The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-12 00:00:00

THE 52d REGIMEIVT.

The following letter describes one of the achieve-
ments of this celebrated corps, which is still adding
to the laurels gained in every battlefield of Europe
fresh renown in India :

" Camp, before Delhi, Aug. 26, 1857.
"Yon will probably have heard of our encounter with
the 46th Native Infantry and a wing of the 9th light
Cavalry. They mutinied at Sealkote, sacked the place,
murdering several persons, male and female. • We there
lost all our property, private as well as mess--iti fact,
everything. When we marched from Sealkete we were
ordered to move as light as possible, and the bulk of our
property was placed in a building assigned by the Bri-
gadier, and under a guard of the 46th Native Infantry
(a fair ease for compensation, you will say), but when
these fellows mutinied we were at Umritsir, and upon
hearing which, and that everything bad gone, we started
to out them off. We left Umritsir at half-past 8 p.m ,
and reached Goordespore,- 42 miles, at 4 next day. There
we heard of our friends, some 15 miles off, on the other
side of .the Ravee river, the ford over which was 10
miles from Goordespore. They crossed this ford early
the next mcirning, and we marched at 10 to meet them.
They had heard of our approach, and we found theta
drawn up in line, both ranks kneeling, and the cavalry
threatening both our flanks. Our numbers were only
about 280 of the 52d, about 120 newly-raised Sikhs, and
9 guns ; they had about 800 infantry and 300 cavalry. On
our drawing up in line about 250 yards from them they
opened a fusillade, and in about 5 minutes we had about
40 casualties in the force. However, the moment we
began to return the compliment with grape and Enfield
rifles they made preparations for a bolt. Several of
their cavalry came right in among us, cutting down
f,infwewhekenoirturnpise mine.skirmishing
imn ge
ged oa
some o f our
flankhgau
wn on
theirve
er
rs
~ 8
right
ti iWy Odl ai nspd
subdivisional ns
Theyaoofn ldoekru i,rlwlaelendebrfdetehsai otyndesperatebehaved
l lr
ywd
sewr een
litl the
an fnredl l
line.o ws t ha
Thet t hl
oe
fyt w
sub ere-
division
were all killed in
covering the retreat of their main body. A good many
of them were drowned in their hurry to recross the
river ; many threw away their arms and clothes, and
'
bolted into the villages • but were
next day and shot. About 200 of
themall b brought
uponht in thean
island, where they had a large gun. I crossed about a
mile below them two days after at daylight, and de-
stroyed them, all. They fought their gun to the last
moment, but their shooting was not good. Seven of
theca were killed at the gun ; one ef,:them in the act if
ramming another dose of grape. Crosse 's company had
the honour of taking the gun. Altogether, what with
the long march and the utter destruction ofr the two
regiments, I believe we are entitletd to some c ed t-42
day, and after our
andBwoutnodethdo,
miles in 48 hours,
—is 10 miles back to our camp,-62
wnen the heat of the sun is con-
sidered.—is wonderful work, .
miles to Goordespore, 10 miles next
n
My casualties in the two fights only amounted
having marched
This example considered elecll killed,
a
on the 13th lust, ntioy io the Punjaub we were ordered down here
(Delhi),in and arrived
700 miles in the hottest season of the y
t ) one
inane
year. I forgot to
mention that on the day of the first fight about 20 of
rny mon were struck down by the sun, but only three of
them died. We have now marched in less than four
years upwards of 3,000 miles,—unparalleldd, I believe,
1 in this or any other army in the world and still the dis-
cipline is, I am truly glad to say, ai pre-eminent as
Ever.';