2 NOVEMBER 1839, Page 2

TUE BRITISH ARMY IX CAROM,,

The London Gazette Extraordinary of Wednesday contains extracts from despatches received at the India House from the Governor- General of India, dated Simla, on the 22d August, and from the Go- vernor in Council of Bombay, dated 12th of September. These docu- ments comprise despatches front Sir John Keane, with particulars of the capture of Ghuznee, the entrance of Scinth Shoojah into his capital of Cabool, and time Bight of host -Malmomed Khan, after the complete dispersion of his troops. To make the following extracts from the de- spatches intelligible, it should be stated that the British nrmy marched in four divisions from Candahar on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of May, and the 3d of June ; and reached Name, which is twelve miles from Ghuznee, on the 20th of July, after encountering very slight opposi- tion. Sir John Keane's first despatch is dated from Ghuznee, July 24th. " I have time s.atisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that the army onder my command have succeeded in paforming one of' the most brilliant acts it has ever been toy lot to witness durieg my service of forty-five years in the four quarters of the globe, in the capture, by storm, of the strong and important fortress and citadel of Glniznee, yesterday.

" It is not only- that the Affghan natic,n, and, I understand, Asia generally, have looked upon it as impregnable, but it is in reality a place of great strength, both by nature and art—litr more so than I had reason to suppose from any descript len that I had received of it, although some are from officers in our own service, who had seen it in their travels.

" I was surprised to find a high rampart in good repair, built on a scarp mound about thirty-five feet high, flanked by numerous towers, and sur- rounded by a fausse braie and a wet ditch, whilst the height of the citadel covered the interior from the commending fire of the hills from the North, rendering it nugatory. In addition to this, screen-walls had been built before the gates, the ditch was liiioi with water and unfindable, and an outwork built on the right bank of the river so as to command the bed of it. " It is therefore the more honourable to the troops, and must appear to the enemy out of all calculation extraordinary, that a fortress and citadel to the strength of which for the last thirty years they had been adding something each year, which had a garrison of 3,500 Atighan scddiers, commanded by Prince Mahomed Hyder, the son of Dust 'Maimed Khan, the ruler of the country, with a commanding number of guns and abundance of ammunition and other stores, provi.ions, &c., for a regular siege, should have been taken by British science and British valour in less than two hours from the time the attack was made, and time whole, including the Governor and garrison, should fall into our hands.

," My despatch of the 20th instant, from Nance, will bare made known to your Lordship, that the camps of his Majesty &loth Shoojah-ool-Moolk, and of Blajor-General Wilishire, with the Bombay troops, had there joined me in accordance with my desire, and the following morning we made our march of twelve miles to Gluizace, the line of march being over a lino plain. The troops were disposed in a manner that would have enabled me at any moment, bad we been attacked, as was prohahle from the large bodies of troops moving CM each side of us, to have played them in position to receive the enemy. They dial not, however, appear ; but on our coming within range of the guns a the citadel and fortress of Glinznee, a sharp cannonade was opened on our leading column, together with a heavy fire of musketry from behind garden- vans and temporary field-works thrown up, as well as the strong outwork I lave already alluded to, which commanded the bed of the river from all bait the outwork. The enemy were driven in under the walls of the fort in us spirited 111111111ff by parties thrown forward by Major-General Sir W. Cotton, eT the Sixteenth and Forty-eighth Bengal Native lufantry, and her Majesty's Thirteenth Light Infinitry, under Brigadier Sale. I ordered forward three troops of horse-artillery, the camel battery, and one foot battery, to open upon the citadel and fortress, by throwing shrapnel shells, which was done in a masterly style, under the direction of Brigadier Stevenson. My object in this was to make the enemy show their strength in guns, and in other respects, which completely succeeded ; and our shells must have done great execution and occasioned great consternation. Being perfectly satisfied on the point of their strength, in the course of half an hour I ordered the fire to cease, anal placed the troops in bivouac. A close reconnoissance of the place all round was then undertaken by Captain Thomson, the chief engineer, and Captain Teat of the Bombay Engineers, accompanied by Major Garden, the Deputy Quartermaster-General of the Bengal Army, supported by a strong party of lier Majesty's Sixteenth Lancers, and one from her Majesty's Thirteenth Light infantry. On this party a steady fire was kept up, and some casualties oc- Anna. Captain Thomson's report was very clear he found the fortifications equally strong all round, an& as my own opinion coincided -with his, I hesitate a moment as to the manner in which; our approach and attack uts; the place should be made. Notwithstanding the march the troops bad formed in the marlins., and their having been a considerable time engaged ;;it'll the enemy, I ordered the whole to move across the river (width runs*. under the fort-wall) in columns to the right and left of the town ; and d: were .placed in position on the north side on more commanding ground, ati securing the Cabool road. "I had information that a night attack upon the camp was intended fro, without. Mahomed Ubzul Khan, the eldest son of Dost 3Iahomea gb,„ had been sent by his father with a strong body of troops from Cahoot to brother's assistance at Ghuznee, smut was encamped outside the walls, ht,t abandoned his position on our approach, keeping, however, at the distanceof a few miles from us. The two rebel chiefs of theGhilzie tribe, men of great id, fluence, viz. Abilool Bitumen and Goo! Mahomed Khan, had joined linen% 1,500 horse, rind also a body of about 3,000 Glotzees from Zehnat under a ad„ tore of chiefs mid 11°0111E1s, carrying banners, and who had been assembled ul the cry of a religious war. hi short, we were in all directions surrounded 11 cocottes. These last actually came down the hills on the 22d, and attackedt part of the camp occupied by his Majesty Schah Shoojalt and his own heels; but were driven back with considerable loss, and banners taken. " At daylight on the 22d, I reconnoitered Ghtuenee, in company with the Chid Engineer and the Brigadier commodity. the Artillery, with the Adkins: and Quartermaster-General of the liengitrArmy, the the purpose of making al arrangements fur carrying the place by storm ; ;old these were completed lathe course of the day. Instead of the tedious process of breaching (for which we were ill prepared,) Captain Thomson undertook, with the assistance of Captain Peat, of the Bombay Engineers, Lieutenants Durand and Macleod, of de Be, La! Engineers, and other °Myers under him, (Captain Thomson,) to blow in t I e Cahoot gate, the weakest point, with gunpowder ; and so much titith dial place on the success of this operation, that my plans for the assault were itn- niediately laid down and orders given. " The different troops of Horse Artillery, the camel and foot batter.ies moved off their ground. at twelve o'clock that night, without the slighted noise, as had been directed ; and in time most correct manner took up the'posi- tion assigned them, about 250 yards from the walls. la like manner, and with the same silence, the infantry soon after moved from their ground ; and all were at their post at the proper time. Aloe minutes before three o'clock in the mom lag (of the 23d) the explosion took place, and proved completely successful. Captain Peat, of the Bombay Engineers, was thrown down and stunned by it, hot shortly after recovered his senses and feeling. On hearing the advance sounded by the bugle, (being the signal for the gate having been blown in,) the Anil. lery, under the able directions of Brigadier Stevenson, consisting of Captain Grant's troop of Bengal Horse Artillery, the camel battery, under Captain Abbott, both superintended by .Major Pew, Captains :Martin and Cotgrare's troops of Bombay horse Artillery, told Captain Lloyd's battery of Bombay Foot Artillery-, all opened a terrific tire upon the citadel and ramparts of the fort, and in a certain degree paralyzed the enemy. " Under the guidance of Captain Thomson, of the Bengal Engineers the chief of the department, Colonel Denial:, of her Majesty's Thirteenth held Infantry, commodity, the advance,—consisting of the light companies of her Majesty's Second mid Seventeenth Regiments of Foot, and of the Bengal EUropean Regiment, with one company of her Maje4y's Thirteenth Light In. thotry,—proceeded to the gate, and with great difficulty, from the rubbish thrown down, and the determined opposition Offered by the enemy, effected mm en- trance, and established themselves lvithin the gateway, closely followed hy the main columns, led in a spirit of great gallantry by Brigadier Sale, to whom I had intrusted the important post olcommanding the storming party,—consisting (with the advance above-mentioned) of her Majesty's Second Foot under Ma- jor Carruthers, the Bengal European Reghnent under Lieutenant-Colonel Orchard, followed by her Majesty's Thirteenth Light Infantry under Major Tronson,_ and her Majesty's Seventeenth Regiment under Lieutenant- Colonel Croker. The struggle within the fort was desperate for a consider. able time. lit addition to the heavy fire kept up, our troops were assailed by the enemy sword in hand, and with daggers, pistols, &e. ; but British courage, perseverance, and fortitude overcame all opposition ; and the fire of the enemy in the lower area of the fort, being nearly silenced, Brigadier Sale turned towards the citadel, from which could now be seen men abandoning time guns, running in all directions, throwing themselves down from immense heights, endeavouring to make their escape ; and on reaching the gate with Iter Majesty's Seventeenth under Lieutenant-Colonel Croke; followed by the Thirteenth, forced it open ; at five o'clock in the morning the colours of her Majesty's Thirteenth and Seventeenth were planted on the citadel of Glinznee, amidst the cheers of all ranks. Instant protection was granted to the women found in the citadel, (among whom were those of 311thomed Hyder' the Go- vernor,) and sentries placed over the magazine for its security. Brigadier

Sale reports having received much assistance from Captain Kershaw, of her Majesty's Thirteenth Light Infantry, throughout the whole of the service of * * * the stormin,g. " After tlie storming, and that quiet was in some degree restored within, I conducted his Majesty, Schell Shoojah-ool-Moolk, and the British Envoy and Minister, Mr. Maenaghten, round the citadel and a great part of the fortress.

The King was perfectly astonished at our having made ourselves masters of a place conceived to be impregnable when defended, in the short space of two hours, and in less than fortY-eight hours after we came before it. his Ma- jesty was, of course, greatly delighted at the result. When I afterwards, in the cour.e of the day, took Mahomed Hyder Khan, the Governor, first to The British :Minister and then to the King to make his submission, 1 informed his Majesty- that I had made a promise t'hat his life should not be touched; and the King, in very handsome terms, assented, and informed Mehemet]. Hyder, in my presence, that although he and his flunily had been rebels, yet he was willing to forget anal forgive all.

"Prince Mahomed nyder, the Governor of Ghuznee, is a prisoner of war in my camp, and under the surveillance of Sir Alexander Burnes ; an arrangement very agreeable to the former." The officers especially commended in Sir John Keane's despatch, for their gallant and able conduct in this affidr, arc Major-General Cotton, Major-General Willshire, Brigadier Sale, Brigadier Stevenson, Brigadier Roberts, Colonel Dennie, Captain Thomson, Major Keith, Captain Alexander, Major Cunningham, Surgeons Kennedy and Atkinson, Major Parsons, Colonel Macdonald, Captain Powell, and the Generals Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant Keane.

The British killed and wounded were—

Total Killed-3 Sergeants or Havildars, 14 rank and file. Total Wounded-1 Colonel, 1 Lieutenant-Colonel, 2 Majors, 4 Captaing, 8 Lieutenants, 2 Ensigns, 7 Sergeants or Ilavildars, 140 rank and file, 8 horses. Total Missing—I rank and file.

Grand total on the 21st and 23d of July, killed, wounded, and missiog-191

officers and men, and 16 horses.

Xitmes of (*ma Wounded.

General Stuff—Brigadier Sale, her Majesty's Thirteenth Light Infantry

slightly ; -.Major Parsons, Deputy Commissary-General, ditto.

Bombay Engineers—Second Lieutenant Marriott, slightly.

Her Majesty's Second (or Queen's lloyals)—Captain Raitt, slightly e Cap- tain Robinson, severely ; Lieut. Yonge, ditto; Lieut. Stisted, slightly ; Adju- tant Simmons, ditto ; Quartermaster Hadley, ditto. Bengal European Regiment—Lieut.-Colonel Orchard, slightly ; Major 'Warren, severely; Captains Hay and Taylor, slightly; Lieut. Broadfoot, aightly ; Lieut. Haskwood, severely; Lieuts. Fagan and Magnay, slightly.; gown Jacob, ditto.

On the 30th and 31st, the army marched from Ghuznee upon Cabool. The following extracts from Sir John Keane's despatches, dated August ed. from Shikarbad, and August 8th (ruin Camp Cabool, detail the ope- rations which finally placed Sehah Shoojah on the " throne of his imees-

tore

e On the arrival of the Commander-in-Chief with the first column at Hyder Ellail on the 1st instant, information reached him, and the same reached the Envoy and Minister at Hutt Assays, that Dot Mahomed, with his army and eatery, WaS fillValicing from Cabool, and would probably take up a position at trghundee 01 3Iida1I (the former 24, the latter 36 miles from Cahoot.) Upon tbii it was arranged that his Majesty, with the second cohunn, under Major- General Willshire, should join the first column here, and advance together to attack Dost 3Inhomed whose son, 31a1iomed Alffiletr, had been recalled from Jellahabial with the troops guarding the Khyber Pass, ant had formed a junc- tion with his father, their joint forces, Recording to our information, amounting to about 13,000 men. 0 Every arrangement was made for the King end the army marching hi a boily from here to-morrow ; but itt the course of the night messengers arrival, and since, (this morning, August 3d,) a great many chiefs and their followers, announcing the dissolution of Dot :Haltom:Fs army, hy the refusal of the greater part to eds.:ince against us with him, and that he had in consequence ed with a party of :300 horsemen in the direction of Bamian, leaving hie guns

behind him m position as they were placed at Urgliundee. * * *

" It appears that a great part of Ins army, which was hourly becoming dis- organized, refUsed to stand by him in the position to receive our attack, and that it sem became in a state of dissolution. The great hulls iinmediately came over to Schell Shoojah, tendering their allegiance; and I believe his Ma- jesty will take most of them into hispay. dlt scenic that the news of the quick and determined manner ht which we took their stronghold, Celneenee, had such an effect upon the population of Ca- tool, and perhaps also upon the enemy's army, that Duet 31:thorned from that moment began to lose hope of retaining his rule for even a short time longer, and sent uff his kmily end valuable property towards Bandon ; but marebcd out of Cabool with his army and artillery, keeping a bold front townels us until the evening of the 2d, when all his hopes sten: at an end by a division in his own camp, and one part Of his army abandoning him. So precipitate was his flight, tied he left in position his gnns, with their anunumtion and waggons, and the greater part of the cattle by %Odell they were drawn. Major Cureton, °flier Majesty's Sixteenth Lancers, with his party of 2O0 men, pushed forward on the :11, and took possession of those guns, eee. There were 23 brass guns in position, and loaded; two more at a little distance, which they attempted to fake away ; and since then three more abandoned still further off on the Ba- mian-roall—thus leaving in our possession 28 pieces of cannon, with all the Inahet;e/ belonging to them, which are now handeil over to Schell Shoojah-ool- 'Skulk."

&bah Shoojah entered his capital on the 7th of August, accompanied by Sir John Keane and the officers of his staff, and escorted by a squa- dron of the Fourth Light Dragoons, one of the .Sixteeuth Lancers, with Captain Marlin's troop of Horse Artillery.

" I lis Majesty had expeessed a wish that British troops should be present on the occasium and a very small party only of his own Hindoostanee and Affghan troops. After the animating scene of traversing the streets and reaching the Palace in the Bahia Hisser, a royal salute was tired, and an additional salvo in the Affehen style, from small guns resembling wall-pieces, named gingalls, and carried on camels. We heartily, congratulated. his Majesty on bong in pos- mesion of the throne and kingdom of his ancestors, an11 upon the overthrow of his enemies; and, after taking leave of his Alnjesty, we returned to our camp. " I trust we have thus accomplished all the objects which your Lordship had in contemplation when you planned and formed the army of the Indus and the expedition into Affishanistan. The conduct of the army, both European and na- tive, which your Lordship did Inc the honour to place under my orders, has been admirable throughout; and, notwithstanding the severe marching and privations they have gone through, their appearance and discipliae have suf- fered nothing, and the opportunity afforded them at Ghuznee of meeting and Conquering their enemy has added greatly to their good spirits."

The last dates front the army are to August 9th. The letters thence give the following intelligence. " The Sehah's reception at this place was equally gratifying as at Candahar, though the enthusiasm was not so boisterous.

" arrived here yesterday ; and, I am happy to say, with a sufficient stock of supplies in our godown to render us quite independent of any foreign purchases for the next ten days, which will keep down prices and save us from the extravagant rates which we were obliged to purchase at when we reached Candabar. I have not been to the city yet, hut am told it is tar superior to Coattail:tr. Our people are now very well offi for the increased rations and abundance and cheapness of grain as we came along have kft them nothing to want or wish for."

Extract of a further letter from Shikarbad, dated 3d August- " The Allglians have not vet recovered front their astonishment at the rapi- ditv with which Ghuzttee fefl into our hands, nor up to this moment will they believe how it was effected.

" This morning we received intelligence of Dost Mak:me:Fs flight towards Bamiam For several days past many otitis former adherents had been joining the Kees. Since this morning thousaunls of the Affghans have been coining in to tender their allegiance to his Majesty ; who is in the greatest spirits at this pacific termination to the campaign, mid says that God. has now granted all his wishes, Cahoot is at hand, "We are ttll delighted at it. Few armies have made so long a march hi the same time that the army of the Indus has done. The country is every day improving, IlLS r.,ad from Candahar to where we ;we now encamped lies in a continual valley, seldom stretching in width above two miles—cultivation on each side of the road, and numberless villages nestling under the hills. Since ty,s. kit Gin:mice, the fruits have assumed. a very tine appearance ; the grapes, pionis„ and apples have become very large, like thew brethren of Europe. The climate now is very fine. The rapid Logi:tad river is flowing close to our "(weenie:0s, and the European soldiers and ollieers are =wino. themselves With fishing in it. We are beginning to get vet,etables again. 71 passed thus morning through fields of beans, but only in flower. Our attentiou must be turned to the cultivation of potatoes; they grow in quantities in Persia. mut this seems to be just the country for them. To revert front small thiugs to great—a party has just been detached towards. Bamian with tltc view of cutting off Dost Malunned. It would he a great thing to catch Idea The party mu- tts chiefly of Affglians, headed by Hajee Khan Kahur ; and about eight or ten itish officers have been sent with it, to prevent the Affghans from conunittiug excesses."