euro-
peans, Sikhs, and Artillery. To the eastward all
retreat of the enemy was impossible, except across
the Jumna. There the rebels had no choice but to
tight out the game, and make at Gwalior a final
stand.
On the 16:h Sir Hugh Rose left Soopoorlee, and
surprised the cantonment of Moorar, after a short
but decisive action, of which we have as yet but
imperfect details. The following letter describes
the utter panic of the enemy, and the bold stand of
a few fanatics before a detachment of H.M.'s 71st:
" The action commenced by the enemy opening
tire on us from some six,or eight guns; their practice,
while it lasted, was sharp and accurate, but did not
last long ; the sight of our Horse Artillery dashing
to the front induced them to send their guns out
of the way in double quick time ; and shortly a
general retreat was commenced by them. The Ist
Brigade pursued the enemy on the right and the
2d Brigade on their left. The enemy's cavalry
bolted clean away almost at the very beginning
of the light ; their infantry were not slow to
follow their example, but they were soon
overtaken by the Dragoons and Highlanders
of the 71st. Two companies of the Highlanders
who pursued them at the double came up with
about 50 Pandies, who had. got into a deep nullah;
these fellows fought desperately, but the 71st
killed every one of them—not, however, without a
loss to themselves of:ons officer (Lieut. Neave) and
four men killed, and five or six men wounded.
Some more of their infantry trit d to make a stand
on the top of a small hid; these also were picked off
after one another by the 71st ; and a third party,
who tried to escapo round the base of the same bill,
were pursued and cut up by the 14th Dragoons. I
cannot describe what took place on the right ; but
I believe that there also the enemy suffered pretty
severely. Altogether their loss is estimated at.
about 300. They did not make any stand at Moorar
Lself."

An express had already informed Sir Hugh Rose
of the approach from the southward of Smythe's
brigade, which on the evening of the 16th, ap-
proached Kotah Keserai, having had some skir-
mishes with the rebels under the orders of the
Ranee of Jhansi, whose force lay in a strong po-
sition on the hills, four miles west of Gwalior. On
the morning of the 17th, Brigadier Smyth engaged
the enemy and assailed their entrenched position.
I can do no better than let you read the following
extract of a letter, describing the action
We arrived at Kottih Keserai on the morning
of the 17th inst. Here is a small square fort, and
a native travellers' bungalow, from which it de-
rives its name. I imagine it bears nearly duo
south of Gwalior about five miles ; a river runs
past the fort. As we approached this place, we
could see the enemy's cavalry and infancy moving
about at the bottom of the hills. To get to Gwalior
from the direction in which we came, you must
cross a range of hills. It was at the bottom of these
hills that we saw the enemy. A company of the
95th and one of the 10th were thrown across the
river I mentioned as skirmishers, with some Hus-
sars as vide ttes, whilst another company of the 10th
and the 95th, with a squadron of Human and two
guns, Horse Artillery, remained on this side of the
river, with the double object of protecting the ford
and fort. J- commanded one company and I
the other. e11;oat S 0.10. the squadron of Hussars
crossed the river to reconnoitre, and as they ad-
vanced a battery, which was unperceived by us,
opened fire, and the first shot fell right amongst
them, killing one horse and wounding a trooper
severely. This threw them into confusion, and
caused them to retire, which they did without sus-
taining further injury, though they were fired at
several times. About 9 o'clock the order was given
for the two guns, Hussars, and some Lancers, with
' the infantry, to advance, and take possession of the
battery and the hills. We did this, the enemy
pouring intolus, till they were silenced.by our artil-
lery, and the cavalry which charged. As soon as
the infantry approached near the hills, we gave
such a cheer as evidently frightened the rascals,
and charged and took possession of the first range
of hills. Instead of allowing us to remain and keep
posse: sign of what we had. won, we were ordered
to retire, and as we came again on the plain, we
saw the whole brigade out, but retiring, and we
then learnt that the enemy had made a flank move-
ment,and were in our camp, and the brigade was re-
tiring to attack them. The rumour turned out to
be incorrect, but unfortunately the evil was done.
Immediately ou our returning, the enemy re-occu-
pied the hills we hal vacated, and placed their
guns so as to bring us under a cross-fire. It was
whilst we were again moving up to the attack that
Captain Anderson, of the Lancers, was wounded,
and a few men. After a little time our artillery
silenced their guns, our skirmishers took the
hills, and the whole brigade advanced further on.
You must understand that the range of hills was
divided in two by a very large, deep, precipitous,
dry nullab. By sunset we had possession of the
hills on the right side of the nullab, and the enemy
those on the left, which we ought to have held in-
stead of allowing the enemy to do so. A squadron
of the Hussars made a splendid charge, capturing
three Horse Artillery guns and binning their
camp. In this charge the Hussars had some officers
and men killed and wounded. Lieut. Riley was
wounded, and died the same evening, not of his
wounds, bbt sunstroke. The Ranee of Jhansi is
credibly reported to have been killed this day : she
was shot through the chest. The Europeans say it
was a rifle bullet which settled her, but this is very
doubtful, as none of us saw her, and her body was
burnt directly she died. There were two splendid
haystacks about three-quarters of a mile from the
fort, and at the entrance of a narrow ghaut,
was an important position to keep. A company of
the 95th and one of ours was ordered to hold them.
I could not get any rest at the hay picquet, as it
was imagined the enemy might make a night attack,
with the view of burning the hay, and so I had to
keep Awake, The next morning I was quite done