The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-30 00:00:00

MILITARY OPERATIONS.

FROM MAJOR•GENERAL F. STALKER, C 8., COMMANDING
EXPEDITIONARY FIELD FORCE, TO THE ADJUTANT-GEN.
OF THE ARMY, BOMBAY.

Head-quarters, Field Force, Bushire, Be.). 12,1856.
Sir,—l have thelonour to report, for the information
of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, the complete
success which, under the protection of Almighty G-01,
has atteflded our arms. The British flag waves over the
walls of Bushire. The place, infinitely stronger than I
had any reason to believe from the information I bad
received, surrendered on the appearance of our troops
btfore it on the 10th instant. The previous day we
had a smart affair in dislodging the enemy from a
str, ng po,ition they occupied in the old Du:ell Fort
of Reshire. The casualties on this occasion, though
numerically small, were principaly =NW the officers,
cud, I regret tl say, included Brigadier°Stopford and
Lieutenary-Colonel Mater, 31 Light Cavalry, killed ;

Captain Wood, Lieutenants Utterson and Warren,
30th Regiment, wounded, the two latter since dead
(Captain Wood, though severely wounded, is doing well).
The lesson the enemy received on this occasion, together
with the bombarding of the works, the imposing appear-
ance of the troops in line, and of the fleet, was doubtless
the cause of their want of spirit in surrendering the
strongly fortified town of Bushire, in which we have
found 59 guns (six others have since been discovered),
with large quantities of ammunition and warlike stores.
The governor of the place and the commander of the
troop, came out and gave up their swords. They and
one of the principal officials are now in my camp, and
will be sent to Bombay, The garrison to the number
of 1,500 to 2,000 men (a large number having previously
e.ffEcfed their escape, and very many others having been
drowned in attempting to do so), grounded their arms in
front of our line, and were next morning escorted by the
cavalry some distance into the country and set free.
Every assistance and cooperation has been rendered by
the fleet. A. heavy fire was opened in the early morn-
ing, and kept up spiritedly for some hours till the place
surrendered. At Reshire also, the previous day, all
the cc-eperation possible was rendered by the fleet. And
rns, very best thanks are duo to Sir Henry Leeke, the
officers and seamen, for their unwearied exertions in land-
ing troops, which, owing to the absence of any other boats
than those of the fleet, was a work of much labour, occu-
pying the greater part of three days and two nights. The
force landed at Hallila Bay, about 12 or 13 miles south of
Bushire, without any serious opposition, a body of 300 or
400 men who appeared being scattered by the fire of the
gunboats. There being notparriage cattle, the troops were
land, d without tents or baggage of any description, three
days' rations being carried in the haversacks. The hard
ships which the men have been called upon to undergo
have been endured most cheerfully, and I cannot say too
much in their praise. Being still without our baggage, I
have been unable as yet to obtain the reports called for
from the several officers commanding brigades, regiments
and detachments, but I shall do myself the honour to en-
close them for the information of his Excellency the
C nnmander-in-Chief.
I ougbtto have mentioned that on appreaching Bushire
the enemy were observed to occupy in some force an en-
trenched position, with a strong redoubt about a mile
and a half from the walls, and commanding the wells
from which the main supply of water for the town is de-
rived. This position was precipitately abandoned on
my line being formed. It also had sustained a bombard-
ment from the fleet.
I would beg especially to mention the unwearied exer-
tions and valuable aid rendered to me, from the landing
at Halide Bay to the taking of Bushire, by my aseistaut
Adjutant-General Lieutenant-Colonel Younghusband ;
Captain Wray, the Assistant Quartermaster-General ;
Major Hill, Commanding Engineers ; Captain Danger-
ville, Assistant Commissary-General ; and Dr. Macken-
zie, the Superintending Surgeon.
Brigadier Stopford and Lieutenant-Colonel Malet died
leading on their men in the most gallant style. Brigadier
Homier, commanding the 2d Infantry Brigade ; Lieut.-
Colonel Shepheard, who succeeded to the command
of the Ist Infantry
co commanding
thear Brigade
Artillerygda idneg;
theßr
ca Lieutenant-Colonelviaglrayd e;
Brigade,
Trey e -
ICY6al3o'n commandingapp,
d
earned my warmest thanks for the manner inriagnadde
whichL haveiutehet..
their
arduous duties , haveßrigaem jr of A
been carried
whosedl;yas also
ex
Captain
s
woerei,,iir conspicuousst:rn
i, Commanding;aiio bestmy
thanks equally are due
t
H.M.'s 64th Regiment ;
to Captain Macleod, who succeeded to the command of
the 20th Regiment ; to Lieutenant Colonel Ramsay,
commanding 2cl European L. I. to Major Manson,