The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-03-19 00:00:00

THE LATE INDIAN VICTORY.

The following letter from an officer in the East India
Company's service, received by a gentleman in this town,
by the Overland Mail, will be perused with interest :
Gwalior, January 18th, 1844.
I am anxious this should recch you before the news of
the battle fought at Maharagepore, the 29th December,
1843,—a most bloody affair it was. On the 28th the
Quarter Master General rode out to reconnoitre, when the
enemy fired upon him and his escort, and thus pointed out
to us his position. The chief sent for the generals of bri-
gade and planned the attack. Accordingly, the following
(lay nG wfutalett upon nillguuictu, a V lildg, e aUULLI. 1.111 CO
miles from the enemy's favourite position. We, (the 31st)
being the chief's escort, were ordered to lead into action,
supported by the 14th and 43rd regiments ; which we did
by marching upon Maharayepore, a large village, where
the enemy were strongly posted, with 20 guns, and six
regiments of infantry. But when we got within range of
the enemy's guns an aidecamp came up and told us to halt
until another brigade had got in the rear of the village.
But this halting was worse than advancing, for the round
shot came into us rather too fast to be pleasant. But the
best of it was, that although we were in front most of the
shots went over our heads and hit the 14th and 43d regi-
ments, that supported us! Another thing in our favour
was, that we were standing in a ploughed field, and the
balls did no trise after entering the ground Otherwise,
many of us would have never seen another shot fired 1
After halting half an hour, which appeared to us more
than two hours, the order was given us to advance, which
we did in good style, for our blood was up and we wanted
to be within reach of the enemy, to give them something
in return for tbeir kindness to us I We advanced within
100 yards of Maharayepore, when we got under cover of
some rising ground where we were safe from the shots
until we reached the top of the hill ; just as we did this
we saw Gen. Littler's brigade (which was ordered to re-
main in reserve,) pass us into the village ; they had, like
us, been drawn up to stand the enemy's fire, and had suf-
fered so severely, that Gen. Littler ordered them to charge,
which they did in most gallant style, and took the Ranee's
guns at the point of the bayonet. By this means we were
cut out of the post of honour. It was an accic'.ent, but a
lucky one for us, for we went through the day hardly los-
ing a man, whilst the Queen's regiment, forming part of
Gen. Littler's brigade, lost 200 men ; 100 men in the
charge alone were killed.- The enemy reserved their fire
until they got their foe within 25 yards of them,
and then gave them grape from twenty guns. The havoc
was fearful ; you saw then tumble over right and left (I
hope never to see such another sight,) yet undismayed,
on they went, and the bayonet soon did its work ! For
although we were in the rear, to their left, the village
was taken and fired before we got up to them. It was
a glorious fight, and such a bne as has not been seen
for many a day. After taking Maharayepore, the key
of the enemy's position, Littler's brigade advanced
upon Chorndah, where the enemy bad another large force
and their camp. This was also charged at the point of
the bayonet and to some purpose, for few lived to get
away. Meanwhile, we had gone off to the right and at-
tacked a large village, which we took after some skirmish-
ing, but they had got enough and would not cross bayonets
with us. They kept firing grape upon us as we advanced,
but as soon as we drew near, they gave us a volley of mus-
ketry and bolted ; the few who stood to their guns, the
bayonets soon finished. At Maharayepore and Chorndah
the enemy fought to desperation, standing to their guns,
RS our lists of killed and wounded too plainly chews :
The action commenced at eight o'clock, and finished a
little after twelve ' • we have suffered severely, 800 officers
and men killed and wounded. The enemy, by their own
account, have 2,000 killed and wounded. We are to have
medals made out of the captured guns, fifty-six in num-
ber, in the form of a star. " The star of the east," with
the word " Maharayepore" on it. The rest of the cannon
to form a monumental pillar in honour of the slain. We
have lost several officers of distinction and merit. One o
the poor fellows killed was a friend of mine ; he lost hisj
life trying to save one of the enemy ; he was a nice gen-
tlemanly fellow, and had gone through the whole Affghan-
istan war without a wound ' • he was severely wounded on
this occasion early in the day ; contrary to the wishes of
his brother officers would accompany them to take another
battery. Again, he was wounded by a grape shot, and,
during the melee, as he was attempting to save the life of
one of the enemy from the hands of some of the men of
his own company, the rascal stabbed him with a bayonet
in the stomach ; he only lived a few hours, and was buried
after the action. I regretted very much. I did not see
him alive ; but I was in another part of the field, and did
not even hear of his death till next day. As every brigade
encamped upon the ground they last fought upon, and it
was not safe to go far from camp, for the enemy were
lurking about in the corn fields near to get a shot at any
one who passed. About two o'clock I mounted my horse
to go over to another camp, and when about. 300 yards
from our own ground, a ball came whistling along and hit
my horse in the leg. I, of course, did not wait to enquire
who my friend was, but making good use of my whip gal-
loped back to camp ; I had gone a short but unsafe road,
and saw as I rode back several of the enemy burying their
dead round the guns we had taken, but were waiting for
a party to fetch them into camp. Probably my friend was
a poor wounded wretch instigated by revenge.

The inhabitants:of Manchester are about to obtain the
privilege of bonding goods in that town; but the govern-
ment will not go to the_ slightest expense in the matter.
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company, to
meet the views of parties requiring storage, have taken
some of the very extensive arches connected with the ter-
minus of the Manchester and Birmingham Railway,
London-road, for fire-proof warehouses.

The Doncaster Cup Prize, for the present year, will be
a representation of King Henry VIII. and Queen Cathe-
rine. as they were invited by an archer attired as Robin
Hood to enter the good green wood, and partake of a
sylvan festival with his outlaws. It will be a superb piece
of workmanship in silver, and present a group of three
figures—two of which, the king and queen, will be on
horseback.