highly judicious, and to have been followed up with spirit and gallantry which has led to results highly creditable to the officers and men engaged, and greatly beneficial to the public interests in that quarter; and that I have expressed to the Lieutenant Colonel and the troops under his command, the sense I entertain of the satisfactory manner in which this service has been performed. I beg that you will bring the same, in the strongest terms, to the notice of the Right Honourable the Governor General.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

W. COTTON, Major General, Commanding the Troops in Afghanistan

From Lieutenant-Colonel Wheeler to Captain

SIR,

J. D. Douglas.

Camp Kudjah, August 24, 1840. IN reply to your No. 419 of the 21st instant, I have the honour to state for the information of the Major General Commanding, that I trust the following, with my former dispatch, will place the whole operations of the morning clearly before him.

There is a large isolated hill about three quarters of a mile long at this end of the Wuzeree valley, its nearest point being about two miles from my camp; the first fort taken is on the declivity of this hill at the further end, and the second about fifty yards distant, at the base and clear of the hill. The road or rather path led along the bottom of the hill on the left side.

My dispositions were as follows: the light company 48th native infantry under Ensign Champion, crowned the hill and moved triflingly in advance of the column, in close order, until within 150 yards of 1841.

G

the

the first fort, when I extended it, and it then advanced without firing, bringing up its right so as to outflank the fort on that side.

The 6th company 48th native infantry was thrown out in extended order on my left flank and cleared the high corn fields, from which a sharp fire had been opened by the enemy, and continued to advance until they reached within fifty yards of the second fort. The main column moved along the path at the base of the hill. The European detail leading, followed by the detachment 48th, dragging the gun, the bullocks having been taken out full three hundred yards from the fort.

On the head of the column arriving within forty yards of the forts, a heavy fire was opened by the European detail, light company, and 6th company, 48th native infantry, on the turrets and walls of the two forts, which effectually kept down the enemy's fire; during which I got the gun into a favorable position on the side of the hill above the smaller fort. Finding that it could not be brought to bear on the gate of the smaller fort, I directed Lieutenant Paterson to concentrate as heavy a volley as he could close on the gate; this had the desired effect, shook the gate, and enabled the grenadiers of the 48th, under that officer, to force it, and carry the fort in beautiful style, bayonetting all in it.

I have in my dispatch stated how the second fort was taken; namely, the Seepahees, now aided by some Europeans, dragged the gun to the gateway, which was at once burst open, and in rushed the gallant fellows I had the honor of commanding.

The third fort, and the gardens and fields around it, were crowded with men; the light company extended was thrown out in advance to the right, another company to the left, and a third in the centre. The gun and column following (excepting a garrison of 40 men left in the forts taken) these three companies advanced in so steady yet brisk a manner that

I found

I found myself with them close under the walls; and made a dash at the gate, which was found open and the fort evacuated.

The capture of the fourth fort I have already described, and I must now add too more to the list, one evacuated, close to the second assailed, and the sixth surrendered on terms.

The enemy was in great force, but the rapidity of our movements induced many to remain aloof, ready to give effectual aid had an opportunity offered; their loss is heavy as far as can be ascertained, three chiefs are killed, also two of their near relations, and about twenty-three men; one chief of considerable consequence very badly wounded and about forty men; with the exception of the chiefs, I beg particularly to state that there is no certain information regarding the loss of the enemy, though all admit it to have been great.

I have now the honour to enclose a casualty roll, shewing two more men of the 48th native infantry, who were wounded, but thought so little of it that it had never been reported, even by themselves, until they were compelled to go to hospital for their cure.

I have the honour to be, &c.

H. M. WHEELER, Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding at Kudjah.

N.B. The enemy had made small round holes in the bottom of the ramparts, opposite the gates, through which they made their egress from the forts. The want of a body of horse was much felt.

Return of killed and wounded of the Detachment under the Command of Lieutenant-Colonel Wheeler, C. B. in the Action of the 19th of August 1840.

Camp, Kudjah, August 24, 1840. 1st European Regt.-one private killed; Lieutenant W. J. Parker, severely wounded; one corporal slightly; four privates severely, one since dead; two slightly.

48th Regt. N. I.-2 havildars severely wounded; 1 sepoy mortally wounded, since dead; 2 sepoys severely wounded; 5 sepoys slightly wounded." H. M. Shah Shooja's Artillery-1 jemedar slightly

wounded.

The Governor of Bombay in Council to the Secret

Committee.

Bombay Castle, November 30, 1840.

THE Honourable the Governor received late last night copies of documents confirmatory of the intelligence of the reoccupation of Kelat, without opposition, on the 2d instant.

Major-General Nott to Captain Douglas.
Camp, Kelat, November 9, 1840.

(Extract.)

I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, for the information of Major-General Sir Willoughby Cotton, G. C. B. and K. C. H. commanding in Affghanistan, that the troops under my command this morning entered and took possession of the town and citadel of Kelat. The rebel chiefs evacuated this strong fortress on the approach of

the British force.

From

From Sir William Macnaghten, Bart. Envoy and Minister at the Court of Shah Shooja, to the Secret Committee.

Cabool, November 4, 1840.

(Copy.)

I HAVE the honour to transmit, for the information of your Honourable Board, the accompanying copy of a letter, this day written by me to the Officiating Secretary to the Government of India in the Secret Department.

(Signed)

W. H. MACNAGHTEN.

Sir William Macnaghten to the Secretary to the Government of India.

(Extract.)

I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, for the information of the Right Honourable the GovernorGeneral of India, in Council, that Dost Mahomed Khan, the Ex-Chief of Cabool, surrendered himself to me yesterday evening.

I was returning from my evening ride and, within a few yards of my own residence in the citadel, when a single horseman* gallopped up to me, and having satisfied himself that I was the Envoy and Minister, told me that Dost Mahomed Khan was arrived and sought my protection.

Dost Mahomed Khan rode up to me and alighted from his horse, after the usual saiutations I begged him to mount again, and we proceeded together to my

* This horseman afterwards proved to be Sultan Mahomed Khan, of Najrod, whose name I have frequently had occasion to bring to the notice of his Lordship in Council, as an active intriguer in favour of the Ex-Chief.

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