The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-05 00:00:00

DIVISION OF VIE ARMY.

Camp before Samanghur.
Sir,—ln continuation of my report up to the 7th inst.,
I have now the honour to state that working parties
were sent down daily from the Bth to the 12th inst., for
the purpose of dragging up the breaching guns, aided by
elephants and gun-bullocks ; two 18-pounders having
been, by very great exertion, brought up to the tope in
front of Bheema Temple:late in the evening of the 10th,
and kept during the night under cover, were placed in
battery before daylight on the morning of the 11th, it
being considered advisable to knock away the enemy's
defences, flanking the approaches to the proposed
breaches. During these days shelling continued through-
out the day, and occasionally during the night ; at noon
of this day a third 18-pounder was brought up and im-
mediately placed in battery with the others. After
knocking away the defences, the guns commenced breach-
ing the south-western bastion opposite the Bheema Tem-
ple. On the 12th the breaching was continued, on the
forenoon of which day the fourth 18-pounder was brought
up and immediately placed in battery.
At three o'clock, r.st., this day, the commanding en-
gineer closely reconnoitred the two breaches, and re-
commended that all the guns should be turned upon the
smaller breach which had been made in a tower to the
rig
ht of the south-west bastion, and at sunset, he having
reported this breach practicable, and the one on
.the
south-west sufficiently prepared for escalade, immediate
arrangements were made for the storming of the fort at
daylight the following morning.
I directed the troops (1), divided into two columns.
under the command of Major Clemons of the 20th Re-
giment of Native Infantry, to be in readiness at halt
past four o'clock ; the first column under Captain Jones,
to assemble in a tope a little in advance of the Bheema
Temple ; and the second column under Captain Gillan-
ders, at the base of the hill upon which the fort stands,
and immediately fronting the right breach.
The Artillery detachment, under Lieutenant Jones,
100 men of the 20th Regiment Madras Native Infantry,
50 men of the 23d Light Infantry, under Ensign Night-
ingale, the whole under command of Captain Middle-
coat, of the Artillery, was held in reserve at the breach-
ing battery. Orders were sent to Lieutenant Snow,
commanding the detachment in the Pettah, consisting of
32 men of the 2d Bombay European Light Infantry,
one company of the 20th Regiment Madras Native In-
fantry, under Ensign Hutchison, and one company of
the 21st Bombay Native Infantry, to be in readiness a
little before daybreak, and to make a diversion before
the gateway on that side of the fort, with skirmishers in
advance, Similar orders were sent to Capt. Strettle,
commanding the detachment, as per below, at the com-
manding hill, to make a diversion from that side by ad-
vancing in two columns with skirmishers in front. In-
structions were likewise sent to the officer commanding
the post near the gate on the east side of the fort to
place the men in extended order under the natural:cover
afforded near the fort, and to open a fire from that side
as the storming parties were advancing. Orders were
sent to Captain Gm me, to patrol with the wing of the
sth Light Cavalry round the base of the hill,
from Lieutenant Snow's post in the Pettah
to Captain Strettlo's at the commanding hill.
thus completing a chain of troops entirely surrounding
the fort, and calculated to prevent the escape of the
garrison. My expectations in this respect were fully
realised, for I have every reason to believe that not a
man escaped, though many got over the walls, letting
themselves down by their .turbans, which were found
suspended in many places round the walls of the fort, to
one end of which sticks or large stones were fastened
and placed cross-ways at the loop-holes, through which

1. Ist column of attack.-80 men of 2d Bombay European
Light Infantry, commanded by Captain Jones. The Grena-
dier and Light Company of the 20th Regiment M. N. 1., the
latter by Captain Church, with Lieutenant Coleridge and
Ensign Wallace ; the former by Lieutenant Loudon, with
Ensign Robson ; Grenadier Company of the 21st B. N. 1.,
commanded by Captain Prior. The Rifle Company, com-
manded by Lieutenant Shaw, was sent forward with orders
to place the men under the natural cover afforded close to
the fort near our left breach, as circumstances would admit.
2d or Right Column.-70 men of the 2d Bengal European
Regiment Light Infantry, commanded by Lieutenant Savill,
with 150 men of the 23d Light Infantry, commanded by
Captain Tapp, with Lieutenant Dickson and Ensign Night-
ingale. 50 men of the 23d Light Infantry were ordered to
be placed under the natural cover afforded, and as close to
the right breach as circumstances would admit. One com-
pany of the 20th Regiment Madras Native Infantry, under
Ensign Cornwall, one company of the 21st Bengal Native
Infantry under Ensign Proctor, and a nine-pounder gun
. with a proportion of artillery.