The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-01 00:00:00

FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE OFFICER COMMANDING AT

DINAPORE.

Camp near Arrab, Aug. 3, 1857.
Sir,—l have much pleasure in reporting for the infor-
mation of the officer commanding the Dinapore division,
the safe arrival here of the field force
,under my com-
mand, and the relief of the party defending themselves
at Arrah, with whom I have just opened a satifactory
communication, and have received your letter, dated 31st
ult., from which I exceedingly regret to learn the severe
loss sustained by the detachment c:;-operating with us
on the Dinapore side ; but I venture to affirm cell%
dently that no such disaster would have been like'y
to occur, bad that detachment advanced less precipl.
tately, so as to have given full time for my force to
approaoh direct from the opposite side, for the rebels
would then have been hemmed iu between the two
opposing forces, and must have been utterly routed.
2. My former letters of the 30th ult. and Ist inst.,.wil
I hope, have informed you of sty advance from Buxar
on the evening of the first named date. We pushed on

with all practicable speed to Shawpore, distant 28 miles
where rumours of the Dinapore disaster reached us.
Hearing that the enemy designed to de. troy the bridges
en route, we again pushed on at t ro p m., as far as
Bullowtee, where we found the bridge first cut through
—an hour's halt sufficed to repair it, which we employed
also in burning the villages on either side, since we had
caught their inhabitants in the act f destruction.
Arriving at Goojerajgunge by nightfall, I was delighted
to find the bridge entire. Here we bivouacked for the
night, and at daybreak next morning resumed our march ;
but had only proceeded about a mile beyond Gooojeraj-
gunge when we discovered the enemy in great force in
p )13 session of the woods to our front and flanks. The
road by which we had to reach the wood in our front
was bounded by inundated paddy fields on either
side. I halted to observe the best course to pursue, and
Wing that the enemy were weakening their front to
take us on both flanks, I boldly pushed forward, throw-
ing out skirmishers in every direction. The Enfield
rifles kept our foes at at distance, and we succeeded in
forcing the wood, beyond which, as far as Beebeegunge,
it lay across an open swamp, which greatly befriended
us. Meanwhile the baffled enemy were observed hurry.
ing round to oppose us at Beebeegunge, which is situated
opposite side of a bridge, by which we had hoped to
cross the river. Here I again halted to refresh the
troops and to reconnoitre.
Finding the bridge had been destroyed, extensive
earthen breastworks raised on the other aide flanking
the bridge, and the mutinous regiments in force occupy-
ing the houses in the village, I determined on making a
detour to the right, as far as the railway earthworks,
about a mile off. I masked this movement for a time
by the fire of my guns ; but no sooner did the enemy.
discover our purpose than they hurried with their
entire strength to intercept us at a wood which it was
necessary for us to pass. A portion of them followed
us up in the rear. and by the time we reached the wood
we found it quite as much on our hands as we could
manage.

They mustered some 2,000 to 2,500 strong in sepoys
alone, besides Rajah Cooer Singh's Irregular Forces, of
whom, however, we made little account. The Rajah
was apparently present in person, and for upwards of
an hour we were compelled to act solely on the defensive.
The sepoys, apparently emboldened by their recent suc-
cess beyond Arrah, advanced to the assault with a vigour
quite unexpected, and twice with their bugles sounding,
first the "Assembly," then the " Advance" and the
" Double," made determined rushes on the guns, but
were on both occasions repulsed with showers of grape.
Meanwhile Captain L'Estrange with the gallant sth was
not idle, as will be seen by his own report hereto ap-
pended. Finding at length that the enemy grew em-
boldened by the superiority of their numbers, and the
advantage of their position, I determined on trying the
effect of a general charge of infantry, and sent the Hon.
E. P. Hastings to Capt. L'Estrange with orders to that
effect. Promptly and gallantly he obeyed the order; the
skirmishers on the right turned their flank, the gone with
grape and shrapneldrove in thecentre, and thetroops ad-
vancing on all sides drove the enemy, panic struck, all direc-
tilas. Thus our road was cleared. All beyond the coun-
try was open, and we proceeded without further inter.
ruption to within four miles ofA.rrah, when we we,te
suddenly brought up by an impsahle river, and have
since been employed in attempting to bridge it over. In
this work the railway engineers, headed by Mr. Kelly,
have rendered the most valuable aid. Meanwhile most
of the rebels returned to Arrah, but precipitately left it
during the night, Rajah Coeer Singh accompanied them
to save his family. Their loss is repprted to have been
severe. We hear that not a Sepoy now remains in
Arrah, and that the mass have gone off towards Betas,
or scattered themselves in various directions.

Eleven a,m.— The guns have just crossed safely.
S. I have now to commend to the notice of the major
general the gallant conduct of- the officers and troops
whom I have had the honour to command on this occa-
sion. Under circumstances of great peril and difficulty
they have exhibited those soldierly qualities which sel-
dom fail to ensure success. To Captains L'Estrange and
Scott, of her Majesty's sth Fusiliers, my especial thanks
are due, for the prompt and gallant way in which they
seconded my efforts, more particularly in the final charge,
which was executed against 20 times their number of
bravo and discliplined troops. Capt. L'Estrange reports
highly of Ensigns Oldfieldi Lewis, and Mason. To
Capt. the Hon. E. P. Hastings, staff officer of this force,
much of the success of this expedition may be attri-
buted, whether on the march or in action with the
enemy. He was everywhere to be found at the right
time, and in the right place, to aid us with his energy in
overcoming all difficulties. Of the others who especially
distinguished themselves, I feel bound to make hon.
ourable mention of Messrs. Kelly,' Barber, Burroughs,
Nicholl, and Hughes of the Bluer Gentlemen Volun-
teers, who rendered excellent service, under their gal-
lant leader Lieut. Jackson, 1201 N.I. Assistant
Surgeon Eteson, in charge of the field hospital, and Staff
Sergeant Melville, of the let company sth battalion
Artillery, also merit particular notice, for their zeal and
energy on duty.
4 —My future movements must be guided in a great
measure by the information I may receive from other
quarters. Meanwhile a good supply of ammunition is
urgently required for her Majesty's sth Fusiliers, to the
extent of 80 rounds per man, and grape for 9-pounders
and howitzer.
Enclosed are the returns of the casualties on the 2d
instant

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
(Signed) V. EYRE, Major,
Commanding Field Force.

P.S.—Mr. Wake, the magistrate of Arrab, has just
ridden into camp. His defence of his house seems to
have been almost miraculous.
• RETURN OF CASUALTIES IN THE IST COMPANY STH
BATTALION ARTILLERY, IN ACTIONS ON THE 2D
AUGUST, 1857. CAMP NEAR ARRAN, 3D AUGUST,
1857.
Gunner T. Hayes, 1 ball through the neck, and Gun.
T. Hickey, 2 balls through the temple, killed.
Sergeant John Knox, wounded severely, ball through
the arm.
Gunner M. M'Carty, wounded severely, ball i❑ the
cheek.

Gunner T. Dwyer, wounded slightly, contusion.
Gunner D. O'Brien, wounded slightly, contusion.
Sunkur, Tent Laskar, wounded severely, arm ampu-
tated.
Two Camp Fo)lowers wounded severely.
(Signed) V. EYRE, Major.
Commanding Field Force.
(Signed) ALFRED MESON,
Assistant-Surgapn, Artillery.
•

RETURN OF CASUALTIES OF A DETACHMENT OF HER
MAJESTY'S STH REGIMENT IN ACTIONS ON THE 2D OF
AUGUST, AT GOO.IERAJUNGE AND BEEDEEGUNGE.
Camp near Arrah, August 3, 1857,
Private Baconhana, No. 2,983, No. 2 company, con-
tagion of back, by spent be 1, slightly..
Private Jackson, No. 3,110, No. 2 company, gun.
shot wound of right thigh ; severely wounded.
Private Bennett, No. 3,220, No, 2 company, gunshot
wound of left hand ; severely wounded.
Private Clements, No. 2,457, No. 2 company, gun-
shot wound of left thigh ; slightly wounded.
Private Warren; No. 2,028, No. 2 company, gunshot
wound of rißlit shoulder • t lig itly wounded.
Corporal Grirngdall, No. 3,257, No. 1 company, gun-
shot wound of left thigh ;
Private Bolan, No, 3,100, No. 1 company, gunshot
wound of wrist ; severely wounded.
Private Love, No. 1,144, No. 1 company, gunshot
wound of ankle ; s;ightly wounded.
(Signed) J. 11. THORNTON, Assistant-Surgeon,
Iu Medical charge of Detachment,
Her Majesty's sth Regiment.
(Signed) FERDINAND W. L'ESTRANGE,
Captain sth Fusiliers,
Commanding Detachment.

Near Arrah, August 3, 1857.
Sir,—l have the honour to report that, on the arrival
of the detachment sth Fusiliers (160 men) under my
command at Buxar, on the 30th ult., I found that our
services were required to co-operate with Major Eyre,
Bengal Artillery, to march on Arrah. where we under-
stood some two or three thousand of the mutineers had
assembled on the following ev ring. Our force, consist-
ieg of 3 goal, 154 men, with Capt. Scott, Ensigns Lewis,
Oldfield, and Mason, all of the sth Fu,nliers, under my
command, 12 mounted volunteers of the railway and
engineer department. The whole, under the command
of Majoy Eyre, left Buxar en route for Arrah.
We came on the enemy on the morning of the 2d
inst. ; we found that they had assembled in immense
force, and the woods for miles around us seemed to be
swarming with rebel Sepoys. :Major Eyre'iminedia+ely
fired some rounds of shell among the enemy, who were
in our front, and I sent a skirmishing party under the
command of Capt. Scott to drive the rebels out of the
woods. In consequence of an extensive swamp on the
left of the road, our skirmishers were delayed for a
short time, but at length reached the woods, tinder a
very heavy fire from the mutineers. Our skirmisher,
soon cleared the woods on the right and left of the road,
during which time the right skirmishing party sus
tabled a severe cross-fire, and three men of the 5.h
were wounded. Our whole force then gained the open
country, but with the' loss of a cmasiderable quantity
of baggage. The enemy had surrounded us on all sides,
and our main body being within the enemy's rifle range,
the drivers left the elephants and baggage carts and wade
off into the wo3de.

A mile further on, we found that the Beebeegur e
wbrhidugheadhatdhebereenconccoemnptrleatteedly
tdheesitrrofoyreccles,byantdhewerreebelgs
de-
termined to dispute our further advance.
Finding that the reconstruction of a bridge, in face of
such a large force of the enemy, was impossible, and that
the river could nut be forded, we made a flank move
ment, so as to gain the railway embankment on our
right, and thus proceed direct to Arrah.
The enemy immediately left their pioeition - behind
Bebeegunge bridge, and proceeded in a parallel direction
with us. They
being favourable fir cur skirmishers, who were judiciously
kept up their fire on us, but the ground
led by Captain Scott, no great difficulty.was experienced
by our force, until we arrived within about 300 yards of
the railway embankment. The ground here being very
much broken, and as we were unable to get the guns of
to the railway line, the rebels clearly saw the difficulties
we had to encounter, and made certain of our complete
destruction. Notwithstanding Major Eyro having
opened on the enemy with shell and round shot, and
although our skirmishers made exeollent practice with
their Enfield rides, still no impreseion could be made OD
the rebels, who advanced in large numbers, and same
rushing on to the mouth of the guns.
In the woods on our left,_an immense body of the
rebels had assembled, and poured a tremendous fire
upon our line ; the left of which, with two guns, occupied
a "tope," and the right was close up to the railway

brink, under the shelter of some brick kilns and other
sert of cover.

Our lint was then about 300 yards in length, and the
enemy came pouring down on us in large numbers. At
this time we were in imminent dagger, when Major
Eyre ordered us to charge the enemy. This movement .
was perfectly successful, and our line advancing at the
charge, the mutineers fled from the woods, from whence
emerging, Major Eyre opened on them with grape, and
the enemy cleared off in all directions.
One officer and eight men wounded during the opera-
tions of the day, which commenced at about six a.m.
and lasted until three p.m.
I beg to bring to your especial notice the gallant
conduct of Captain Scott, Ensigns Lewis and Mason,
who presented the enemy from turning our right, and
maintained their position under a tremendous fire. My
thanks also to Dr. Thornton, who, though suffering
from ind;sposition, has been unremitting in hie attention
towards our sick and wounded. Ensign Oldfield, who
was wounded in the face by a rifle ball, was nevertheless
most efficient at his post, namely, with the two guns
on the left. Lieutenant Wylde (of the late 40th Bengal
Regiment), our intepreter, rendered us great assistance ;
skirmishing with our men when they were thus em-
ployed, charging with our line and performing all his
other duties with extreme intelligence.
I flatter myself that with respect to the conduct of
the noncommissioned officers and privates of the sth
Fusiliers, no comments or recommendations to praise
can be required at my bands.
I wish to avail myself of this opportunity of acknow-
kdging the many services which the Gentlemen Volun-
teers of cur force have rendered to the men of the sth
Fusiliers.

I have, &0.,
(Signed) FERDINAND W. L'ESTRANGE,
Captain sth Fusiliers.
To the Assistant Adjutant G eneral, Stu., &e., Di napore.