19. Sir Charles Napier to the Governor-General, Miáni,

Sir Charles Napier’s account of the battle of Miáui.

6 miles from Hyderabad, February 1843.—“My Lord, the forces under my command have gained a decisive victory over the army of the Ameers of Upper and Lower Sinde. A detailed account of the various circumstances which led to this action does not belong to the limited space of a hasty despatch. I therefore begin with the transactions belonging to the battle. On the 14th instant the whole body of the Ameers, assembled in full Durbar, formally affixed their seals to the draft treaty. On leaving the Durbar, Major Outram and his companions were in great peril: a plot had been laid to murder them all. They were saved by the guards of the Ameers; but the next day (the 15th) the residence of Major Outram was attacked by 8000 of the Ameer’s troops, headed by one or more of the Ameers. I heard of it at Hala, at which place the fearless and distinguished Major Outram joined me, with his brave companions in the stern and extraordinary defence of his residence against so over­whelming a force, accompanied by six pieces of cannon. On the 16th I marched to Muttaree. Having ascertained that the Ameers were in position at Miáni (ten miles distance) to the number of 22000 men, and well knowing that a delay for reinforcements would both strengthen their confidence and add to their numbers, already seven times that which I commanded, I resolved to attack them, and we marched at 4 a. m. on the morning of the 17th. At 8 o’clock the advanced guard discovered their camp; at 9 we formed in order of battle, about 2800 men of all arms and twelve pieces of artillery. We were now within range of the enemy’s guns, and fifteen pieces of artillery opened upon us and were answered by our cannon. The enemy were very strongly posted; woods were on their flanks which I did not think could be turned. These two woods were joined by the dry bed of the river Fulaillee, which had a high bank. The bed of the river was nearly straight and about 1200 yards in length. Behind this and in both woods were the enemy posted. In front of their extreme right, and on the edge of the wood, was a village. Having made the best examination of their position, which so short a time permitted, the artillery was posted on the right of the line, and some skirmishers of infantry, with the Sinde irregular horse, were sent in front, to try and make the enemy show his force more distinctly; we then advanced from the right in echelon of battalions, refusing the left to save it from the fire of the village. The 9th Bengal Light Cavalry formed the reserve in rear of the left wing, and the Poona Horse, together with four companies of infantry, guarded the baggage. In this order of battle we advanced as at a review, across a fine plain, swept by the cannon of the enemy. The artillery and Her Majesty’s 22nd Regiment in line formed the leading echelon, the 25th Native Infantry the second, the 12th Native Infantry the third and the 1st Grenadier Native Infantry the fourth. The enemy was 1000 yards from our line, which soon traversed the intervening space. Our fire of musketry opened at about 100 yards from the bank, in reply to that of the enemy, and in a few minutes the engagement became general along the bank of the river, on which the com­batants fought, for about three hours or more, with great fury, man to man. Then, my Lord, was seen the superiority of the musket and bayonet over the sword and shield and matchlock. The brave Beloochees, first discharging their matchlocks and pistols, dashed over the banks with desperate resolution, but down went these bold and skilful swordsmen under the superior power of the musket and bayonet. At one time, my Lord, the courage and numbers of the enemy against the 22nd, the 25th and the 12th Regiment bore heavily in that part of the battle. There was no time to be lost, and I sent orders to the cavalry to force the right of the enemy’s line. This order was very gallantly executed by the 9th Bengal Cavalry and the Sinde Horse, for the struggle on our right and centre was, at that moment, so fierce that I could not go to the left. In this charge the 9th Light Cavalry took a standard and several pieces of artillery, and the Sinde Horse took the enemy’s camp from which a vast body of their cavalry slowly retired fighting. Lieutenant Fitzgerald gallantly pursued for two miles, and, I understand, slew three of the enemy in a single combat. . . . The artillery made great havoc among the dense masses of the enemy and dismounted several of their guns. The whole of the enemy’s artillery, ammunition, standards and camp, with considerable stores and some treasure, were taken. Meer Roostam Khan, Meer Nuseer Khan, and Meer Wullee Mahomed, of Khyrpore, Meer Nuseer Khan, Meer Shahdad Khan and Meer Hoosein Ali Khan, all of Hyderabad, came into my camp and surrendered their swords as prisoners of war. Their misfortunes are of their own creation, but as they are great, I returned to them their swords. They await your Lordship’s orders. Their Highnesses have surrendered Hyderabad and I shall occupy it to-morrow. It is not to be supposed that so hard fought an engagement could be sustained without considerable loss on both sides. That of the British force is 256 men killed and wounded. The enemy is generally supposed to have lost 5000. Major Teesdale, while animating his sepoys, dashed on horseback over the bank amidst the enemy, and was instantly shot and sabred, dying like a glorious soldier. Major Jackson … Captains Meade, Tew, and Cookson, with Lieutenant Wood, all fell honourably. Lieutenant-Colonel Pennefather, Major Wyllie, Captains Tucker and Conway, Lieutenants Harding and Phayre were all wounded . . . . I ought to have observed that I had the night before the action detached Major Outram in the steamers, with 200 sepoys, to set fire to the wood in which we understood the enemy’s left flank was posted … However, the enemy had moved about eight miles to their right during the night.” . . . .

20. Sir Charles Napier to the Governor General,

Sir Charles Napier’s account of the battle of Dabbah.

Dubbah, four miles from Hyderabad, March 24, 1843:—“My Lord, the forces under my command marched from Hyderabad this morning at day-break. About half past 8 o’clock, we discovered and attacked the army under the personal command of Meer Shere Mahomed, consisting of 20000 men of all arms, strongly posted behind one of those large nullahs, by which this country is intersected in all directions. After a combat of about three hours, the enemy was wholly defeated with considerable slaughter and the loss of all his standards and cannon. His position was nearly a straight line; the nullah was formed by two deep parallel ditches, one 20 feet, the other 42 feet wide and 17 deep, which had been for a long distance freshly scarfed, and a banquette made behind the bank expressly for the occasion. To ascertain the extent of his line was extremely difficult, as his left did not appear to be satis­factorily defined, but he began moving to his right, when he perceived that the British force outflanked him in that direction. Believing that his movement had drawn him from that part of the nullah which had been prepared for defence, I hoped to attack his right with less difficulty, and Major Leslie’s troop of Horse Artillery was ordered to move forward and endeavour to take the nullah; the 9th Light Cavalry and Poona Horse advancing in line, on the left of the artillery, who was supported on the right by Her Majesty’s 22nd Regiment, the latter being, however, at first considerably retired to admit of the oblique fire of the Leslie’s troop. The whole of the artillery now opened upon the enemy’s position and the British line advanced in echelons from the left, Her Majesty’s 22nd Regiment leading the attack. The enemy was now perceived to move from his centre in considerable bodies to his left, apparently retreating, unable to sustain the cross fire of the British Artillery; on seeing which Major Stack, at the head of the 3rd Cavalry, under command of Captain Delamain, and the Sind Horse, under command of Captain Jacob, made a brilliant charge upon the enemy’s left flank, crossing the nullah, and cutting down the retreating enemy for several miles. While this was passing on the right, Her Majesty’s 22nd Regiment, gallantly led by Major Poole who commanded the brigade, and Captain George, who commanded the corps, attacked the nullah on the left with great gallantry, and, I regret to add, with considerable loss. The brave battalion marched up to the nullah under a heavy fire of match­locks, without returning a shot, till within 40 paces of the intrenchment, and then stormed it like British soldiers. The intrepid Lieutenant Coote first mounted the rampart, seized one of the enemy’s standards, and was severely wounded, while waving it and cheering on his men. Meanwhile, the Poona Horse under Captain Tait and the 9th Cavalry, under Major Story, turned the enemy’s right flank, pursuing and cutting down the fugitives for several miles. Her Majesty’s 22nd Regiment was well supported by the batteries commanded by Captains Willoughby and Hutt, which crossed their fire with that of Major Leslie. Then came the 2nd Brigade, under command of Major Woodburn, bearing down into action with excellent coolness. It consisted of the 25th, 21st and 12th Regi­ment under the command of Captains Jackson, Stevens and Fisher, respectively: these regiments were strongly sustained by the fire of Captain Whitlie’s battery, on the right of which were the 8th and 1st Regiments, under Majors Brown and Clibborn: these two corps advanced with the regularity of a review, up to the intrenchments, their commanders, with considerable exertion, stopping their fire, on seeing that a portion of the Sinde Horse and 3rd Cavalry, in charging the enemy, had got in front of the Brigade. The battle was decided by the troops of Horse Artillery and Her Majesty’s 22nd Regiment. The Beloochee infantry and artillery fought well: their cavalry made no stand; and 5000 disciplined soldiers were not to be long resisted by a barbarian force, even though that force were nearly five to one. From the accounts which have come in, since writing the above, there is reason to believe that the loss of the enemy has been very great: about 500 bodies have been counted upon the field of battle, and it is said that the neighbouring villages are filled with dead and wounded men. Eleven pieces of cannon were taken in position on the nullah and seventeen standards. It gives me great satisfaction to say that some prisoners have been taken; and though the number is small, it is still some advance towards a civilised mode of warfare. . . . We are at present employed in collect­ing the wounded Beloochees within our reach, in order to render them medical assistance. I have deeply to regret the loss of the brave and excellent Captain Garret of the 9th Light Cavalry and also the fall of Lieutenant Smith of the Bombay Artillery. . . . Many of the Sindian people (who are all in great delight at the destruction of their Beloochee oppressors) have come into camp from different parts and bring assurance that the Beloochee force is wholly dispersed and that Meer Shere Mahomed has fled into the desert, with his family and about forty followers; but as Imamgarh has been destroyed, the heat will soon force him to quit his temporary refuge, where there is no protection from the sun. He will there­fore probably endeavour to reach Multan. I have written to his Highness Ali Moorad to arrest his progress in that direction, if possible, and to make him prisoner. Three Beloochee chiefs fell in the action; one of them was the great promoter of the war—Hoche Mahomed Seedee, and I have every reason to believe that not another shot will be fired in Sind.—I have, &c.—C. J. Napier, Major-General, Commanding in Sind and Beloochistan.”

21. Sir Charles Napier to Meer Shere Mahomed,

Ághá Khán plundered and Mír Sher Muhammad calkd to surrender.

Hyderabad, April 7, 1843.—“Chief, if you will give back to Aga Khan the plunder you took from Jerruck, and come in and make your salaam to me, I will pardon, and be your friend, and your jagheers shall be respected. C. J. Napier.” Hyderabad, May, 2, 1843.—“Chief, come and make your salaam, and you shall receive from the English Government all you held under the Ameers; and I will place the sword which you have sent me again in your hands that you may fight as bravely for my nation as you did against us when you served the Ameers. C. J. Napier.” Hyderabad, May, 6, 1843.—“Ameer, you never disbanded your army, as I desired you to do. You sent a most insolent letter to me by vakeels. You offered that if I would capitulate, you would let me quit the country; I gave your vakeels the only answer such a letter deserved, namely, that I would answer you with my cannon. Soon after that, your brother sent to me a letter, offering to assassinate you; I sent the letter to you. In my letter, I told you that you were a brave enemy, that I sent you the proposition of your brother to put you on your guard. I did not say that you were not an enemy. If Your Highness cannot read, you should get trusty people to read for you. Your Highness has broken treaties; you have made war without the slightest provocation, and before a fortnight passes you shall be punished as you deserve. I will hunt you into the desert and into the mountains; if you wish to save yourself, you must surrender within five days.—C. N. Napier.”

22. Meer Nusseer Khan to the Governor of Bombay,

Testimony to Mirza Khusrobég’s respectability, and his ill-treatment at the hands of the English.

April 28, 1843:—“Meerza Khoosroo Beg, whom former Ameers treated as their child, was beaten and disgraced. His house and that of Bushee were plundered.” Meer Nusseer Khan to the Court of Directors:—“The late Meer Kurum Ali Khan and Meer Moorad Ali treated Meerza Khoosroo as a son. He was imprisoned with us. One day he was taken to the fort and charged with having misdirected them to the spot, where was the treasure of the late Meer Kurum Ali Khan, for which they had him disgraced and flogged until he fainted. On his recovering, he was tied up for two hours in the fort, and afterwards brought back to the place where I was imprisoned.” … Observation by Sir Charles Napier on the Memorials of the Ameers. Hyderabad, June 12, 1843. . . . “Meerza Khoosroo Beg was not beaten, nor was any body else; but being in a passion, he seized Major McPherson (who had neither said nor done anything to him) by the throat, and was, of course, instantly made a prisoner. . . .”