INDIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 296, 1 August 1857, Page 7

INDIA.

ANOTHER VICTORY OVER THE PERSIANS.

By the Mail Steamer "European" we (" Herald") have Bombay papers to the 28th of April.

Another victory has been gained by the British troops in Persia. A Persian army, 13,000 strong, commanded by the Shah himself, had entrenched themselves before Mahumra, a town on the river Karoon. The batteries were shelled by a detachment from the expeditionary fleet, under the command of Commodore Young, and such was the precision of the British fire that the enemy abandoned their camp, and fled with precipitation before the advance of the Anglo-Indian troops, leavjng all their tents standing, and all their ammunition, with seventeen guns and a large quantity of stores, in the possession of the victors. We subjoin an extract from General Outram's despatch, addressed to the Comman-der-in-Chief, Sir H. Somerset, from which it appears that the British forces consisted of 4886 men and 12 guns : —

On the 24th March the steamers, Avith transport ships in tow, moved up ! the' river to within three miles of the southern -battery, opposite the Arab village of Hurtch-; as some of the large ships shoaled, on the way, and did. not reach the rendezvous until after dark, I was obliged to defer the attack for another day. During the - "night ■a ' reconnaissance\was made in a -boat to- ascertain 'the 'Mature of the soil of an island west of, and immediately opposite,- the northern, battery, where . I wished to erect a mortar battery ; but as it was found to' be> deep mud, I determined to place the mortars upon a' raft. This was constructed the

following day, ; under the superintendence of Captain Rennie, 1.N., and being armed with two 8 -inch and two SJ-inch- mortars, with a party of Artillery under Captain Worgan, was towed by the steamer Comet, and moored in position close to the island during the night unobserved by the enemy, who, from our preparations at the rendezvous, , and their confidence as to the impossibility of any vessel being able to pass above their batteries, apparently expected we should land on the southern island (Abadan). The horses and guns of the Artillery, a portion of the Cavalry, and the Infantry, were transhipped into boats and small steamers during the day, in readiness for landing the following morning. At break of day on the 26th, mortars opened their fire upon both the northern and southern batteries ; the range of the s£-inch proved too short, but the 9-inch shells were very efficient, bursting immediately over and inside the enemy's works, whilst from the position of the raft but few of the Persian guns could be brought to bear upon the mortars. At seven o'clock the several vessels of war moved up into the several positions allotted them by Commodore Young, and by nine o'clock the fire of the heavy batteries was so reduced that the small steamers, with boats in tow, and one large steamer, the Pottinger, towing the transport Golden Era, were able to pass up and land the troops above the northern battery without a single casualty among the troops, although they had to run the gauntlet of both gun and musket fire ; two or three native followers only were killed in consequence of their unnecessarily exposing themselves.

By half-past one o'clock the troops were landed, and formed and advanced without delay through the date groves and across the plain upon the entrenched camp of the enemy, who, without waiting for our approach, fled precipit&tely, after exploding their largest magazines ; leaving, as I have before stated, their tents and baggage, public and private stores, with several magazines of ammunition, and sixteen guns, behind. The want of cavalry prevented my pursuing them as I could nave wished, but I despatched a party of Scinde regular horse, under Captain Malcolm Green, to folloAv them up for some distance. This officer reported that he came upon their rear-guard retiring in good order, but that the road in many places Avas strewed with property and epuipments. The loss of the Persians has been estimated at 200 killed, among whom was an officer of rank and estimation, Brigadier Agha Jan Khan, who fell in the northern battery.

I beg to annex a report received from Commodore Young, with copy of a letter I had previously caused to be addressed to that officer, expressing my entire satisfaction with the naval operations. Indeed it was impossible for my instructions to have been more ably or more successfully carried out, and the Commodore and every officer and man under his command have nobly earned my warmest thanks. From Commodore Young, ably seconded by Captain Rennie, and the other officers of the fleet and masters of transports, I have throughout received every possible assistance.

With exception of the artillery with the mortar battery under Captain Worgan, no portion of the military force was actively engaged with the enemy, beyond some European riflemen sent on board the war vessels ; but I am not the less indebted to all for their exertions and zeal, and especially for the great order and despatch with which the landing of the troops was effected under Brigadier-Gene-ral Havelock, C.B. The highest spirit prevailed, and had the larger Persian army only waited our approach, out of the range of the ships' guns, I feel confident that it would have received a lasting lesson. From recent information I learn that the Persian force, in a very disorganized state, is still in full retreat, and I purpose to despatch immediately up the " Karoon," to Ahwaz, three small armed steamers, with one hundred European infantry in each, for the purpose of making a reconnaissance, and, if practicable, effecting the destruction of the magazines at that place.

I take this opportunity of recommending to your Excellency's notice Colonel Lugard, C.8., the chief and the several officers of my general and personal staff; the brigadier-general; the brigadiers and their respective staff; as also the officers commanding the several regiments, batteries, and detachments of cavalry, and heads of the department composing this force, upon whom much responsibility has devolved, and whose zeal and exertions throughout this expedition have been most praiseworthy. To Captain Kemball, Bombay artillery, Consul-General at Bagdad, I am much inI debted, for his very valuable assistance ; also to Major Taylor, as well as to Lords Dunkellin, Seymour, and Schomberg Kerr, who volunteered their services on my staff. I have the honor to be, &c, (Signed) J. Outram, Lieut.-General, Commanding Expeditionary Force. Great consternation had been caused in the British camp by the suicide of Major-General F. Stalker commanding the first " division of the expeditionary force, and of Commodore Ethersey,. commanding the Persian Gulf squadron. '. The sense of the important duties of their' respective positions appears to have weighed' so heavily upon the minds of the unfortunate men, as to produce mental aberration^ in an excess of which they committed suicide.