IMPORTANT NEWS FROM INDIA. ANOTHER TERRIFIC BATTLE. [From the Bengal Hurkaru, Feb. 22.]

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 61, 1 August 1846, Page 1

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM INDIA. ANOTHER TERRIFIC BATTLE. [From the Bengal Hurkaru, Feb. 22.]

THE BATTLE OF ATTAREE, Another glorious victory was gained by our indomitable troops on the 10th February, at a place called Attaree, about four and a half miles from Ferozepore, making the fourth hard fought action within the space of six weeks. The victory was achieved with less sacrifice of life on the part ofthe British, than was sustained in the actions of December . Ten thousand ofthe enemy are supposed to have been killed, and about two thousand of our own troops. Amongst the killed we regret to report Sir Robert Dick, Colonel Taplor, 29th; Colonel Ryan, 50th, some years ago ,the much respected Commandant of Lauuceston; Captain Tew, who acquired many friends during the time the 50th was stationed here, and several other officers of that gallant regiment, whose name, will be recognised by many in this island. We take the following brief account of the engagement from the Englishman, of the 21st of February : — •' The shelling commenced at six, or a quarter to six, on the 10th February, and lasted vigorously till twelve o* clock at noon. Our artillery played with fearfuljeffect into the Seikh's camp and entrenchments. The enemy plied their guns with great activity courage, and des. peration. Their bridge of boats was destroyed by the shelling, and no alternative left, but to sell their lives as as dearly as they could. The entrenchments were carried at the point of the bayonet. European and native regiments emulating each other which should be foremost in capturing the guns. Fvery gun which the Seikh's brought over, between 75 and 80 in number has been taken, and their force on this side of the Sutledge has been almost annihilated. " Sir John GreyVforce crossed the river at Attaree yesterday evening, and Ganeral Littler's division, it is expected, will cross this evening, at Khondal Ghat. " The troops behaved nobly in the trenches. Thrice were they repulsed by the Seikhs, but thrice with re newed efforts they returned to the charge, and drove the enemy back in every direction. Of the Native Troops, the Goorkas behaved so bravely as to elicit from the European and native regiments great praise. " The troops engaged yesterday are moving to Ferozepore with the wounded, who will be distributed among the depot hospitals here." By an arrival at the Mauritius, the Delhi Gazette of 23rd February, a day later date, was received there, from which the following detailed account of this action is extracted :—• Camp, 4| miles from Ferozepore, 11th February, 1846. At-Jhree o'clock yesterday morning, the camp army was formed for the attack. General Smith occupied the right of our line, General Dick formed on the left of the army in continuation, whilst the centre under Geneial Gilbert, covered a multitude of heavy guns and rocket battery, near the fortified village occupied as the outpost. At daylight all were in position, and about sunrise the guns commenced on both sides, when shells and rockets followed one another in rapid succession and with unerring aim and prhved by the,frequent explosion of the enemy's ammunition waggons. During this interval the infantry were lying within cannon range under cover, facing the works. At first, I speak chiefly of the extreme left, and therefore of our gallant friends of the 53rd, a few horsemen showed themselves reconnoitering and directing the removal of the baggage across that river, by the brigade. The cannonade continued a couple of hours, and then, as if by mutual consent, ceased : when the enemy appeared lining the whole of the position, — and, as it was entirely surrounded, and having found themselves thus situated, without perceiving the route ofthe columns, which arrived at their stations during darkness, tried to be prepared at all points with an army estimated at 80,000 men and 70 guns. At this crisis the advance was ordered, General Smith having moved to a false attack with the view of distracting the attention. In an instant every gun was opened from a common centre in the works of the enemy, and a tremendous fire was continued on the British troops, and in some instances answered with tolerable effect by our light field pieces: but the enemy were two well protected, and shot after shot was replied to by the Sikhs with fatal precision. The advance, however, was not to be retarded, and the whole closed in towards the entrenchments. The 53rd on the extieme left, covered by two or three companies of Sepoys in skirmishing order, moved across at least 4200 yards, skirting the river, and marching through deep sand. On they went in line amids t a shower of grape and musketry, which opposed at all points, even from guns on- the opposite focus ofthe entrenched position. The Sikhs saw their danger, but elated with confidence In the strength oftheir defences stood firm, and fought bravely behind their position ; a shout, a run, and a fire, had no effect : the men were tired from the heavy ground ; the balls continued increasing, and the Europeans falling fast, when their cavalry made an effort for a rescue, and were seen preparing a charge ; the regiment form' d a square, the gallant Sepoys closed on their own centre, and the firing became more desperate. The cavalry took warning, the corps re-formed line, and moved to the charge ; another frightful effort on the part of the enemy, who still maintained their position every where. Suddenly the steady advance created a panic, the Sikhs gradually gave way in front 'of us: their cavalry, though at first a small

body, moved towards the ford, and every man in the trenches began to give way, firing of musketry in all quarters announced the event; and although the conflict continued to rage with vehemence, and the struggle was intense ; the enemy was forced at the point of the hayouet on to the ford, where they were received by the two companies of the Sepoys and 53rd, who. found themselves actually in the anomalous position of being between the enemy and his reserve. Regiment after regiment came down in slow succession to pass over, and regiments, both horse and foot moved on amidst.one con tinual rattle of destructive musketry, without returning a single shot, excepting those fired by men despairing of their lives, or some vagabond wounded Alkaltes. At this juncture came under observation the most wonderful scene the human mind could ever conceive. The bridge of boats having partly sunk by the pressure, the whole Sikh army, part of whom tried to outflank our right batteries, arrived on the ford and were trying to escape. The river was deep and the streamrapid the multitude immense, and the firing so incessant, that the loss of life was terrific. Each individual as he was shot by the bullets became at once a corpse, without a hope of rescue from the current, the depth of which exceeded four feet and a half generally, and much more in particular spots. This lasted about thiee hours, when the corps already named being without ammunition for the time, and having used all the spare caps with Sikh cartridges, moved to the rear, leaving the work of destruction to be completed by the light artillery, who continued with other corps, till not a man remained. Ten thousand slain is a moderate calculation of the loss. Ours has been severe ; about a fifth of the above or less, every corps having suffered greatly. To attempt a description of all the features of the battle would require an eye-witness from each regiment; but the fact that it fell to the lot of the 53rd to carry the key of the position in a most miraculous manner, cannot be denied, by good luck or good management— little signifies it which it is, as none will gainsay the fact. All the arrangments connected with this most important triumph, evinced the greatest generalship, and its result Jhe most consummate bravery ; but the position of the enemy was strong beyond all conception. High ramparts and deep ditches, traverses, holes and banks, constructed under the immediate eye of a skilful Spanish Engineer, defied the most desperate efforts of our troops ; and would have continued to defy our efforts much longer, had not the 53rd, by throwing up their right shoulder, fortunately come on the only unprotected point of the camp, embracing about thirty yards, being the actual road from the bridge into the heart of the entrenchments, and thus .taking possession of it. Notwithstanding the fire continued severe, the effect was visible, and the enemy abandoned all their guns, which being fixed in embrasures, could scarcely be removed with even the assistance of dlmrwas and dragropes. The Seikh columns moved out of range on the right bank, and having pitched their tents, previously sent across, while three or four heavy guns, which had at diffeient times played upon our force, saluted the camp followers and stragglers employed in' collecting the trophies and burning the budge and camp —thus adding, if possible, to the horrors of the battle. But the Sikhs are taught a lesson : and we trust British supremacy, with its fresh lauiels, will hold glory despite the assault of a conquered foe, who are mc turn now to be attacked at home, as General Smith, with the advance guard ofthe army of the Sutledge, broke ground this morning, on its march to the bridge of boats at Ferozepore, across which General Littler has already proceeded with the troops and guns. Sir R Dick, who was struck in the stomach by a round shot, and survived the wound some hours win inhumed with military honors at nine o'clock on the morning of the 12th, at Ferozepore. A royal salute was fired at Ferozepore on the morning of the 11th m honor ot the victory also f rora the guns taken from the enemy; and the necessary preparation having been made during the night of the 10th and in the morning ofthe 11th, two brigade of infantry, one ol cavalry, and a considerable body of artillery, crossed the river at Khoonda Ghat, at three o clock m the afternoon of the 11th, from which bour we may date the fall of the Sikhs as an mdependant nation. These troops were followed by others on the. 12th, and on the 13th and 14th almost every man intended ior service in the Pnniaub will have crossed the river; and we should not 'be at all surprised to hear, before next Saturday, that the flag ,ot the Khalsas had been replaced on the walls of Lahore by that of St. George. At the latest hour in the afternoon of the 12th, the number of Sikh guns captured from the enemy was estimated at 82 • and some of them had already been brought into Ferozepore, with horses and bullocks attached to them ,as taken from the Gjiemy. They are prouounced capable of being formed into light field batteries with comparative trifliug repairs to the harness. Amongst , them are those presented toßunieet Singh by Lord I William Ben tick.

KILLED. Major-General Sir RDick, K. C. 8., commanding 3rd Division. C. C. Taylor, C.8., H. M.29th Foot, commanding 2nd brigade 2nd division. Lieut.-Colonel G. L. Davies, H. M. 9th Foot. Lieut- Colonel J. Ryan, K. H., H. M. 50th. Captain G. E. D. Warren, H. M. 53rd. Lieut. H. E. Y. Fiuthfiil, Horse Artillery. Lieut. F. W. A. Hamilton, Ist European Light Infantry, Brevet-Captain F. Shuttleworth, ditto.

Captain Ha^ 50th Native Infantry. Ensign G> Ji. Davidson, Ist European Light Infantry. Captain J.J^isher, 23rd Native Infantry.^ , Lieut. J. Sjf llawson, 63rd ditto. Lieut. W.fT. Bartley, H. M. 62nd. Captain Gi M J . Tew, H. M. 50th. Lieut. A.'M'Queen, 42nd Light Infantry,

WOUNDED. Major-General Sjr J. Littler, K. C. 8., commanding 4th division. Major-General W. R. Gilbert, commanding 2nd division. Major C. Grant, Horse Artillery. Lieut-Colonel Gough, 3rd Dragoons, shot through both legs., Lieut.-Colonel Gold, H. M. 53rd Foot. Lieut. F. Mackenzie, 26th Native Infantry. Lieut. W. D. Playfair, 33rd ditto. Lieut, and Adjutant Dunning, H. M. 53rd Foot. Lieut. A. B. O. Stokes, H. M. 53rd Foot, shot in the breast. Captain T. Smart, H. M. 53rd Foot, leg amputated. Lieut. John Chester, H.-M. 53rd Foot, shot through the lungs and back. Ensign H. Lucas, H. M. 53rd Foot, slightly by a bayonet in the leg. Lieut. R. N. Clarke, H. M. 53rd Foot, badly. liieut-Colonel Barr, officiating Adjutant-General, lost an arm. Lieut. Busher, Engineers. Captain W. H. Halibrd, 41st Native Infantry. Captain J. Cumberlege, 41st Native Infantry. • Lieut. M. T. Kemble, 41st Native Infantry. Lieut. A. W. Onslow, 41st Native Infantry. Captain H. Alpe, 41st Native Infantry. Brigadier Penny, commanding Nusseeree Battalion, slightly. Brigadier M'Laren, commanding 4th brigade 2nd division. Lieut. OBrien, Ads. Nusseeree Battalion. Captain Needham, H. M. 50th Foot. Major Potwhele, 42nd Light Infantry.