Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-03-22
THE WAR IN INDIA.
.SlOrmillg and Fall Of .lIooltan.

Slormtng and Fall Of .HOoitan.
Operations began on the 9th December
The suburbs were carried by the bayonet and
the town captured by bombardment, BREACH and
storm. Few British were killed, while there
was great loss to the Sikhs. The town was sur
rounded on all sides, and attacked, without reg
ular approaches, while an incessant cannonade
of shot, shell and rockets, was kept up to cam
age the deiences and to awe the besieged. The
suburbs were attacked at two different points,
where high mounds in the neighborhood of mas
sive buildings had afforded to the sikhs strong
positions. They were driven in and routed,
the main troops advancing in lines with the bay
Onet, and under loss on their part Of about
100 killed and wounded. Heavy batteries were
then erected on those mounds, which were about
300 yalds distance from the walls. Daybreak of
the 29th opened from the british lines with a
heavy fire of muskctry, and the simultaneous dis
charge of the mortar guns, alter which the other
heavy artillery and howitzers pushed to within
80 yards of The walls. The enemys fire then
nearly ceased, while that of the British contin-
ucd incessant, and evidently with great effect
Next day large magazine exploded in the
town under our fire, and u contlagation Of grain
stacks succeeded. All this, however, did not
appear to daunt the courage of the Sikhs, now
in the close vicinity of the British troops, for the
fire of their matchlocks increased and became
more effective. At length, after an incessant
roar of cannon and rattle of musketry for about
so hours, the close attack was commenced by
the advance of two columns from the Bombay
army, while the Bengal force moved forward on
the other side. Meanwhile the Bombay column
had successfully effected its entrance. This
occurred about three IN the afternoon of the Cd
Jan. Fourteen guns and 25 elephants, many
horses, and vast supply of grain were found in
the town, and the other booty, in the nature of
property, is said to be Of considerable Value
From the Bombay Telegraph we give the follow
ing account of
THE EXPLOSION.
/" One of the grandcst and most awful occur
rences now took place--the blowing up Of the
principle magazine in the Fort of Mooltan. The
explosion is said to have been so touitic-and
the general effect from the fall of rubbish, boughs
of trees, &c. so Htaring-that at first it was
thought the place had been visited by an earth
quake. For short time, the huge column Of
dust which was thrown up, some 200 yards in
height, rendered the Fort and surrounding OBJ
iects Invisible: there was consequently a brief
pause in the firing but as soon as the smoke
and dust cleared away the fire was resumed, as
hotly as ever. 1t is said some Of the Moolrai's
family, with many other persons, were hurled
into the air at the time the magazine exploded ::
also that the Dewan himself received wound.
This last report, however, does not seem to have
been true. Our Guns were no v directed to the
supposed position OF Moorajs remaining maya
zines, but without avail, as no further explosion
took place. 1t became evident that great devas-
tations had been caused by our incessent fire !;
as broken masses of Masonry, heaps of brick
work, and crumbling walls, could be seen by
looking through telescope, while the prime pie
bastions appeared riddedby our q ID. shot"