[From the Englishman, 29th January.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 409, 4 July 1849, Page 3

[From the Englishman, 29th January.]

Yesterday's dawk brought us many letters from the north-west, some of which we publish below, from others we extract the following additional intelligence. One letter mentions that besides the 14th Dragoons and a wing of the 9th Lancers, a Native Cavalry regiment also misbehaved. Another letter mentions that Lord Gough had a very narrow escape while spiking some guns. A. letter from Govindgurh, of the 18th, says there " is a report abroad that an attack will be made on Govindgurb, and certainly circumstances justify the opinion : should it be besieged you shall hear from me. Golab Sing is close at hand ready to assist with ten thousand meu, should anything go wrong with us." Another letter mentions that the battle commenced unexpectedly, in cousequence of the commander- in-cliief being fired at from a jungle, when halting near a village looking for ground for a camp. He immediately ordered an advance: It is satisfactory tah'ear that the wing of the laucers, who were not with the: 14th dragoons/ " behaved .nably." The stain cannot therefore be.affixed to themas a regiment, ifwill;only attach to, those individuals who dlsgcaced themselves by flight. I We hear th^t a Court of Enquiry' has been

demanded by the artillery officers whose guns were captured, in order to exonerate themselves. The following is an extract of a letter from an officer engaged on the 13th :—: — "Camp Cbilliav/allab, "Dated the 17th January, 1849. "On the 12th marched to Dingee ; 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 eucamped here, and sent for quarter-masters to mark the ground. The enemy, however, about one o'clock fired a few shots 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's guns, about sixty in number, <f It would be impossible to describe the action. There was no plan of attack, The three field batteries were at one time close to the enemy, without any support near them ; they were at last -ordered to adyance, at a gallop, to support Hoggan's brigade. And the 46ih N,I, tells us that the artillery fire saved them. The action lasted till dark. " At four o'.clock in the afternoon we were completely surrounded by the enemy, and our artillery firing at the same time to the front, rear, and flanks ; our loss has been tremendous, 1900 killed and wounded, out of these are 950 Europeans. Above 36 officers have been buried. H.M # 's 24th lost their regimental colour, 25th N,I, lost a colour, 30ih N.I. ditto (some say two). The 56th N.I. lost the standard they took at Mabarajpoor. 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 recovered). The loss of our guns was owing to the cowardice of the 14th Dragoons, who, (you will harJly believe it), actually ran away from a party of the enemy's cavalry, right through Christie's aud 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 unlimber. The result was, that the enemy's cavalry got am°ng the guns, and cut down our men right and left. The 14th never drew rein liil they had gone right through the general's staff in the tear, knocking over the doolies and everything that came in then way. What caused the panic no one knows. The enemy are encamped at Rus^ool, four miles from the commander-in-chiel's camp," An eye-witness says — " The Chief was strongly 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, joi-ied in the melee, and was not found anywhere to give directions. In fact, he fancied himself at Donnybrook Fair, and fell to 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 pKce in close arrest," The following is our latest intelligence from Lahore, dated the 19th instant : — " The Artillery have called for a Court of Enquiry, to show that the six guns were lost by the flight of the 14th Dragoons; their men were cut clown at their guns." Another letter from Lahore, dated the 28th, says :—: — " 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 the only officer touched of that corps ; he was sliced down the back about a yard. 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 has come down to 12 and 20 spiked, and four of our 6-pounders are still missing. The 61st and 20th Queen's both suffered severely. The 2nd Europeans lost 80. " It is said that the 56th, "30th, and 25th N.I. each lost a colour. " The~24th Queen's lost 13 officers killed, and 10 wounded. '* The enemy are 4 miles from our position at a place called Russool, and we are nut in 'a condition to attack them again at- present. " Mooltan was not expected to fall for the next ten days. Moolraj had made a sally, and drove the sappers from their works, which they began to destroy. H.M.s lOih were immediately ordered up, and drove them back into the fort. " The greater part of Edwardes 1 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 his command, leave to co-operate with Lord Goughs army after the fort has been taken."