heir guns. Nightingale was
wounded when about to do this, and Gaynor, who did it, had a most
narrow escape. The former is the only severely wounded officer in that
regiment, but I trust not dangerously, the ball having passed out in
coming round the head, but the bone is fractured. One or two officers
had narrow escapes. The 2nd Europeans had but fifty men wounded, and
five killed; the cases of the former, some of them very severe, are
mostly in the body and legs. There has been a fearful mortality in the
24th foot, thirteen officers killed and eight wounded, while the men
said to be killed and wounded amount to four hundred. The 29th foot also
suffered much, and the artillery a good deal. All our wounded are doing
well, I rejoice to say. The doctors were at one time quite within range
of the enemy's shot, and a bheestie of the 2nd European regiment had
his arm knocked off just behind where the surgeons of that corps were
riding: a spent ball rolled under my horse's feet. Lieutenant Weston
and Godby, of the 36th native infantry, were wounded, but not severely.
Brigadier Pennycuick and his son both killed. I believe we have gained a
regular victory, though at first it was doubtful. I hear Pope's brigade
of cavalry got a kind of panic at one time, and came to the rear,
but afterwards moved up in good style: there was something wrong with
the ---- for they drove us in from the rear and dispersed all the
doctors, &c., at the field hospital, where I had just arrived to see if
any assistance was required. There was an alarm of the Sikhs being in
our rear, and then there was a regular 'bolt.' Such a night we all
passed is better imagined than described--it was so very cold and rainy,
with a high wind blowing, enough to cut one in two. Several Doolies were
captured by the enemy, and the band instruments of the 2nd Europeans are
missing.

"All letters agree in stating that a panic overtook the ---- when
ordered to charge. I hear on all sides that it would be a wise and
prudent measure on the part of the governor-general to recall Lord Gough
from the Punjaub, and restrain his ill-judged valour within our peaceful
provinces. His lordship fancied himself at Donnybrook Fair, and was in
the thick of it, in the _melee_, and lost to sight!

"P.S.--The 56th regiment native infantry was brought out of action with
three hundred men, under the command of its junior captain, a cadet of
1840!"

These communications, although affording int