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

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAI EVENING, JUNE 6, 1842,

Kong and Chusan free ports, and promising protection to
traders touching at Amoy. We have no recent news from the
northward. No immediate interruption is anticipated to the
truce now existing in this province, and our position in rela-
tion to the Chinese Government remains unchanged.
,‘ Our opium market has been exceedingly dull since the
China new year. A few chests of the new Patna have been
sold at 425 to 420, which price is not likely to be maintained
on the arrival of the other Cloppers. Last year's Patna may be
quoted at 4,15 to 440 ; Malila at 340, at which there is no de-
mand. The Ardasee, from Singapore, with about 900 chests,
has not 3 et arrived."
BRITISH FLEET AT CHINA.
_ _

HER MAJESTY'S SQUADRON TO THE NORTIIIVARD.—At
Chusan, Chinhae, and Ningbo, the Cornwallis, 72, hearing
the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir W. Parker, K. C. 8., Commander-
in-Chief, Captain Richards; Blonde, 42, Captain T. Boor-
chier, C.B. ; Pelican, 18, Commodore Napier; Hyacinth, 18,
C. Goldsmith; Modeste, 18, Watson ; olumbine, 18,
Alorsted ; Clio, 16, E. Troubridge ; Algerine, 10, Lieute-
nant Maitland ; Lady Bentinek, surveying vessel, Commander
R. Collinson ; troop ship, Jupiter, R. Tutton ; Hon. Com-
pany's ship Nemesis, Lieutenant W. Hall ; Queen, Corn-
. mander W. Warden ; Phlegetha, Lieut. M. Cleverly ; Se-
sostris, Commander Ormby, India navy. At Amoy, Druid,
44., Captain smith, C.B. ; Pylandes, 18, Commander Tindel
(absent); Chameleon, 10, Lieut. Hunter ; Starling, 6, Com-
mander H. Bettell. Squadron at the mouth of the Canton
River—Blenheim (72), Sir T. Herbert, K.C.8., Senior
Commanding Officer; Herald, 26, J. Nias • Nimrod, 18, Com-
mander Glasse ; Cruizer, 18, Commander j. Pearce ; Royalist,
Lieut. Chetwood ' • Young Hebe, 4, Wood ; lion, Company's
ship Hoogly, Mr. Ross; Ariadne, Roberts, India navy.
Cl-10i ESE PROCLAMATION.—(TRANstArtoN.)
" The assistant Great Minister, She, and the awe-exciting
General Yik, proclaim to the inhabitants of the Lin district,
in the department of Ningbo, and of the districts of Tingtur
and Chiiihre, for their full information.

Since the rebellions barbarians caused trouble end con-
' fusion, and usurped possession of the cities ( Tinghaa, &c. ).
the people have suffered great calamities, a fact deserving
of the most indignant hatred. Ye, people, that you should
have been exposed to and suffered the calamities of war, and
your families be separated and scattered, has excited the su•
preme Ruler's commisseration, therefore he ordereu his Ge-
nerals to lead forth the troops to rescue you from the midst of
water and fire; his favour has reached the extreme degree.
" In the first instance the General Yik and the Minister She,
had proclamations engraved, that the intense anxiety of the
supreme Ruler might be universally known, and we suppose it
is already fully known. We have now heard that the rebellious
barbarians dwell in each of the cities, mixed with ye, people,
in mutual repose, without disturbance; but do ye know why
the barbarians for awhile forbear to slaughter and involve ye in
calamities? Let the righteous people of the provinces of Fokien
and Canton be a warning to you, who have been troub'ed and
attacked by the same enemy. We are apprehensive that you
have followed them, because a few cannot oppose the many,
and, by a necessary consequence, all of you have been
thoroughly frightened; therefore their proclamations are little
to be trusted, or their favours, seeking to knit you in ad-
herence to them. But ye do not seek- for safety beyond the
present time, and certainly are ignorant that the grand army
is now on its march to exterminate the rebellious foreigners.
But they will either place you in the van of the battl, ex-
posing your heads to the flights of arrows and stones, or
will cause you to make false reports of the distresses and
sufferings of the people, in order to delay our attack. But if
the opportunity is lost, again will come great confusion and
carrying away into captivity, and they will satiate them-
selves by spoiling you of your wealth ; yet you carelessly,
morning arid evening, abandon yourselves to repose, and soon
you will be involved in infinite trouble ; but, that you should
be dragged by and tied to them, is a circumstance much to
be pitied. We, the General and Minister, are apprehensive,
when the cities are destroyed that the precious gems will not
be distinguished from the worthless pebbles, and that your lives
will be sacrificed. On this account, we proceed to issue secret
orders, directing that from all your villages and neighbourhoods
they be secretly circulated. And within the present month
regulations will be established for you to secrete yourselves
either in distant villages, or on the borders, or in the recesses
of the hills and banks of rivers, where for a while you must
mutually depend on your relations and friends ; moreover, you
certainly must not come in advance of, or before the army,
which will draw upon you the suspicion of being traitors, and
when a clear discrimination is made deep calamities will already
have been suffered. The time of the plan of the grand army
for sweeping away the rebellious barbarians will not be long;
then you can return to your dwellings, and all enjoy the happi-
ness of supreme tranquillity. If when the grand army arrives,
and protection is sought at its camps, then if good and faithful
subjects, and traitors cannot be distinguished, but through mis-
take, they chanced to be slaughtered, the anxious thoughts of
the Supreme Rulers for the people's lives will meet with a most
ungrateful return. As to our intentions of exterminating the
barbarians, and tranquillizing the good, do you all take them as
a warning ; and the established regulation by flight to save
your lives, keeping the barbarians in ignorance, that your lives
may not be dragged in their chains, when you will not be able
to escape from them. It is on this account that these secret
orders are issued."

INDIA.
FALL OF GHUZNEE.
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.

This important fortress, the capture of which threw such
lustre on the British arms, has we regret to say, fallen into the
hands of the Affghans. Colonel Palmer is safe in the town of
Ghuznee, but how long he will continue so is a serious ques-
tion. If he keeps his arms in his hands and listens to no se-
condary treaties, he may, probably, reach Candahar eventually.
The Caubul treaty is a deep and impressive lesson, which lie
cannot fail to benefit by.
Fort William, Secret Department, April 14, Itti42.
The following copy of a despatch from Lieut.-Colonel Pal,
mer, commanding at Ghuznee, to the officer commanding at
Jellalabad, is published for general information, by order of the
Governer—General in Council :

" Ghuznee, March 1, 1842.
" Sir,—lt is with much concern I acquaint you that, from
want of water, and by an overpowering force, under cover and
within fifty yards of us in the city, I have been compelled to
enter into terms to evacuate the citadel and fort within six days.
The garrison is to occupy the north-cast corner of the town.
The garrison is exhausted by fatigue and constant duty, and the
men have suffered severely from cold, the thermometer having
been 14 below zero. The terms are honourable treatment and
safety whilst here and on the march to Caubul, solemnly sworn
to by the Chiefs. In capitulating, I have only acted up to the
orders of Major Pottinger and General Elphinstone, who directed
ma in an official letter to evacuate the city and citadel on the arrival
of Roohilla Khan, the Sudar of Logna. The chief arrived and
promised to escort us in safety to Caubul. Amour Shamsooder
Khan, nephew of Dost Mahommed Khan, has also arrived, as
Governor of Ghuznee and political agent. I received instruc-
tions to march immediately on his arrival for Caubul, from the
late Sir W. M'Naghten, Bart. Abandoned as this garrison
has been in the very centre of the enemy's country, cut off
from all communication with any quarter, and without a suffi-
ciency of water even at this season, with 200 men detached to
hold an outpost which is destitute of water, and must have
fallen inforty-eight hours, nothing but capitulation remained.
From the outpost falling into the hands of the enemy, they
would command our only well and commanding fort, and the
whole garrison would have been destroyed in a few days. The
bearer has received only subsistence on the road, and is to re-
ceive a handsome reward on delivering this letter. We have
upwards of 100 sick and wounded, and 137 casualties. The
officers, including Captain Burnett, 54th, and Lieut. Crawford,
S. S. Force, are all well.
(Signed) " J. PALMER, Lieut.-Colonel."

G H El ZNEE.
(From the Bombay Times.)
The insurrection which broke out at Caubul on the 2d of
November appears almost simultaneously to have manifested
itself at Ghuznee, 90 miles to the south, and thus much further
from the Peshawur frontier. On that day Captain Woodburn
and 150 men were cut to pieces 40 miles to the north. A few
days after this Lieut. Crawford, in charge of about 100 prisoners,
narrowly escaped ; his baggage .fell into the enemy's hands,
and the greater portion of his men were killed. From the 7th
of November to the Ist of March, nothing definite or intelligible
was heard from Ghuznee. By the beginning of December the
country round was completely snowed up, and though we from
time to time heard of the town being filled with insurgents, anti
Colonel Palmer sorely pressed by the enemy, as his com-
missariat was believed to be well supplied, a hope was enter-
tained that he might hold out till relieved by General Nott
from Candahar ; or that he might, so soon as the country was
open, be able to retreat without assistance. About the end of
February water began to fail him, the enemy appear to have
increased in audacity, and on one occasion they were driven
back by a gallant charge made on them by the Sepoys, who
bayoneted them in great numbers. A despatch from him,
of the Ist of March dispelled the allusion as to his safety.
His original forge, which consisted of the 27th Bengal
Native infantry, with some artillery, was considerably
under 1,000 strong—latterly probably not more 700 ; of
these, 137 had fallen in the course of the siege, and about 100
were sick or wounded; 200 men were detached holding an
outpost, where water had become so scarce that, within 48
hours of the date of the despatch, it must have been abandoned.
The enemy was under cover in overpowering force within 50
yards of the garrison. The thermometer had, for some time,
been 46 degrees below freezing. The garrison were exhausted
by the fatigue of incessant duty, and disheartened by their
total isolation ; and, under these circumstances, there appeared
to be no choice but capitulation left to the commander. He '
states that, in consequence of this deplorable pass, and of hav-
ing received orders from Sir William M.Naughten to retire,
he had agreed to evacuate about the 6th of March. The city
was at this time filled with Ghazees, the religious Mus,ulmati
fanatics, who had worked so much wee at Caubul ; and these
were here, as they are everywhere, and at all times, wholly
beyond the eontroul of the chiefs. The ground was thickly
covered with snow ; and Colonel Palmer, at the conclusion of
his despatch, expresses fears for the safety of the force. They
were to have proceeded immediately in the direction of Caubul,
on their way to Jellalabad, under a safe conduct from the
chiefs. Nothing whatever having since this period been
heard of them, there remains scarcely any reason to hope hut
that they have all likewise perished. According to a rumour
lately prevalent in Scinde, three or four of the officers were in
the hands of the enemy as prisoners. Thus have the Ghazees
avenged the massacre of the prisoners under our authority
when Ghuznee was taken by Sir John Keane. On the 21st of
July, 1839, it was captured by us, with a sacrifice of 500 of the
enemy. It was surrendered by us about the 6th of March,
1842, with a lois, it is to be feared, of the whole garrison and
camp followers, amounting to upwards of 1,000 men.

at the head of the Sappers and Miners. An attempt on the
last-named body by a heavy force of the enemy's cavalry was
, repelled. The troops Laving accomplished the objects of the
' sortie in examing the ground around the wall, where neither
mine nor gallery could be found, retired in perfect order into
the fort, without serious casualty of any sort. For the next
twelve days constant skirmishes appear to have occurred betwixt
our foraging parties and the Affghan horseman. Provisions
once more began to run short ; and on the 25th, a strong
foraging party having been sent out in quest of supplies, they
were attacked by a large body of the enemy. The-e were
readily beaten off—not, however, before Captain Broadfoot of
the Sappers and Miners had been severely wounded: he is now
recovering. It was said by the end of the first week of April
their supplies would be entirely exhausted. A few days after-
wards, however, a.very successful sortie was made-500 sheep
having been seized, and brought into the fortress. On the
sth of April the rumour ran that General Pollock had been re-
pulsed, and the following morning a salute was fired from the
Afighan camp in honour, as it was understood, of the defeat.
As it was reported, in addition to this, that troops were being
s'espatched to meet the advance from Peshawur, as also that
A khbar Khan was about to withdraw his force, Sir Robert
Sale resolved to attack him with all his force before his depar-
ture, with a view of driving his enemy off from General l'ot_
lock, of relieving the blockade, or of chastising them so lung
as within reach, according to whichsover of the reports might
chance to turn out well-leur.ded. The force marched out ac-
cordingly at daybreak on the 7th, and, after a brilliant action,
defeated the enemy on every point. Our total strength scarcely
exceeded 1,400 men ; vet, with this, 6,000 of the enemy were
put to rout—their guns, four in number, taken from the Caubul
force captured—and a heavy loss (it is said 500), in killed and
wounded, inflicted on them. The Gallant Colonel Dennie, of
her Majesty's 13th, was killed when in the act of leading his
column to the attack of a fort which the enemy very obstinately
defended. The defence of Jellalabad, maintained fur a period of
nearly six months of severe fatigue, suffering, and privation of
every sort, has thus terminated with one of the most brilliant
victoriest an immoderate
since 1815, crowned the British arms.
\voe e
meted out in relation to the deserts of
mr
Dar which
g offi to
tc e b
and if it be admitted that a Baronage was
o
requital
for the services of Sir J. Keane, a
en.rnn
rewardsod e ra has,e
rse,
Dukedom would scarcely recompense General Sale, or an
Earldoin' with a pension for ten generations, be too much for
General Pollock.

ACTION AT JELLALABAD.
The following is the despatch of General Sale, with the
official details of his victory over the Affghans. It is addressed
to the Assistant-Adjutant-General, Captain Ponsonby :
" Jellalabad, April 7.
" Sir,—lnformation was on the evening of the sth instant
brought into this place, in the most positive and circumstan-
tial terms, from spies in the encm's camp, to the effect that
the force under Major-General Pollock, C. 8., had met with
a reverse in the Khyber, and retraced their steps towards
Peshawur, and about ten r.sr. on the 6th a
.fue-de-joie and
salute of artillery was' fired by Mehomed Akbur. which was
said to be in honour of the'event.• It was on the same day, and
through similar channels, announced to me that the Affghans
were sending reinforcements to aid in defending the frontier
passes. Although I could not wholly depend upon these state-
ments, which were improbable in themselves, and accompanied
by counter reports of another revoluton at Caubul, which was
assigned by some as the cause of the rejoicing at the defeat of
the Affghans in Khyber, and by one account, of the intended
and even actual retreat of the Sirdar to I.ughman, I came, on a
full consideration of the various circumstances and rumours, to
the resolution of anticipating the last.mentioned event by a
general attack on the Affghan camp, in the hopes of relieving.
the place from blockade, and facilitating General Pollock's ad--
ranee. I accordingly gave directions to form three columns of
infantry, the centre consisting of the 13th Light Infantry, 500
rank and file, under Colonel Dennie, C. 8.; the left, of the 15th
N. 1., 500 rank and file, under Lieut.-Co . Monteith, C. B • and
the right, of a company of this 13th Light Infantry, another of
the 35th Native Intantry, and the detachment of Sappers and
Miners under Lieutenant Orr, the severity of Captain Broad-
foot's wound still rendering him non-effective ; the whole, 360
strong, commanded by Captain Havelock, her Majesty's 12th
Light Infantry. These were to be supported by the fire of the
guns of No. 6 Light Field Battery, under Captain Abbott, to
which Captain Backhouse, S. S. Artillery, was also a'tached,
and by the whole of me small cavalry force under Capta n
Oldfield and Lieutenant -Mayne, The troops issued from the
Caubul and Peshawur gate at daylight this morning. So far
from the Sirdar having made dispositions to avoid the en-
counter, the whole force, not falling short in all of 6,000 men,
was formed in order of battle for the defence of his camp; the
right resting on a fort, its left on the Caubul river, and even the
ruined works within 800 yards of the place were filled with Ghilzic
marksmen, recently repaired forstout resistance. The attack was
led by the skirmishers and column under Capt. Havelock, which
drove the enemy in the most satisfactory manner from the ex-
treme left of his advanced line otoorks, which it pierced at
once, and proceeded to advance into the plain, whilst the
central column directed its efforts against a square fort, the
defence of which was obstinately maintained. With the
deepest regret I have to mention that, whilst leading his re-
giment to the assault, Colonel Dennie, C.B. of her Majesty's
13th Light Infantry, received a shot through the beds:, which
shortly after proved fatal. The rear of this work having been
gained by passing to its left, I gave orders for a combined
attack on the enemy's camp. It was in every way brilliant and
successful. The artillery advanced at the gallop, and di-
rected a heavy fire on the Afghan centre, whilst two of
the columns of infantry penetrated his line at the same
paint, and the third drove his left back from its support on
the river, into the stream of which some of his horse and
foot were forced. The Affghans made repeated attempts to
check our advance by a smart fire of musketry, and throwing
forward heavy bodies of horse, which twice closely threatened
the troops under Captain Havelock, and by opening against
us three guns from a battery screened by a garden wall, and
said to have been served under the personal superintendence
of the Sirdar ; but in a short time they were dislodged from
every point of their position, their cannon taken, and their
camp involved in a general conflagration. The battle was
over, and the enemy in full retreat in the direction of Lugh-
man by about seven r.st. We have made ourselves master
of two cavalry standards, recaptured four guns lost by the
Caubul and Gundamuck forces, the restoration of which to
our Government is received by the force with much honest
exultation ; and destroyed the whole of the enemy's tents.
In short, the defeat of Mohamed Akbar by the force which
he boasted of blockading has been, in the open field complete
and signal. The fall of an officer so distinguished as Colonel
Dennie will be felt as a public calamity. Lamenting it in
every way, I must share with his country, his regiment, and
his friends, in the consolation afforded by the reflection
that he was killed, most gallantly performing his duties. I
have to express my entire saisfaction with the conduct on
this occasion of Lieutenant-Colonel Monteith, C. 8., com-
manding one of the infantry columns under my own eye; of
Captain Wilkinson, on whom the charge of the ether devolved
on the death of his Lieutenant-Colonel; of Captain Oldfield
and Lieutenant Mayne, who led the cavalry ; and of Captains
Abbott and Backhouse, and Lieutenant Davis, artillery. The
able and judicious manner in which Captain Havelock moved
the force tinder his command, which acted on a line so distant
as to render the manoeuvres independent of my immediate
control, demands my particular and separate commendation.
My acknowledgments are also especially due to Captain Wade,
my Brigade Major, whose exertions on this day were, as they
have ever been, most meritorious. To Major Fraser, of the
Light Cavalry, who acted as any Aide-de-Camp ; and to
Captain Mainwaring, Commissariat officer of the force, who
was present in and active in the field; Captain Macgregor,
political agent, handsomely offered his services with No. 6
Light Field Battery, and was most useful in serving the guns.
Lieutenant and Adjutant Wood, her Majesty's 13th Light In-
fantry, made a dash at one of the enemy, and, in cutting him
down, his charger was so seriously injured as to have been since
destroyed. Captain Havelock reports in the most favourable
manner the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Cox, her Majesty's
13th Light Infantry, who was the first to seize the enemy's
guns after the party which captured them.
" I have the honour to be, &0.,
" It. SALE, Major-General."
OFFICIAL DESPATCH.
"TO CAPTAIN PONSONDY, ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL.
" Jellalabad, March 12.
" Sir,—Do me the favour to acquaint Major- General Pollock,
C. 8., that since 1 la't addressed you, the enemy have, in fur-
therance of their plan of establishing a rigorous blockade, daily
insulted the place by throwing masses of skirmishers into the
ravines and hollows round the walls and behind the remains of
mud forts, which are so extensive that no industry has enabled
us wholly to clear them away. It has been their practice to
plant their standards in csnspicumis points of the circumference
thus occupied, and to keep up a constant fire of musketry upon
the parapets. 1 have resisted these attempts by the fire from
batteries. We have sustained few casualties, and those of the
enemy have. I suspect, been uniformly serious. On the 10th
in,tant, the covert advance of the Affghans was particularly
persevering against our northern face; towards evening our
spies brought us information that the enemy were driving a
mine in that direction, and though I entertained great doubts of
the correctness of the statement, 1 thon,e,ht it prudent to ascer-
tain the truth by sortie. On the morning of the Ilth I placed
under the orders of Lieut.-Colonr 1 Dennis 300 men of the 13th,
300 of the 35th, and 200 of the corps of Sappers ; having at the
same time directed Captain Oldfield to move on with the cavalry
into the plain to the southward, and endeavour to fix the atten-
tion of the enemy in that direction. The Lieut.-Colonel sallied
out by the Peshawar gate, a little after day-break, and his column
swept steadily round into the low ground to the northward.
Contrary to expectation, this was found to be abandoned; but a
strong piequet of the enemy's foot occupied a salient point on
a rising ground, which commanded it. From this they were
driven in a most spirited manner by Captain Broadfoot. at
the head of the detachment of Sappers and Miners, and he
pursued the retreating enemy into and beyond a tower and
garden-wall, of which he took and kept posseasior. The 35th,
under Captain Seaton, and Captain Wilkinson s company of
the 13th, were then established as skirmishers around the ruins
of old forts; also the remainder of the 13th were held in re-
serve. The cavalry appeared the same moment, and supported
the left flank of our line of occupation. An examination of
the ground proved that neither shaft nor gallery had been com-
menced, and I therefore directed the troops to withdraw. The
whole camp of Mahomed Akbar was by this time in full alert,
and heavy masses of cavalry and a cloud of foot were pressing
forward towards our skirmishers. Our cavalry appeared at
the same moment as the 13th, and supported the left flank of
our line of occupation. Our detached retired here in the most
perfect order, and their fire, and that of our guns and mortars
from the walls, kept the Afghans in check in the most satisfac-
tory manner.
On our extreme right their horse made an at-
tempt to ride in upon Captain Broadfoot s party, but a volley
from the Sappers and Miners brought them to a halt in evi-
dent discomfiture. Our loss in wounded was very trifling.—
I have, &c.
(Signed) «R. SALE, Major-General.
ir T. H. MADDOCK.
( A true Copy.)
" Fort William, April 5."
The Agra (Mar Extra of April 15, states that on the Ist
of April, General Sale, observing some flocks of sheep grazing
avlrlL,
within 800 yards of his position, ordered the
whole
supported by 300 of her 111ajesty's 13th Foot, and 200 ca of a
the
35th Native Infantry, to sally out by the Southern gate, while
the Sappers issued by the northern. In a few minutes the
General had the satisfaction to see the enemy's covering parties
routed, and 500 sheep and goats captured. This opportune
supply was seized with the loss of only one private killed and
seven wounded.

CANDAIIAR.
Our former intelligence from Candahar extended to the
second week of March, at which time the force under General
Nott, amounting to 7,200 men, bad received no annoyance
since the 12th of January, when the successful encounter with
the enemy, detailed in our summary of the Ist of April, had
occurred. He had at this date become straitened for money
and ammunition, and a reinforcement of 2,500 men, with
convoy of 6,000 camels. 100,0001. in money, and 600,000 ball
cartridges, were in orders to proceed, under. General England,
to his assistance. On the 6th of, March General Nott moved
out against the insurgents, with a force composed of her Ma-
jesty's 40th, with the 10th, 3Sth, 42d, and 43(1 Regiments of
Bengal Native Infantry, a wing of Macan's Horse, and Ander-
son's guns, consisting of four nine.pounders. Considerable skir-
mishing ensued, and several villages were destroyed by our men
and given up to plunder. When the Affflhans had got our
troops decoyed a sufficient way out, following at. last a detach-
ment of only 2,000 strong, the principal body consisting of
about 5,000 foot and 1,000 horse, doubled upon us and re-
turned to Candabar, where they arrived, and immediately tcok
possession of the old town, on the evening of the 9th. Next
morning they attacked, and nearly got possession of a portion
of the city, having effected a lodgement at the Herat gate,
and commenced setting fire to the houses. Had they Peen
stteceSorttl, the position of Qom' l'iQtt Would have been

peri'ous indeed. The bulk of our Artillery, with the 2d
Bengal Native Infantry, the Ist, 2d, and sth Shah's Infantry,
with the Ist Cavalry and Skinner's Horse, amounting to 2,700
had been left behind, and gave them so rough a reception,
that they were speedily dispersed, leaving from 600 to 1,000
killed or severely wounded. The insurgent army on this
broke up, and quitted the neighbourhood altogether. Gen.
Nott returned in safety into Candahar on the 13th. after
a seven days' absence. This defeat for a time appeared to
have produced a strong impression throughout the country.
The aggressions of the enemy were fur a period interrupted,
and supplies of provisions, previously withheld from us, began
once more to be brought into our camp by the natives. It is
probable that the schemes of the enemy had been greatly dis-
concerted, from the failure of a well-planned but unsuccessful
stratagem, from whose results important consequences were
expected to have flowed, and that it was deemed expedient to
break up the army, according to the custom of the country in
such cases, till some other and more promising project was
devised for our annoyance. For three weeks subsequent to
this nothing was heard from Candahar, when a rumour reached
us that an army was collecting and moving from Ghuznee
westward towards it ; the same, probably, which had been re-
lieved from besieging the force of Colonel Palmer, believed
have capitulated and been destroyed about the Ist of March.
On the Ist, Col. Wymer, with a couple of Bengal regimen's
of irregular cavalry and guns, about 1,500 in all, marched nut
from Candahar to meet General England, and when three
marches on his way westward on the Quettah road, was at-
tacked by a body of the enemy, 3,000 strong. They burst on
us with fury, charging up to the bayonet point. A few
well-directed volleys, however, soon thinned their ranks, when
our cavalry, dashing in amongst them, put them to the route
in every quarter. Three hundred of them are said to
have been left dead on the field of battle including five of their
bravest chiefs. Our loss amounteddo five killed and twenty-
five wounded. It is pobable that Colonel Wymer would hear
of General England's retreat before he advanced much farther
to meet him ; and that he would, in this case, retire on the
main force, or wait further orders where he was, provided the
state of his commissariat permitted. Our last Quettah letters,
of date the 12th, state, that at Candahar there were six months'
supplies for the soldiers, but little ammunition, and no money
or medical stores. It these could not be pushed on in time, it
was beiived that they would call in the force of 1,100 men at.
Kelat-i-Ghilzie, eighty miles off, and both fall back on Quettah,
nhere our people have been busily engaged since England's re-
treat in constructing fresh defences for the force. Lieutenant.
Pattenson, who was wounded so severely when Captain Gold-
ing of the Jasailehees was killed (28th December) is dead.
Around Candahar all was tranquil, hut it was believed that the
chiefs had gone towards the Kujjuck Pa-s, in the hopes of ob-
taining booty. It seems to be allowed by all hands thip the
gallantry and good conduct of the troops in Western Aflghan-
istan must have led to very different results had they been
under the guidance of fitting generalship. A very strong wish
is expressed throughout the military circles, in these parts,
that Sir Charles Napier should obtain command, when a change
might be looked for in the fortune of the war !
RELIEF roil CANDAHAR—GENERAL ENGLAND'S
ADVANCE AND RETREAT.
As already stated, General Nutt's force had, by the end of
February begun to suffer severely from the want of carriage—
the whole camel conveyance they could command being inade-
quate for more than one-third of his supplies, when necessary
to move to any considerable distance from camp ; the com'nis-
sariat was well provided. but ammunition was getting scarce,
while medical stores and money were nearly out altogether.
The reinforcement and convoy destined for their use was
ordered to move from Scinde in three detachments ; the first
of which, under General England himself, quitted Dadur on
the 9th, and reached Quettah on the 16th March, having lost
300 camels in the snow, while ascending the Bolan Pass :
some 15 of the men were frozen to death, and considerable ap-
prehensions entertained for the safety of the brigade. The first
detachment consisted of a wing of her Majesty's 41st (445
bayonets), 374 of the 6th Native Infantry, with details of the
3d Light Cavalry, the Poonah Horse, the 20th, and 25th
Native Infantry, with four guns—in all, about 1,200 men.
These had 2,000 camels, 45,000/. in silver, with ammunition
and other stores in convoy. The second detachment, of about.
equal strength, with 2,000 camels and 90,0001. in treasure under
Major Simmons, of her Majesty's 41st Foot, left Dadur on
the 28th of March, and ascending the Bolan Pass without
molestation, reached Quettah on the 4th of April. The third
portion of the brigade left Sukkur between the 10th and 12th
of April, and may be looked for at Quettah about the 7th of
May. It consists of the 12th Native Infantry, With a
squadron of the 3d Light Cavalry, amounting to about 1,100
men, commanded by Major Reid ; they had 2,600 camels in
charge, with a multitude of other beasts, bearing medical
stores, ammunition, and treasure. When assembled, the
whole force just arrived at, or under orders for Quettah,
would amount to about 4,000 men. General England, as
already stated, reached Quettah on the 16th of March, but had
only remained a few days, when he found it necessary (on the
26th) to move out towards Pisheen, a valley some twenty miles
off, to protect the people, who were favourably disposed to-
wards us, against the insurgents, and to obtain forage for the
1,500 camels which still remained to him, supplies of this
essential not being procurable at Quettab. During the first
two days scattered parties of insurgents were seen along the
line of march, and some skirmishing ensued. On the 27th,
the troops passed the village of Hykulzie, and were re-
ceived in the most friendly manner by the chiefs. Not the
slightest hint was given by them that any interruption or
annoyance was intended us, though it must have been per-
fectly known to them that two month's labour had been
expended in parricarting the pass, a few miles in front, and
that Mahomed Sedeeze was posted in the hills close by, with
a strong force just arrived from Candahar. On the morning
of the 28th considerable numbers of men were seen on the
hills on either side of us. These were at first supposed to
be scouts or marauders. Further on, a group of low hills
skirted the road, betwixt two of which lay our line of March.
That on the right was strongly barricaded ; tbat on the left
covered with irregulars. The light companies of her
Majesty's 41st, and the 21st and 25th Native Infantry,
amounting in all to 180 men, were ordered to charge up the
hill in line (!!)—as it was imagined the enemy would de-
camp on their approach. Instead of this, they kept them-
selves concealed within the works, and the moment that the
4tst crossed the cress of the barricade, a rush so desperate and
irresistible was made against them, that they were compe.le.l in-
stantly to retire, leaving Captain May, two sergeants, one cor-
poral, and fourteen privates, dead upon the field. On descending
the hill, hotly pressed by the enemy, a body of cavalry, which
had the day before arrived from Candahar, wheeled round the
flank of the hill and fell upon the rear. Here Major Aptliorp,
of the 20th Native Infantry, fell covered with wounds. He
survived two days, and expired on his return to Quettab.
reserve of the remainder of the 41st covered the retreat of
the storming party, which formed itself into a square to re-
ceive the enemy near the bottom of the hill. The Affghan
horsemen, finding these impenetrab'e, retired in good order,
leaving many of their dead under our bayonets. Of 470 men
who had been engaged, including the reserve, 27 were killed
and 71 wounded. The enemy appear to have suffered severely.
Mahomed Sedeeze, the insurgent leader, appears to have headed
the charge in person ; he received a bayonet wound in the
shoulder. Six chiefs, with about thirty others, were killed,
and fifty were severely wounded
,in the affair. They fought
with the bravery and enthusiasm of religious zealots ; and it is
confessed by all our officers that a finer body of irregular horse
than that which charged upon our squares was never seen in
Affghanistan. The utmost gallantry was displayed by our
men. The sepoys entreated permission to charge up the hill
again, but were refused. The 41st were also most anxious to
renew the contest. More than half the brigade had been em-
ployed in protecting the baggage. It was resolved to re-
tire
to Quettah. Our troops having moved off the field,
spent the night of the 28th in a ruined fort, three
miles to the left. They reached Quettah with but little
molestation on the 30th. In the course of these pre-
ceedings it had been discovered that the Kujjuck
Pass, sixty-three miles from Quettah, and consequently eighty-
four from Candahar—the total distance betwixt the two being
147 miles—was blocked up, the enemy having for months been
engaged in constructing field works for its defence. It had now
become apparent that so close was the compact, and so univer-
sal the feeling against us, throughout the country, that of all
that was passing beyond the line of the picquets we were in
total ignorance. On the Ist of April General England wrote to
Candahar, informing General Nott of his retreat; stating to
him, also, that supplies would only be pushed forward in case
of extreme emergency : that the passes must first be opened
by a combined movement from the east and west. It was pro-
posed by him that a light brigade, without knapsacks or other
incumbrances not indispensable, would move from Quettah as
soon as a similar one had marched from Candahar. This last
was instructed to bring mortars a'ong with them, these being
considered necessary to carry the barricades. This move-
ment could scarcely have commenced from either point earlier
than the 15th of April, and most, we should think, con-
sidering how entirely all communication is interrupted, be
undertaken over 150 miles of rough and irregular country
with the greatest hazard. General England seems to have
lost all hope for the present of forwarding troops to Candahar,
the brigade destined for its reinforcement being now considered
necessary at Quettah, where strong intrenchmen:s are being
thrown up. We do not quite comprehend the reason of this
sudden alteration in General England's resolution, as there
seems to have occurred no such change in the state of the
Shawl country, betwixt the 28th of March and the Ist of
April, as to make the presence of '2,500 men, which, at the
former date, were partly on the way to reinforce General Nott,
nee essary at the latter one for the protection of Quettah. We
must confess that, considering the military talent displayed of
late amongst our commanders above the Bolan Pass, we con-
sider our position in Western Affghanistan at once gloomy and
precarious.