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It is not surprising that the British casualties were nuWithin thirty hours an entrenched camp had been stormed, a general action fought, and two considerable conflicts sustained with the enemy. Thus in less than four days, sixty thousand Sikh soldiers, supported by upwards of one hundred and fifty pieces of cannon, were dislodged from their position, and received a just retribution for their treacherous proceedings, without provocation or declaration of hostilities.

The 3rd. Light Dragoons, 9th., 29th., 31st., 50th., 62nd., and 80th. regiments bear the word FEROZESHAH ON their colours and appointments. In the official despatch there were no regiments particularized, for all were equally exposed during this protracted conflict.*

BATTLE OF ALIWAL.

28TH. JANUARY, 1846.

ON the 16th. of January, 1846, the first brigade, with a few guns and some native cavalry, received sudden orders to march on the following morning in the direction of Loodiana, under the command of Major-General Sir Harry Smith. By a forced march on the 17th., the fort of Dhurrumkote was surprised, and the garrison, consisting of about three hundred men, laid down their arms, and were sent prisoners to headquarters. On the 20th. of the same month this division was reinforced near the fort of Jugraon by the 16th. Lancers, the 53rd. Foot, a detachment of recruits of the Queen's regiments, and a troop of horse artillery. The Major-General decided on attempting the relief of Loodiana, which was but slightly garrisoned, and was threatened by a large body of the enemy. The troops commenced their march about one

"The Governor-General's thanks are due to all the infantry regiments of Her Majesty, and to the 1st. European Light Infantry of the East India Company's service, all of which regiments distinguished themselves by the most devoted courage in braving the destructive fire of the enemy's batteries, and valiantly capturing their guns. The GovernorGeneral offers his thanks more especially to Her Majesty's 3rd. Dragoons, who, on all these occasions, sought opportunities of useful conflict with the enemy, and fought with that superiority over their opponents which skill and discipline impart to brave and determined men."-General Orders by the Right Honourable the Governor-General.

H

o'clock in the morning of the 21st.; about eleven, the enemy was observed to be drawn up, parallel with the British line of march, in a strong position at Buddiwal, his front covered by a ridge of low sand-hills, bristling with forty pieces of artillery, which were so placed that it was necessary, in order to gain Loodiana, either to risk a battle to dislodge him from a strong position,-which, with troops fatigued by a long march, under a burning sun, and greatly inferior in numbers, would have been a hazardous proceeding, or to proceed along the entire front of his position under a galling fire.

Having a just confidence in the steadiness of his troops, Sir Harry Smith chose the latter course. The infantry, formed in open column of companies right in front (the grenadier company of the 31st. leading,) and ready at any moment to form line, preceded by the artillery, and covered by the cavalry, marched at a distance of five hundred yards, along the front of this formidable line, receiving the fire of each battery as it bore upon them. The Sikh position being passed, and the enemy declining to follow, by three o'clock in the afternoon the troops arrived at Loodiana, thus effecting the desired object.

On the 22nd. and 23rd. the soldiers were permitted to rest themselves after their late fatigue, and on the 24th. the enemy retired to Aliwal, a village on the Sutlej. The British moved to the ground lately occupied by them at Buddiwal, where they were reinforced by the second brigade of Sir Harry Smith's division, consisting of the 50th. Foot and 48th. Native Infantry, with some cavalry and infantry from Loodiana.

At daylight on the 28th. Sir Harry Smith marched with his whole force to attack the Sirdar Runjoor Singh and the Rajah of Ladwa in their camps at Aliwal, the enemy being drawn up in line of battle with his left resting on the village. From information afterwards received, it appeared that the Sikhs were about to march upon Jugraon that very morning, for the purpose of getting between Sir Harry Smith's force and the heavy guns coming up from Delhi under a very slender escort. The march having been previously conducted in column of brigades at deploying distance,

each brigade deployed on its leading company, and thus formed one long line. About ten o'clock in the morning the action commenced by a heavy cannonade from the Sikh artillery, which was principally directed on the British centre. The village of Aliwal was filled with infantry, supported by cavalry in the rear, and further defended by two guns on its left. The village was carried, and the two guns were captured, but the line being in consequence somewhat disarranged, it was quickly re-formed, and advanced in excellent order, overcoming all opposition. The attack of the enemy by the left wing was equally successful; the line advanced, making a steady and successful charge, and the Sikhs, being beaten in every quarter, fled towards the river in the utmost confusion, leaving their camp and fifty-two pieces of artillery, as trophies in the hands of the victors.

The Queen's regiments which bear the word ALIWAL are the 16th. Lancers, 31st., 50th., and 53rd. Foot.

BATTLE OF SOBRAON.

10TH. FEBRUARY, 1846.

ALTHOUGH the intelligence of the victory of Aliwal, and the sight of the numerous bodies which floated from the vicinity of that battle-fleld to the bridge of boats at Sobraon, apparently disheartened the enemy, and caused many of them to return to their homes, yet in a few days they appeared as confident as ever of being able in their entrenched position, to defy the Anglo-Indian army, and to prevent the passage of the Sutlej.

The heavy ordnance having arrived on the 8th. of February, the day on which the forces under Major-General Sir Harry

* Shortly after the storming of the village of Aliwal, an European officer in the Sikh service was given in charge to the 31st. regiment, having surrendered himself as a prisoner to an officer of one of the cavalry regiments in the Company's service. He said his servant had galloped off with his charger, and, being rather stout, preferred giving himself up to the chance of running away; his name was John Potter, a native of Maidstone, in Kent; he had deserted from the Company's Artillery twenty years before, and was now a Colonel of Artillery in the Sikh service, having a native wife and family at Lahore. The Governor-General afterwards permitted him to hold an appointment in the Sikh service.

Smith rejoined the main body of the army, it was determined at once to storm their entrenchments, and finally drive them out of Hindoostan. This was no ordinary undertaking, as, from observations made during the time the head-quarters of the army were stationed at the village of Nihalkee, it was ascertained that the position at Sobraon was covered with formidable entrenchments, and defended by thirty thousand of the élite of the Khalsa troops; besides being united by a good bridge to a reserve on the opposite bank of the river, on which was stationed a considerable camp, with artillery, which commanded and flanked the Sikh field-works on the British side of the Sutlej.

As

About daybreak on the 10th. of February, the mortars, battering guns, and field artillery were disposed on the alluvial land, embracing within their fire the enemy's works. soon as the sun's rays cleared the heavy mist which hung over the plain, the cannonade commenced; but notwithstanding the admirable manner in which the guns were served, it would have been visionary to expect that they could, within any limited time, silence the fire of seventy pieces of artillery behind well-constructed batteries, or dislodge troops so strongly entrenched. It soon therefore became evident that musketry and the bayonet must ultimately decide the contest.

The British infantry, formed on the extreme left of the line, then advanced to the assault, and in spite of every impediment, cleared the entrenchments, and entered the enemy's camp. Her Majesty's 10th., 53rd., and 80th. regiments, with the 33rd., 43rd., 59th., and 63rd. Native Infantry, moving at a firm and steady pace, never fired a shot till they had passed the barriers opposed to them, to which was attributed the success of their first effort, and the small loss sustained by them. When checked by the formidable obstacles and superior numbers to which the attacking division was exposed, the second division, under Major-General Gilbert, afforded the most opportune assistance by advancing to the attack of the Sikh batteries, entering the fortified position after a severe struggle, and sweeping through the interior of the camp. A very severe loss was inflicted by this division upon the retreating enemy. The same gallant efforts, attended

by similar results,

left by the first

distinguished the attack of the enemy's division, under Major-General Sir Harry Smith, in which the troops nobly sustained their former reputation.*

Fighting with the energy of desperation, the Sikhs, even when some of their entrenchments were mastered with the bayonet, endeavoured to recover with the sword the positions they had lost. It was not until the weight of all three divisions of infantry, in addition to several regiments of cavalry, with the fire of every piece of field artillery that could be sent to their aid, had been felt, that the enemy gave way. The Sikh regiments retreated at first in tolerable order, but the incessant volleys soon caused them to seek safety in a rapid flight. Masses of them precipitated themselves on their bridge, which, being broken by the heavy fire, was incapable to sustain the multitudes pressing forward; the sudden rise too of the Sutlej rendered the ford almost impassable, adding another obstacle to their escape. Α dreadful carnage ensued. The stream was red with the bodies of men and horses, the bridge in many places had given way, and it is considered that at least a third of the Sikh army perished in this battle; sixty-seven of their guns were captured, together with two hundred camel-swivels (zumboorucks,) numerous standards, and vast munitions of

war.

In this manner ended the battle of Sobraon; at six in the morning it commenced; at nine it became a hand to hand conflict; and by eleven it was gained. Major-General

* A most gallant act was performed by Sergeant Bernard Mc Cabe, of the 31st. Foot. Lieutenant Tritton, bearing the Queen's colour, was shot through the head, and Ensign Jones, who carried the regimental one, was nearly at the same time mortally wounded. The regimental colour, falling to the ground, was seized by Sergeant Mc Cabe, who, rushing forward, crossed the ditch, and planted it on the highest point of the enemy's fortifications, maintaining his position under a most tremendous fire, the colour being completely riddled with shot. The men, cheering, scrambled into the works as best they could, and drove the enemy into the river, Lieutenant Noel bearing the Queen's colour, the staff of which was shivered in his hand. Sergeant Mc Cabe was appointed to an ensigncy in the 18th. Royal Irish Regiment, on the recommendation of the late General Sir Harry Smith, who pronounced this deed to be one of the most daring he ever witnessed, and which he considered tended much to shorten the struggle. Captain Mc Cabe, of the 32nd., to which regiment he was afterwards promoted, died of wounds, received while leading his fourth sortie, at Lucknow, on the 1st. of October, 1857.

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