Generals Sir Harry Smith, Gilbert, and Sir John M'Caskill, attacked in échellon of lines the enemy's infantry, almost invisible amongst wood and the approaching darkness of night. The opposition of the enemy was such as might have been expected from troops who had everything at stake, and who had long vaunted of being irresistible. Their ample and extended line, from their great superiority of numbers, far outflanked ours; but this was counteracted by the flank movements of our cavalry. The attack of the infantry now commenced; and the roll of fire from this powerful arm soon convinced the Sikh army, that they had met with a foe they little expected; and their whole force was driven from position after position with great slaughter, and the loss of seventeen pieces of artillery, some of them of heavy calibre; our infantry using that never-failing weapon, the bayonet, whenever they stood. Night only saved them from worse disaster, for this stout conflict was maintained during an hour and a half of dim starlight, amidst a cloud of dust from the sandy plain, which yet more obscured every object.

I regret to say, this gallant and successful attack was attended with considerable loss; the force bivouacked upon the field for some hours, and only returned to its encampment after ascertaining that it had no enemy before it, and that night prevented the possibility of a regular advance in pursuit.

I beg to congratulate you, Right Honourable Sir, on this first defeat of our invaders by the army I have the honour to command. The perseverance by which success was attained you personally witnessed; and the troops I am sure felt proud of the self-devotion with which their Governor-General exposed himself to every danger amongst them. I before said that our loss has been severe; it could not be esteemed small if we had no other to record, when I mention that, towards the conclusion of the affair, Major-General Sir Robert Sale, to whom India and England are so much indebted, had his left thigh shattered by a grape shot, and that the wound has since proved mortal. Sir John M'Caskill, an old and valued officer, who has done his country

much good service, received a ball through his chest, on the advance of his division, and immediately expired. Brigadiers Bolton and Mactier, and Lieut.-Colonels Bunbury and Byrne, and other valuable officers, are amongst the wounded. These losses our country and the service will deplore, but not consider unavailing, when Ferozepore shall be rescued from the invader, and the insult to our territory and rule fitly punished.

I have every reason to be proud of, and gratified with, the exertions of the whole of the officers and troops of this army on this arduous occasion; with the conduct and dispositions of the generals of divisions, the brigadiers of the several arms, the general, personal, divisional, and brigade staff, and the commanding officers of regiments; but this despatch is necessarily completed in the utmost haste, and in the midst of most important operations, I must, therefore, reserve to a future opportunity the pleasing task of bringing especially and by name to the notice of Government the particular merits of individual officers.

I cannot, however, refrain from expressing my deep sense of obligation to the heads of the two principal departments,--MajorGeneral Sir James Lumley was unfortunately prevented by severe sickness from taking part in the active duties of this great crisis,-Major Grant, Deputy Adjutant General, therefore, supplied his place, and it is my duty to say how ably this has been done, and how great a loss I have endured by being deprived for the present of his services, in consequence of two wounds which he received while urging on the infantry to the final and decisive attack of the enemy's batteries. Neither must I fail to record the valuable aid which has upon this, as on a former campaign, been afforded me by the Quarter-Master General, LieutenantColonel Garden; his departmental arrangements demand my highest commendation. Major-General Sir Harry Smith having been appointed to the command of a division, the charge of his office as Adjutant-General of Her Majesty's forces devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Barr, who, not only in the performance

of these duties, but in every way in which assistance can rendered in active operations, has been to me a most valuable staff-officer.

I have to thank you,. Right Honourable Sir, for having placed at my disposal the services of the officers of your staff, and to thank them for the valuable assistance they afforded me on this arduous day. It shall be my pleasing duty to mention them individually, with the officers of my own personal staff, in the recommendation list I shall have the honour of forwarding, at an early date, to Government.--I have, &c.

A

H. GOUGH, General, Commander-in-Chief.

Return of the Killed and Wounded of the Army of the Sutlej, under the command of His Excellency General Sir Hugh Gough, G.C.B. Commander-in-Chief, in the Action fought at Moodkee, on the 18th of December, 1845.

Camp, Sultan Khan Wallah, Dec. 28, 1845.

Personal Staff-2 officers killed; 2 officers wounded.
General Staff-1 officer killed; 1 officer wounded.

Artillery Division-2 officers, 4 sergeants, 13 rank and file, 5 syces and grasscutters, 3 syce drivers, 45 horses-killed; 4 officers, 1 native officer, 2 sergeants, 22 syces and grasscutters, 11 lascars, 2 syce drivers, 7 syces, 25 horses-wounded.

Cavalry Division-3 officers, 6 sergeants or havildars, 1 trumpeter, 71 rank and file, 164 horses-killed; 9 officers, 1 native officer, 6 sergeants or havildars, 1 trumpeter, 70 rank and file, 63 horses-wounded.

1st Infantry Division-4 officers, 1 native officer, 4 sergeants or havildars, 69 rank and file-killed; 18 officers, 2 native officers, 20 sergeants or havildars, 299 rank and file, 4 horses-wounded.

2nd Infantry Division-1 native officer, 17 rank and file, 1 horse-killed; 4 officers, 5 native officers, 10 sergeants or havildars, 81 rank and file-wounded.

3rd Infantry Division—1 officer, 1 sergeant or havildar, 6 rank

and file-killed; 1 officer, 4 sergeants or havildars, 73 rank, and I lascar-wounded.-Total-13 officers, 2 native officers, 15 sergeants or havildars, 1 trumpeter, 176 rank and file, 5 syces and grasscutters, 3 syce drivers, 210 horses-killed; 39 officers, 9 native officers, 42 sergeants or havildars, 1 trumpeter, 545 rank and file, 12 lascars, 2 syce drivers, 7 syces, 92 horses-wounded.

European officers, 13; native officers, 2; non-commissioned officers, drummers, rank and file, 192; syces, &c. 8; killed.— Grand total, 215.

European officers, 39; native officers, 9; non-commissioned officers, drummers, rank and file, 588; syces, &c. 21; wounded.Grand total, 657.

Grand total of all ranks, killed and wounded, 872.

List of Officers Killed and Wounded.

Head Quarters' Staff.-Major-General Sir R. H. Sale, G.C.B. Quarter-master-General Queen's troops, killed; Major W. R. Herries, A.D.C. to the Governor-General, killed; Capt. J. Munro, killed. Major P. Grant, Deputy Adjutant-General of the army, dangerously wounded; Captain G. E. Hillier, A.D.C. to the Governor-General severely wounded; Captain H. B. Edwardes, A.D.C. to the Commander-in-Chief, slightly wounded.

Artillery Division. - Captain Jasper Trower, killed; First Lieutenant R. Pollock, killed. Captain F. Dashwood, severely wounded, since dead; First Lieutenant C.V. Cox, slightly wounded; First Lieutenant C. A. Wheelright, wounded; First Lieutenant C. A. Bowie, slightly wounded.

Cavalry Division Staff. - Brigadier W. Mactier, severely; Brevet-Captain and Brigade-Major T. L. Harrington, severely; Volunteer Mr. A. Alexander, A.D.C. to Brigadier Gough, severely.

Her Majesty's 3rd Light Dragoons.—Brevet-Captain G. Newton, killed; Cornet E. Worley, killed. Lieutenant S. Fisher, severely wounded; Lieutenant E. G. Swinton, severely wounded; Lieutenant E. B. Cureton, severely wounded.

Governor-General's Body Guard. - Lieutenant W. Fisher,

killed.

Brevet-Captain C. D. Dawkins, severely wounded; Lieutenant G. R. Taylor, very severely wounded.

5th Light Cavalry.-Major Alexander, slightly; Lieutenant R. Christie, slightly.

First Division of Infantry -Divisional and Brigade Staff.Captain Van Homrigh, 48th N. I. Acting A.D.C., killed. Brigadier S. Bolton, C.B., dangerously wounded; Brigadier H. M. Wheeler, C.B., severely wounded; Captain E. Lugard, DeputyAssistant Adjutant-General, slightly wounded; Lieutenant Nicolls, Engineers, Acting A.D.C. severely wounded.

First Brigade.-Her Majesty's 31st Foot.-Lieutenant H. W. Hart, killed Lieutenant-Colonel J. Byrne, severely wounded; Captain W. Willes, dangerously wounded; Captain T. Bulkeley, dangerously wounded; Captain G. D. Young, dangerously wounded; Lieutenant J. L. R. Pollard, slightly wounded; Lieutenant J. Brenchley, mortally wounded, since dead; AssistantSurgeon R. B. Gahan, 9th Foot, dangerously wounded.

47th Native Infantry.-Lieutenant J. F. Pogson, dangerously. Second Brigade.—Her Majesty's 50th Foot.—Assistant-Surgeon A. Graydon, killed. Captain H. Needham, severely wounded; Lieutenant W. S. Carter, slightly wounded; Lieutenant J. C. Bishop, severely wounded; Lieutenant R. E. De Montmorency, severe contusion; Lieutenant C. E. Young, severely wounded. 42nd N. Light Infantry.-Lieutenant J. Spence, killed. Ensign E. Van H. Holt, slightly wounded.

Second Infantry Division.- Divisional and Brigade StaffMajor R. Codrington, Assistant Quarter-Master-General, severely wounded.

Second N. Grenadiers.-Captain T. W. Bolton, severely wounded. Captain J. Gifford, severely wounded; Ensign A. D. Warden, severe contusion.

Third Infantry Division.-Divisional and Brigade Staff.Major-General Sir J. M'Caskill, K.C.B. and K.H. killed.

Fifth Brigade.-Her Majesty's 9th Foot.—Ensign J. Hanham, slightly wounded.