(From the Englishman, 29th January.)

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 316, 9 June 1849, Page 2 (Supplement)

(From the Englishman, 29th January.)

I Yesterday's dawk brought us many letters from th« north*weit,someof which we publish below, from others we extract the following additional intelligence. One letter mentions that besides the 14th Dragoous and a wing of the 9th Lancers, a Native Cavalry regiment a]hb misbehaved. Another letter mentions that Lord Gough had d very nairow escape while spiking some | gu"s- | A. letter from Govindgurb, of the 18th, says theie " is a repoit abroad that an attack will be made on Govindgurb, and certainly circumstances justify the opinion : should it be besieged you shall hear me. Golab Sing is close at hand ready to assist with ten thousand men, should I any thing go wrong with us." j Another letter mentions that the battle commenced unexpectedly, in consequence of the Commander-in-Chief being fired at from a jungle, when halting near a village looking for I ground for a camp. He immediately ordered an advance. It is satisfactory to hear that the wing i of the lancers, who were not with the 14tll ! dragoons, " behaved nobly." The stain cannot therefore be affixed to them as a regiment, it will attach only to those individuals who disgraced themselvei by flight. We hear that a Court of Enquiry has been demanded by the i artillery officers whose guns were captured> in order 10 exonerate themselves. The following is an extract of a letter from an, officer engaged on the 13th :— > " Camp Chilliawallah, "dated the 7th January, 1849. "On the 12th marched toDingee; on the 13th marched again, and at 10 a.m. came upon one of the enemy's outposts. The three light field batteries and heavy guns were brought to the front, to drive them in, which we did in about five minutes. The infantry were then brought up, and each regiment deployed into line. The Commander-in-Chief meant to have encamped : here, and sent for quarter-masters to mark the ground. The enemy, however, about one o'clock Hred a few 6hots which came in beyond our flags, and the Commander-in -Chief resolved to attack them at once. The whole line then advanced, getting into thicker and thicker jungle every minute. All this time our heavy guns, which were in the centre, opened their fire, and were answered by every one of the enemy* guns, about sixty in number. "It would be impossible to describe the action. There was no plan of attack. The three field batteries were at one lime close to the enemy, without any support near them j they were at last ordered to advance, at a gallop, to support Hoggan's brigade. And the 46th N. I. tells us that the artillery fiie saved them. The action' lasted till dark. " At four o'clock in the afternoon we were completely sui rounded by the enemy, and our artillery firing at the same time, to the front, reai,and Hanks; our loss lias been tremendous, 1,990 killed and wounded, out of these 950 are Europeans, Above 36 officers have been burkd. H. M.'s 2lth lost their regimental colour, 25th N. I. lost a colour, 30th N. I. ditto (some say two). The 56th N. 1. lost the standard they took at Mahatajpoor. H. M.'s 24th had 13 officers killed, including every one in the list above the junior captain. We have taken 12 guns, and lost 6 (two of which, I hear, have since been lecovered). The loss of our guns was owing to the cowaidice of the 14th Dragoons, who, (you will hardly believe it), actually ran away from a parly of the enemy's cavalry, right through Christie's and Huish's troops of H. A , knocked over one of Christie's waggons, horses and all. They were so crowded among the guns, that the gunners could not uniimber. The result was, that the enemy's cavalry got among the guns, and cut down our men right and left. The 14th never drew rein till they had gone light through the General's Staff in the rear, knocking over the doolies and everything that came in their way. What caused the panic no one knows. The enemy are encamped at Russool, four miles from the Commander-in-chief's camp." An eye-witness says — •• The Chief was stiongly advised to defer the engagement till next day, but it was no use ; two shots fell near him, and he ordered an immediate attack. Left his position, joined in the melee, *na was not found anywhere to give directions: ln fact, he fancied himself at Donnybiook Fair, and fell too among the Sikhs. A more undisciplined attack, nor less tactics, were never heard of; he swore that the first officer who presumed to give him advice he would place in close arrest." The following is our latest intelligence from Lahore, dated the 19th instant:— "The Aitillery have called for a Court of Enquiry, to show that the six guns were lost by the flight of the 14th Dragoons j their men were cut down at their guns." Another letter from Lahore, dated the 2Sth, sa>s: — "I am sorry to inform you that Brigadier Pope was mortally wounded in the action of the 13th. and is since dead. Captain Unett, of the 3rd Dragoons, is tho only officer touched of that \ corps; he was sliced down the back about a >ard. The corps had 24 killed; no return yet of the wounded. " Her Majesty's 24th have lost nearly 500 men, and one of their colours. " The number of guns taken by us haicome down to 12 and 20 spiked, and four of our 6-pounders are still missing. The 61st and 29in Queen's both suffered severely. The 2nd Europeans lost SO, _ " It is said that the 56th, 30th, and 2oth N. 1., each lost a colour. „■,,, j « The 24th Queen's lost 13 officers killed, and 10 wounded. , . " The euemy arc 4 miles from our position at a pi we

called Ruisool, and we are not in a condition to attack them again at present. " Moultan was not expected to fall for the next ten •dayi. Moolraj had made a sally, and drove the sappers from their works, which they began to destroy. H. M.'i 10 th were immediately ordered up, and drove •them back into the Fort. •* The greater part of Edwardes' force had been sent towards Bunnoo, and the remainder are to follow in a few days. There is some work to be done against the Fort of " Lukkee," which still holds out. Whish's force and the better part of the Bombay force under Ms commadd, leave to co-operate with Lord Gough'e army after the fort has been taked." (From the Englishman, January 30.) Our.Lahore correspondent says, under date the 20th Jariwjfp— • "30x Henry Lawrence arrived at Lahore yesterday from the Commander in Chief's camp, accompanied by Lord Gifford, and again left this morning for the Governor-General's camp, who it now at Ferozepore. " It is said that the 14th Dragoons were ordered to retire by Brigadier Pope (now no more), commanding the 2nd cavalry brigade, finding the jungle so dense that nothing could be done with cavalry." A report was current in camp, that Elcha Buksh, the great Sikh General of Artillery, had offered to come if his life would be spared. If tlm is tme, it does not look as if the late battle had inspired them with confidence. The Delhi Gastelte reports the blowing in of the counterscarp of the lort of Mooltan on the 18th ; we had no letter from that quarter yesterday. We have some further details of the operations against Ram Sing, which will be found in the following letter from General Wheeler's Camp :— "Camp below Dhulla., January 19.— 1 fully intended to have sent you an account of our engagement with Ram Sing earlier, but this is the first moment I have had to spare since. As I gave you a description of the General's plans in my lait, it will be unneceisary for me to repeat it ; the only part I left out was, that some of the 15th Irregulars protected the heavy guns which were intended to play upon the principal stockade and the heights of Dhulla 5 some troopers of the 7th Light Cavalry also protected the heavy artillery guns which were placed in the gorge, the remainder secured the safety of the Camp. At daylight the two detachments, viz., Head Quarters of the 3rd N. 1., and 200 Sowars (dismounted) under Major Butler, and the two Sikh Companies and Sowari of the 16th Irregulars, under Captain Davidson, marched from Camp; the former detachment ascended the hill by Shelberra, the latter went up in front of camp. At about nine a.m. the first howitzer opened upon the stockade, but the shell fell short , in fact, the distance was too great, the only harm it did was to put the enemy on the gui viva, the rain was coming down in torrents, and it is generally supposed had the big guns not been fired, that the attacking parties would have gained the heights unmolested. However, the enemy turned out and detached parties all over the hills ; the consequence was, that the infantry had to ascend under a galling fire, and were compelled to drive the rebel from height to height. The Sikhs fought bravely— they stuck to their stockades until they were fairly beaten off; at length the two detachments occupied most favourable positions. Major Butler had succeeded in gaining the hill opposite Dhulla, Captain Davidson the hill opposite the stockade ; here an incessant fire was kept up for nearly three hours ; the Khalsa troops turned out with their colours flying, and their bugles and drums beating, firing volley upon the attacking parties ; about this time the 4th N.I. ought to have been seen attacking the enemy in the rear, and also the detachment which had started on the sth, but alas! they were not to be found. Major Butler then descended on the left, and in the hollow made bis men take off their great coats, (unseen by the Sikhs, of course appearing like a new body of men, the more 10 as the gallant Major had taken the precaution to crown the adjoining heights with men in great coats). Davidson at the same time descended on the right ; the former party, after a hard fight of an hour up hill, won the heights of Dhul'a from the Sikhs. Davidsons party boldly advanced to the Stockade, and had got within one hundred yards of it, when Lieutenant feel, who was commanding the Sikh companies, was shot through the lung« ; the enemy immediately jumpei over the stockade, tulwars in hand, to attack the advancing party. Poor Peel, lam sorry to say, received five deep tulwar cuts in addition to his former wound. In the meantime Major Butler had detached a party under an experienced officer to reconnoitre the height between Dhulla aud the Stockade ; the officer luckily got up in time to see the stockade vacated by the enemy, and rustud down and took possession of it before the enemy could return : the Sikhs gave one farewell volley and bolted. Not a man of Ram Sing's party could have escaped by any earthly chance, had the 4th N.I. been in their proper place, viz., at the rear of Ram Sing's position ; where they were it is not known —it was extremely unfortunate, as Ram Sing is likely to prove troublesome again. Our return of killed and wounded was smaller than was expected, but I regret to say two European oflicers were killed ! Lieutenant Chrutie, of the 7th Light Cavalry, who was with Major Butler s party, was shot through jhe heart, Lieut. Peel died of his wounds on the 17th, a more gallant officer never breathed ; Captain Davidson also received a bad wound in the hand ; of the men in the two detachments, 1 believe, five were killed and about sixteen wounded. The enemy must have suffered severely, but they have so many ways of hiding the bodies that it is impossible to sßy how many were killed, it is generally believed that seventy bodies have been seen. Parties are now out ascertaining the exact number. Both detachments have received great praise from the General for their gallant conduct; the only thing to be regretted is, that they couid not follow the enemy up. The detachment which had left camp on the 15th found the roadi and streams, owing to the heavy rains, impdisable. Never were plans more ably planned, and, as I said before, it is a great pity they were not iully carried out. The camp of the 4tti N.I. could be seen from the stockade. Ram Sing has now moved on towards Shere Sing. " I have nothing more to tell you at present, except that we move to Shahpore on the 20ih."

PUNJAUB. (From the Englishman, February 3.) The following is from Lahore, 25th January. ' " A s.ilute was fired this morning for the surrender of the Foit of Moultan, by Moulraj. " The assault was ordeied for seven in the morning of the 22nd, and Moolraj with 3000 men gave in in time to save his bacon. W lrish told him he could neither give him his life or take it, as that rested with tlie Governor Gener l, but that he would enbure his safety till the pleasure of the Goveriior«Genei\tl was known. " Lieutenant Thompson of the Artillery, died of his wound, received on the morning of the 2lst,at 5 in the evening. General Whish was to march to join the Communder-in-. hicf to-day, and to make double marchrsi which would enable him to join in ten or twelve days. Only two Native Coips, and the Bombay AitU'ery, are to be left dt Moullati, all the rest of the troops leave with General Whish. Government liave called on ihe authorities at Lahore to know what is the laigcst number of men thut caa.be accoimno-

dated at Lahore, and it is said ten regiments are to be sent from Madras. A letter from Camp, dated 23rd January, says, "The Sikhs have at least a hundred thousand men in a strong position against us, and outnumber us in guns considerably." Complaints are made of (he rain, which has reduced the ground to a puddle, and made the tents very chilly and uncomfortable. " The British army is encamped in front of Slicrc Singh's forces, the enemy being on a long ridge of hills and we in the plain beneath- The rain has deluged the camp, and we are all in the midst of mud and water almost up to Tatton's kt) efcSj and impassable on foot- An older has been issued for every one to be in readiness to turn out at a moment's notice. A viclette of the 3rd Dragoons is rcpoited to have been shot at while on duty by a mounted Sikh. The ball struck the plate of his sword belt.

(From the Englishman, Feb. 6.) We have another letter to the 20th u timo, from the frontier, where they were rejoicing at the fall of Mooltan. It reports that Shere Sing was entrenchin., himself on a long ridge of hills to our front and rig I. , and appears in great lorce. _ Our guns were placed in position at those points, in nine-pounder batteries- All accounts agree that had the Commander-in-Chief thought fit to occupy the ground which he had gained, the enemy would have lost nearly all his artillery.— Brigadier Pennycuick, being dead it appears intended to throw the responsibility of the heavy loss sustained by H. M. 24th Foot upon him, for advancing to the charge wiihout waiting for the guns now said to have been at his disposal. One letter says—" The intentions of the Commander-in-Chief are unknown, some say we are to wait here till joined by the Mooltau force, others that nothing will be done till the wounded are in a condition to be removed to Ilumnugger, as it is we have not a single dooly to spare." The Sikh General Ellahee Bukah says— that if we had continued the action, we should have driven the Sikhs acioss the Jhelum. He also asks why we did not use our guns more before sending the Europeans to the charge? The Chief has made out a clever despatch, but no one is to be gulled by it ; he was within an ace of being made prisoner." The writer says that they estimate three weeks for the j unction of the Mooltan force. They had heard that the Bombay tioops were to commence their march on the 25th. They would make it about the 1 5th of the present month befoie they could join the Commander in Chief. It is aliso stated. that the Court of Enquiry demanded by the artillery officers had beeij refused by the Com-mauder-in-Cluef, who probably thought that the result would not be particularly creditable to his own arrangements. However, as the loss of the guns must be accounted for, a report will be made to the Military Board which will record the facts ; and that, it may be supposed, is all that is required.