20 JANUARY 1849, Page 8

POSTSCRIPT.

SATURDAY.

Anticipatory despatches of the overland mail bring intelligence from the Punjaub to the 5th December; from Hongkong to the 30th November. The news from the army on the Chenab is so far favourable. We have driven the Sikhs in disorder from the Chenab: but at the expense of some valuable lives. On the 21st November, it was found that Shere Singh was intrenched on the right bank of the Chenab, behind Ramnuggur, with nearly 40,000 men and 28 heavy guns, well placed: the Burnie° troops un- der Rham Singh bad joined him. A picket of two regiments was posted ad- vantageously on the left bank. Lord Gough prepared to drive back this advanced guard, and to cross the river; and he despatched Major-Ge- neral Thackwell with a force of thirteen infantry regiments, and with artillery and cavalry, to cross the river some miles up the stream and operate on the enemy's flauk. On the 22d, Lord Gough personally led the attack on the advanced position. A surprise before daybreak was at- tempted, but did not succeed ; and though he succeeded in the main object, some of his troops fell into an ambush, suffered great slaughter, and lost a gun, which was carried in triumph over the river by the Sikhs. The enemy were driven out of Ramnuggur, and our troops took up a very ad- vanced position. The casualties were very heavy on our side, especially in officers. Brigadier-General Cureton was killed at the head of his men, in a dry nullah which had been ambuseaded. Captain Holmes was wounded in trying to carry off Cureton's body. Altogether, the following enumeration of killed and wounded officers has been received — Killed. Brigadier-General Cureton; shot through the heart. Colonel Have- lock; "at least his body was not found" up to the 1st December. Captain Fitz- gerald—many sword wounds. Wounded. Captains Gall, AlMahon, Scndamore, Cantley ; Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander—arm since amputated; Captain Ryley, Ensign Hardinge—severely; Captain Holmes—a shot in the chest; Brigadier Roggen; Captains Barnes and Newbolt; and Cornet Chetwynd; Captain Austin. On the 23d November, the enemy withdrew wholly from the left bank of the river.

The details of the subsequent movements have not arrived. We are only told that Major-General Thackwell crossed the Chenab at Vyseera- bad ; came down the right bank of the river, and thus entered into action with the whole body of the enemy, on the 3d December. The Sikhs at- tempted to outflank the British force; but our artillery played with such effect as to destroy that which was opposed to it, and broke the centre of operations, so that the whole attack was frustrated. As our men were too exhausted to follow up this advantage, a general attack was postponed till next morning. In the night, the enemy broke up, and fled with preci- pitation in the direction of Jailum. He left his sick and wounded in the villages, and blew up his magazines and stores, but drew off all his guns. Our main army crossed the Chenab, and the light troops under General Thackwell went in pursuit. The killed and wounded in this fight are estimated at about 400 on our side, and 4,000 on the enemy's. By a letter from Major Lawrence himself, dated Moshwera, 18th Novem- ber, it appears that he had been given up, with his wife and family, to Clan- tur Singh, by a chief of Kohant ; but the prisoners were treated with "every mark of respect."

Attack was invested by a large Sikh force; but the British garrison under Lieutenant Herbert still held out on the 22d November.

Affairs at Moultan were unchanged on the 2d December.

Letters from Hongkong to the 30th November state that the Governor was recovering from his accident.