The forces under my command have gained a decisive victory over the array of the Ameers of Upper and Lower Scinde. 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 inst. 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 8,000 of the Ameers’ troops, headed by one or more of the Ameers. The report of this nefarious transaction I have the honour to enclose. I heard 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 force, accompanied by six pieces of cannon.

     On the 16th I marched to Muttaree, having there ascertained that the Ameers were in position at Meeanee (10 miles distance) to the number of 22,000 men, and well knowing that 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 four a.m., on the morning of the 17th. At six o’clock the advanced guard discovered their camp; at nine o’clock we formed in order of battle, about 2,800 men of all arms, and 12 pieces of artillery.

     We were now within range of the enemy’s guns, and 15 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 1,200 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 Scinde 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 Poonah horse, together with four companies of infantry, guarded the baggage. In this order of battle we advanced, as at a review, across the plain, swept by the cannon of the enemy. The artillery and her Majesty’s 22nd Regiment in line formed the leading echelon, the 25th N. I. the second, the 12th N. I. the third, and the 1st Grenadier N I. the fourth.

     The enemy was 1,000 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 bank 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 the numbers of the enemy against the 22nd, the 25th, and the 12th regiments 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 Scinde Horse; the details of which shall be hereafter stated to your lordship, 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 Scinde horse took the enemy’s camp, from which a vast body of their cavalry slowly retired, fighting. Lieutenant Fitzgerald gallantly pursued them for two miles, and, I understand, slew three of the enemy in single combat. The brilliant conduct of these two cavalry regiments decided, in my opinion, the crisis of the action, for from the moment the cavalry were seen in rear of their right flank the resistance our opponents slackened; the 22nd Regiment forced the bank, the 25th and 12th did the same, the latter regiment, capturing several guns, and the victory was decided. 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, ammunitions, standards, and camp, with considerable stores and some treasure, were taken.

      Meer Roostum Khan, Meer Nusseer Khan, and Meer Wullee Mahomed of Khyrpoor; Meer Nusser Khan, Meer Shadab Khan, and Meer Hoosein 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 5,000. Major Teasdale, 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 in like manner rushed forward, two brave havildars followed him, too far advanced before their men; they fell under the sabres of the enemy, but it is said not before they killed several. Captains Meade, Few, and Cookson, with Lieutenant Wood, all fell honourably, urging on the assault with unmitigated valour. Lieutenant-Colonel Pennefather was severely wounded, as, with the high courage of a soldier, he led his regiment up the desperate bank of the Fulailee. Major Wyllie, Captains Tucker and Conway, and Lieutenants Harding and Phayre, were all wounded while gloriously animating their men to sustain the shock of numbers. And now, my lord, I have to say, that British officers could not show greater gallantry in leading their men into action than did the Queen’s and Company’s officers on this day, and the troops well maintained their reputation.

     From the heads of departments and regiments I have received every assistance throughout the whole campaign and in the battle. The gallant charge of the Bengal cavalry was intrepidly led Lieut-Col. Pattle, second in command, and Major Story; nor were the Scinde horse under Captain Jacob idle. To this able soldier and his regiment I indebted for the most active services long previous to, and during the combat. He won the enemy’s camp, from which he drove a body of three or four thousand cavalry. Major Lloyd powerfully worked his artillery, ably seconded by Captains Whitlie and Hutt. The destruction caused by their guns is said to have been immense. Major Waddington, of the engineers, has given me great assistance throughout the campaign, and in the action lent me his aid in carrying orders. Nor is the country less indebted to Major Reid for his gallantry at the head of the 12th N. I. The grenadiers, under Major Clibborn, owing to a misconception of orders, were but slightly engaged. Major Poole of the 22nd, and Capt. Jackson of the 25th, who succeeded the command of those regiments, proved themselves worthy of their dangerous posts. In the medical and commissariat departments both activity and zeal have been shown by Dr. Dalrymple and Captain Blenkins. Major Wyllie, Assistant Adjutant-General, was wounded while leading up the bank, and I have thereby lost for a time his valuable assistance; no man has been more serviceable to me in all our previous operations. The acting Assistant Quartermaster-General, Lieut. McMurdo, of the 22nd Regiment, had his horse killed, and while on foot, leading some soldiers in desperate dash down the enemy’s side of the bank, he cut down a chieftain. He has greatly assisted me by his activity and zeal during the whole of our operations. Allow me to recommend to your lordship’s notice and protection Major McPherson, my aide-de-camp, an old soldier of the light division, from whom I have received that assistance which was expected from a veteran of the 43rd Regiment. To my acting aide-de-camp, Lieut. Pelly, I am much indebted in many ways, both during the campaign and in the action, and also Lieutenant Thompson, 9th Cavalry, who acted as my orderly officer during the day, and Lieut. Younghusband, staff officer. Captain Henderson, of the Madras Engineers, took a standard, and did good service with his band of sappers and miners, not only in this engagement, but through the campaign. His Lieutenants, Boileau and Outlaw, have also distinguished themselves. Innumerable are the individual acts of intrepidity which took place between our soldiers and their opponents, too numerous for detail in this despatch, yet well meriting a record. I hope that your lordship will pardon the length of this letter, written in the midst of great interruption and at various times.

     Finally, I trust for receiving indulgence from one who so well knows how difficult my position has been for the last five months up to the present moment, and how hard I have laboured, and how much I have risked, to avoid a recourse to arms. This sanguinary engagement has been forced upon me by the duplicity of the Ameers, though I must say that, until the attack upon the Residency, neither Major Outram nor myself believed they were resolved to fight, and against which duplicity I never ceased to warn them. My conscience acquits me of the blood which has been shed. The tyrannical and deceitful Ameers brought on the battle, the fierce tribe of Beloochee robbers were resolved that it should be so, and bravely did they execute their resolution.

     I perceive that I have omitted to mention three officers well worthy of being named. To Captain Tate [sic – Lieutenant Tait], of the Poonah [sic] horse, I intrusted [sic] charge of the baggage on this day of battle, and I have no doubt that the steadiness and imposing attitude of the detachment under his command held the enemy aloof, for I assure your lordship no post gave me greater anxiety than that of the baggage-guard. Lieutenants Leeson and Brenton [sic – Brennan?] have throughout the whole campaign been of the greatest use, as Baggage Master and Provost-Marshal, and during the action Lieutenant Brennan was scarcely from my side a moment, except when conveying orders. Nor will I omit to mention the Moonshee Alli [sic] Akbar, an Arab, who exhibited the coolest courage, and attended me everywhere.

     I ought to have observed in the body of this despatch, that I had, the night before the action, detached Major Outram in the steamers with about two hundred sepoys, to set fire to the wood in which we understood the enemy’s left flank was posted. This was an operation of great difficulty and danger, but would have been most important to the result of the battle. However, the enemy had moved about eight miles to their right during the night, and Major Outram executed his task without difficulty at the hour appointed, viz., nine o’clock and from the field we observed the smoke of the burning wood arise. I am strongly inclined to think that this circumstance had some effect the enemy. But it deprived me of the able services of Major Outram, Capt. Green, and Lieuts. Brown and Wells, together with 200 men, which I much regretted for their sakes, and for my own, for I much wanted the officers; and here I hope your lordship will pardon me for saying that the want of European officers in the native regiments at one period endangered the success the action. The Sepoy is a brave and excellent soldier, but like all, he expects to led on in certain moments, and, as he looks to his European officer, if he misses him, the greatest danger arises – three times I saw them retreat, evidently because the officers had fallen, and when another appeared and rallied them, they at once followed him boldly. This, my lord, accounts for the great number of European officers killed and wounded in proportion to the whole. I am sure that, in observing defect in the formation the Company’s troops, the effect of which, might have been so serious, I shall not be deemed presumptuous or impertinent.

     The defence the Residency by Major Outram and the small force with him, against such numbers of the enemy, was admirable, that I have scarcely mentioned it in the foregoing despatch, because I propose to send your lordship a detailed account of it, as a brilliant example of defending a military post.