8-inch howitzers;—our guns literally being constantly ahead of everything. The determined bravery of all was as conspicuous as noble. I am unwont to praise when praise is not merited; and I here most unavowedly express my firm opinion and conviction, that no troops in any battle on record ever behaved more nobly;—British and native, no distinction; cavalry, all vying with H.M.'s 16th Lancers, and striving to head in the repeated charges. Our guns and gunners, officers and men, may be equalled, but cannot be excelled, by any artillery in the world. Throughout the day no hesitation—a bold and intrepid advance ;— and thus it is that our loss is comparatively small, though I deeply regret to say, severe. The enemy fought with much resolution; they maintained frequent rencontres with our cavalry hand to hand. In one charge, upon infantry, of H. M.'s 16th Lancers, they threw away their muskets and came on with their swords and targets against the lance.

Having thus done justice, and justice alone, to the gallant troops his Excellency entrusted to my command, I would gladly, if the limits of a despatch (already too much lengthened, I fear,) permitted me, do that justice to individuals all deserve. This cannot be; therefore must I confine myself to mention those officers, whose continued services, experience, and standing, placed them in conspicuous commands. In Brigadier Wheeler, my second in command, I had a support I could rely on with every confidence, and most gallantly did he lead his brigade. From Brigadiers Wilson, Godby, and Hicks, I had also every support, and every cause to be gratified with their exertions. In Brigadier Cureton, Her Majesty has one of those officers rarely met with ; the cool experience of the veteran soldier is combined with youthful activity—his knowledge of outpost duty, and the able manner he handles his cavalry under the heaviest fire, rank him among the first cavalry officers of the age; and I beg to draw his Excellency's marked attention to this honest encomium. In Major Lawrenson, commanding the artillery, Lieut.-Col. Alexander, Captain Turton, and Lieut.-Col. Lane, the service has officers

of the very first order; and I am equally satisfied with Captain Boileau, in command of the nine-pounder battery, and with Lieutenant Mill, in charge of four light guns. The two eight-inch howitzers did right good service, organized, equipped, and brought into the field by the exertions, and determination to overcome all difficulties, of Lieut.-Col. Lane, equally well served, and brought forward always with the infantry, by Lieutenant Austin.

To Brigadiers MacDowell and Stedman, commanding their gallant brigades of cavalry, the fortune of the day is greatly indebted; and to all commanding officers of cavalry and infantry, my warmest thanks are due. To Major Smyth, commanding Her Majesty's 16th Lancers, who was wounded; to Major Bradford, of the 1st Light Cavalry; to Major Angelo, of the 3rd Light Cavalry; to Major Alexander, of the 5th Light Cavalry; to Captain Hill, of the 4th Irregular Cavalry; to Major Forster, of the Shekawattee brigade; and to Captain Quin, of the Body Guard; to Lieutenant-Colonel Spence, commanding Her Majesty's 31st Foot; to Major Bird, of the 24th Native Infantry; to Captain Corfield, of the 47th Native Infantry; to LieutenantColonel Ryan, K.H., of Her Majesty's 50th Regiment; to Captain Troup, of the 48th Native Infantry; to Captain Fisher, of the Sirmoor battalion; to Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips, of Her Majesty's 53rd Foot; to Captain Jack, of the 38th Native Infantry; to Captain Fleming, of the 36th Native Infantry; and to Brigadier Penny of the Nusseree battalion.

His Excellency having witnessed the glorious services of Her Majesty's 31st and 50th Regiments, and of the 24th, 47th, and 48th Native Infantry, I have only to report upon Her Majesty's 53rd, a young regiment, but veterans in daring gallantry and regularity; and Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips's bravery and coolness attracted the attention of myself and every staff-officer I sent to him. The 30th and 36th Regiments Native Infantry are an honour to any service; and the intrepid little Ghoorkhas of the Nusseree and Sirmoor battalions in bravery and obedience can be exceeded by none. I much regretted I had no brigade to

give Brigadier Penny, who is in orders for one, as his Excellency is aware. I can only say, therefore, that when he gets his brigade, if he leads it as he did his gallant band of Ghoorkhas, it will be inferior to none.

The service of Her Majesty's 16th Lancers his Excellency has witnessed on a former occasion; and the exalted character of this regiment is equally before him. The 1st and 3rd Light Cavalry and the 8th Irregulars I believe he has not seen in action; and it is my duty, therefore, joyfully to report the manner they contended for the glorious prize of victory, in the many charges they this day delivered; and it will be equally gratifying when I assure his Excellency the Body Guard under Captain Quin, and the 5th Light Cavalry well did their duty. The Shekawattee brigade under Major Forster, is steady, obedient, and well-appointedartillery, horse, and infantry, each arm striving to distinguish itself in the field.

Captain Mathias, of Her Majesty's 62nd, in charge of a detachment of convalescents of Her Majesty's service, and Lieutenant Hebbert, of the Honourable Company's Sappers and Miners, readily performed the duties assigned them in protecting the eight-inch howitzers.

To Captain Lugard, the Assistant-Adjutant-General of this force, I am deeply indebted, and the service still more so; a more cool, intrepid, and trustworthy officer cannot be brought forward; and I may say the same with great sincerity of Lieutenant Galloway, the Deputy-Assistant Quarter-Master-General of the 1st division. Captain Waugh of the 16th Lancers, DeputyAssistant Quarter-Master-General to the cavalry, is an officer of no ordinary abilities; and the manner in which he and Major Bradford, of the 1st Light Cavalry, daily patrolled and reconnoitred, and made themselves acquainted with the position of the enemy, mainly contributed to the glorious result.

The Brigadiers all speak in high terms of their Majors of Brigade-Captain O'Hanlon of the 1st brigade, who was wounded in the action, and was replaced by Captain Palmer, of the 48th

Native Infantry; Captain Garvock, of Her Majesty's 31st Foot, of the 2nd brigade; Captain Loftie, 30th Native Infantry, of the 3rd brigade; Lieutenant Vanrenen, of the 4th brigade; Lieutenant Pattinson, of Her Majesty's 16th Lancers, of the 1st brigade of Cavalry; and Captain Campbell, of the 1st Light Cavalry, of the 2nd brigade.

Of the services of Lieutenant A. W. C. Plowden, 3rd Light Cavalry, Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-General, and my Aide-deCamp, Lieutenant Holdich, and of Lieutenant Tombs of the Artillery, my Acting Aide-de-Camp, I am fully sensible; and with the manner in which they aided me in carrying orders I am much satisfied. Lieutenants Strachey and Baird Smith, of the Engineers, greatly contributed to the completion of my plans and arrangements, and were ever ready to act in any capacity: they are two most promising and gallant officers.

I have every reason to be satisfied with the commissariat arrangements under Captains Mainwaring and Williamson.

Owing to the judicious arrangements of Dr. Murray, FieldSurgeon, every wounded officer and soldier was placed under cover, and provided for soon after dark; and, for the zeal displayed by this able and persevering medical officer, and to the several regimental surgeons, are the wounded and our country deeply indebted. The whole of the wounded were moved yesterday to Loodiana, for the sake of accommodation and comforts, which could not be given them in the field.

If not irregular, I beg you would lay before the Commander-inChief, for submission to the Right Hon. the Governor-General, my just sense of the valuable services of the political officers associated with me; Major Mackeson, Captain J. D. Cunningham, and Lieutenant Lake. For the assistance I have received from them in their political capacity, I feel most grateful. On the morning of the battle each offered to aid me in his military capacity: frequently did I employ them to carry orders to the thickest of the fight; and frequently did they gallantly accompany charges of cavalry.

The reports of the several Brigadiers I inclose; a return of the officers commanding and second in command of regiments; also a return of killed and wounded; a return of ordnance captured and of ordnance stores; likewise a return of commissariat stores, grain, &c.; and a rough sketch of the field of battle of Aliwal.

The fort of Goongrana has, subsequently to the battle, been evacuated, and I yesterday evening blew up the fort of Budhowal. I shall now blow up that of Noorpoor. A portion of the peasantry, viz., the Sikhs, appear less friendly to us, while the Mussulmans rejoice in being under our Government. I have, &c. (True copy). H. G. SMITH,

(Signed) P. GRANT, Major,

Major-General Commanding.

Deputy-Adjutant-General of the Army.

Nominal Roll of Officers Killed and Wounded, 28th January.
1st Brigade of Cavalry.

Her Majesty's 16th Lancers.-Lieutenant H. Swetenhamkilled; Cornet G. B. Williams-killed. Major J. R. Smyth— severely wounded; Captain E. B. Bere-wounded; Captain L. Fyler-severely wounded; Lieutenant W. K. Orme-severely wounded; Lieutenant T. Pattle-wounded; Lieutenant W. Morris-wounded.

4th Irregular Cavalry.-Licutenant and Adjutant Smalpage— killed.

2nd Brigade of Cavalry.

1st Regiment Light Cavalry.-Cornet W. S. Beatson-slightly wounded; Cornet T. G. Farquhar-mortally wounded.

1st Brigade Infantry.

Her Majesty's 31st Regiment. Lieutenant Atty-slightly wounded.

24th Regiment Native Infantry.-Lieutenant Scott-wounded.

2nd Brigade Infantry.

Brigade Major.-Captain P. O'Hanlon-badly wounded.