vigorously pursued by the cavalry up to its edge, which point however few of them ever reached. This force was under the personal command of Nizam Alee Khan, who however made himself scarce at a very early stage of the proceedings. A noted chief, however, named Allee Khan, was killed, and three elephants were captured in the pursuit. On returning from the pursuit, it was with sincere regret that I learnt that Captain Brown was so severely wounded, that it was necessary for me to assume command, being the next senior officer. Having formed up again, I returned with the force to Nooreah, bringing in the captured guns, &c., being compelled, however, to halt there that day, on account of the wounded, and I marched back to the station this morning. By all accounts, the enemy must have lost fully 300 men, besides all their guns, ammunition, camp equipage, &c., and so thoroughly dispersed, that many more have since been killed by the zemindars of the surrounding villages. At the special request of Captain Browne, I beg to bring to your notice the extremely steady way in which the whole of the infantry advanced under fire of the guns, strictly obeying their orders not to fire a shot till they reached them; the advance of the skirmishers under Ensign Chalmers was the admiration of all concerned. I have, &c., G. G. CUNLIFFE, Lieutenant, Nominal Roll of European Officers Wounded at the Action of Seerpoorah, 30th August, 1858. Captain S. J. Browne, 2nd Punjab Cavalry, and Commanding the Force, dangerously wounded, left arm amputated. Lieutenant J. Stevenson, 24th Regiment, severely G. G. CUNLIFFE, Lieutenant, No. 36. GENERAL ORDER BY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL OF INDIA. Military Department. No. 447 of 1858. THE Right Honourable the Governor-General is pleased to direct the publication of the following despatch, from Brigadier-General Sir R. Napier, K.C.B., forwarding a report from Captain Ashburner, Commanding Field Detachment, detailing the operations of a force under his command, against certain rebel Thakoors. His Lordship entirely concurs with the Right Honourable the Commander-in-Chief, in the commendation bestowed on Captain Ashburner, for the highly satisfactory and creditable manner in which these operations were carried on by him, with the small force under his command. R. J. H. BIRCH, Major-General, Secretary to the Government of India, Military Department, with the Governor-General. No. 37. Brigadier-General Sir R. Napier, K.C.B., Commanding Gwalior Division, to the Chief of the Staff, Head Quarters, Allahabad. SIR, Camp Sepree, September 11, 1858. No. 204 of 1858. I HAVE the honour to forward, for the information of his Excellency the Commander-in Chief, the accompanying report, dated Camp Mow, 1st September and 4th September, respectively, forwarded by Captain W. Ashburner, Commanding Field Detachment, to Lieutenant-Colonel Liddell, Commanding the 2nd Brigade, Gwalior Division, detailing the operations of a force under the command of Captain W. Ashburner, operating against the rebel Thakoors, Burjoor Sing Bundelah, Jowahir Sing, Davie Sing, Keneawalas, and Thakoor Maidmee Mull, and considering the small force at the disposal of Captain Ashburner, the result of his operations I consider to be highly satisfactory and creditable to that Officer. I have, &c., R. NAPIER, Brigadier-General, No. 38. Captain W. Ashburner, Commanding Field Detachment, to Lieutenant-Colonel Liddell, Commanding the 2nd Brigade. Camp Mow, September 1, 1858. SIR, I HAVE the honour to report, that on the morning of the 2nd instant, having received intimation of two hundred rebels being collected in the town of Sosra, with the intention of plundering it, should the inhabitants not pay a ransom, I immediately ordered out a party, strength as per margin * The cavalry under Lieutenant Dick I sent on in advance with orders to surround the town, my spies having informed me, that it was situated in the plain, I myself remaining to bring up the infantry as speedily as possible. * 100 Sabres 3rd Light Cavalry; 50 Bayonets 3rd Europeans; 100 Bayonets 24th Native Infantry. On arriving near the village of Naroul, lying in our route, and about a mile and a half beyond which Sosra is situated, I sent on an officer with & slight escort, to see if Lieutenant Dick had arrived and surrounded the town as directed; and further ordering him to inform me, if there were any rebels in the town, as the infantry were somewhat fatigued with the march, the roads being heavy, and in some places under water. I thought the news of the rebels being near would inspirit them. This party, having been fired on by some rebels in Naroul, was obliged to retire, and await my arrival with the infantry, when, throwing out skirmishers, I advanced on the town, the rebels retiring through the ravines in rear, and to the left of the town, which were of great size and depth; through these we followed them, and coming within good range at a nullah, which operated as a slight obstacle to their retreat, being much swollen, the infantry succeeded in disposing of a few of the rebels; crossing the stream, which was running rapidly at the time, we continued to drive the rebels through the ravines until we arrived at Sosra, at which point they re-crossed the stream and made towards Mow Mohoni. The rebels here had evacuated the town previous to my arrival, and probably formed some of the party whom we had driven across the river at this point. On arriving at Sosra, I entered it and found it deserted by the inhabitants, the greater portion of whom, as well as the leading men, are I understand in league with the rebels. The cavalry rejoined me after we entered Sosra, having watched the further side of the town, the only one not intersected by the ravines in which horsemen could not possibly act. As it rained heavily on our setting out on the expedition, and also at intervals during the day, the troops were all thoroughly wetted; and I therefore thought it advisable to return to camp that night, which I did, arriving about 7 o'clock P.M. I have, &c., W. ASHBURNER, Captain, No. 39. Captain W. Ashburner, Commanding Field Detachment, to Brigadier Liddell, Commanding 2nd Brigade, C. I. F. F. SIR, Camp Mow, on the Pohooj River, September 4, 1858. I DO myself the honour to report that I this morning marched from Duboh, strength as per margin, with the intention of attacking the force of rebels, who have for some time past been assembled in force of from 2 to 4,000, at the villages of Mow and Mohoni, situated on either bank of the river Pohooj under the following leaders, viz. : Thakoor Burjoor Sing Bundelah, Thakoors Jowahir Sing and Davie Sing Kenawalas, and Thakoor Maidnee Mull. Continuous and heavy rain since the 31st ultimo prevented my attacking them on the 1st instant, in this position, which they had selected * 3rd Light Cavalry, 8 European Officers, 7 Native Officers, 125 Non-commissioned Officers, Rank and File; Royal Artillery, 1 Officer, 10 Non-commissioned Officers, Rank and File; Bhopal Artillery, 41 Non-Commissioned Officers, Rank and File; 3rd Europeans, 2 Officers, 88 Non-commissioned Officers, Rank and File; 24th Native Infantry, 4 European Officers, 3 Native Officers, 174 Non-commissioned Officers, Rank and File; Sappers and Miners, 1 European Officer, 1 Native Officer, 34 Non-commissioned Officers Rank and File. |