The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-14 00:00:00

OFFICIAL DESPA.TCHES.

The following appeared in a part of our impression of
yesterday :
A supplement to the London. Gazette of Friday
last, published last evening, contains a number of
despatches from the military authorities in India.
We select the following as being the latest and
most interesting
- -

Brigadier-General Havelock to the Deputy Adjutat t"
General of the Army.

Camp, F atteb pore, Jaly 12, 1857.

Sir,—By telegrams and reports in various shapes, the
Commander-in-Chief has been kept informed of the
operations of Major Renaud, Ist Madras Fusiliers, on
the Grand Trunk road, between the Ist and 11th inst.,
at th© head of a force of 400 British and 420 native
troops, with two pieces of cannon. He has everywhere
pacificated the country, by punishing the ringleaders in
mutiny and rebellion, wherever they have fallen into hie
bands, and earned, as I venture to think, the best
thanks of his Excellency.
But on the 10th inst. his position became critical.
Cawnpore had suddenly fallen, by an act of treaohery
unequalled in our annals, save by one fatal event be-
yond the Indus ; and the rebel. force, thus freed from
occupation, had rapidly pushed down a force to the
vicinity of this place, within Eve miles of which the
Major would arrive on the morning of the 12th. He
would thus be exposed to the attack of 3,500 rebels with
12 guns.

No time was to be lost ; so on the 10th my column
marched, under a frightful sun, 15 miles, to Synee, and,
resuming their coarse at 11 o'clocit at night, joined
Major Renaud on the road, by moon Light, and with him
marched to Khaga, five miles from Futtehpore, soon
after dawn, and took up a position.
The beat was excessive, but there were now oa a
point 1,400 British bayonets, and eight grins, united to
a small native force.
Our information had been better than that of the
enemy, for when Lieutenant-Colonel Tytler pushed a
reconnaissance up to the town they evidently supposed
they bad only Major Renaud's gallant 'but small force in
their front, for after firing on the Lieutenant-Colonel and
his escort, they insolently pushed forward two guns and
a force of Infantry and Cavalry, cannonaded our front,
and threatened our flanks.

I wished earnestly to give our harassed soldiers rest,
and so waited until this ebullition should expend itself,
making no counter disposition, beyond posting 100 En-
field Riflemen (64th) in an sdvaiced copse. But the
enemy maintained his attack with the audacity which
his first supposition had inspired, and my inertness fos-
tered. It would have injured the morale of my troops
to permit them to be thus bearded, so I determined at
once to bring on an action.
Fattehpore constitutes a position of no small strength.
The hard dry Grand Trunk Road subdivides it, and is
the only means of convenient access, for the plains on
both sides are covered at this season by heavy lodgments
of water, to the depth of two, three, and four feet. It is
surrounded by garden enclosures of g.reat strength, with
high walls, and has within it many houses of good ma-
sonry. In front of the swamp are hillocks, villages, and
mangoe groves, which the enemy already occupied in
force.

I made my dispositions. The guns, now eight in
number, were formed on and close to the chauss4®, in
the centre, under Captain Maude, Royal Artillery, pro-
tected and aided by 100 Enfield Riflemen of the 64th.
The detachments of Infantry were, at the same moment,
thrown into line of quarter-distance columns, at deploy.
ing distance, and thus advanced in support, covered at
discretion by Enfield skirmishers. The small force of
volunteers and Irregular Cavalry moved forward on the
flanks, on header ground.
I might say that in ten minutes the action was de-
cided, for in that short space of time the spirit of the
enemy was utterly destroyed ; the rifle fire, reaching
them at an unexpected distance, filled them with dis-
may, and when Captain Maude was enabled to push his
guns through flanking swamps to point-blank range, his
surprisingly acenrate fire demolished their little remain-
ing confidence. In a moment three guns were aban-
doned to us on the chaussee, and the force advanced
steadily, driving the enemy before it on every point.
Major Renaud won a hillock on the right in good
style, and struggled on through the inundation. The
78th, in extension, kept up his communication with the
centre ;_ the 64th gave strength to the centre and left ;
on the left the 84th and regiment of Ferozepore pressed
back the enemy's right.
As we moved forward the enemy's guns continued to
fall into our hands, and then in succession they were
driven by skirmishers and columns from the garden in-
closures, from a strong barricade on the road, from the
town- .vall, into and through, out of and beyond, the
towr. They endeavoured to make a stand a mile in
advance of it. My troops were in mach a state of ex-
haustion that I almost despaired of driving them fur-
ther. At the same time, the mutineers of the 2d Light
Cavalr* made an effort to renew the combat by charg-
ing, with some success, our Irregular Horse, whose dis-
position throughout the fight was, I regret to say, worse
than doubtful. But again our guns and riflemen were,
with great labour, pushed to the front. Their fire soon
put the enemy to final and irretrievable flight, and my
force took up its present position in triumph, and parked
twelve captured guns.
I must endeavour, in this hasty despatch, to do jus-
tice to those who led the troops to this easy victory :
First on the list I must place Major Renaud, whose
emertions at the head of the advanced column I
cannot sufficiently praise. His coolness and conduct in
the action are equally entitled to my highest commenda-
tion.

I hope it will be in the power of his Excellency the
Commander-in-Chief to bring speedily to the notice of
his Royal Highness the General Commanding-in-Chief
the courage and skill of Captain Mande, Royal Artillery.
I have seen some artillery fights in my time, but never
beheld guns better served, or practice more effective, than
that of my battery under this officer.
Colonel Hamilton led his Highlanders well, and they
followed him fall of spirit and devotion.
I have every reason to be satisfied with the conduct
in this combat of Major Stirling, at the head of the 64th;
of Lieut. Ayrton, in command of the 84th detachment ;
of Captain Brasyer, Regiment of Ferozepore ; of Capt.
Barrow, leading the Volunteer Cavalry ; and Lieutenant
Palliser, at the head of the Irregular Horse.
I have next to speak of the Staff

Captain Beatson, Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General,
has given me entire satisfaction in the performance of his
ordinary duties, and I was much gratifl.ed by his boldness
and activity in the fight.
Lient.-Colonel Tytler is indefatigable, and most intel-
ligent in a sphere of duty entirely new to him.
Captain Mcßean's commissariat arrangements, chiefly
with the advanced column, have hitherto been every way
successful.

My orders were conveyed in the field boldly, actively,
and intelligently, by my Aide-de-camp, Lieut. Havelock,
10th Foot, and the following officers
.; Lieut. Morland,
Ist Fusiliers ; Lieut. Moorsom, her Majesty's 62d
Light Infantry ; Captain Sheehy, her Majesty's 81st
Regiment; Captain Russell, Engineers; and Captain
Mcßean.

I enclose the list of casualties ; the lightest, I suppose,
that ever accompanied the announcement of such a
success. Twelve British soldiers have been struck
down by the sun, and never rose again. But our fight
was fought neither with musket nor bayonet and sabre,
but with Enfield rifles and cannon ; so we took no men.
The enemy's fire scarcely reached us ; ours, for four
hours, allowed him no repose.
A return of captured ordnancOalso accompanies this
report. I have, &c.,
H. HAVELOCK.

The Deputy Adjutant-General of the Army, to the
Secretary to the Government of India.
Calcutta, July 31, 1357.
Sir,—l have-the honour, by desire of tie Cowman-
der-in-Chief, to forward, for submission to the Right
Honourable the Governor-General of India in Council,
two dispatches received from Brigadier General H.
Havelock, C. 8., commanding the moveable column,
dated the 15th and 20th of July, giving an account of
hie engagements with the rebels under the Nana Sahib,
at the bridge over the Pandoo Nuddee, at the recapture
of Cawnpore from the same enemy.
His Excellency considers that the greatest credit is
due to the Brigadier General and to the brave troops
under his command. They have marched 130 miles in
eight days at the most trying season of the year, fought
three obstinately contes'ed combats, in each of which
the insurgents have been signally beaten, destroyed the
stronghold of that arch-fiend and traitor the- Nana
Sahib, and captured 44 pieces of ordnance, many of
which &repot large calibre.
("novel Havelock bag, on many occasions,
handled his force with the ability which might
have been expected from his well wun reputation
as a brave, skilful, and experienced soldier, and
Sir Patrick Grant begs to recommend him, and the
several officers he has specified in his despatches, to the
moat favourable consideration of his Lordship in Coun-
cil ; and his Excellency desires further to draw especial
attention to the glowing terms in which General ;ave-
lock describes the excellent conduct and
all t. under
tre of the troops of all arms Serving with him in the
field.

The return of the enclosure is requested,—l have, ific.,
W. MAYIIEW.

Brigadier-General Havelock to the Deputy-Adjutant
General of the Army.
Camp, Pandoo Nuddee, July 15, 1857.
Sir,—l have the satisfaction to acquaint you, for the
information of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief,
that the troops under my command have been twice suc-
cessfully engaged with the enemy to-day, and have cap-
tured four guns,
march towards Cawn
in Deputy Adjutant-General of the Army to the
Whilst prosecuting my pore it , , . Secretary the Government of India.
became a matter of deep interest to me to learn whether
Calcutta, 8, 1857.
the fine bridge over the Pandoo Nuddee had been de- Sir,—ln forwarding for submission to the Aug.*lt ht Hon.
dyed or not. The stream is not at this season ford- he Governor-General in Council a despatch, ingorigina l,
able, and the delay in crossing by other means, or at
.rom Brigadier-General H. Havelock, C.B , command-
any other point, would have been most damaging to the ling the moveable column, No. 39, of the
29th ult.,
objects of the expedition. ;detailing his operations against the mutineers near the
Intelligence meanwhile came in to the effect that the !towns of Una. and Buseerut Gunge I have the honour
village of Aeng was strongly occupied by the enemy, to request you will state to his Lordship in Council,
thnt he was entrenched across the road, and had two What the Commander-in-chief considers that the beat
Horse Artillery guns in position. I acknowledgments of. Government are due to the Briga.
I therefore reinforced the advanced guard, under dier-General for the true soldierly skill and ability with
Lieut.-Col. Tytler, by attaching
to him, in addition to which these brilliant affairs were conducted.
the small body of Volunteer Cavalry, six guns of Capt. lam further to solicit the attention of the Governor