THE BATTLE OF ATTAREE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 99, 11 July 1846, Page 4

THE BATTLE OF ATTAREE.

Another glorious victory was gained by our indomitable troops on the 10th February, at a place called Attaree, about 4£ 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 of the British, than was sustained in the actions of December. Ten thousand of the enemy are supposed to have been killed, »nd about Ijwo thousand of our own troops. The position of the enemy is described as strong beyond conception ; the defences having been constructed under the immediate direction of a celebrated Spanish engineer in the Seikh service, Col. de Alcantara.

By an arrival at the Mauritius, the Delhi Gazette of 22d February, a day later date was received there, from -which the following detailed account of this action is extracted —

■Camp, 4£ miles from Ferozepore, 1 11th February, 1846. At three o'clock yesterday morning the 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, unGeneral Gilbert, covered a multitude of heavy guns and rocket boards, near the forfeited village occupied as an outpost. At daylight all were in position, and about S'-.nrise the guns commenced on both sides, when shells and rockets followed each other in rapid succession and with unerring aim, proved 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 the 53d, a few horsemen showed themselves, reconnoitering and directing the river by the brigade. The cannonade continued for 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 th§ route of our columns, which arrived at their stations during darkness, tried to be prepared at 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 most tremendous fire was continued on the British troops, and in some instances answered with very tolerable effect by our light field pieces ; but the enemy were too 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 -63d, on the extreme left, covered by two or three companies of Sepoys in skirmishing order, moved across at least 4,200 yards, skirting the river, and marching through deep sand. On they went in line, amidst a shower of grape and musketry, which opened at all points, even from guns on the opposite focus of the entrenched position. The Sikhs saw their danger, but, elated with confidence in the strength of their 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 effoit for a rescue, and were seen preparing to make a charge ; the regiment formed in 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 .without still having yet entered the position anywhere. Suddenly the steady advance cieated a panic, the Sikhs gradually gave way in front of us , their cavalry, though at first a small body, moved towards the ford, and eveiy 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 were forced at the point of the musket on to the ford, where they were received by the two companies of the Sepoys and 53d, and 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 regiment after regiment, both horse and foot, moved on amidst one continual rattle of destructive musketry, without returning a single shot, excepting those fired by men despairing of their lives, or some vagabond wounded Akalies. At this juncture came under observation the most wonderful scene the human mind could conceive. The bridge of boats having partly sunk by the piessure, the whole Sikh -army, part of whom had tried to outflank our right batteries, arrived on the ford and were- trying to escape. The river was deep and the stream rapid, 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 escape from the current, the depth of which exceeded four feet and a half generally, and much more in particular spots. This lasted about three hours, when the corps already named being entirely without ammunition for the tune, and having used their 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 regained. Ten thousand slain is a moderate calculation of the loss. Ours has been sevej#; about a fifth of the above, or less, every coxiSnaving 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 53d to carry the key of the position in a most miraculous manner cannot be denied. Good luck or good management — little signifies it which it is, as none will gainsay the fact — all the arrangements connected with this most important triumph, evinced the highest Generalship, and its result the most consummate bravery — but the position of the enemy was strong beyond afr 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 53d, by throwing up their right shoulder, fortunately come upon 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 taken 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 «yen the assistance of dhurwas and dragropes. The Sikh columns moved out of the range, on the right bank, and having pitched their tents, previously sent across, while three or four heavy guns, which had at different times played upon our force, saluted the camp followers and stragglers employed in collecting the trophies and burning the bridge 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 laurels, will hold glory despite the insult of a conquered foe, who are in turn now to be attacked at home, as General Smith, with the advance guard of the army of the Sutlege, broke ground this morning on its march to the bridge of boats at Ferozepore, across which General Littler has already proceeded with troops and guns. The following is a list of those names of the killed and wounded which have as yet reached us ; but we regret to add, that it is by no means complete, and that several names have yet to be communicated : —

KILLED. Major-General Sir R. Pick, X C.8., commanding 3d division C. <\ Taylor, C.8., H.M. 29th Foot, commanding 2d brigade 2d division Lieutenant-Colonel G. L. Davies, H M. 9th Foot Lieutenant Colonel J. Ryan, X H., H.M. 50th Capt. G E. D. Warren, H M. 83d Lieut. H. E. Y. Faithful, Horse Artillery Lieut. F. W. A. Hamilton. Ist European Light Infantry Brevet Capt. F. Shuttles orth, ditto Capt. Hay, 50th Native Infantry Ensign G H. Davidson, Ist European Light Infantry Capt. J. Fisher, 23d Native Infantry , Lieut. J. S. Ravtson, 63ii Native Infantry Lieut. W. T. Bartley, H.M. 62d Capt. G. M. Tew, H.M. 50th Lieut. A. M'Queen, 42d Light Infantry WOUNDED. Major General Sir J. Littler.K C.B.,commanding4th division t M.c>j jr General W. R Gilbert, commanding 2d divibion. Major C Grant, Horse Artillery Lt-Col Gough, H.M 3d Dragoons, shot through both legs Lieut Colonel Gold, H.M. 53d Foot Lieutenant F. Mackerzie, 26th Native Infantry Lieut. W D. Playfair, 33d Native Infantry Lieut, and Adjutant Dunning, H.M. 53d Foot Lieut. ABO. Stokes, H M. 53d Foot, shot in the breast Captain T. Smart, H.M. Foot, leg amputated Lieut J Chester, H M. 53d Foot, shot thro' the lungs &back Ensign H.Lucas, H.M 53dfoot,slightlybyabayonetintheleg Lieut. R. N. Clarke, H.M. 53d Foot, badly I leut. Col Barr, officiating Adjutant-General, lost an arm Lieut. J Buchers Kngineeis Cantata W. H. Hilford, -list Native Infantry Cap.am John Cumberleg ■list Native Infantry Lieut. M. Thomas Keinbl*, 41st Native Infantry Lieut. A. W Onslo-n, 41st Native Infnntry Captain H. Alpe, 41«t Native Infantry Brigadier Penny, commanding Nusseereebattali"n, slightly Brigadier M'Laren. commanding 4th I)rigade, 2d division Lieut. O'Brien, Adj Nusseeree battalion Capt. Ne-dham, H.M. 50'h Foot Major Potwhele 42d Light infantry Sir R. Diek r who was struck in the stomach by a round shot, and survived the wound some hours, was 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 in honor of the victory, also from the guns taken from the enemy ; and the necessary preparations having been made during the night of the 10th and on the 1 lth, two bi igades of infantry, one of cavalry, and a considerable body of artillery, crossed the river at Khoodna Ghat, at three o'clock in the afternoon of the 11th, from which hour we may safely date the fall of the Sikhs as an independent nation. These troops were followed by others on the 12th, and on the 14th almost every nran intended for service in the Punjaub will have crossed the river ; and we should not be at all surprised to hear, before nei.t Saturday, that the flag of the Khalsas had been replaced on the walls of Lahore by that of St. George. Af the latest hour on 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 they were taken from the enemy. They are pronounced capable of forming light field batteries with comparatively trifling repairs to the harness. Amongst them are those presented to Runjeet Singh by Lord William Bentinck. The Vakheels of Goolab Singh, Lall Chunnee, Lall et General Mehtab Singh, who had, we believe, been lefused an audience of the Governor-General until after the action of the 19th, were, on its termination, admitted to the honor, and had a long conference with Sir Henry Hardinge. They quitted the camp on the afternoon of the 11th, on their way back to Lahore, but itis understood that, whatever inclination there may have been before the battle to listen to the propositions of Goolab Singh, such had considerably abated after the engagement. Brigadier Wheeler crossed (we have reason to believe but have no direct intelligence) the Sutlege on the 12th or 13th, and was to have taken possession of the Fort of Phulor foithwith. The 11th light cavalry had been ordered from Ferozepore to reinforce him. Just as we were going to press, we received letters from Ferozepore of the 13th, with a few additional particulars. One of them says that the 29th, 31st, 50th, and 53d foot, and Ist European light infantry, suffered the greatest loss. The latter went into action with 20 officers and 456 men. Three officers were killed, 9 wounded, 6 severely ; 33 men killed, and 152 wounded, several since dead. Brigadier M'Laren's being wounded, T}aving rendered it necessary to resign the command of his brigade at the commencement of the action, the same devolved on Major Birrell of the first European, who were, during the action commanded by Captain Seaton.