The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-16 00:00:00

CHINA.

The Overland China Mail of Sept. 25 says
" In Hong Kong the great event of the fortnight
h r 3 been the re-arrival of Lord Elgin, and specutt-
ti )ns have been rife as to his intended proceedings.
Whatever course he may deem it proper to pur-
a"' one thing we beg earnestly to protest against
—viz., the partial blockade of the river now en-
forced by Admiral Seymour, and which is driving
a,vay from this colony all the little trade it ever
pe,3sessed. The injuries it is doing become more
ai•pmrtiit every day, and it would almost seem as if
the Chinese had entered into a combination to have

no business transactions whatever with Hong Kong
while the present state of affairs continues."

DESPATCH FROM GENERAL WILSON.
(FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE OF SATURDAY NIGHT,
NOVEMBER 14.)

Head Quarters, Field Force, Delhi.
Sept. 15, 1857.
TO CAPTAIN W. 11. NORMAN, ASSISTANT ADJUTANT•
GENERAL OF TILE ARMY.

Sir,—l have the high satisfaction of reporting,
for the information of the Major-General command-
ing in the upper provinces, and through him of his
excellency the Commander-in-Chief and of Govern-
ment, that on the morning of the 14th inst tot the
force under my command successfully assaulted the
city of Delhi.
Under the present circumstances, Major-General
IGowan will, I trust, allow me to withhold for a
time a full and complete detail of the operations
from their commencement to their close, and to
limit myself to a summary of events.
After six days of open trenches, during which the
Artillery and Engineers, under their respective
commanding officers, Major Gaitskell and Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Baird Smith, vied with each °Vier
in pressing forward the work, two excellent and
most practicable breaches were formed in the walls
of the place, one in the curtain to the right of the
Cashmere bastion, the other to the left of the Water
bastion, the defences of those bastions and the
parapets giving musketry cover to the enemy coin-
mending the breaches having also been destroyed
by the artillery.
The assault was delivered on four points. The
first column, under Brigadier J. Nicholson, con-
sisting of her Majesty's 75th Regiment (300 men),
the Ist European Bengal Fusiliers (200 men), and
the 2d Punjaub Infantry (450 men), assaulted the
main breach, their advance being admirably covered
by the Ist Batt. of her Majesty's 60th Rifles, under
Colonel J. Jones. The operation was crowned with
brilliant success, the enemy, after severe resistance
being driven from the Cashmere bastion, the main
guard, and its vicinity, in complete rout.
The second column, under Brigadier Jones, of
her Majesty's 61st Regiment, consisting of her Ma-
jesty's Bth Regiment (250 men), the 2d European
Bengal Fusilier.; (250 men), and the 4th Regiment
of Sikhs (350 men), similarly covered by the 60th
Rifles, advanced on the Water bastion, carried
the breach, and drove the enemy from his guns and
position, with a determination and spirit which
I gave me the highest satisfaction.
The third column, under Col. Campbell, of her
Majesty's 52d Light Infantry, consisting of 200 of
his own regiment, the Kumaon. battalion (250
men), and the Ist Punjaub Infantry (500 men), was
directed against the Cashmere gateway. This column
was preceded by an explosion party, under Lieuts.
Home and Salkeld, of the Engineers, covered by
the 60th Rifles. The demolition of the gate having
been accomplished the column forced an entrance,
overcoming a strenuous opposition from the ene-
my's infantry and heavy artillery, which had been
brought to hear on the position. I cannot exit ss
too warmly my admiration of the gallantry of all
concerned in this difficult operation.
The reserve, under Brigadier Longfield, her Ma-
jesty's Bth Regiment, composed of her Majesty's
61st Regiment (250 men), the 4th Regiment Rifles
(450 men), the Belooch battalion (300 men), the
Jheend Rajah's Auxiliaries (300 men), and 200 of
her Majesty's 60th Rifles, who joined after the as-
sault bad been made, awaited the result of the at-
tack, and on the columns entering the place took
possession of the posts I had previously assigned to
it. This duty was ultimately performed to my en-
tire satisfaction.
The firm establishment of the reserve rendering
the assaulting column free to act in advance, Bri-
gadier-General Nicholson, supported by Brigadier
Jones, swept the ramparts of the place from the
Cashmere to the Cabul gates, occupying the bas-
tions and defences, capturing the guns, and driving
the enemy before him.
During the advance Brigadier-General Nicholson
was, to the grief of myself and the whole army,
dangerously wounded. The command consequently
devolved on Brigadier Jones, who, finding the
enemy in great force, occupying and pouring a
destructive fire from the roofs of strong and com-
manding houses in the city on all sides, the ram-
parts themselves being enfilsd by guns, prudently
resolved on retaining possession of the Cabul crate
which his troops had so gallantly won, in which he
firmly established himself awaiting the result of the
operations of the other columns of occupation.
Colonel Campbell, with the column under his
command, advanced successfully from the Cash-
mere gate by one of the main streets beyond the
" Chandee Chonk," the central and principal street
of the city towards the Jumma Musjid, with the
intention of occupying that important post. The
opposition however, which be met from the great
concentration of the enemy at the Jumma Musjid
and the houses in the neighbourhood—ho himself,
I regret to state, being wounded—satisfied him
that his most prudent course was not to maintain
so advanced a position with the comparatively
limited force at his disposal, and he accordingly
withdrew the head of his column and placed him-
self in commnnication with the reserve, a measure
which had my entire approval ; I having previously
determined that, in the event of serious opposition
being encountered in the town itself, it would be

most inexpedient to commit my small force to a
succession of street fights, in which their gallantry,
dLciplint, and organisation could avail them so

little:

My pre3ent position, therefore, is that which,
under such a contingency, I had resolved to occupy
and establish myself in firmly, as the base of my
systematic operations for the complete posession
of the city. This embraces the magazine on one
side, and the Cabul gate on the other, with the
Moroe, Cashmere, and Water bastions, and strong
intermediate posts with secure communication along
the front and to the rear.

Fr)m this base I am now cautiously pressing the
enemy on alt point,,, with a view to establishing
myself in a second advanced position, and I trust
before many days to have it in my power to an-
nounce to the supreme government, that the enemy
have been drivenfrom their last stronghold in the
palace, fort, and streets of the city of Delhi.
Simultaneously with t►ke operations above de-
tailed, an attack was made on the enemy's strong,
position outside the city, in the suburbs of Kissen-
gunge and Pahareepore, with a view of driving in
the rebels, and supporting the main attack by
effecting an entrance at the Cabul gate after it
should be taken.

The force employed on this difficult duty I en-
trusted to that admirable officer, Major C. Reid,
commanding the Sirmoor battalion, whose distin-
guished conduct I have already had occasion to
bring prominently to the notice of superit r autho-
rity, and who was, I much regret, severety
wounded on this cccasion, His column consisted
of his own battalion, the Guides, and the men on
duty at Hindoo Rao's (the main picket), numbs ring
in all about 3,000, aupported by the auiliary troops
of his Highness the Maharajah Rumbeir Singh,
under Captain R. Lawrence.
The strength of the positions, however, and the

desperate resistance offered by the enemy, with-
&toorl for a time tho efforts of our troops, gallant
though they were, and the combination was unable
to be effected. The delay, lam happy to say, has
been only temporary, for the enemy have subse-
quently abandoned their positions, leaving their
guns in our hands.

In this attack I found it necessary to support
Major Reid with Cavalry and Horse At tilery, both
of which arms were admirably handled respectively
by Brigadier Hope Grant, of H.M. 9th Lancere,
commanding the cavalry brigade, and Major H.
Tombs, of the Horse Artillery, who inflicted severe
punishment on the enemy, though I regret their
own loss was very heavy.
The resistance of the rebels up to this time has
been that of desperate men, and to this nan,t be
attributed the severe Ess we have sustained,
amounting proximately, so far as I am able to
judge, in the absence of casualty returns, to 46 offi-
cers killed and wounded, and about 800 men.
Ainoegst thoie of whose services the state has been
deprived are many officPrs of distinction and merit,
holding superior c4mrr a ids, whose places cannot be
supplied ; and I have specially to lament the loss
which has been sustained by that splendid corps, /he
Engineers, nine officers of that aim having fallen
in the gallant performance of their duty.
Until I am in T, os essi on of reports from brigadiers
and other commanding °fillers I hall be unab!e to
_ _

enter more fully into the detai!s of these operatiotis,
and I trust the circumstances under which I write

will excuse any slight inaccuracies or imptrfectioni
which my depatch may exhibit.
The absence of such reports also prevants my
bringing to notice Ihe name 3 of those officers and
men who have speenliy distinguished them:f:lves.

This -will b? ray grateful duty hereafter. Bu• I can-
not def.r the expression of my admiration fa. the
intrerddity, coolatss, and determination of all e•--
gagEd, Europeans and native?, of all arms of the
tervice.—l have,
A. WILSON, MAjor-Genertl,
Comraanding Field Force.

.ENEItAL CHAMBERLAIN'S REPORT.
of De, Spt. 18, 1857.
FROM THE ADJUTANTCity
EERAL lhi
OFe THE ARMY TO
THE OFFICER COMMANDING AT CAWNPORE.
Sir,—On the afternoon of the 14th I despatched a
messenger to you, intimating the success of the
assault in Delhi, which took phee that morning,
and that we held from the Cabul Gate 10 the Col-
lege. Since then we have pushed on, andnow occupy
from the Cabul gate along the line of the canal, with
our left holding the bank which opens on the Chant

?.s:.=~,

nee Chouk. The M agazine was breached during the
• assault at day-break on the 16th.
and from this that the mutineers
occupy the Bury Bu
Ylsotuh, willand utaukdeenra bty
a Bastion, and all that portion of
the city to its v... nth, excepting the bank ; they also
still occupy the / ,alace and Selimgurh, and have a
camp pitched out side, near the Ajmere gate. The
palace will be wel. I breached as soon as we attain a
suitable site for of ir battery, which we have not yet
acquired. Ourmo rtars have been brought into the
town, and are she!. ling the palace. The guns taken
on the works haver tiso been turned upon the por-
tions of the town wl iich are in possession of the mu-
tineers, which we ate gradually pressing forwards.
The usual license which invariably accompanies an
assault of a large cit. sr has somewhat retarded our
advance, but order i fast being restored. At first
the mutineers offered. • obstinate resistance, but they
have become less active The townspeople are flying
the city in crowds, an d the mutineers themselves
are deserting in large be 'dies, their cavalry, it is re-
ported, having almost Cl itirely disappeared. We can
get no good iuformatiot I as to the mutineers' line
of retreat, but some say Gwalior. Few pass over
the bridge. Their positi one at Kissengunge were
abandoned the day after the assault, seven guns
being left behind in position. Our casualties on the
day of assault were :

Europeans, killed, 8 officers, 162 rank and file ;
wounded, 52 officers, 510 mink and file. Natives,
killed, 103 ; wounded, 310. Missing, 10 Europeans.
Total, Europeans and natives, killed and wounded
1,145. The following officers killed :—Engineer,
Lieut. Tandy, H.M. 75th ; .Lieut. Fitzgerald,
H. IL 52d ; Lieut. Bradshaw, H. M. Bth ; Lieut.
Webb, Ist Fu3iliers ; Major Jacob. Capt. M'Bar-
net, 55th N. 1., doing duty ; Lieut, Davidson, 26th
. N. 1., doing duty with the 2d Punjaub Infantry ;
Lieut. Murray, 42d N. 1., doing duty with Guides.
Wounded—Artillery, Major Tombs, Lt. Lindsay ;
Engineers, Lieuts. Greathead, Maunsell, Medley,
Salkeld.(dangerously), Chesney, Brownlow (danger-
ously), Hovenden, Pembertou ; Local Ensign Gus-
tavinske, 6th Dragoons ; Capt. Rosser (mortally)
84th (doing duty with9ch Lancers) ; Capt. Hon. A.
Anson; Lieut. B. Cuppage, 6th Light Cavalry(doing
duty with 9th Lancer-)1; her Majesty's 75th Foot.
Col. Herbert ; Lieuts. Armstrong, Watson, Day-
roll, 58th Native Infantry (doing duty with the 2d
Fusiliers) ; Captain Hay, 60th Native Infantry
(doing duty), dangerously ; Lieutenant Elderton,
Lieutenant Gambier, 38th Native Infantry (doing
duty), dangerously; Lieut. Walker, 60th Native
Infantry (doing duty), her Majesty's 52nd, Col.
Campbell, Captain Bayley, Lieut. Atkinson, her
Majesty's 60th Rifles ; Captain Waters, Lieutenant
Curtis, Sirmoor Battalion ; Major C. Reid, her
,Majesty's Bth ; Lieut.-Col. Brooke, Major Bayne
(dangerously) ; Captain Beere, Captain Sandilands,
Lieut. Pogson (since dead); Lieut. Walker, Lieut.
Metge, her Majesty's 61st ; Captain Deacon, Lieut.
Moore, Lieut. A. E. Young, Lieut. Jenkins, 57th
Native Infantry, attaching to 4th Sikhs ; Brigadier-
General Nicholson, dangerously, Ist Fusiliers;
Capt. Greville, Capt. Caulfield, 3d Native Infantry
(doing duty) ; Capt.Graydon, 16th Native Infantry
(doing duty); Lieutenants Wemyss Owen, Lam-
Left, Woodcock, 55th Native Infantry (doing duty);
Lieut. Speke, 65th Native Infantry (doing duty),
Ist Punjaub Infantry; Lieut. Nicholson. 2d Pun-
jaub Cavalry (doing duty) ; Lieut. Shelley, 11,11
Native Infantry (doing duty) ; Ensign Prior, local
officer (doing duty), 2d Punjaub Infantry ; Capt.
Green, Lieut. Frankland, Madras Infantry ; 4th
Punjaub Infantry, Lieut. Remfray (since dead),
Guide Infantry, Lieut. Bond, 57th Native Infantry
(doing duty).
The following ordnance has been captured :—ln
position and in the streets, 35 pieces of sorts ; in the
magazine, 171 ; total, 2U6. The amount of shot
and shell is unlimited. I have communicated the
contents of this to Government.—l am, dec.,
N. CHAMBERLAIN, Adjt.-Gen. of the Army.
P.S.-19th. During the night we advanced our
left to Abbott's house, and also Khan Mahomed's
house. This gives us a strong position up to within
150 yards:of the palace walls. All our mortarsiare
bearing upon the Jumma Musjid and the southern
part of the town, which is being fast evacuated, the
resistance becoming much less on our right ; we are
also progressing by working through the houses.
The King and royal family are said to have evacu-
ated the place and gone to the old fort outside the
city to the south. Our very small number makes it
necessary to be cautious in taking possession of so
large a city, for the great number we have of sick
andwouncled, and our loss on the day of the assault,
have reduced us very much. This was too late to
be sent yesterday. N. CHAMBELAIN.