The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-26 00:00:00

locking-chain, 6 trace chains, 2 pole or trace chains,
1' priming wire, 5 bullock yokes, 7 unserviceable
bullock yokes, 1 fuze holder, 1 carpenter's two-feet
rule, I 2 giinblets of sorts.
N.B. -No tangent scales or elevating screws to either
of the above pieces of ordnance.
DELAFOSSE, Major, Commanding Artillery.

CUFF OF A LETTER. FROM LIEUTENANT-COLONEL TAY•
Lc3ll, COMMANDING JIER MAJESTY'S 9TH REGIMENT
OF FOOT, TO CAPTAIN PONSONBY, ASSISTANT ADJU-
TANT-GENERAL.

Camp., Khoord Caubul, Sept. 13.
have to report, for the information of Major-
G eneral rolloelc," C. 8., commanding the troops in Ail-
ghanistan, that, agreeably to his orders, I proceeded at
half-p-ast five o'clock yesterday evening with 250 men of
her .11Iajestec's 9th, to the support of the guards in charge
of the public cattle fbeding on the left of the camp in the
• Tezeen valley, which were much pressed by the enemy.
,On clearing the left picket I was joined by Major Uuish
with a sreali party of the 26th Native Infantry. I
throw forward a zarong body of skirmishers, svho quickly
drove back those of the enemy on the plain, pursuing
them to a range of low hills, where they made a stand
till dislodged by our advance ; further. on I feund the
enemy, in force from 500 to 600, had taken post along
the crest and on the top of a range of steep hills, running
near a mile from the northward into the Tezeen valley ;
those toward& the north were assailed by Captain Lush:-
ington, Ifcr Mojesty's 9th Foot, with the left support and
skirmisher , hilt I directed the attack against their
!limit and left flank, which being turned, I ascended the
between two ridges which concealed my ap-
. proech till close to the summit and within 20 yards of
their main body, epneisting of over 300 men. Collecting
0 to 40 incu, with Lieutenants Elmhent, Lister, and
Vig;oes,l, ordered bayonets'to be fixed, and the enemy
.te he, charged, which was done with such resolution and
aftiiet, that the whole mass, taken by surprise, was
pnehed headlong down the hills, nor did they rally till
out of musket shot. Their loss must have been very
severe, as I observed numbers lagging behind to carry
off their Id lied and wounded. As it was getting dark,
I.deemed it imprudent to purFue the enemy further,
~,e,kred the halt to be snemd, and after remaining in
pe ,•ses- • theiro'. position for half an hour, retired
lien
,vethout. molntation. It af'fl,rdS me great gratification to
`bear testimony to thu spirit and gallantry displayed
offici,sre and men on this occaFion, especially major
11faisit;201 Regiment Native Infantry ; Cappin Lush-
ing-tOri, and those concerned in the charge on the enemy.
to transmit a return. of the killed and wounded.
I hare, &c.

A. B. T.\--1"L(..)1?. T,ip??tenlnt-Colonel, 9th Foot.

KINNER, HER MA-
• ,
ItSTY,, 1,,f41,- Fool', C.PTAIN PONSONDY, ASEiST-

COPY Or A LETTE:z. FRu2:: .51AJOr:

ANT-.IDJII7_I':;T-EiENEFt.

Bootklial;, Sept. 14.
41 -"Sired:l.4liftve the Iffinfinelo report; for the information
the Major-a-eneral commanding the army in Alf-
' ghaniitan, that I .aseended the heights above the Tezeen
vaey, in front Of out:
,camp, with the following de-
taehMent :—One Cottipany hti'llr 'Majesty's 9th Foot,
one eompaoY .of her' Majesty's I,3th Light Infantry, one
- company of her Majesty's 31st Foot, one company of
26th Native Infantry, one company of 35th Native Light
Infantry, one company of 33d Native Infantry, 50 Br uin-
foot'a Sappers—on the afternoon of t'ae 12th inst.,
and occupied the ridgy till daylight next morning. From
a. communication with Major-General Sir H.. Sale,
G.C.B , I learned that I was to take the high peaks to
the right of my position, and, having driven the enemy
from them, continue to operate among the lower hills to
the bead of tlu? Unit Kotul, on the right flank of the
advanced guard of the army. These peaks were occu-
pied in some force by the enemy, who was, however,
easily if.:iron from them and cleared away to the higher
hills en my right. I ascended the first peak, which,
although the way was steep, was not very difficult, in
two small columns ; the first, the companies of her Ma-
jestv's 9th and 26th Nativo,lnfantry under Captain Ber-
ton,- of the 9th Foot ; trite • second under Lieutenant
Savers, of the 31st, composed of the .two companies of
her Majesty's 31st Foot and 33d Native Infantry, covered
by the Sappers and Jezailchees under Lieutenant
Orr. I detached Lieutenant Sinclair, of the 13th
Light infantry, with the company of his regiment and
one of the 35th Native Infantry, to the higher peak on
the right hand, and supported him by Lieutenant Orr
and the Sappers (after- I had possession of the first
height), who ascended by a steep ridge that connected
them. Lieutenant Sinclair attained the summit of the
hill.without loss, driving the enemy away, and held it
until the main column of advance came in sight, when
he led his column on my right over the hills at the base
Of t'a'e higher mountains. The height I gained 'descends
to tlre high road by a succession of small peaks, each
connected by a narrow ridge ; the enemy occupied with
small parties each of these peaks, and was driven in suc-
cession from them. Captain Borton, at the head of a
party of the 9th Loot, made a gallant charge upon a
strongly posted party of the enemy, and drove them
away ;he shots-ea a great deal of boldness, however,
.. and-made repeated attempts to recover his ground, tak-
ing ''dvantage of the necessarily slow advance of the
supporting parties from the steep and difficult nature of
the Aftergained all the peaks, and the enemy
hadnillen back, I continued parallel to the main column
ey,er the hills to sour distance beyond the top of the
Ala Kota Considering the great` number that at one

icyv) - time opposed me until the appearance of the main column
irs4 - drew them off, my loss was not-great, while the enemy
At) U 4,, sUffeted.oorlSiderably. I beg:leave to bring to the no-
tiee of the Mnjor-General the very good conduct of the
oiliters and men who were under my. cornmand.
I hare, THOMAS SKINNER,
Major, her Majesty's 31st Regiment.
1:41.0PY, OF A LZ.TTER. FROM LIEUT.-COLONEL RICITMOND,
.t. COMMANDING THE 33D NATIVE INFAXTitY, TO CAPT.,
rossoNnr, ASSISTANT ADJUTINT-GENEH.A.L.
. Camp, Bootkhak, Sept. 14.
Sir,—Major-General Pollock, C. 13.. commanding the
akL
tit troops, having intrusted me "especially with the com-
mand of the rearguard of the army from Tezeen
" through the Hat Kotul Pass, on the 13th instant, and
3-afl '• Having placed at my disposal the troops detailed as
follows
.
Ikr Majesty's 4th Light Dragoons

160

Ist Regiment of Light Cavalry
Detached 3d Irregular Cavalry

295
60

Sikh Cavalry

Total sabres 750
Two 9-pounder3, No. 6, light field battery.
Pickets of her Majesty's 9th and 31st Foot
4th Company of the 26th Regt. of Native Infantry 310
Right wing of the 33d Native Infantry 129
35th Native Right Infantry
Pickets of the 60th Regiment of Native Infantry 124
Sikh Infantry

Totl! bayonets 1,300
I haTe now the honour to report the operations of the
day for the Major-General's.. information. Having made
bti:i,extaiegcesisnartLdvis'Flosition,. of my force to protect the
of the pass, the dig of lezeen, and to secure the gorge
4-:,ria;twrgnettoo,(iityr ,rtent_ piehets were g•radnally with-.
c'noct then
Tle latter. Soorr after I observed
Trzcen. south-east of enemycollecting near the Fort of
my position,
lnant'lM:,4ti, •+,-irif,se.,t-in and directed Lien-
s had been
previously posted
on a commanding point, to one, on them, but the dis-
trlft, provitig tot) great for shells
tinned. The enethy, t,
ntropo,io,
enenuthe' fircd e was discon-
, . his cavalry in ths, valley -to the niriagb by this, formed
men, with the euident 'intention of number o f about 600
g t?wards my
post. I instantly decided on •anticipating; him, and -
Gtptain 41qxander's (Horse Artillery) three guns' as
were
still on the ground, I availed myself of his services, by
sending for Ward his gUnS within range of the enemy
Supported 'V' the front squadron of her Majesty's '‘l'd
Ligli!-, Dragoons, under Captain Unett, one 'squadron of
Au lst Light Cavalry under Brevet-Major Scott, and
sir, detachment of 3d irregular Cavalry under Captain
Tait, with orders to chargé the enemy if the ground
proved favourable, and an opportunity offered. This
soon occurred; the guns having made good impression,
and the instant I observed the cavalry advance, the other
squadron of Dragoons was hurried forward under Major
Lockwood, as a support i thus insuring the success
achieved by the spirited and gallant charge of their com-
ra dcs in front, which completely dispersed the enemy
who /eft about 50 men on the field, and a standard, the
latter taken by the Ist Light Cavalry, the bearer of
which was cut down by Brevet-Captain Goad.
itlavinr,tiecotaplished all I wished, the troops returned
'.._;,. je tin- it o'ii,zinal position in, excellent order, covered by
r ."the 'Very efilitctive fire of Idle guns directed by Captain
4-iPiander, and by a company of the 35th Regiment of
Ii
1.0•
,-„ t. Infaltby, the latter ordered forwardor f ' the par-
'pose.

. _
As the enemy showed no disposition to molest us fur-
. ter, e.ad the whole of the baggage having entered the
.Ikes, the Horse Artillery and Dragoons were permitted
commence their march, but before the latter had filed
- • effi,:the enemy brought two guns to bear upon our posi-
• tien, which obligedlhe to place the remainder of the
ootiajsi" under cover of the high ground in the vicinity.
TheFeetuns fortunately did no harm, and were soon after
either withdrawn by the enemy or silenced by the fire of
reynd shot from Lieutenant Douglas's 9-pounder, ably
directed by that officer and by Captain Lawrence, poli-
tica agent, commanding the Sikh contingent, who hand-
some]," volunteered his services on the occasion.
After allowing the main column and baggage to get
well forward in tl pass, I directed the remainder of the
cavalry to enter. and followed with the infantry, the dif-
, ,ferent parties of which gradually retired on the poses I
had previously occupied, the enemy's infantry closing in
and opening a heavy fire, which continued till we reached
pass, a distance of three miles ; and,
the top of
ee. although Imes compelled to hold my ground near the
g
er.• top of the pass fir a long time, to admit of the uns and
• baggage passing over, I am happy to say that the enemy,
theugh he pressed our several posts very warmly, dud
• not then, or at any other time, obtain the slightest tul-
Ae. vantage, and:at length desisted from molesting us, which
enabled me to re-form the troops and continue my march
• towards my camp, where I arrived about 8 o'clock P.M.,
with all the stores and baggage, except a few loads of
grain ; also some camels and bullocks, unable to proceed,
which were destroyed on the road, agreeably to orders.
My best thanks are due to the officers and men en-
' gaged, both European and native, for their cheerful en •
durance of fatigue under an intensely hot sun, and
for 'their gallant bearing when in contact with the
enemy ; the whole seeming animated with one and. the
ale spirit, which enabled them to overcome difficulties
of no ordinary 'nature, highly creditable to British sol-
ikers and especially so to the Bengal Sepoys. I feel it
easo just to notice the useful assistance atlorde l by the
• mate of trite Sikh contingent, under Captain Lawrence,
• ribo took their full share of.cluty in the valley of Tezecn,
Aiod defending thee different posts in the piles.
Accompanying I have the honour tb forward a return
•f the killed-and wounded, which I rejoice
to observe is
; sae so heavy as might have been expected from the na-
fet:, l I have, &c.,ore of the operations.
ritc A. F. RICHMOND, Lieutenant-Colonel,
33d Regiment of Native Infantry,
Commanding the Rear Guard.
•