The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-02 00:00:00

return march was accordingly commenced on the night
of the 7th, first destroying their magazines, found to
contain about 40,0001 b. of powder with small-arm am-
munition and a vast quantity of shot ,and shell, and
carrying away large stores of flour, rice, and grain,
which the Persian Government had been collecting for a
long time past for their army, thereby effectually crip-
pling their future operations. Some of their guns are
supposed to have been cast into 'wells, and, as their
wheels and axles fell into our hands, it will be impossible
they can be used again for the present.
" 12. At midnight an attack was made upon the rear
guard by the enemy's horse, and parties threatened the
line of march on every side. The troops were halted,
and so formed as to protect the baggage, and resist the
horsemen in whatever direetion they might attempt to
charge. Fdur of the enemy's guns of heavy metal opened
their fire upon the column, while- the darkness of the
night prevented any steps being taken to capture them.
" 13. I should here state that, on abandoning their
position, Soojah-001-Moolk, with his force, had taken
the direct road to Shiraz by the Mhak' Pass, and the
Eilkhanee with his horse had retired by the one leading
to the 'Soft Moons,' and from information subse-
quently received, I learn that they had planned a com-
bined attack upon our camp the night we marched !
Indeed the explosion of their magazines gave them the
first intimation of our departure, when they hastened
after us in the expectation of being able to attack us on
the line of march, and possibly create confusion and
panic in the dark.

" 14. At daybreak the Persian force, amounting to be-
tween 6,000 and 7,000 men, with some guns, was disco-
vered on our rear left (north-east of our line of march) in
order of battle.

"15. Our artillery and cavalry at once moved rapidly
to the attack, supported by two lines of infantry, a
third protecting the baggage. The firing of the artillery
was most exaellent, and did great execution ; the Ca-
valry Brigade twice charged with great gallantry and
success ; a standard of the li-ishkai Regular Infantry
Regiment was captured by the Poonah Horse, and 'the
31 Light Cavalry charged a square, and killed nearly
the whole regiment; indeed upon the cavalry and artil-
lery fell the whole brunt of , the action, as the enemy
moved away too rapidly for the infantry to overtake
them. By 10 o'clock-the defeat of the Porsians was com-
plete. Two guns were captured, the gun ammunition,
laden upon mules, fell into our hands, and at least 700
men lay dead upon the field. The number of wounded
could not be ascertained, but it must have been very
large. The remainder fled in a disorganised state, gene-
rally throwing away their arms, which strewed the field
in vat numbers, and nothing but the paucity-of our ca-
valry prevented their total, destruction and the capture
of the remaining guns.

" 16. The troops bivouacked for the day close to the
battle-field, and at night accomplished a march of 20
miles (by another route) over a country rendered almost
impassable by the heavy rain which fell incessantly.
After a rest of six hours, the greater portion of the ir.-
fantry continued their march to Bushire, which they
reached befora midnight, thus performing another most
arduous march of 44 miles under incessant rain, besides
fighting and defeating the enemy during its progress
within the short period of 50 hours. The cavalry and
artillery reached camp this morning.
17. The result is most satisfactory, and will I trust
have a very beneficial effect upon our future operations.
(618. The greatest praise is due to the troops of all
arms for their steadiness and gallantry in the field, their
extraordinary exertions on the march, and their cheerful
endurance of fatigue and privation under circum-
stances rendered doubly severe by the inclemency of the
weather to which they were exposed without shelter of
any kind ; and I cannot too strongly express the obliga-
tion I feel to all under my command for the almost in-
credible exertions they have undergone and the gallantry
they have displayed on this occasion.
"19. To Major-General Stalker and to Colonel Lu-
gard my especial thanks are due.
"20. To the heads of the several departments, as
well as to every officer belonging to those departments,
and to my personal staff (including Lieutenant-Colonel.
Lord Dunkellin, who volunteered his services as aide-
de-camp), lam much indebted. From all I received
every possible assistance, and, although I do not now
specify by name the department and personal staff and
other officers alluded to, I shall hereafter take an oppor-
tunity of bringing them individually to your Excellency's
notice. Indeed, when all have behaved so nobly, it is
difficult to specify individuals.

" 21. The rapid retreat of the enemy afforded but
little opportunity for deeds of special gallantry. I have
already alluded to the successful charges made by the 3d
Cavalry and Poonah Horse, under Captain Forbes and
Lieutenant-Colonel Tapp, and to the very efficient ser-
vice performed by the Artillery under Lieut.-Colonel
Trevelyan. The Brigadiers commanding the infantry
brigades—Wilson, Stinted, and Houner,—with the
several commanding officers of the regiments, and indeed
every officer and soldier of the force, earned my warmest
approbation.
" 22. To the medical officers of the force I am under
great obligation for their untiring exertions throughout
these arduous operations.
" 23. I cannot conclude without alluding in strong
terms to the valuable assistance I have received from
Major Taylor. whose services were placed at mydisposal
by the Hon. C. A. Murray, C.B,
"I have the honour to be, &c.,
" J. OUTRAM, Lieutenant-General,
"Commanding Expeditionary Force."
"Total Kilted—Europeans, 3 ; Natives, 7.
"Total Wounded—Europeans, 31 ; Natives, 31.
" Grand Total.—Killed, 10 ; wounded, 62-72.
"Died of Wounds, since the action.-3 Europeans
and 3 Natives.

"M. STOVELL, Superintending Surgeon.
"Ist Division Persian Expeditionary Field Force."
"The following is the return of Ordnance captured
on the morning of the Bth inst., at Bivouac Kboosh-ab :--
"One brass gun, Persian inscription, vent good, -9-
pounder, length 6 feet, bore 4.2, of Persian manufac-
ture.

" One ditto, ditto, . spiked, 9-pounder, length 6 feet,
bore 4.2, of Persian manufacture.

"These guns are in good travelling order, mounted on
travelling field carriages, each limber fitted with a limber
box to contain about 30 rounds of ammunition. One
gun was taken with three horses, harness, &c., complete.
"The carriages are of block trail constructions ; the
cheeks of one require to be replaced.
"Eighteen rounds of ammunition and some food were
in the limber boxes.

" Besides the above were 262 rounds of gun ammuni-
tion, which I destroyed before leaving the bivouac on
Sunday evening. The mules, eight in number, which
carried it, I have brought into camp. I have 350 stand'of
arms, and I think fully treble that number must have
been taken by camp followers and others.

"One gan was spiked by our Horse Artillery, /IR
they had to leave it when following on in pursuit. I
have since removed the spike.

" E. K. FINNIMORE, Captain,
"Field Commissary of Ordnance, P.E.F.F."

The name of the officer killed is Lieutenant A. C.
Frankland, of the 2d European Regiment and Act-
ing Brigade Major of Cavalry, .Field Force. Among
the officers wounded were Capt. J. Forbes, 3d
Light Cavalry, ball through right thigh severely ;
Capt. R. Mockler, her Majesty's 64th Regiment,
contusion of calf of right leg from a round shot ;
Lieutenant J. Greentree, her Majesty's 64th Regi-
ment, seriously, by a round shot, which caused.
loss f left foot ; Ensign Woodcock, 2d European
Regiment Light Infantry, slightly, gun-shot, left
shin ; and Assistant-Surgeon J. M. Barnett, 26th
Regiment Native Infantry, slightly, by spent ball,
right arm.