The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-06 00:00:00

MADRAS,

The arrangements for the China expedition are progress-
ing, and.the official order has been issued for four 6-pounder
guns, and two 4 2-5 inch howitzers, to accompany the Horse
Artillery ; each gun and howitzer being supplied with 500
rounds of all sorts. The troop and company are expected to
be at the Mount by the Bth or 10th proximo. Brigadier
'Walpole will review the 2dNative Infantry to-morrow morning.
It is vet y generally reported that that the Bengal Govern-
ment has notified to the laical Government that no furthei na•
tive troops can he spared from Bengal for China. In that
case it is probable etnorgli, therefore, that Madras may be called
upon for another regiment.— Spectator, Jan. 29.
PESHAWAR AND KHYBER PASS.
( From the Ilombay Times.)
General Pollock's brigade was moving on with all possible
despatch, and expected to reach Peshawar on the 3d current.
It ' was the general belief. in camp, that he was resblved on
attempting the Pass without delay, in conjunction with Co-
lonel %Vild's brigade. But the General is too clear-sighted
to do so rashly; and from all that we can gather, the force
at his disposal, though as efficient for its size as any can be, is
too small, and that unless he can overpower the Khyberees on
their own ground, and dispossess them of the heights command-
ing the Pass, he cannot force his way without severe loss.
We are very much obligtd to one of our old friends who
has kinlly sent us the following account of the late " cutting
through" in the Kyber Pass, and feel very great pleasure in
publishing the Detachment Order, convinced that all parties
therein named have fully merited all the praise accorded them.
We lave received other accounts also, and all give most un-
qualified praise to the Sepoys of both regiments for their truly
gallant and spirited behaviour; the 64th Native Infantry, from
their position, bore the brunt of the day's work. and most gal
hotly they did it. Many, in this station, will observe with
pleasure the mention of the names of their old acquaintances,
from whom all that is brave was to be expected. Lieutenant
Alexander, of the Engineers, had a very narrow escape, a shot
having struck the button of his coat over the chest, but luckily
was turned off; the blow was, of course, most severe, but he
is doing well.
The accounts of the murder of the wounded men obliged
to be abandoned to their fate, are horrifying : these Khyber
savages appear to glory in blood, and to mangle bodies for
sport. Sickness is lending its aid to the accumulation of dis-
asters at Peshawar, about eighty sepoys being admitted daily
into the hospital with dya'ntery. The 60th are said to have
but 150 men fit for duty, after deducting the usual and ne-
cessary guards. " Camp Rawulsar, 29th January.
" This letter will give you a partial account of the manner
we cut our way back through the Khyber pass. You must first
know that on the 15th of this month the 53d and 64th were
ordered on to Ali Musjid. We according marched, at ten
o'clock at night on the 15th, got through the pass unmolested,
and reached Ali Musjid about eleven next day. Our men
started with nothing, but their great coats, and officers marched
as lightly as possible; the remainder of the brigade was ex-
*derl to have followed us in a day er two after, but on our ap-
pearing at Ali Musjid (for what earthly purpose we were sent
there God knows), it was the signal for the whole of the
Affreedis to be up in arms against u's, and to attempt to shut up
the pass, which they have dune most effectually, and no gold
will now induce them toopen it. Brigadier Wild, with the 60ila
and 30th, attempted to force the pass on the 19th, in order to
join us, but I am sorry to say he was beaten back with heavy
lost in men, baggage, &c.
" On the 23d another attempt was made, when he succeeded
itt kdocking down the breastworks of the enemy, which had
been built in the narrow defiles. All this time we were hemnied
in in Ali Musjid, starving ; the Sepoys were put on half ra-
tions, and were nearly perishing with the cold, having no cover-
ing at night but their great coats, and the canopy of Heaven
fur tents. The officers fared the same, having to eat for eight
days but chuputees and bull-beef, which was only fit to give to
dogs. At last we got desperate ; Wild could nut join us, and
the pass was shut in every direction. It was at length deter-
mined, when there were only five maunds of attah in store, that
we should bravely cut our way back, Brigadier Wild at the
same time making a demonstration in our favour at the mouth
of the pass.
" So, accordingly, the dawn of the 24th saw our two corps
under arms, and we bid adieu to Ali Musjid. We had uo
sooner left the tort than the w hole of the surrounding hills
awa!med with Affreedis ; the little baggage that some of us
had we hail made up our minds to have destroyed the night be-
fore,yat her than it should fall into the hands of the enemy. The
sums of the sick were also broken up, and some ammunition
destroyed. The enemy kept annoying our rear the whole day,
and, with their long jazails, that carry an enormous distance,
they had greatly the advantage over our men. Our Jacks,
however, behaved nobly, and though I say it who should not,
4he old 64th has earned for itself an everlasting name from that
day's work ; .1 could not have believed that blackey had so
raiseh Out:: ; our corps being in the rear, we bore the whole
brunt of the affair, and it was in the narrow defile called the
Kaffir Thungae,' that there was the tug of war. It was
here poor Wilson, of ours, who was in command of tile corps,
was shot dead ; he was standing close to me. The ball en-
tered his lungs, and he died instantly without uttering a groan.
. " Our loss has been very severe, I Captain killed, 1 Lieu-
tenant. (Rause), wounded through the arm, but doing well,
and 1:10 rank and file killed and wounded. Jn the 53d,
Swimott wounded (severely in the knee), and Baron Von
Meyern titrungh the leg; between 40 and 50 rank and file
killed and wounded. In the 30th, wounded Brigadier Wild
and Captain Lottie. In the 60th, wounded, Gwatkin, Phil-
lips, Alexander, and .
ontgomery • doing duty with the 60th,
`Lock of the sth kilted; he was first stunned by a stone, and
the brutes got hold of his body and cut it up into mince-meat.
Ensign Halhed, of the sth, severely wounded, Enclosed is a
copy of Detachment Orders, issued the day after the fight.
Otearanxiety is felt for the safety of Sale's force. We had
btiped •he would have retreated while we were Musjid;
ins cannot now come by the Khyber, but must try the Talloo
(?).,sq. General Pollock is expected here about the 7th
toximo. We have almost positive information that Mahomed
khbar is in the neighlsourbood of Dukka, and the first person
..he will punish is the Chief of Lallporalt, for assisting the Fe-
ringees.
EXTRACT DETACHMENT ORDERS, DATED JAN. Z.
" tieuts-Colonel Moseley feels rauch gratification in convey..
ing to the officers and men composing the detachment under
his command. his sentiments on the happy issue of their eaer-
ti' of yeateiday morning, and on the success that crowned
their efforts to cut their way through the strongly defended
and difficult passes of the Khyber, from the fortress of Ali
Musjid back to Jumrocd.
"For these happy results the commanding officer takes to
;.himself no credit;. they .were malady attributable to the gal-
lantry and intelligence of those officers who were engaged in
the important ditties of crowning the heights and bringing up