The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-26 00:00:00

LETTERS BROM INDIA.

THE BATTLE AtfirJUEGHIIR.
The best account We have seen of this gallant
affair is i❑ the following letter from a young officer
who had a part in it to a friend in York:—
"Camp before Delhi, Aug. 27.
"On the evening of the 24th instant, just as I
• was about to write to you, oral's came that our
brigade, under Brigadier-General Nicholson, was
to march at daybreak next morning—the object
being to cut bp a party of several thousands of the
enemy, with an immense body of cavalry and 16
guns. They were said to be 17 miles out from our
camp, towards Riiotuck, on the 25th, on their way
to cut off our siege train coming from Kurnal. I
had just time to lire off a newspaper to you, make
my arrangements and turn into bed, knowing that
I had a hard day before me on the morrow. Off
we started at 3 a.m., our force being as follows :-
Ist Fusiliers, 350 strong ; her Majesty's 61st, 350
strong; two squadrons of her Majesty's 9th Lan-
cers, and some horse artillery, with 16 field guns ;
our native troops were Coke's Mlles, 400 ; Green's
ditto, 600 ; and 400 native cavalry. We had 30
elephants with us to carry the men when sick or
tired.

`• Off we went across the country, by a bad native
road, having no other. There was great difficulty
in getting our guns along, s me places being under
water. Many galloped through at a dash, but
several of the horses fell, and one all but drowned
in the water and soft sand ; the infantry had, in
many places, to drag the guns across. On we went
sticking at no difficulty. At three p.m. our out-
riders came galloping in, saying, " The enemy are
in position, and are about 8,000 strong." Our
baggage was put into a safe place with a strong
guard, and ou weut the force to within half a mile
of the enemy, when we commenced for action.
The road is about 500 yards from the Serai, and
is well covered from the enemy in places by rising
ground. On we went past the enemy's camp, and
were halted and drawn up for battle on this bide of
the rising ground opposite the Serai. Here my
regiment and the 61st advanced, and laid down in
line behind the ridge ; the horse artillery ran up be-
fore us and blazed away at the guns in the Send for
some time—all their guns firing round shot, shell,
&c., at us. After our guns had given thew a few
rousds, the General said, " Stand up," and ad-
dressed us as follows :—" Now, 61st and Ist Fusi-
liers, prepare to charge the Serai, and take the guns
at the pint of the bayonet ; dou't fire a shot until
you are within a few yards of them." Our grins then
went away to the flank. We got "Fix bayonets,
and trail arms, quick march ;" on we went in a beau-
tiful line at a steady pace. I commanded No. 2 com-
pany, and was slap in front of the guns, which gave
us a volley just as we began our advance. On we
went, and we got within some 50 yards of them,
when the men gave a howl, and on we dashed, and
were slap in to them before they had time to de-
press the guns. It was bayonet to bayonet for a
few moments, but we cut them up, and spiked
their guns. The guns were ordered to be spiked
when taken, as the enemy were so strong, and we
feared a recapture. The rest of the enemy bolted
out of the other side of the Serai, and made for the
camp. We had very few men killed in the charge,
as we got in before they fired the grape. Lieutenant
G—, 61st, was bayoneted by a Sepoy after cut-
ting down two. N— shot the man that did it. He
had his horse shot under him, and I saw him hand
to hand with a Sepoy, whom he polished off with his
sword. My company came right up to a howitzer
loaded with grape, and I put my hand on it ; the
fellows at it bolted as we were rushing at it. On we
went after the brutes, and cut up a heap at the Serai
and behind it. We then drew up in line, rallied,
and went at the camp, took it, sent a party to take
the -village, and then we went and took the guns at
the bridge, over which the enemy was bolting in
thousands. Here we took six guns more. Up came
our guns, and blazed away at the enemy, and off
they went, leavibg a host of stores, tkc. all
; along
the road.

It was beginning to get dark, so we halted, and I
went up to the bridge, and held it with my com-
pany and No. 1, under Captain C-, whilst
the enemy drew up in line on the other side of the
canal, and set to work firing away at us onthe bridge,
with grape, &c. Our guns came closer up, andmowed
them down, and G-, one of the engineers, came
up to blow up the bridge. As we had cut up heaps,
boned their guns, camp, &c., and had a storming
party still in the village in rear, the destruction of
the bridge was a grand thing. It was the only one
they had to get over by, and we were ordered to
find it and destroy it ; well, I assisted G- in
emptying the tumbril, andmaking a heap of powder
on the bridge, which was covered with baggage, &o.
A train was laid and we fired it, hoping it might
do, as it was impossible V) get a working party just
then, and then we were under fire all the time.
They all left the bridge, but I went back by myself
and looked if it was broken. It was not, and the
enemy were still on the other side, so I took bayo-
nets and spiked two of the guns close to the bridge.
They were trying to get them over with them when
we first came up.
As I was corning bick I met the General on foot,
coming up by himself to see ifthe bridge was broken.
I said, ' I have just b:ea up there, sir; what do
you want to know 1' 'ls the bridge broken,' he
said ; so I told him no, and that the enemy were
stilt on the other side, but tiat I had spiked the
two gulp. He asked me my name, and said,
4 Well done,' my 13,,y, and asked me if I was any
relation of Major E----, of the Punjaub ? I then
go,, a patty of our men up, and he sent G- with
a working party, and as the enemy had all but shut
up their thing, holes were dug, a proper train laid,
and the bridge was destroyed bodily as if ono had
never bees there.

"It was now all but dark ; ourmen laid down for
the night on the ground, and a party set to work
and blew up all tue enemy's camp, stores, ammuni-
tion, &c. ;it was going on all right. I was so tired
I laid down on a bile and fell isleep. Next morning
the work of destruction was finished, and off we
marched with a lot of treasure, &c., and 13 gun.,
and brought all safe into camp, after a hard march,
arriving at the camp bridge just in the cool of the
evening,when the camp turned out to meet us, gave
us et, times three,' and played us in with some
lively airs.

" We have quite smashed the enemy's chance of
getting at the siege tt ain, and di,abled him for
taking the field. Tbanii God I was not touched ;
the g &ant charge saved us from showers of
grape and canister. We were at them before the
gunners could act—nigers are so slow. The
heaviest fire I was in during the day was at the
bridge ; they sent grapa at w, and one shot blew
up one of the ainininution• boxes on the ',ridge,
killing one man aeil-woundieg several. C insider-
ing wliat a grant business it was, our loss is really
not;iin.;. Capt in S. and Lieut. G., and Dr. 1.,
and Lieut. E.—two furl:tier killed and the latter,
I fear, mort illy wounded, some others slightly hit,
and about 100 men killed and wounded. The enemy
made no stand till they got to the other side of the
canal, and it was too dark, and we were too much
done to follow them up, and Nicholson kept his
cavalry in band in ca :..e of any sudden rush from the
enemy. I saw plenty of Pandies killed, but as
they did not stand there was no great slaughter,
though 1 fancy our guns muat have killed a heap
at the other side of the bridge, and about 100 were
killed in the
Whilst we were out the Delhi fellows came at our
eau p; I hear 200 of them were killed. The siege
train will be here in a few days, when we shall run
up the guns and batter the place. There is a
scarcity of artillery officers. Volunteers from camp
ate called for—Addisconibe men. I have sent in
any name, and I expect to find myself an artillery
officer in a few days. It will be hard work pound-
ing the place, but I shall not have to storm the
city, which will, I fear, cost us 1,000 men. I hope
not, but Pan.iy fights well behind walls. The post
is just going off ; more news next time. Adieu.

THE FATAL FIGHT IN PADDINGTON.—At the Mary-
lebone Police-court, on SAlurday, George Groundwell, a
labourer, and; Henry Ruhr dge were brought up on re-
mand and placed at the bar, before Mr. Long, charged
with having, in a pugiliAic c,nte,t, in a field by the
Harrow-road, Paddington, calved the death of a man
named William Hudgkns. They were fully committed
for trial.

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