The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-12
From the European Times.
INDIA.

Il
INDIA.
BATTLE OF GooIERAT.
Official despatch from the Right Hon. The
eOmmander-in-chief Of India, 10 the right
Hon. The Governor General Of India.
HEADQUARTERS,
Camp Goojsrai, Teb. 26, ls4s.
Ny LORD Ply my leier Of the 2lst
instant, written on the fed Of battle, imme-
diately after me acton, your lordship win
have been made Acquainted with the glor-
GUS result Of my operations on that day
against the Sikh army, calculated, from all
credible reports, at 10000 men Of all arms,
and So pieces Of artillery, under the COM
mand Of Sirdar Clutter Singh and Rajah
Shere Singh, with body Of | 800 afghan
horse, led by Akram Khan, son Of the Ameer
Dost Mahomed Khan--a result, my lord,
glorious indeed for the ever victorious army
Of India! The ranks Of the enemy broken,
their position carried, their guns, ammunition,
camp equipage, and baggage captured, their
flying masses driven before the victorious
pursuers from midday to dusk, receiving
most severe punishment in their flight and,
my lord, with gratitude to mercifnl Provi-
dence, have the satisfaction Of adding, that,
notwithstanding the obstinate resistance Of
the enemy, this triumphant success, this
brilliant victory, has been achieved with
comparatively little loss on our side.
The number Of guns taken in action, and
captured in the line Of pursuit, ] now find to
be SO.
The official report made by the Adjutant
General Of the army, on the goth inst, win
have informed your lordship that had d.
rected Brigadier-G General the Hon. Fl. Dun
das to join me by forced marches, and that !
had closed up to so short distance Of the
Sikh army that they could not possibly at
tempt the passage Of the Chenaub in order
to put into execution their avowed determi-
nation of moving upon Lahore, making q re-
trogade movement by the Kooree Pass, (the
only practicable one, for guns,) or indeed
quit their position, without my being able to
attack them, and defeat their movement.
On the 18th inst. Brigadier Markham
had proceeded from Ramnugger up the left
bank OF the river to Kanokee, to which !
had directed forty -seven boats to be sent up.
On the morning Of the Goth this officer cross
ed the Chenaub by my instructions, and
joined me at eleven o'clock, a. m. At the
same time Lieutenant Colonel Byrne was
directed to move down the left bank from
the position he held in front Of Wuzeerabad,
with two corps Of infantry and four guns,
leaving two regiments Of irregular cavalry
to watch the tords, and to prevent any ma
rauding parties or bodies Of the routed enemy
from effecting passage.
On the same day a reconnaissance was
made Of the enemy's position, as it was as
certained that their camp nearly encircled
the town Of Goojerat, their regular troops
being placed Immediately fronting us, be-
tween the town and deep watercourse, the
dry bed Of the river Dwara. This nulla,
which is very tortuous, passing round nearly
two sides Of the town or Goojerat, divefging
to considerable distance on the north and
west faces, and then taking southery d.
rection, running through the centre Of the
ground occupied at Shadewal. Thus the
enemy's position on the right was greatly
strengthened, the nulla giving cover to his
infantry in front Of his guns, whilst another
deep, though narrow, wet nulla, running
from the east Of the town, and falling into
the Chenaub, in the direction Of Wuzeera-
bad, covered his left
The ground between these nullas, for a
space Of nearly three miles, being well cal
cnlated for the operation Of all arms, and
presenting no obstacle to the movement Of
my heavy guns, determined 10 make my
principal attack in that direction, and dis
posed my force accordingly.
On the extreme left placed the Bombay
column, commanded by the Hon. H. Dun
das, supported by Brigadier Whites brigade
of cavalry and the Scinde horse, under Sir
Joseph blackwell, to protect the left, and
to prevent large bodies Of Sikh and afghan
cavalry from turning that flank. With this
cavalry placed Capt's Duncan and Huish's
troops Of horse artillery, whilst the infantry
was covered by the Bombay troop Of horse
artillery under Major Bood.
On the right Of the Bombay column, and
with its right resting on the nulla, placed
Brigader General Campbell's division Of
infantry, covered by No. 5 and No. 10 light
field batteries, under Major Ludlow and
Lieutenant Robertson, having Brigadier
Hogan's brigade ofinfantry in reserve.
Upon the right Of the nulla ! placed the
infantry division Of Major General Sir w.
Gilbert, the heavy guns, IS in number, UNI
der Majors Day and Horsford, with Captain
Shakspear, and brevet Major Sir Richmond
Shakspear, commanding batteries, being
disposed in two divisions upon the tanks Of
his left brigade.
This line was prolonged by Major General
Whish's division Of infantry, with one bri-
gade Of infantry under Brigadier Markham,
in support, in second line, and the whole
covered by three troops Of horse artillery,
Major Fordyce's, Captains Mackenzie's and
Anderson's, and No. IL light field battery,
under Captain Dawes, with Lieutenant Col.
Lanes and Captain Kinleside's troops Of
horse artillery in a second line in reserve
under Lieutenant Colonel Brind.
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