did not arrive at the foot of the Ghant till between two and three o'clock yesterday afternoon; when, hearing that the united Durrahs of Wassel Mahomed and Kurreem Khaun had not left their camp, I ordered the division to mount the Ghaut, and arranged for the cavalry pushing on, supported by the 1st battalion 14th regiment native infantry and galloper brigade; seeing that much time would be lost in waiting for the guns and remainder of the troops. Accordingly Brigadier Newbery mounted the pass with the whole of the cavalry, immediately in the rear of the infantry advance guard under Major Lamb, and was followed by the 1st battalion 14th, dragging up the galloper guns; but Brigadier Newbery, seeing a body of Pindarries, very judiciously ordered the cavalry to charge, without waiting the arrival of the gallopers and battalion. On receiving this intelligence, I proceeded instantly with Brigadier-General Watson, four of the gallopers, and 1st battalion 14th, to follow the cavalry with the utmost speed. The battalion, notwithstanding the fatiguing march of twenty-two miles, and having been under arms so many hours, moved on at double quick in the highest spirits. The Durrahs, a few hours before, had moved off with their families and baggage,. leaving a thousand or two of their fleetest horse to cover their retreat. It was one thousand of these the cavalry pursued, and killed between forty and fifty; but the terror and dismay of the Durrahs was extreme, for though they had got many miles. off before our cavalry arrived at the Ghant, the Hirkarabs report that they threw away much grain and baggage, and left many head of cattle on their arch, and that the inhabitants of the country: were employed all night in collecting what the fears of the enemy induced them to throw away. Brigadier Newbery's pursuit of their rear guard continued for about ten miles from the top of the pass ་ pass, when, having dispersed it, and finding the pursuit no longer useful, from the great fatigue the horses had undergone, he returned to the ground on which the Pindarries had been encamped, where I had just arrived with the 1st battalion of the 14th and gallopers, when I gave orders for encamping the division till we could obtain intelligence of the road the Pindarries had taken; for it was not clear that the main body had gone in the direction of those pursued by the cavalry. I cannot speak too highly of the ardour displayed by the whole of the troops composing the division on this occasion. The four troops of the 2d Rohilla cavalry, under Lieutenant Turner, and four Broops of the 3d, under Lieutenant Frobisher, are very highly spoken of by every one, for their zeal and intrepidity, as reported by Brigadier Newbery. That highly distinguished 4th regiment native cavalry, ander the command of Captain Ridge, with their usual gallantry and intrepidity, were ready and equal for every thing in the power of their horses to carry them to. Intelligence now states that the Pindarries fleit yesterday nine coss in the direction of Kotab, and part of them four coss further. No doubt they have moved again to-day. I purpose pursuing again according to the information I may receive. The guide and intelligence, and every part of the duties of the Quarter-Master-General's Department, is conducted with such zeal and ability by Lieutenant Pickersgill, Deputy Assistant-QuarterMaster-General, that the utmost benefits may reasonably be expected to result therefrom. I have the honour to inclose a return of the killed, wounded, and missing; likewise a copy of my Orders of this date. I have, &c. D. MARSHALL, Major-General, commanding the left Division. Return Return of Killed, Wounded, and Missing, in the 3d Brigade of Cavalry, in Action with the Pindarries on the 14th December 1817. Killed-1 trooper, 17 horses.. F. NEWBERY, Colonel, Commanding Division Orders by Major-General Marshall, Commanding Left Division Grand Army. Camp Beechee Tal, December 15, 1817. - Major-General Marshall congratulates the Division he has the honour to command, on the result of their exertions for the last two days, which, though they have not yet been crowned with such decided success as he could have wished, in consequence of the flight of the Pindarries, will proveto the enemy that no opportunity will be lost of coming up with them; and with troops so eager for the contest as ours shewed themselves yesterday evening there can never be any doubt of a glorious result. The Major-General returns his best thanks to Brigadier Newbery, and the Officers and men of the 3d cavalry brigade, for the gallant manner in which they charged the enemy's rear-guard, and the perseverance of the pursuit till they had dispersed it, notwithstanding the tired condition of our horses; and also to Brigadier-General Watson, C. B. and the Officers and men of the horse and foot artillery and infantry, for their great exertions and alacrity in getting the guns up the Ledowna Ghaut, and proceeding on in the hope of sharing in the action, which was prevented by the precipitate fight of the Pindarries. W. JAMES, D. A. A. Gen. Copy Copy of a Dispatch from Major-General Donkin to the Marquess of Hastings, duted Camp, on the Parbuttee, December 17, 1817. MY LORD, I THIS morning, about two hours before daylight, surprised a small camp of about two hundred and fifty Pindarries, twenty of whom were killed or wounded, about six were taken, and the rest escaped in the dark, before Lieutenant-Colonel Knox, with the 1st native cavalry, could effectually surround them. They discharged all their matchlocks before flight, but fortunately with no effect. This proved to be the camp of the family of Kurreem Khaun, which will give the circumstance perhaps a little more importance than it otherwise. could have. They had been to seek a refuge in a neighbouring fort, which the Killedar had refused, and they were returning to Kurreem. They bad been on the ground only four hours when they were surprised. Two of the prisoners assert that Kurreem's son was in the camp in charge of the family, and a young man has been killed who answers to the description given of him. We have taken twenty camels laden, several horses, and some clothes, shawls, and female ornaments. They were so completely dispersed that I do not suppose twenty have gone off together in any one direction; the alarm therefore which they will spread will be in proportion to their diffusion over the country. As we have been making forced marches for some time, I am unable to pursue Kurreem Khaun to-mor» row, as I have outmarched all my supplies. He left this place yesterday, but is now thirty miles off; a distance I could not gain on bim, particularly in He two days ago his present state, in a week. gave away all his goods and baggage, burnt his tents, and dismissed his women and camp followers; he has retained only three or four thousand of his best soldiers, with whom he is pressing for the Morumdra pass according to some accounts, and according to others to Sheergbur, a fort near Luckutpoor, but into which I conclude Zalem Sing wild refuse him admittance. I am in hopes that Lieutenant-Colonel Adams, who was to be at Goolgul Chuppra on the 15th, will either get up with him or drive him back on me. After surprising the camp, I detached LieutenantColonel Gardiner with his frontier horse after a party of Pindarties 1 had intelligence of in this direction; they were about three or four hundred he attacked and dispersed them, killing about twelve or fourteen, and taking thirty-two camels, some of them valuably laden, Their Bazar is also this moment brought in. Your Lordship will see by this account that the Pindarries no longer exist hereabout as a formidable power; they appear to be scattered over the face of the country, without resources, plans, or hopes. I have, &c. B. S. DONKIN, Major-Gen. Extract of a Dispatch from Captain J. Tod, Political Agent at Kotah, to Mr. Adam, Secretary to the Governor-General, dated Kotah, 24th December 1817. MY letter to General Donkin's address of the 2d instant, copy of which I had the honour to lay before you, will have informed you of a little exploit of Gardiner's horse, aided by a naik and twelve of my infantry escort. |