Despatch from Major-General Gilbert to the Commander-in-Chief, 3rd Brigade. H. M.'s 29th Foot. 45th Regt. N.I. SIR,-Agreeably to instructions just received, I have the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, the H. M.'s 80th Foot.operations of the 2nd infantry division in action with the enemy since that of the 18th instant at Moodkee. 4th Brigade. 1st European L.I. 2nd Nat. Grenadiers. 16th Ditto. Under Br. J. McLaren, C.B. Under Br. C. Taylor, C.B. My division, consisting of the troops as per margin, having been directed to lead the attack upon the enemy's entrenched camp at Ferozeshah, after steadily advancing under a heavy cannonade in échellon of regiments from the right covered by two light field batteries, commanded by Captain Horsford, came into action about four P.M., and succeeded in driving the enemy from that part of their position opposed to me, though I regret to say this was not effected without considerable loss, particularly in European officers. In consequence of the night setting in, the fear of the troops firing on each other, and through confusion, consequent on part of the enemy's camp being on fire, not rendering it expedient that I should retain the position so gallantly won, I took up another, under instructions, about 400 yards from the camp, where I bivouacked for the night. 3rd Inf. Division. H. M.'s 9th Foot. Two detachments of H. M.'s 10th Foot. 26th Nat. Lt. Inf. Towards morning of the 22nd instant, the 3rd division, under Brigadier Wallace, consisting of the troops as per margin, having been placed under my command, in addition to my own (2nd division), I, at daybreak, under instruction from his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, made my dispositions for again storming the enemy's entrenched post, which had been re-occupied during the night, and the troops, as per margin, advanced in line drawn up from the right, as follows: The front of the left of my division was led into action by his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, and the right by the Right Honourable the Lieutenant-General, Sir H. Hardinge, and I myself leading Her Majesty's 80th Foot; and notwithstanding the advance was made under a tremendous fire of heavy guns, the enemy's entrenchment was retaken, battery after battery, at the bayonet's point; and although the troops under my immediate command required no stimulus to oppose the enemy, yet the presence of those two above-mentioned distinguished officers in the field of battle greatly animated them on this trying occasion. The conduct of Her Majesty's 80th Regiment and the Hon. Company's 1st European Light Infantry, I cannot too highly speak of, as well as that of the 16th Grenadiers, and portions of the 2nd Grenadiers, 26th Light Infantry, and 45th Regiment Native Infantry. Capt. F. W. Anson, A.A.G. Offg. D. A. Q. M. G. Capt. G. Carr, Dy. J. A. A. G. It affords me great satisfaction to record the valuable services I received on this occasion and on the preceding evening from those distinguished officers, Brigadier C. Taylor, C.B., Brigadier J. McLaren, and Brigadier N. Wallace; the first-named officer, although wounded by a cannon shot in the evening, was again at the head of his brigade on the following morning; and the last-named officer (Brigadier Wallace) I regret to say was killed towards the end of the action; as well as from the general and personal staff, whose names are mentioned in the margin, particularly from the first-named officer (CapBrig. Maj. 6th Brig. tain Anson). Nor can I forbear to mention the gallant behaviour of Lieutenant and Adjutant Paton of the 14th Regiment Native Infantry, who commanded one of the detachments of native infantry on the right, which at one time hesitated to move forward, when that officer, seizing a colour, Capt. R. Houghton, Aide-de-Camp. Lieut. F. M. Gilbert, Offg. Extra. A.D.C. Brevet-Capt. P. Gordon, advanced in front, and by this necessary example induced the men to regain their place in the line and move onwards. In consequence of the death of Brigadier Wallace, commanding the 3rd division of infantry, I take leave to bring to the notice of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief the valuable services of that zealous officer, Captain T. R. Pond, Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General of the 3rd division. A return of the killed and wounded of both actions will be forwarded as soon as possible. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. (Signed) W. R. GILBERT, Major-General, Commanding Second Division Army of the Sutlej. P.S.-The following of the General Staff had horses shot under them :-Major-General Gilbert, 1 killed and 1 wounded; Lieutenant T. R. Rawson, 1 killed; Captain Carr, 1 killed and 1 wounded. Proclamation by the Governor-General of India. Ferozepore, December 31, 1845. The Lahore Government has, without provocation, or any declaration of hostilities, and notwithstanding the existence of a treaty of amity and alliance, made war upon the British Government. A large Sikh army has invaded the British territories, which has been repulsed and driven across the Sutlej, with the loss of 91 pieces of their artillery now in our possession. It becomes necessary, therefore, for the British Government to take measures for punishing this unprovoked aggression, and for preventing in future similar acts of treachery by the Government and army of the Punjaub. The British Government considers it right now to call upon all natives and inhabitants of Hindoostan who have taken service under the Lahore Government, to quit that service, and place themselves under the orders of the Governor-General of India. As long as relations of amity existed between the two states, there was no objection to the natives of the one territory taking service with the Government of the other; but now that the Lahore state has become the avowed enemy of the Government of Hindoostan, it is incumbent on all natives of Hindoostan, whose homes and families are under British protection, to quit the service of the common enemy, and join that of the Government of their own country. All persons of the above description are, therefore, hereby called upon to repair to the British side of the Sutlej, and to report themselves to the British authorities; their interests will, in all cases, be respected; they will, if fit for the military service, be taken into that of the British Government, with all the advantages of pay and allowances enjoyed by British soldiers. All natives of Hindoostan who, after the promulgation of this Proclamation, continue in the service of the enemy will be considered to have forfeited all claim to British protection, and will be treated as traitors to their country, and enemies of the British Government. By order of the Right Honourable the Governor-General of India, F. CURRIE, Secretary to the Government of India, with the Governor-General. NOTIFICATION. Ferozepore, Dec. 25, Christmas Day, 1845. The Governor-General has the heartfelt satisfaction to announce to his Honour the President in Council, to the army, and to the people of India, the repulse of the Sikh forces in their attack on a portion of the British army near Moodkee, on the night of the 18th instant, and the capture, on the evening of the 21st and morning of the 22nd, of their entrenched camp, with seventy pieces of cannon, defended by 60,000 men, near the village of Ferozeshah. Upwards of ninety pieces of the enemy's artillery have been taken in these two operations. These events, so glorious to the British arms, have been followed by the precipitate retreat of the enemy towards the Sutlej, |