Major-General George Pollock, C.B., Commanding a Field Force, to T. H. Maddock, Esq.

SIR, Camp, Ferozepore, January 1, 1843. I HAVE the honour to forward a copy of Major-General M'Caskill's despatch of the 20th October 1842, also a return of casualties in the affair of the 3d November last, which took place in the Khyber Pass; copies of these documents had been despatched subsequent to the transactions to which they relate, but I conclude some accident must have happened to the dâk, by which they were forwarded.

I have the honour to be, &c.

GEO. POLLOCK, Major-General,
Commanding a Field Force.

Major-General M'Caskill, K. H., Commanding Infantry Division, to Captain Ponsonby, Assistant-Adjutant-General.

SIR, Camp, Gundamuck, Oct. 20, 1842. I BEG to report to you, for the information of Major-General Pollock, C. B., that the force of the 2d column under my immediate command, and as detailed in the margin,* was attacked by the predatory tribes of the mountains on its march from Tezeen, from which point it was separated from

*Artillery-2 guns of Capt. Alexander's troop; Captain Blood's battery of 9-pounders.

Cavalry-Head-quarters, and 2 squadrons of 1st light cavalry, 2 rissalahs, 3d irregular cavalry.

Infantry-4th brig. under Brigr. Monteath, C. B., H. M.'s 31st regiment, wing 33d N. I. reinforced by wing 60th N. I., 2d regiment N.I., 16th ditto ditto.

your head-quarters up to the date of its arrival at Gundamuck.

The most serious opposition which it encountered was in the defiles of Jugdulluck, celebrated for the previous conflicts between the Ghilzies and our troops last year, and during the late advance on Cabool.

I broke up from my encampment at the foot of this pass early on the morning of the 18th instant, and made arrangements as I advanced, in proportion, of course, to my numerical strength, for the occupation of the several strong points which command the road. Detached parties began to shew themselves as my force reached the crest of the position, and, after despatching flanking detachments on the domineering heights to the right and left, I waited the approach of Brigadier Monteath, with the main body of the column, before I descended into the lower ground beyond. The necessity for this caution was soon demonstrated, for, as the Brigadier took up his position on the plateau, partly occupied by the ruins of the well known fort, he observed the enemy collecting in force around him; he, therefore, very properly determined to hold the head of the pass, until the whole of the baggage and materiel had moved down towards the plain below, and the rear guard, under Lieutenant-Colonel Richmond, should have joined him on the eminence. He placed his guns in battery, and their fire, and that of the troops, completely held the enemy, who were very numerous, in check; and he reports, with much satisfaction, that though the attempts of the Ghilzies were obstinate and persevering, they did not succeed in making themselves masters of a single article of baggage or military stores; a sharp conflict was, however, sustained upon particular points, whilst the rear guard was coming

up in the one direction, and our long train of animals descending in the other. The Brigadier finally gave over charge of the position to Lieutenant-Colonel Richmond and his rear guard, whom he counselled to retain it one quarter of an hour after his own troops advanced beyond it; the succession of lower eminences on either flank had, in the mean time, been crowned, so far as our limited means permitted, under my personal directions, by parties from the advance guard, from Jugdulluck to the valley of Soorkhab, and the baggage was thus protected from the attacks of the predatory bodies which were hovering around it along that whole line of road. Lieutenant-Colonel Richmond and the rear guard were vigorously pressed by the Ghilzies, as they finally came down from the plateau, but every where most creditably repelled the enemy, and made their way, late in the evening, to our encampment at Soorkhab. I have to regret that Captain Burnett, 54th N. I. who had been recently relieved from a captivity commenced at Ghuznee, was severely wounded on the heights, having volunteered his services with a party of the 16th N. I.; Brevet Captain Pender, H. M.'s 31st foot, had received a bad hurt in a previous skirmish near Seh Baba. Throughout these affairs the conduct of the troops employed, including the 2d and 16th N. I. temporarily attached to me, has deserved my highest approbation, and I feel it to be my duty to record, that in the advance to Cabool, and in retiring from it, the bravery of that portion of the 4th brigade, which took part in the active operations, viz. H. M.'s 31st regiment, and a wing of the 33d N. I. the remaining wing and the 6th N. I. having been detained to garrison Jellalabad and Gundamuck; as well as their endurance of privations and fatigue, have been beyond all praise. No troops could in

every respect have behaved better, and I feel myself to be deeply indebted to Brigadier Monteath, C. B. and to Lieutenant-Colonel Bolton, of H. M.'s 31st, and to Lieutenant-Colonel Richmond, 33d N. I. for the able and gallant manner in which they have been led.

I enclose a return of killed and wounded.
I have, &c.

JOHN M'CASKILL.

Return of Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the third Infantry Brigade, and the Troops attached to it, on the March from Lundee Khana to Ali Musjid, on the 3d instant.

Camp, near Peshawur, November 5, 1842. 4th Company 6th Batt. Artillery—1 lieutenant, 1 naick, 1 sepoy, killed; 1 havildar, 2 sepoys, 2 ordnance drivers, wounded.

1st Squadron 5th Light Cavalry-1 sepoy, 2 horses, killed; 1 havildar, 1 sepoy, 3 horses, wounded,

30th Regt. N. I.-1 ensign, 2 naicks, 3 sepoys, killed; 1 havildar, 1 naick, 5 sepoys, wounded. 53d Regt. N. I.-2 havildars, 2 naicks, 8 sepoys, wounded; 1 subadar, 2 havildars, 3 sepoys, missing.

64th Regt. N. I.-1 sepoy killed; 1 subadar wounded.

Detach. 3d Irregular Cavalry-2 sepoys, 4 horses, killed; 1 subadar, 1 havildar, 1 sepoy, 10 horses, wounded; 2 horses missing.

Detach. Anderson's Horse-1 sepoy, 4 horses, wounded.

Total-1 lieutenant, 1 ensign, 3 naicks, 8 sepoys, 6 horses, killed; 2 subadars, 6 ha

vildars, 3 naicks, 18 sepoys, 2 ordnance drivers, 17 horses, wounded; 1 subadar, 2 havildars, 3 sepoys, 2 horses, missing. Total Killed, Wounded, and Missing13 killed, 31 wounded, 6 missing; 6 horses killed, 17 horses wounded, 2 horses missing.

Officers killed.

Lieutenant A. Christie, Artillery.
Ensign A. J. Nicholson, 30th N. I.

Remarks.

Those reported missing of the 53d N. I. supposed to have been killed; the subadar and one havildar were seen badly wounded.

Four horses wounded, of Anderson's Horse, have since died.

Camp, Mulwul, January 5, 1843.

THE Governor-General directs the publication of the following despatch from the AdjutantGeneral of the Army, for general information. By order of the Right Honourable the GovernorGeneral of India,

W. EDWARDS,

Assistant-Secretary to the Government of India, with the Governor-General.