Indian Extracts.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 47, 25 April 1846, Page 3

Indian Extracts.

THE ' BATTLES OF MOODKEE AND FEROZEPOOR.

(The following article contains details of the events of these important battles, not contained in the official despatches, arid will be read with interest by raa•ny of our readers.) i‘Every day adds irittelligence of interest to our knowledge of occurrences on the “ memorable three davs ”*of our encounter with the array of the PunaU that reaches us proves not only was the hurricane'of war terrific in its violence, but that our dear bought victory was such that in regard to loss of valuable’lives, we could not afford another like it. Thanks be to that overruling Providence whose coutroling power the head of our Government and the forces under him, publicly acknowledged in the vicinity of the scenes of slaughter, we escaped, and only narrowly escaped a most disastrous defeat; one from which it would have been most difficult to rally. The letters from Camp give not only the usual mishaps of battle, but communicate intelligence which creates regret for the living as well for the dead; and were it not that the confidence ofthe enemy has been broken, we should with painful apprehension toward our retaliatory invasion, when a kingdom undergoing dissolution while in possession of all its physical strength will strain every nerve in its last convulsive struggle, resisting the power that crushes it. Amongst the earliest intelligenc received was that of failure on the part of Major General Sir J. Litller’s division, the result being what no man who knows anything of the character and fame of this gallant officer could for a moment have anticipated. It seems that on the morning of the 2lst, the action began by the left division under his command, which on the advance being sounded moved on in line against thr western face of the enemy’s camp. The first half of the distance was through a bush jungle, but the most admirable order was preserved. The. rest ofthe ground was open affording to the enemy a,full view of the advance, of which immediate advantage was taken ; the whole fire of the entrenchment on that side being concentrated on the right wing of the Queen’s 62nd, and the left wing of the 12th N. I. causing greathavoc in their ranks. Our men went on undfeterred, and rapidly closed upon the entrenched position under a Are as furious and destructive as any upon record. Their brave leader had two horses shot under him,'’btiih within a few minutes, and his .Aide-de-Camp,' Lieutenant Harvey, H. M. 30th, fell mortally wounded fin the act of cheering on the tnen of H. M. 62nd, ‘This occurred within a few paces of the enemy, whose<fire became, if possible, still more terrific every moment: and then their musketry and camel jazailssentin a deadly shower under which the 62nd reeled arid staggered. Up to this point we had reserved nur fire in order to give it full effect, but in the cohfusionj the men began to fire indiscriminately producing the least impression. Theyhad'now to reload and halted;a panic seized them,—the'whole went to the right about and retreated. The ! l2th N. l.held its way for 'a few paces, when the - 'example of the Europeans proved contagious. • The'Sepahees called to their officers Goralog huth juta, and at this moment to complete the disaster- their Colonel (Bruce) had his arm shot off. The pauic<immediately spread to the 15th N. I. on the left of‘the 62nd, aud all the whole division turned and'did 1 not stop till out of reach of fire. The other division were similarly affected, the artillery of the enemy-served as it was with admirable precision and alacrity; 1 and of weight far overpowering ours, having with-the small arms done fearful execution among them, and they retired in the same manner for the night, not having been able to dislodge the ememy at a single point, The whole of the divisigns bivouacked as near each other as they could get. in the dark. 1 The night was a terrible one, the cannonnade‘being kept up by both parties, aud on our side the exhausted men, suffering from hunger and thirst, 1 fatigue and cold, had to attend to the wants of the'numerous wounded and dying, whose number still kept on the increase. 'At'daybieak of the following morning the Governor General put himself at the head of H. M. 80th, and the Commanderfin-Chief in like manner led the 31st; . 'Sir Harry Smith, Queen’s Adjutant General, tried to cheer on H. M. 80th, but they would not respond till the Governor-General put himself at their head, and called out “ 80th, do your duty.” The attack was then renewed with a gallantry which enabled the second and third divisions to break through every obstacle and gain an entrance by which they secured the guns—the first and fourth divisions mean while co-operating on their flanks. In an-hour the position was completely in our possession, I Sii* Henry Hardiuge is said to have been quite exhausted by his exertions, and he and the Com-niander-in-Chief passed a wretched night. The former, as brave and gallant a soldier as ever led into action (as is his companion in arms Sir Hugh Gough) is reported to have said, that he must conquer or fall, for he could not survive the defeat: —and so, summing up his energies, the morning saw him retrieve the fortunes of the field.— Agra Ukhbar , Jan. 10.

Army.—The following promotions were made to fill up the vacancies caused by the Battle of the Sutlej 50th Foot. Sergeant Major Richard Heaton, to be Ensign, vice While, promoted j Ensign White, to be Lieutenant, vice Yeung, killed in action. 89fh Foot—Colour Sergeant ——, to be Ensign, vice Robertson, promoted; to be Captains, Lieut. P. Haines, from the 4lh Foot, vice Lewis, promoted; Lieut. Arthur Ormsby, vice Best, killed in action j Lieut. C. H. Lesslie, vice Scheberras, killed in action. To be Lieutenants, Ensign A. H. Hardinge, 53rd Foot, vice Ormsby } Ensign G. C. Robinson, vice Lessliej Ensign E. W. Kingsley, from 31st Foot, vice Bythesea, killed in action; Ensign, H. C. Smith, from 31st Foot, vice Warren, killed in action j Ensign G. Bbdle, vice Fraser, killed in action.