The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-18 00:00:00

SIR ROBERT SALE.

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Sir Robert Sale was born on the 19th of September,
1782, and as early as his fourteenth year carried the
Royal colours. He proceeded to India in 1797, and
served under General, afterwards Lord Harris, at the
battle cf Mallavelly in 1799, as also at the siege of Se-
ringapatam. In 1806, when only twenty-four years of
age, he was made a Captain. In 1824 he was at
the capture of Rangoon, under General Macbean, his
achievements were the object of especial approbation, and
several brilliant actions at this period were performed by
him, so that in the course of one month, he might be said to
have performed four victories. On the 2d of June,
1825, he obtained his Lieutenant-Colonelcy, and repulsed
the Shauns and Burmese at Prorne : his distinguished
services also at the storming of Malown in 1826, ob-
tained for him the rank of Colonel by Brevet, and he
was also created a Companion of the Bath. The storm-
ing of Ghuznee in 1838 brought him fresh honours both
from the British Government and Shah Soojah. In
1840, he assaulted and captured the town and fort of
Tootum Durrali : took the fort of Shoolghur on the 4th
of September : destroyed the post of Babao-Koosh-
Ghuz, and in four more days the fort of Kar-Durrah.
On the 3d of October he drove the enemy, under the
command of Dost Mahomed, from the forts and town of
Perwan, and had upon this occasion bestowed upon him
by Shah Soojah, the first class of the order of the
Dooraunee empire.

CHRONOLOGY OP !VENTS.
1837-1842.

In consequence of the position assumed and persevered
in by Persia, at this period, the British Government in
India now began to adopt very active measures. The
Shah of Persia, who was raised to the throne
mainly by British assistance, had within the two
last years been under Russian influence, and Persia
could no longer be looked upon as a barrier against the
progress of Russia, whose dominion, extending over the
greater part of the extreme North of Asia, reached in a
southerly direction to the borders of the Caspian sea,
and the northern frontier of Persia. Stimulated by
Russia, the Persians undertook an expedition against
Herat. In consequence, Lord Auckland determined
upon sending 30,000 men, composed of native and British
forces, towards the northern frontier. It was composed
as follows :—Two troops of Horse Artillery ; Major
Pew's Camel battery ; two companies of European Foot
Artillery ; two companies of Sappers ; her Majesty's
11th Lancers ; 2d, 3d, and 4th Regiments of Bengal
Light Cavalry ; her Majesty's 3d and 13th Regi-
ments of Foot. ; the Honourable East India Com-
pany's European Regiment • 2d, sth, 16th, 27th,
28th, 31st., 35th, 37th, 42d, 43d, 48th, and 53d Regiments
of Bengal Native Infantry. This force assembled at
Kurnaul on the 31st of October, and thence was ordered
to proceed, via Bhutneer, Bhawnpoor, and Mithenkate,
to Candahar, Caubul, and Herat. This force also was
joined by from 45,000 to 50,000 men, furnished by Run-
jeet Singh, the sovereign of the Punjab. News soon
after arrives of the total discomfiture of the Shah of
Persia at Herat, his army utterly broken up, and him-
self obliged to yield. He had made an assault on the
town, and was repulsed with great slaughter, and the
loss of all his guns. The Russian Ambassador and Eu-
ropean Aide-de-camp were killed, the former having re-
ceived three balls in the body.
1838, Oct. 1. The Governor-General of India issues a
manifesto, declaring that the purpose of his late military
mevement is to restore the deposed sovereign of Affghau:
istan, Soojah-001-Moolk, to the throne which he has
been excluded from by Persian influence, and in order
to serve Russian purposes.
• Dec. 1. First grand interview between Lord Auck-
land and Runjeet Singh, in the camp of the latter at
Ferozepore. On the next clay there was a review. of
.British troops ; and on the 3d Dec. Runjeet Singh re-
turned. the visit.

1839, Feb. 14. The Ameers of Scinde refuse the ulti-
ni-atum forwarded to them at Hyderabad, and announce
their intention of attacking the force under Sir John
Keane, and arrest its progress. For this purpose they
collect from 10,000 to 12,000 men.

April 21. The British army enter Candahar, and
were received with open arms. Shah Soojah was
crowned with acclamation ; all the chiefs, with the ex-
ception of the Barukzye brothers, having signified their
adherence to him. The army was to proceed forthwith
to Caubul, a march of twenty-two days. This intelli-
gence was received nt Peshawur with great rejoicings.
The city was illuminated fur three days, and prepara-
tions made for the immediate advance of the contingent
army of Bunjeet Singh, accompanied by the Shah Zadah
Timoor. and Colonel Wade upon Caubul. Much toil
and misery was endured on the march to Candahar, as
may be formed from the fact, that out of 6,000 native
troops, comprising the division of the Shah, only 1,50(1
reached Candahar.

1839, July 1. The British army, under the command
of Sir John Keane, arrives before Ghuznee, a place of
great strength, from the natural position of its citadel, on
au immense height, and so fortified by art as to be
deemed impregnable—the works having received constant
additions during the last thirty years, and being garrisoned
by 3,500 Affghan soldiers, under Mahomed Hyder Khan,
a younger son of Dost Mahomed Khan, and amply fur-
nished with guns, stores, and provisions.
July 23. The British army, haring bivouacked under
the walls of the fortress early on the morning of this
day, began its operations. The Caubul gate was blown in;
the tremendous fire of our artillery paralysed the enemy.
and the English advanced guard, after a short but des-
'perate struggle, won their way into the place. Prince
Mahomed Hyder, after having made subrnission to the
Shah, who spared his life at the intercession of the
Commander-in-Chief, was retained prisoner of war in
the British camp. The British lost in this engagement
only 200 men, 18 being killed, whilst 500 dead of the
enemy were buried by them two hours after the capture.