Major J. Outram, Commissioner, to Major-General Sir C. J. Napier, K. C. B., Commanding in Sinde and Beloochistan. On board the Planet Steamer, fifteen Miles above Hyderabad. SIR, 6 P. M. February 15, 1843. MY dispatches of the last few days will have led you to expect that my earnest endeavours to effect an amicable arrangement with the Ameers of Sinde would fail, and it is with much regret I have now to report that their Highnesses have commenced hostilities by attacking my residence this morning; which after four hours' most gallant defence by my honorary escort, the light company of Her Majesty's 22d regiment, commanded by Captain Conway, I was compelled to evacuate in consequence of our ammunition running short. At 9 A. M. this morning, a dense body of cavalry and infantry* took post on three sides of the Agency compound (the fourth being defended by the Planet steamer, about 500 yards distant) in the gardens and houses which immediately command the enclosure, and which it was impossible to hold with our limited numbers, a hot fire was opened by the enemy, and continued incessantly for four hours, but all their attempts to enter the Agency enclosure, although merely surrounded by a wall, varying from four to five feet high, * Ascertained, after the action on the 17th, to have amounted to 8000 men, under the command of Meer Shahdad Khan, one of the principal Ameers, his cousin, Meer Mahomed Khan, Nawab Ahmed Khan Lungarrie, and many principal Chiefs. It was also ascertained that the enemy lost upwards of 60 killed, and more wounded in the affair, among the latter Meer Mahomed Khan. A a 1843. were frustrated by Captain Conway's able distribution of his small band, and the admirable conduct of every individual soldier composing it, under the gallant example of their Commanding Officer and his Subalterns, Lieutenant Harding and Ensign Pennefather, Her Majesty's 22d regiment, also Captains Green, of the 21st regiment native infantry, and Wells, of the 15th regiment, who volunteered their services, to each of whom was assigned the charge of a separate quarter, also to your A. D. C., Captain Brown, Bengal engineers, who carried my orders to the steamer, and assisted in working her guns and directing her flanking fire. Our ammunition being limited to forty rounds per man, the Officers directed their whole attention to reserving their fire, and keeping their men close under cover, never showing themselves or returning a shot, except when the enemy attempted to rush, or shewed themselves in great numbers, consequently great execution was done with trifling expenditure of ammunition, and with little loss. Our hope of receiving a reinforcement, and a supply of ammunition by the Satellite steamer (hourly expected). being disappointed, on the arrival of that vessel, without either, shortly after the commencement of the attack, it was decided at 12 A. M., after being three hours under fire, to retire to the steamer, while still we had sufficient ammunition left to fight the vessel up the river. Accordingly I requested Captain Conway to keep the enemy at bay for one hour, while the property was removed; for which that time was ample, could the camp followers be induced to exert themselves; after delivering their first loads on board, however, they were so terrified at the enemy's cross fire on the clear space between the compound and the vessel, that none could be persuaded to return, except a few of the Officers' servants, with whose assistance but little could be removed during the limited time we could afford, consequently much had to be abandoned, and I am sorry to find that the loss chiefly fell upon the Officers and men, who were too much occupied in keeping off the enemy to be able to attend to their own interests. Accordingly, after the expiration of another hour, (during which the enemy, despairing of otherwise effecting their object, had brought up six guns to bear upon us), we took measures to evacuate the Agency; Captain Conway called in his posts, and all being united, retired in a body, covered by a few skirmishers, as deliberately as on parade, (carrying off our slain and wounded), which, and the fire from the steam boats, deterred the enemy from pressing us as they might have done. All being embarked, I then directed Mr. Acting Commander Miller, commanding the Satellite steamer, to proceed with his vessel to the wood station, three miles up the river on the opposite bank, to secure a sufficiency of fuel for our purposes ere it should be destroyed by the enemy, while I remained with the Planet to take off the barge that was moored to the shore. This being a work of some time, during which a hot fire was opened on the vessel from three guns which the enemy brought to bear on her, besides small arms, and requiring much personal exposure of the crew, (especially of Mr. Cole, the Commander of the vessel), I deem it my duty to bring to your favourable notice their zealous exertions on the occasion, and also to express my obligations to Messrs. Miller and Cole for the flanking fire they maintained on the enemy during their attack on the Agency, and for their support during the retirement and embarkation of the troops. The Satellite was also exposed to three guns in her progress up to the woods and station, one of which she dismounted by her fire. The vessels were followed by large bodies of the enemy for about three miles, occasionally opening their guns upon us to no purpose; since then we have pursued our voyage up the Indus about fifteen miles without molestation; and purpose to-morrow morning anchoring off Muttarie, where I expect to find your camp. Our casualties amount to two men of Her Majesty's 22d regiment, and one camp follower killed; and Mr. Conducter Kiely, Mr. Carlisle, Agency Clerk, two of the steamer's crew, four of Her Majesty's 22d regiment, and two camp followers wounded, and four camp followers missing. Total, three killed, ten wounded, and four missing. I have, &c. J. OUTRAM, Commissioner. GENERAL ORDERS, By the Right Honourable the Governor-General of India. Agra, March 13, 1843. THE Governor-General requests Major-General Sir Charles Napier, K. C. B., will, in the name of the Government of India, present to the Sinde horse the standard they took from the enemy in the ever memorable battle of Meeanee, in which that regiment, by its distinguished conduct, acquired for itself the honour of being hereafter permanently attached to the Bombay army. The Governor-General has given directions, that other standards of the three colours of the Military Ribbon of India, inscribed with the words "Hyderabad, 1843," in the Persian, English, and Hindee languages, shall be prepared for the Sinde horse. By order of the Right Honourable the GovernorGeneral of India, J. THOMASON, Officiating Secretary to the Government of NOTIFICATION, By the Right Honourable the Governor-General of India. Agra, March 15, 1843. THE Governor-General has the highest satisfaction in making known to the army, the names of the several officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, recorded in the reports made to His Excellency Major-General Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B., as having most distinguished themselves in the battle of Meeanee. The Governor-General directs, that the unserviceable guns, taken at Hyderabad, shall be sent to Bombay, and there cast into a triumphal column, whereon shall be inscribed in the English, and two native languages, the names of MajorGeneral Sir Charles Napier, K. C. B., and of the several officers mentioned by His Excellency in his despatch, and likewise the names of the several officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates mentioned in the reports, that thus the names may |