The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-29

TIE San culinary Battle beftcesn me British and Skhs on
he yhslum-the Surrender Of BIo,ata and liootraj
10 The BrSi-te JdH Of Aitoak into Re hands Of NE
Afghans.
The following is taken from the London Chronicle OF
the 9Th instant:
THE SaNGUEARY BATHS OF CHILIANwALA, BOMBAY,
FEB g. lSi9The nteil gence by the present mail is of
greater interest ami importance than any which has for
wears past been despatched from the shores of India
sangunary conflict has taken place on the bank OF
the Jheum, nearly on the spot which formed the battle
field of Alexander and Porus and though the British
have come off victorious, their triumph has been pur
chased by sad efusion of bloodno fewer than % Of
fcers having been killed. and 60 wounded, while nearly
$500 men were slain or disabled Amongst the officers
who fell, Brigadie ]. Pennycuick and Lieut. Col
Brookes of her Ma sey's 9th foot; Major Ekns dep
MY adlutant general, and other distinguished names.
But the slaughter which occurred was perhaps not the
worst feature OF The engagement One of the cavalry
brgades was struck with panic and the unusual spec
acle was presented OF regiment OF British dragons
lying from native foe Bengal cavalry corps (the
5ih) fled In great disorder. Moreover. lost six guns,
only four OF which could be recovered The Sikhs
beaten from their positions before dusk with irghtnl
and with the loss OF twelve guns besides others
which were spiked but they rallied, and took up
another position the left bank of the river, firing
lutte in the evening, as though claiming the victory.
Our disastrous triumph achieved on the 18th of
January Lord Cough had originally intended to await
the fall of Mouan before encounering Shere Singh but
the delay in the capture of that fortress having proved
greater than anticipated, and there being
rent that Clutter Singh on his way TO JON his son
with large reniorccmens, while the long delay evil
deny producing injurious eiect the ntlve Hln0
his lodsbp suddenly altered his determination, and the
18th inst inspected the troops amounting 10 about % 900
men, with l25 or 1870 guns, and gave the order for move
| IN advance OF their encampmen which was sttua ed
abou, midway between the Jhelum and The Chenah.
Whether the decision TO attack the enemy at all in
huenced by instructions from the governor general
unaware; but as Sir ii Lawrence (who had commu-
ncaei to Lord Dalhousie the dlngs of the capture of
the town of Moul,anD arrived at The commander in
chiefs camp from Lahore just previous to the march OF
the army, it le possible such may have been the
The troops marched on the morning OF the 18th
| Dnghee, in the direction OF the Jheum, and, having
halted here Tor the night resumed their march next day.
when they soon came in sight OF the enemy They
were directed to form, and advance in order OF
| battle About IL o'clock a. IN. the leading col mn
upon OF the enemy's outposts, "a low, bare
hill and the heavy guns were ordered forward and soon
cleared this place. the enemy retreatng with their artille-
ry The Sikh army occupied long line, extending from
their original position called Moong, TO place bearing
the OF Russool or Russoonngger the latter being
strong post where the enemy's magazines estab
ished. and near which was narrow gorge well adapt
ed for retreat in of disaster. Lord Cough had at
first intended TO throw all his strength upon it, and thus
turn the enemys flank according TO the plan usually
adopted under such circumstances. IN evil bour, how
ever, he abandoned this The Sikh position
to be strong; the Jheum was in their rear with
well constructed bridge spanning It's waters, and their
centre was protected by field works which had the ad
vantage of rough and junngy ground. Between and 2
p. m, Lord Cough decided posfpoa,ng The attack till
NEXT day. asd as o1p T erssa and 5 S ds ae
mination was wise one Asw slots, however from the
enemys batteries, which cere w,ttin range happened
TO tau close TO me COMMANDER Cte| ana tpNh
rashne och cannot be sufficiently depi0red has lOyd
ship at determined 10 engage The Stkhs tcthoW de-
lay file tconid hear no reason, listen to no advee, and
epsn ii is said, threatened to PIT any in arrest
,cho should dare to offer him counsel Abandoning the
idea of attacking Russoo he resolved TO endeavor to
penetrate the centre OF the ensmys position; and.
cordingy, without making any preliminary reconnoIs.
| sancc, commenced cannonade. which was answered
by the enemy, and is said to have lasted between one
and two hours. Brigader General Campbell, who com
manded the division OF infantry our right, was now
directed 10 make flank movement aHd IN obcylng The
order, exposed the flank of his troops to terrible
fire from Sikh batteries his left which had not
reached the Sikh gunshe latter OF the two leading the
way--and 80 tremendous fire then opened upon them,
thai they compelled 10 give way her Maiesy's
2ih regiment in particular sustaining seyeer loss than
has befalen British corps since the Caboo
ere. Unsupported by artillery, retreat was inevitable;
and the native regiments well the 2ith, left num-
bers of dead and wounded upon the field Othis occa-
sion fell the brigader commanding Colonel Pennycuick
Lieut.. Colonel Brookes, Major Harris. and numerous
other officers While this occurred the right, Briga
der Hoggans brigade on the left carried everything be-
fore IT, CALAMITY sormlng the enemys batteries. and
splking their guns. The brigade under Colonel Noun
tain were sent against the enemys centres but after hav
ing seized and spiked battery of Sikh guns, they found
the enemy's infantry close upon them. and were com
PEELED to retire.
In the mean time, Brgadier Colby, with Major General
Sir w. Gilbert leader, who was on the extreme right
of the infantry ine moved forward and, after marching
through dense Jungle Tor minutes, upon the
enemy's infantry the brigade opened their fire, but the
enemy in such numbers that they easily outanked
| tncm TWO companies oil the I'd regiment were
wheeled up, showed front, and the whole charged but
had not gone far when they found they surrounded
they Immediately faced right about, kept mp some file
firing and charged rank in front at this junctue,
fiawess battery came 10 the and having beaten
oil the enemy, their guns taken While the in
i fanny thus highly distinguishing themselves and
earning lmpsshable laures, the cavalry on the extreme
left, under Bfgader White had made dashng charge,
and contributed much to the defeat of the enemy viii e
the cavalry ON the extreme right, consisting of Brgaer
Popes force, with the 18th light Dragons temporarily
attached having been taken in advance Of their horse
artillery Qaness, Chrstie's, and Hushs troops were
directed to charge body of the enemys cavalry variousy
estimated at from 900 to 500: instead of obeyng the
orders given them, they faced about and, in spite Of the
energetic endeayors OF their and other officers left
the field with the exception of body of the 9th ancers,
who were Taed) and made direct for the artillery
coming up TO which, instead of pulling up they dashed
and some horses, and directing their the field
hospital. The enemy, seeing the advantage they had
thus unaccountably insured, followed cavalry, got
amongst the horse artillery, cut down no less than 70
gunners who had by the flight of the cavalry through
their ranks, been deprived of the of defending
themselves, and carried off six of their guns two OF
5 which subsequently recovered, and would have
done much more harm had not Col. Lane been fortu-
naely enabled to draw his troop of the melee and
pour in grape energetically that the GoorchuTas
thought they had done enough, and fled
1t is stated that the lith drag retired, because
deed to do so. This point, however, requires to be
cleared up The conduct of the 9TH Bengal light caval-
9 ry appears to have been very reprehensibe.
On the left, is stated, the enemy were pushing for
ward boldly and successfully, when squadron OF the
Sd Dragons and the 9Th light cavalry ordered by
blackwell 10 charge them On approaching the foe, the
native cavalry broke and fled the Dragons unsupported
tho T,r