mendation. Anderson's horse, led by Lieutenant Le Geyt, severely wounded in the pursuit, distinguished themselves.

The Janbanzes, headed by Captain Hart, proved themselves faithful and forward. To Captain Shortreed the Brigadier offers his best acknowledgements for the valuable assistance he afforded, as also to Lieutenant Broadfoot, of the engineers, who gave

him his personal attendance.

Captain Arthur Conolly and Lieutenant Rattray, volunteers on the occasion, will be pleased to accept this mark of their zealous exertions being fully appreciated.

From Sir Willoughby Cotton to the Secretary to the Government of India.

SIR,

Afghanistan, Head Quarters, Camp,
Cabool, October 1, 1840.

I HAVE the honour to forward a dispatch, under date the 29th ultimo, from Major-General Sir Robert Sale, K.C.B., containing a detail of the assault and capture, on that day, of the fort and town of Tootumdurra, lately occupied by Ali Khan, a refractory chief of the Kohistan of Cabool.

The disposition of the troops and the mode of attack, which were conducted with the Major-General's usual skill and vigour, appear to have nullified, in a great measure, the formidable position of the enemy, and to have produced the most brilliant results, with a comparatively trifling loss.

The conduct of the troops engaged appears to have been most satisfactory, and I beg to recommend the services of the Major-General, and the Officers and men employed on this occasion, to the favourable notice of the Right Honourable the GovernorGeneral..

I much regret having to report the loss of an intel

ligent and enterprising Officer, Captain E. Conolly, of the 6th regiment of light cavalry, who fell in the advance of the main column of attack. This Officer was originally detached on special duty in the political department, and appears to have volunteered his services in the attack.

I have, &c.

WILLOUGHBY COTTON, Major-General, commanding the troops in Affghanistan.

From Major-General Sir Robert Sale, K.C.B. to Sir Willoughby Cotton.

SIR,

Camp, Tootumdurra, Sept. 29, 1840. AT day-'ight this morning I quitted my encampment at Rohat, and was joined at Charekar, five miles in advance, by the detachment under the command of Captain Fraser, of the 2d light cavalry.

At Charekar I learned from Sir Alexander Burnes, that no alteration had taken place in his views, with reference to the expediency of an attack on the forts at the entrance of the Ghorebund Pass, belonging to Ali Khan, and known by the name of Tootumdurra. I therefore determined to attempt their capture immediately, and moved forward from Charekar, at eight A. M. having the cavalry in advance.

On arriving in front of Tootumdurra I found the enemy posted in a very strong position, a village surrounded by garden walls, defended by a small fort, and several detached towers, commanded the undulating ground below the high and steep hills which bound the Ghorebund Pass to the south, and a chain of their detached forts within musket range, respectively, of the village and each other, extends to the eastward of the village; one of these forts, a hexagonal structure, with towers at the angles, is of considerable strength. The rear or north of the position

was defended by a deep canal carried along the high ground above the Ghorebund river; the vale below is entirely covered with gardens, beyond which again rise the rocky hills to the north of the pass.

A party of the enemy was drawn up in front of the village protected by a mound, a second occupied the face of the hill to the west of the village, and the towers and forts were garrisoned by matchlock men, who opened a brisk fire on the party of cavalry sent on in advance to reconnoitre.

The grenadier company of the 37th native infantry, a party of His Majesty's Shah Shooja's 2d cavalry, and two of Her Majesty's guns, six pounders, under Lieutenant Warburton, was directed to clear the hill to our left, and then to take the position of the enemy in flank, and co-operate with the other parties engaged in clearing the village.

Two companies of Her Majesty's 13th light infantry, under Lieutenant Holkham, were detached to the right to take possession of two of the small detached forts, in which operation they were supported by three nine pounder guns under Captain Abbott. The fire from these guns was also, as opportunity offered, directed on the towers and other defences of the village, with the view of dislodging the enemy from their advantageous position, and facilitating the advance of the infantry.

These operations were crowned with complete.

success.

The principal column of attack, consisting of the remainder of Her Majesty's 13th light infantry, two company's of the 27th native infantry, and the light company of the 37th native infantry, was then ordered to advance, and moved on the village at a rapid pace. The enemy continued their fire till the heads of the companies were within fifty paces of the walls, when they fled with precipitation across the river and over ground where they could be followed by the cavalry.

The

The garrison of the large fort seeing the position both to their right and left thus in the possession of our troops, and Captain Abbott's guns in battery opposite the gate, abandoned the post and escaped through a wicket, which, opening to the south, was covered from the fire of the detachment.

Parties of infantry were sent in pursuit across the valley, and another small fort on the low ground temporarily occupied, but finding the enemy completely broken and dispersed, these parties were recalled, and I encamped in the vicinity of the forts, the whole of which were in our possession by 1 A. M.

The accompanying casualty return will show that this advantage has been attended by little loss, a fact which I in a great measure attribute to the dread inspired by the excellent practice of the artillery, under the able direction of Captain Abbott, assisted by Lieutenants Maule and Warburton; but I have to lament the loss of Captain Edward Conolly, of the 6th light cavalry, who joined me in the morning as a volunteer. He was shot through the heart on our advance against the village.

It is my gratifying duty to express my entire satisfaction with the conduct of the troops it has fallen to my lot on this occasion to command. The rapid flight of the enemy prevented their sustaining or inflicting much loss, but the steadiness and gallantry with which the troops advanced was such as to warrant my entertaining the most sanguine hopes of success, even had the really formidable position we attacked been defended to the last.

I am now, at the request of Sir Alexander Burnes, (who accompanied me throughout the operations I have detailed) taking steps for the destruction of the forts that have fallen into our hands.

To Captain Sanders of the engineers, I was much indebted for his judicious and scientific observations both during, and previous to, the commencement of the operations.

Cap

Captain Wade, of Her Majesty's 13th light infantry, my Brigade Major, gave me every assistance in seeing my orders carried into effect.

Though not in the army, Mr. Wheeler accompanied me as a volunteer to carry orders, and I had several times occasion to employ him thus.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

R. SALE, M. G., Comg. Detachment.

Numerical Return of the killed, wounded, and missing of the Troops, under the command of MajorGeneral Sir Robert Sale, K. C. B. at the Storm and Capture of the Town and Forts of the Tootumdurra, on the Morning of the 29th September 1840.

Camp, Tootumdurra, September 29, 1840.

2d Light Cavalry-3 horses wounded.

H. M. 3th Light Infantry-2 privates wounded;

1 mortally.

37th Regt. N. I.—2 sepoys wounded. 27th Regt. N. I.-2 sepoys wounded.

Shah's Cavalry-1 horse killed; 1 horse wounded. Total-1 horse killed; 2 privates, 4 sepoys, 5 horses, wounded.

R. SALE, Major-General, commanding the Forces.

N. B. Two nujeebs killed, not included in the above return; one man of the 13th light infantry died since of his wounds.

From