The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-04-03
THE WAR IN INDIA.


Lo9d Cough, the commander OF the British
forces in the late disastrous battle with the Sikhs
is the subject of much censure by the English
press. He will hardly dare TO skow himself in
England, until he has performed something TO re-
treve ais reputation. Sir Charles Napier, who is
appointed to supersede him, has left by the quick
est overland conveyances, but he cannot reach
the scene OF action until the campaign for the
season has been ended This battle was foupbt
on the 18th Jan. at Chillianwalah, on the river
Jhelum, in the north western part of Hindostan
nearly on the spot which formed the battle field
of Alexander and Porus.
Lord Cough had originally intended to await
the fall OF Moullan before Shere Singh; but tho
delay in the capture of that fortress having prov
ed greater than was anticipated, and there being
rumors current that Clutter Singh was on his
way to join his son with large reinforcements
while the long delay was evidently producing an
injurious effect on the native mind, his lordship
suddenly altered his determination, and on the
1lth instant inspected the troops, amounting to
about $4,000 men, with 125 or 1870 guns. and
gave the order for move in advance of their
encampment, which was situated about midway
between the Jhelum and the Chenab.
Lord Coughs generaship in attacking the
Sikhs so late in the day, with such precipitation
and in manner so dsorderly, has been yerv
severely censured by the press. 1t was not his
intention 10 have attacked the Sikhs until the
next day, but they seem to have enticed him on:
they allowed their advanced posts TO be driven
in, and then opened heavy fire, which put him
into passion, and he swore he would drive the
SGkes tlom the face of the earth SevN al peo
pie advised hum not to fight them until the next
day, but he would listen to no one and even
said he would put any officer under arrest who
presumed TO suggest anything to him! So away
we went-every general and brigadier his own
way, receiving orders
The British confess the loss of $500 men killed
and wounded. They estimate the enemys loss
three times that number. The Sikh accounts
would no doIbt reverse these statements The
probability is that the loss was about equal on
both sides The advantage was altogether on
the side OF the Sikhs, who kept the field of battle
through the ensuing night, stripped the dead
bodies, and carried off the spiked cannon which
the British had left behind Thorn.
The London Morning Chronicle in criticism
on the generaship of the British COMMANDMENTS
Chief, has the following remarks:
To British army in the Punjaub, drawn bat
tie is defeat. Success-unlorm and decisive
SUGGESTS The talsman which uphods the domin.
ion of Great Britain in India. We must beat the
natives,- and beat them thoroughly, whenever
and wherever they face us, or the rock ON which
our empire is built crumbles into sand and the
European population in the Peninsula becomes
mere army otoccupation. The dsgraceful flight
OF corps OF British cavalry, however occasion
ed, Is, IN Itself, as bad a battle lost 1t will
take two or three successful campaigns to obter.
ate the dsheartening effect OF that one unhappy
accident upon the spirit OF our native troops.