impression with respect to the conduct of the brigade, which has been produced by the publication, purely through an oversight, of a despatch written exclusively for his Excellency's information. By order of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief,

J. R. LUMLEY, Major-General,

Adjutant-General of the Army.

ALIWAL.

General Order by the Governor-General of India.

Camp, Ferozepore, February 2, 1846.

The Governor-General announces to the army and the people of India, that he has received from his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, a report by Major-General Sir Harry Smith, K.C.B., dated the 30th ultimo, giving the details of a complete victory gained by the troops under the immediate command of the Major-General, on the 28th January, over the Sikh forces, commanded by the Sirdar Runjoor Singh Mujethea.

In this decisive and glorious action, the enemy's infantry were dislodged from every position and village they attempted to hold, by rapid charges at the point of the bayonet. Their horsemen were driven from every part of the field by repeated charges, in which the superior valour of the European and native cavalry was most conspicuous, and the artillery moving with its accustomed celerity, was always well to the front, directing its fire with precision and effect. The result of these noble efforts of the three arms of artillery, cavalry, and infantry, in which the valour and discipline of the troops were happily combined with the skill of the commander, has been the signal defeat of the enemy, who was driven across the river with great loss, his camp being captured, and fifty-two pieces of artillery remaining in the hands of the victors.

These trophies, in addition to those taken at Ferozeshah and Moodkee, complete the number of 143 pieces of artillery taken in the field from the enemy, since the British army moved from its cantonments to repel a most unprovoked aggression on its territories.

To Major-General Sir Harry Smith, and to the brave troops he commanded, the Governor-General conveys the tribute of his admiration, and the grateful acknowledgments of the Government. and the people of India. The service rendered was most important, and was accomplished by the ability of the commander and the valour of the troops.

Tha Governor-General's thanks are due to Brigadier Wheeler, who, although still suffering from the wounds received at Moodkee, energetically headed his brigade, composed of her Majesty's 50th Regiment, the 48th Native Infantry, and the Sirmoor battalion. Great praise is also due to Brigadiers Godby and Hicks, who with the 36th Native Infantry and Nusseree battalion, H. M. 31st, and the 24th and 47th Native Infantry, stormed the village of Aliwal, drove the enemy from it, and seized the guns by which it was defended.

The Governor-General has much satisfaction in observing the warm terms of admiration in which the Major-General speaks of the Nusseree and Sirmoor battalions, and the Shekawattee brigade under Brigadier Penny, Captain Fisher, and Major Forster. These corps nobly emulated the example of the regular regiments of Infantry.

In short, the conduct of the troops, European and native, regular and irregular, was, throughout the field, an honourable rivalry, in which every corps bravely did its duty.

Her Majesty's 16th Lancers, on this occasion, have added to their former reputation acquired in various fields of battle in Asia, by routing the enemy's cavalry in every direction, and by resolute charges of two of its squadrons, under Captain Bere and Major Smyth and Captain Pearson, penetrating the enemy's square of

infantry, in which charges the squadrons were gallantly supported by the 3rd Light Native Cavalry under Major Angelo.

In these exploits the native cavalry distinguished itself throughout the day, and the Governor-General is happy to bear his testimony to the fact that, since the army of the Sutlej commenced its operations on the 18th December, the native cavalry has on every occasion proved its superior prowess, whether in the general actions which have been fought, or in the various skirmishes at the outposts, such as that in which Captain Becher was gallantly engaged with a small party of the 8th Irregular Cavalry at Alloowalla, on the morning of the 27th January.

The Governor-General's thanks are due, in an especial manner, to Brigadier Cureton, who commanded the Cavalry. This officer's whole life has been spent in the most meritorious exertions in Europe and Asia; and on this occasion, the skill and intrepidity with which the cavalry force was handled, obtained the admiration of the army which witnessed their movements.

The Government of India, ever desirous to mark its grateful sense of the services of the Army, will cause a medal to be presented to every officer and soldier of the East India Company's service, engaged in the battle of Aliwal, and requests, through his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, that a nominal roll may be furnished for that purpose.

By order of the Right Hon. the Governor-General of India,

F. CURRIE,

Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General.

General Sir Hugh Gough, Bart., G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief in India, to the Governor-General.

Camp, Nihalkee, February 1, 1846.

After its final repulse, on the 22d of December, the Sikh army retired, in great confusion, across the ferries and fords of the Sutlej.

I established my head quarters at Sultan Khan Walla on the 24th, my divisions being encamped at that place, at Peer Khan Walla, and at Kool. On the 27th, I advanced to Hurruff; and, the same day, personally pushed a reconnoissance to the bank of the river, at the Ghat of Sobraon.

The enemy was seen stretching along the right bank in force, not half a dozen of his stragglers being surprised by our Irregular Cavalry on this side.

Major-General Sir Harry Smith's division I placed in an advanced position, with its right on the village of Mallowal, and its left on a nullah, an offset from the Sutlej.

From this point the enemy was watched by the Major-Geners`. with equal activity and circumspection, whilst the rest of our troops were held in hand ready to support him, should the Sikhs venture to resume the initiative.

On or about the 5th, our attention was directed to a predatory incursion of the enemy, in the direction of Loodiana. They burnt a few of the residences of our officers, and barracks of our soldiers at that station, but avoided the combat, when the Sirmoor battalion, and other troops, interrupted them in the work of destruction.

Rumour exaggerated the nature and extent of this inroad, and excited some alarm for our communications; but the object of this foray was, eventually, discovered to be for the purpose of favouring the escape, across the Sutlej, of the Rajah of Ladwa, who had alone, of all the principal princes and chiefs of the protected states, evinced towards us, at this conjuncture, decided hostility. With him the predatory Sikhs recrossed the Sutlej.

On the 12th of January, I determined to bring my whole force into a position, from which it might more closely observe the movements of the enemy, now posted near the greater Sobraon, on the right bank. At an early hour, it executed an oblique movement to its right and front. Major-General Sir Harry Smith, supported by a cavalry brigade, under Brigadier Cureton,

G

(recently brought up from Meerut) was, in this new alignment, still on the right, opposite to Hurrekee Puttun: Major-General Gilbert in the centre; and Major-General Sir Robert Dick on the left, covered again by cavalry. Major-General Sir John Grey, posted at Attaree, watched the Nuggur ford. The troops of Major-General Sir John Littler occupied, or were drawn around, the cantonment and entrenchment of Ferozepore.

The enemy, on his side, reinforced his army on the right bank, completed and strengthened his bridge, and increased the force of his posts and picquets on the left bank. These parties having, on the 14th, evinced more than usual audacity, I caused that ody of his infantry which held the head of the bridge, to be driven in by the fire of artillery and rockets, supported by the presence of our light troops. On the following day, a partial cannonade, which was again opened, on our side, upon the boats of the Sikhs, on their outposts on the left bank, and their encampment on the right, enabled me to ascertain, from the direction of their corresponding fire, the nature of all their defensive dispositions.

Meanwhile, the Upper Sutlej has become the scene of very interesting operations.

It is a strange feature of this war that the enemy, pressed for supplies on his own bank, has been striving to draw them from his Jaghire States on this side of the river. In the town and fort of Dhurmkote, which were filled with grain, he had, in the second week of January, a small garrison of mercenaries, Rohillas, Eusufzies, and Affghans. Major-General Sir Harry Smith was, on the 18th, sent against this place, with a single brigade of his division, and a light field battery. He easily effected its reduction, the troops within it surrendering at discretion, after a few cannot shots. But, whilst he was yet in march, I received information of a more serious character. There remained little cause to doubt that Sirdar Runjoor Singh Mujethea had crossed from Philour, at the head of a numerous force of all arms, and established himself in position at Baran Hara, between the old