Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

Continuation of Foreign Intelligence received at Charleston.

LONDON. October 22.

A letter from lieut. Frederick Hansam, of the honourable East-India Company's First Native Regiment of Infantry in Bengal, dated Dandpore, December 5, 1803, says--" It is with pleasure I inform you of one of the most brilliant actions ever fought in India, or perhaps in Europe, which took place on the 1st of November, between General Lake and seventeen regiments, with very large body of Cavalry belonging to Scindia, in which, as usual, we have been victorious, although it was impossible the enemy could have took a stronger position than the one they occupied. They were in a complete amphitheatre, and in their front a nullah, the mouth of which the enemy had dammed up. The whole of our cavalry crossed it and charged, with our gallant commander in chief at their head, but could not make any impression on the enemy's line, consequently were obliged to retire, under a most tremendous and destructive fire of grape and chain shot from upwards of 70 pieces of artillery. The right wing of the army, under the command of general Ware, then came up, who, charging at the head of his men with the greatest intrepidity, had his head shot away by a cannon ball. Our troops, however, undismayed by his fall, resolutely pushed forward and broke the enemy's line, who still continued to make the most obstinate resistance, and refusing to accept quarters : the slaughter was so great, that out of their whole army, which consisted of upward of 30,000 cavalry and infantry, about 2000 only escaped the sword, who, seeing the general carnage around them, threw down their arms and surrendered as prisoners of war. The names, of those brave officers who so nobly fell or were wounded in this memorable battle, I make no doubt but you will see honourably mentioned and recorded in the London Gazette : which will be some consolation to their friends in Europe. The prize money which was captured at Agra and Delhi, has been divided amongst the army; to the amount of 35 lacks and 40,000 sicca rupees, and last night's dawk brought us an account of lieut. colonel Blair's having found 28,000 lacks more in Agra. Two new regiments were ordered to be raised a few weeks ago, each to consist of two battalions, and each battalion 1000 men. We have already 46,000 regular sepoys on the Bengal establishment, and six provincial battalions, which were lately raised by the Marquis of Wellesley."