INDIA. [From the Delhi Gazette, 3rd January.] FALL OF MOOLTAN. Camp, Mooltan, 2nd January, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 386, 14 April 1849, Page 3

INDIA. [From the Delhi Gazette, 3rd January.] FALL OF MOOLTAN. Camp, Mooltan, 2nd January, 1849.

Five p.m. — Herewith a few hasty lines to tell you that the town of Mooltan is in our possession, with six regiments and four guns in occupation. Wheeler's cavalry may be seen scouring the country, cutting down the routed soldiery of Moolraj ; except an occasional shell all appears perfectly quiet. The Bengal force engaged consisted of H.M. 32nd, the 49ih, and 72nd N.I. A siubborn resistance was mide at one of the gates (Delhi), and the breach being found impracticable, the farce moved off to the other one, and soon effected an entrance. Our loss I am told is small; Lieutenant Garforth, Engineers, is supposed to be mortally wounded, and I hear another officer of the same branch is slightly so ; some sharp encounters between the sword and bayonet took place. Six p.m. — I have just heard that the loss of H.M. 32ud is two men killed, ten wounded. Lieutenant Taylor is the other officer wounded — shot through the arm. Moolraj is firing an occasional shot ; but I do not think he can hurt our troops, sheltered as they are by the streets — Yours. Camp, Mooltan, January 3, 1849. I send you herewith a few important addenda to the glorious news of yesterday. It appears that the Bengal column, on reaching the point of attack at the Delhi Gate found it totally impracticable ; a drop of several feet would have been an insuperable barrier to our advance. Here it was that our principal loss was sustained, and Captain Smyth, commanding the Gr. Co. of H.M. 32nd, was slightly wounded ; the column then had to retire, and follow the footsteps of the more fortunate Ducks, who by that time had penetrated the city. They may however thank us for so good an entrance, as I believe our artillery opened it, and their actors for us, vice versa. The adjutant and another officer of the Borabay Fusileers I hear are killed, and another officer severely wounded. That corps first planted its colours on an eminence, and it was done by their brave Sergeant-Major. Hun-

dreds of fugitives might be seen at dusk moving across the plain, which is so much intersected with deep cuts and canals, that large bodies of them have escaped in the direction of Sirdarpoor. One large body of not less than one thousand marched off very compactly : they were soon seen, but the cavalry could not get their four guns across a deep canal, and they consequently escaped. Several men have been taken prisoners, their arms being all taken from them during their retreat. A Frenchman gave himself up in the afternoon; the fact of itself betrays another direct violation of the treaty ! The Jemadar of a Goorkah Battalion has given himself up. That villain Hindoo Singh, who cut down Agnew with his own hands, is killed, so is Sham Singh, and many more Singhs, too numerous (o mention ; during the night all our cavalry were scouring tl c country far and near, as a report had got abroad of Moolraj having at last bolted ; need I tell you that it is not the case, he is still determined to die in his fortress. This morning the plunder is being collected ; as yet the live stock only are being brought in. Twenty-five elephants and -numerous horses, &c. ; fourteen guns have been taken, and a vast supply of grain and supplies. It is said that the grain destroyed by the great fire was worth five lakhs of rupees ; this is a serious deduction from our prize properly ; all the Dewan's valuables too must have been destroyed by that explosion. During the night there was one ; it is said to have been a mine ; Irom all I can gather of its effect it would appear that some of our Bombay troops have suffered. There are many similar traps laid for us we may he sure, the most certain of which is in the Fort ; our shells have not yet been able to touch it, though a spy has pomted out the situation of the magazine. At daybreok this morning we re-opened a heavy cannonade ; during which Colonel Young, who is down there in command of three companies of her Majesty's 10th, seeing a favourable moment, dashed at the only gate left in the hands of the enemy (I think it is the Dowlut gate) and took it immediately. The thick smoke of the powder bjgs employed to burst it open was at first attributed by those in camp to another mine, but I have ascertained the above to have been the cause. | 10 a.m. — Our heavy guns are playing away at intervals. The Mahajuns have offered 15 lakhs of rupees to save their property in the city ; but I Lelisve their offer has been rejected. - 1 p.m. — The taking of the Dowlut gate was a very dashing affair, our men scrambled over with ropes, and charged helter-skelter in the narrow passage at the enemy, many of whom they disarm >d. A good view of the ditch was obtained : it is about twenty-four feet deep : it is certain that the garrison can depress the muzzles of their guns into it ; for on the party attempting to explore further, some wooden palings were withdrawn, a gun run out, and a charge of giape fired at our men ; fortunately no one was hit. Lieutenant Maunsell is the Engneer ofllcer who led the party, and by judicious advice induced the coup de main. Some of the prisoners were very communicative, ?nd told us that the Devan was sitting within, all forlorn, and that every hour desertions were taking place. So quiet indeed had the Fort become, that it was supposed by our men to be evacuated ; the shower of grape alone disabused them. The principal portion of the Sikh army was, according to last advices (2nd January), still at Moong, Shere Sing himself having moved some four or five miles towards Roussool. Ram Singh has again nade his appearance at the head of the Rechna Doab, but as Bri-gadier-General Wheeler is in the neighbourhood, we trust he may not be allowed to escape this time.