Chapter II (4)

The ghastly horrors of that awful night we should hopelessly struggle to describe. The attack began about three o'clock in the afternoon, and was urged incessantly for six hours in the face of the devastating storm of the Sikh batteries, which, with one continuous roar of thunder, blurted forth agony, and mutilation, and death upon their assailants. On the bare cold earth--the night was bitterly, intensely cold--with no food and no water--the living and the dying, in their exhaustion and torture, lay with the dead in their tranquillity. Broadfoot, with a happier fate, had already yielded up his spirit; Somerset, sensible, but helplessly benumbed, was lingering through the tedious hours, to die in the morning, knolled by the shouts of victory. All night long "the havoc did not cease." In the very noon of darkness, a sleepless rest was invaded and broken by such extraordinary efforts as those to which the Governor-General in person excited the 80th and 1st European light infantry. And it well merits remembrance, what we know from other sources, that in these midnight charges, the men fell into the ranks so noiselessly and swiftly, that they were ready to advance before their officers were aware of their commands being generally understood.

"But with daylight of the 22d came retribution. Our infantry formed
line, supported on both flanks by horse artillery, whilst a fire
was opened from our centre by such of our heavy guns as remained
effective, aided by a flight of rockets. A masked battery played
with great effect upon this point, dismounting our pieces, and
blowing up our tumbrils. At this moment Lieutenant-General Sir
Henry Hardinge placed himself at the head of the left, whilst I
rode at the head of the right wing.

"Our line advanced, and, unchecked by the enemy's fire, drove them
rapidly out of the village of Ferozeshah and their encampment;
then, changing front to its left, on its centre, our force
continued to sweep the camp, bearing down all opposition, and
dislodged the enemy from their whole position. The line then
halted, as if on a day of manoeuvre, receiving its two leaders,
as they rode along its front, with a gratifying cheer, and
displaying the captured standards of the Khalsa army. We had taken
upwards of seventy-three pieces of cannon, and were masters of the
whole field.

"The force assumed a position on the ground which it had won; but
even here its labours were not to cease. In the course of two
hours, Sirdar Tej Singh, who had commanded in the last great
battle, brought up from the vicinity of Ferozopore fresh battalions
and a large field of artillery, supported by 30,000 Ghorepurras,
hitherto encamped near the river. He drove in our cavalry parties,
and made strenuous efforts to regain the position at Ferozeshah:
this attempt was defeated; but its failure had scarcely become
manifest, when the Sirdar renewed the contest with more troops and
a large artillery. He commenced by a combination against our left
flank, and when this was frustrated, made such a demonstration
against the captured village as compelled us to change our whole
front to the right. His guns during this manoeuvre maintained an
incessant fire, whilst, our artillery ammunition being completely
expended in those protracted combats, we were unable to answer him
with a single shot.

"I now directed our almost exhausted cavalry to threaten both
flanks at once, preparing the infantry to advance in support, which
apparently caused him suddenly to cease his fire, and abandon the
field.

* * * * *

"The loss of this army has been heavy; how could a hope be formed
that it should be otherwise? Within thirty hours this force stormed
an intrenched camp, fought a general action, and sustained two
considerable combats with the enemy. Within four days it has
dislodged from their positions, on the left bank of the Sutlej,
60,000 Sikh soldiers, supported by upwards of 150 pieces of cannon,
108 of which the enemy acknowledge to have lost, and 91 of which
are in our possession.

"In addition to our losses in the battle, the captured camp was
found to be every where protected by charged mines, by the
successive springing of which many brave officers and men have been
destroyed."[17]

Was there ever harder fighting? No--not even a month afterwards at Sobraon. For two-and-twenty hours, from three o'clock on the afternoon of the 21st till one o'clock after mid-day of the 22d, the combat--unremitted, as we have seen, even beneath the shade of night--endured, and deepened as it endured, having raged with appalling fury in its very termination. The intrenched Sikh camp was literally a fortress, occupied by a great army not untutored in European discipline, and protected by enormous batteries of heavy ordnance, which were served so rapidly, and pointed so truly, as to elicit the unqualified admiration of the victims of their efficiency. Against this bristling rock, while, wave after wave, our sea of battle surged and reverberated, dark clouds of Sikh cavalry, hovering on all sides, sent forth at opportune conjunctures their sweeping whirlwinds, which either destroyed those ranks, whose compact array was broken by eagerness and the nature of the ground, or more frequently forced our infantry suddenly to form into squares beneath the iron tempest of a demolishing artillery. With difficulty and labour our heroic soldiers had but breached, and surmounted, and gained footing within the fortifications, when the earth, heaving and opening with the successive explosion of charged mines, hurled into fragments scores of those who had passed unscathed through the ordeal of manly warfare with confronting foes. But moat and mound, cannon and cavern, were at length overleapt, silenced and exhausted. Still was it "double, double, toil and trouble." With fresh reinforcements of men, backed as ever by a massive artillery, the enemy repeatedly attempted to retrieve his loss, and regain his camp. To his incessant fire, _we could not answer with a single shot_; our ammunition was gone. Frustrating his manoeuvres, what else remained to do was done with the hard steel of the bayonet, and hand to hand with the good sword. And thus were earned the laurels of Ferozeshah.

Over the carnage of such battle-fields, we would glance hastily. At Moodkee, of the British, fell two hundred and fifteen; at Ferozeshah, six hundred and ninety-four, gallant men and faithful soldiers. The long lists, also, of the wounded, which catalogue six hundred and fifty-seven sufferers at Moodkee, and swell to one thousand seven hundred and twenty-one at Ferozeshah, painfully attest the severity of the struggle, and the deadly precision of the foe. But the foe! who has numbered his dead? None; nor ever will. The pall of a decent oblivion has been tacitly cast upon the incalculable amount of his loss, which has exceeded the utmost extent of British loss, as much as his hordes of living warriors outnumbered by tens of thousands the British force at the dawn of the eventful day which looked on Moodkee--the Agincourt of India. "Is it not lawful," asks honest Fluellen, "to tell how many is killed?" "Yes," is the answer of our Fifth Harry--"Yes, captain; but with this acknowledgment, that God fought for us."

The route of the Sikhs at Ferozeshah was succeeded by nearly a month employed, as we are now aware, by both sides in making preparations, offensive and defensive, for further serious exertions. The Sikh army, upon its overthrow, retired, not in confusion and haste, but steadily and easily, towards the Sutlej, which they crossed about the 27th of December. They recrossed, however, soon after, and worked indefatigably in rearing those magnificent and powerful fortifications at Sobraon, with which we are yet destined in the course of our narrative to come into rude collision. The Governor-General, on the other hand, was busy in collecting and amassing the munitions of war of every description, for the purpose of forcing, if opposed, the passage of the Sutlej, and carrying his victorious standard into the heart of the Punjaub. But fortune was now about to shower her smiles upon a peculiar favourite. Pressed for supplies on their own bank, the Sikhs were endeavouring to draw them from the British side of the Upper Sutlej. In the fort and town of Dhurrumkote, which were filled with grain, they maintained a small garrison. Against this place, Major-General Sir Harry Smith was ordered, on the 18th of January, to move, with one brigade of his division, and a light field-battery. In the mean time, the Commander-in-Chief received information that the Sirdar Runjoor Singh, crossing from Philour at the head of a numerous force of all arms, had established himself between the old and new sources of the Sutlej, and threatened the rich and populous city of Loodianah. Sir Harry Smith was accordingly directed to advance by Jugraon towards Loodianah, with the brigade which had accompanied him to Dhurrumkote, while his second brigade, under Brigadier Wheeler, moved on to support him. "Then commenced," we learn from the Commander-in-Chief, "a series of very delicate combinations."

"The Major-General, breaking up from Jugraon, moved towards
Loodianah; when the Sirdar, relying on the vast superiority of his
forces; assumed the initiative, and endeavoured to intercept his
progress, by marching in a line parallel to him, and opening upon
his troops a furious cannonade. The Major-General continued coolly
to manoeuvre; and when the Sikh Sirdar, bending round one wing
of his army, enveloped his flank, he extricated himself, by
retiring, with the steadiness of a field-day, by echelon of
battalions, and effected his communication with Loodianah, but not
without severe loss.

"Reinforced by Brigadier Godby, he felt himself to be strong; but
his manoeuvres had thrown him out of communication with Brigadier
Wheeler, and a portion of his baggage had fallen into the hands of
the enemy. The Sikh Sirdar took up an intrenched position at
Budhowal, supporting himself on its fort; but, threatened on either
flank by General Smith and Brigadier Wheeler, finally decamped, and
moved down to the Sutlej. The British troops made good their
junction, and occupied the abandoned position of Budhowal; the
Shekawattee brigade and her Majesty's 53d regiment, also added to
the strength of the Major-General, and he prepared to attack the
Sikh Sirdar on his new ground. But, on the 26th, Runjoor Singh was
reinforced from the right bank with four thousand regular troops,
twelve pieces of artillery, and a large force of cavalry.

"Emboldened by this accession of strength, he ventured on the
measure of advancing towards Jugraon, apparently with the view of
intercepting our communications by that route."[18]

The audacity of the Sikhs was doomed to meet a rough check. Wheeler having joined Sir Harry by long marches on the 26th of January, the troops required one day's rest. And now we have our hand upon the most delightful official despatch, and the most admirable picture of a battle, which has stirred our blood for many a day. Not a sentence of explanation do the words of Sir Harry Smith need, nor with a syllable of observation shall we rashly dare to gild his gold. Let us hear Cæsar dictating his commentary.

"At daylight on the 28th, my order of advance was, the cavalry in
front, in contiguous columns of squadrons of regiments; two troops
of horse artillery in the interval of brigades; the infantry in
contiguous columns of brigades at intervals of deploying distance;
artillery in the intervals, followed by two eight-inch howitzers,
on travelling carriages, brought into the field from the fort of
Loodianah by the indefatigable exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel
Lane, horse artillery. Brigadier Godby's brigade, which I had
marched out from Loodianah the previous evening, on the right, the
Shekawattee infantry on the left, the 4th irregular cavalry and the
Shekawattee cavalry considerably to the right, for the purpose of
sweeping the banks of the wet mullah on my right, and preventing
any of the enemy's horse attempting an inroad towards Loodianah, or
any attempt upon the baggage assembled round the fort of Budhowal.

"In this order the troops moved forward towards the enemy, a
distance of six miles, the advance conducted by Captain Waugh, 16th
lancers, the Deputy-assistant Quartermaster of cavalry; Major
Bradford of the 1st cavalry, and Lieutenant Strachey of the
engineers--who had been jointly employed in the conduct of patrols
up to the enemy's position, and for the purpose of reporting upon
the facility and points of approach. Previously to the march of the
troops, it had been intimated to me by Major Mackeson, that the
information by spies led to the belief the enemy would move,
somewhere at daylight, either on Jugraon, my position of Budhowal,
or Loodianah. On a near approach to his outposts, this rumour was
confirmed by a spy, who had just left his camp, saying the Sikh
army was actually in march towards Jugraon. My advance was steady,
my troops well in hand; and if he had anticipated me on the Jugraon
road, I could have fallen upon his centre with advantage.

"From the tops of the houses of the village of Poorein, I had a
distant view of the enemy. He was in motion, and appeared directly
opposite my front on a ridge, of which the village of Aliwal may be
regarded as the centre. His left appeared still to occupy its
ground in the circular intrenchment; his right was brought forward
and occupied the ridge. I immediately deployed the cavalry into
line, and moved on. As I neared the enemy, the ground became most
favourable for the troops to manoeuvre, being open and hard grass
land. I ordered the cavalry to take ground to the right and left by
brigades, thus displaying the heads of the infantry columns, and
as they reached the hard ground I directed them to deploy into
line. Brigadier Godby's brigade was in direct echelon to the rear
of the right--the Shekawattee infantry in like manner to the rear
of my left. The cavalry in direct echelon on, and well to the rear
of both flanks of the infantry. The artillery massed on the right,
and centre, and left. After deployment, I observed the enemy's left
to outflank me; I therefore broke into open columns and took ground
to my right. When I had gained sufficient ground, the troops
wheeled into line; there was no dust, the sun shone brightly. The
manoeuvres were performed with the celerity and precision of the
most correct field-day. The glistening of the bayonets and swords
of this order of battle was most imposing, and the line advanced.
Scarcely had it moved forward 150 yards, when at 10 o'clock the
enemy opened a fierce cannonade from his whole line. At first his
balls fell short, but quickly reached us. Thus upon him, and
capable of better ascertaining his position, I was compelled to
halt the line, though under fire, for a few moments, until I
ascertained that by bringing up my right and carrying the village
of Aliwal, I could with great effect precipitate myself upon his
left and centre. I therefore quickly brought Brigadier Godby's
brigade, and with it and the 1st brigade under Brigadier Hicks,
made a rapid and noble charge, carried the village, and two guns of
large calibre. The line I ordered to advance--her Majesty's 31st
foot and the native regiments contending for the front, and the
battle became general. The enemy had a numerous body of cavalry on
the heights to his left, and I ordered Brigadier Cureton to bring
up the right brigade of cavalry; who, in the most gallant manner,
dashed in among them, and drove them back upon their infantry.
Meanwhile a second gallant charge to my right was made by the light
cavalry and the body-guard. The Shekawattee brigade was moved well
to the right, in support of Brigadier Cureton. When I observed the
enemy's encampment, and saw it was full of infantry, I immediately
brought upon it Brigadier Godby's brigade, by changing front, and
taking the enemy's infantry _en reverse_. They drove them before
them, and took some guns without a check.

"While these operations were going on upon the right, and the
enemy's flank was thus driven back, I occasionally observed the
brigade under Brigadier Wheeler, an officer in whom I have the
greatest confidence, charging and carrying guns and every thing
before it, again connecting his line and moving on in a manner
which ably displayed the coolness of the brigadier, and the
gallantry of his irresistible brigade--her Majesty's 50th foot, the
48th native infantry, and the Sirmoor battalion, although the loss
was, I regret to say, severe in the 50th. Upon the left, Brigadier
Wilson, with her Majesty's 53d and 30th native infantry, equalled
in celerity and regularity their comrades on the right, and this
brigade was opposed to the 'Aieen' troops, called Avitabile's, when
the fight was fiercely raging.

"The enemy, well driven back on his left and centre, endeavoured to
hold his right to cover the passage of the river and he strongly
occupied the village of Bhoondee. I directed a squadron of the 16th
lancers, under Major Smith and Captain Pearson, to charge a body to
the right of the village; which they did in the most gallant and
determined style, bearing every thing before them, as a squadron
under Captain Bere had previously done, going through a square of
infantry, wheeling about and re-entering the square in the most
intrepid manner with the deadly lance. This charge was accompanied
by the 3d light cavalry, under Major Angelo, and as gallantly
sustained. The largest gun upon the field, and seven others, were
then captured; while the 53d regiment carried the village by the
bayonet, and the 30th N.I. wheeled round to the rear in a most
spirited manner. Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander's and Captain
Turton's troops of horse artillery, under Major Lawrenson, dashed
almost among the flying infantry, committing great havoc, until
about eight hundred or one thousand men rallied under the high bank
of a nullah, and opened a heavy but ineffectual fire from below the
bank. I immediately directed the 30th native infantry to charge
them, which they were able to do upon their left flank, while in a
line in rear of the village. This native corps nobly obeyed my
orders, and rushed among the Avitabile troops, driving them from
under the bank, and exposing them once more to the deadly fire of
twelve guns within 300 yards. The destruction was very great, as
may be supposed from guns served as these were. Her Majesty's 53d
regiment moved forward in support of the 30th N.I., by the right of
the village. The battle was won--our troops advancing with the most
perfect order to the common focus, the passage of the river. The
enemy, completely hemmed in, were flying from our fire, and
precipitating themselves in disordered masses into the ford and
boats, in the utmost confusion and consternation. Our eight-inch
howitzers soon began to play upon their boats, when the 'debris' of
the Sikh army appeared upon the opposite and high bank of the
river, flying in every direction, although a sort of line was
attempted to countenance their retreat, until all our guns
commenced a furious cannonade, when they quickly receded. Nine guns
were on the verge of the river by the ford. It appears as if they
had been unlimbered to cover the ford. These, being loaded, were
fired once upon our advance. To others were sticking in the river;
one of them, we got out. Two were seen to sink in the quicksands;
two were dragged to the opposite bank and abandoned. These, and the
one in the middle of the river, were gallantly spiked by Lieutenant
Holmes, of the 11th irregular cavalry, and Gunner Scott, of the 1st
troop 2nd brigade horse artillery, who rode into the stream, and
crossed for the purpose, covered by our guns and light infantry.

"Thus ended the battle of Aliwal, one of the most glorious
victories ever achieved in India. By the united efforts of her
Majesty's and the Hon. Company's troops, every gun the enemy had
fell into our hands, as I infer from his never opening one upon us
from the opposite bank of the river, which is high and favourable
for the purpose; 52 guns are now in the ordnance park, two sank in
the bed of the Sutlej, and two were spiked on the opposite
bank--making a total of 56 pieces of cannon captured or
destroyed.[19] Many jingalls, which were attached to Avitabile's
corps, and which aided in the defence of the village of Bhoondee,
have also been taken. The whole army of the enemy has been driven
headlong over the difficult ford of a broad river; his camp,
baggage, stores of ammunition, and of grain--his all, in
fact--wrested from him by the repeated charges of cavalry and
infantry, aided by the guns of Alexander, Turton, Lane, Mill,
Boileau, and of the Shekawattee brigade, and by the eight-inch
howitzers--our guns literally being constantly ahead of every
thing. The determined bravery of all was as conspicuous as noble. I
am unwont to praise when praise is not merited, and I here most
avowedly express my firm opinion and conviction, that no troops in
any battle on record ever behaved more nobly. British and native
(no distinction) cavalry all vying with her Majesty's 16th lancers,
and striving to head in the repeated charges. Our guns and gunners,
officers and men, may be equalled, but cannot be excelled, by any
artillery in the world. Throughout the day no hesitation--a bold
and intrepid advance; and thus it is that our loss is comparatively
small, though I deeply regret to say severe. The enemy fought with
much resolution; they maintained frequent rencounters with our
cavalry hand to hand. In one charge of infantry upon her Majesty's
16th lancers, they threw away their muskets, and came on with their
swords and targets against the lance."[20]

"There was no dust, the sun shone brightly." Unquestionably, not a particle of dust, and all bright sunshine, from the first paragraph to the last of this unrivalled production. It is a diorama and a panorama of the battle. Truly, oh reader!

"Duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed
That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf,--
Would'st thou not stir in this!"

In the luminous rays of such a description, we are made eye-witnesses of the stirring dashing scene in all its circumstantial variety and general grandeur. What a sight it is, that steady advance with his "troops well in hand!" But for a peculiar flashing of the eyes, and sternness in the features, of the men, we should have fancied them in the Home Park at Windsor, encircled, not by ferocious Sikhs in the horrid harness of war, but by the graceful array of gentler--though, in sooth, more irresistible--foes. Sir Harry Smith has disappeared--very likely hidden himself behind a baggage waggon or a huge drum. Sapient speculator! behold him yonder on the house-top, darting his eagle vision down into the centre of the distant enemy, and unmasking and anticipating their movements with unerring foresight. Many serious things his vigilance must watch; but, without distracting his attention, the "glistening of the bayonets and swords of his order of battle," fills his heart with boyish glee. The fierce cannonade from the whole hostile line has begun, and, although the balls fall short at first, quickly reaches us. Under this murderous shower, he _halts his line_ for a minute's pregnant reflection, as an elderly gentleman, playing golf on a rainy day, takes his spectacles from his nose, and wipes the water-drops away, before venturing the decisive stroke of the game. Nothing escapes him; every thing is done in the nick of time. Infantry, cavalry, and artillery, charge to the right or the left, or straight before them, dash through the enemy's front, or scour the flanks, or sweep the rear, perambulate squares, and perforate encampments, just as if the serried ranks of the Sikhs had been unsubstantial creatures of the imagination, or mist-wreaths from the "wet nullah," which a lively fancy had invested with human form and warlike panoply. But one hundred and fifty-one gallant men killed, and four hundred and thirteen wounded, sufficiently proved that "one of the most glorious victories ever achieved in India," had not been won in a combat with phantoms.

The current of the Sutlej hurried melancholy and portentous tidings from Aliwal to the Sikhs at Sobraon. The bodies of their slaughtered countrymen rolling down in hundreds, announced, in terms too dismally unequivocal, another tremendous blow of British might. In the breasts of such a people--ay, or of any people--these ominous visitations could hardly be the harbingers of hope, to cheer them in the final death-struggle, which they knew to be hourly approaching. The fortifications at Sobraon had been repeatedly reconnoitred by the Commander-in-Chief, who satisfied himself that not fewer than thirty thousand men, the best of the Khalsa troops, were covered by these formidable intrenchments, guarded by seventy pieces of cannon, and united by a good bridge to a reserve on the opposite bank, where the enemy had a considerable camp and some artillery, commanding and flanking his fieldworks on the British bank. On the 8th of February, Sir Harry Smith's triumphant division having rejoined headquarters, it was resolved to attack, on the morning of the 10th, the Sikh intrenchments.

"The battering and disposed field artillery was then put in
position in an extended semicircle, embracing within its fire the
works of the Sikhs. It had been intended that the cannonade should
have commenced at daybreak; but so heavy a mist hung over the plain
and river, that it became necessary to wait until the rays of the
sun had penetrated it and cleared the atmosphere. Meanwhile, on the
margin of the Sutlej on our left, two brigades of Major-General Sir
R. Dick's division, under his personal command, stood ready to
commence the assault against the enemy's extreme right. His 7th
brigade, in which was the 10th foot, reinforced by the 53d foot,
and led by Brigadier Stacey, was to head the attack, supported, at
two hundred yards' distance, by the 6th brigade, under Brigadier
Wilkinson. In reserve was the 5th brigade, under Brigadier the Hon.
T. Ashburnham, which was to move forward from the intrenched
village of Kodeewalla, leaving, if necessary, a regiment for its
defence. In the centre, Major-General Gilbert's division was
deployed for support or attack, its right resting on and in the
village of the little Sobraon. Major-General Sir Harry Smith's was
formed near the village of Guttah, with its right thrown up towards
the Sutlej. Brigadier Cureton's cavalry threatened, by feigned
attacks, the ford at Hurreekee and the enemy's horse, under Lall
Singh Misr, on the opposite bank. Brigadier Campbell, taking an
intermediate position in the rear, between Major-General Gilbert's
right and Major-General Sir Harry Smith's left, protected both.
Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell, under whom was Brigadier Scott,
held in reserve on our left, ready to act as circumstances might
demand, the rest of the cavalry.

"Our battery of nine-pounders, enlarged into twelves, opened near
the little Sobraon with a brigade of howitzers formed from the
light field-batteries and troops of horse artillery, shortly after
daybreak. But it was half-past six before the whole of our
artillery fire was developed. It was most spirited and
well-directed. I cannot speak in terms too high of the judicious
disposition of the guns, their admirable practice, or the activity
with which the cannonade was sustained; but notwithstanding the
formidable calibre of our iron guns, mortars, and howitzers, and
the admirable way in which they were served, and aided by a rocket
battery, it would have been visionary to expect that they could,
within any limited time, silence the fire of seventy pieces behind
well-constructed batteries of earth, plank, and fascines, or
dislodge troops covered either by redoubts or epaulements, or
within a treble line of trenches. The effect of the cannonade was,
as has since been proved by an inspection of the camp, most
severely felt by the enemy; but it soon became evident that the
issue of this struggle must be brought to the arbitrament of
musketry and the bayonet.

"At nine o'clock Brigadier Stacey's brigade, supported on either
flank by Captains Horsford's and Fordyce's batteries, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Lane's troop of horse artillery, moved to the
attack in admirable order. The infantry and guns aided each other
correlatively. The former marched steadily on in line, which they
halted only to correct when necessary. The latter took up
successive positions at the gallop, until at length they were
within three hundred yards of the heavy batteries of the Sikhs;
but, notwithstanding the regularity, and coolness, and scientific
character of this assault, which Brigadier Wilkinson well
supported, so hot was the fire of cannon, musketry, and zumboorucks
kept up by the Khalsa troops, that it seemed for some moments
impossible that the intrenchments could be won under it; but soon
persevering gallantry triumphed, and the whole army had the
satisfaction to see the gallant Brigadier Stacey's soldiers driving
the Sikhs in confusion before them within the area of their
encampment. The 10th foot, under Lieutenant-Colonel Franks, now for
the first time brought into serious contact with the enemy, greatly
distinguished themselves. This regiment never fired a shot till it
got within the works of the enemy. The onset of her Majesty's 53d
foot was as gallant and effective. The 43d and 59th N.I., brigaded
with them, emulated both in cool determination.

"At the moment of this first success, I directed Brigadier the Hon.
T. Ashburnham's brigade to move on in support, and Major-General
Gilbert's and Sir Harry Smith's divisions to throw out their light
troops to threaten their works, aided by artillery. As these
attacks of the centre and right commenced, the fire of our heavy
guns had first to be directed to the right, and then gradually to
cease, but at one time the thunder of full 120 pieces of ordnance
reverberated in this mighty combat through the valley of the
Sutlej; and as it was soon seen that the weight of the whole force
within the Sikh camp was likely to be thrown upon the two brigades
that had passed its trenches, it became necessary to convert into
close and serious attacks the demonstrations with skirmishers and
artillery of the centre and right; and the battle raged with
inconceivable fury from right to left. The Sikhs, even when at
particular points their intrenchments were mastered with the
bayonet, strove to regain them by the fiercest conflict, sword in
hand. Nor was it until the cavalry of the left, under Major-General
Sir Joseph Thackwell, had moved forward, and ridden through the
openings of the intrenchments made by our sappers, in single file,
and re-formed as they passed them, and the 3d dragoons, whom no
obstacle usually held formidable by horse appears to check, had on
this day, as at Ferozeshah, galloped over and cut down the
obstinate defenders of batteries and fieldworks, and until the full
weight of three divisions of infantry, with every field artillery
gun which could be sent to their aid, had been cast into the scale,
that victory finally declared for the British. The fire of the
Sikhs first slackened and then nearly ceased; and the victors then
pressing them on every side, precipitated them in masses over the
bridge, and into the Sutlej, which a sudden rise of seven inches
had rendered hardly fordable. In their efforts to reach the right
bank, through the deepened water, they suffered from our horse
artillery a terrible carnage. Hundreds fell under this cannonade;
hundreds upon hundreds were drowned in attempting the perilous
passage. Their awful slaughter, confusion, and dismay, were such as
would have excited compassion in the hearts of their generous
conquerors, if the Khalsa troops had not, in the early part of the
action, sullied their gallantry by slaughtering and barbarously
mangling every wounded soldier whom, in the vicissitudes of attack,
the fortune of war left at their mercy. I must pause in this
narrative especially to notice the determined hardihood and bravery
with which our two battalions of Goorkhas, the Sirmoor and
Nusseree, met the Sikhs wherever they were opposed to them.
Soldiers of small stature, but indomitable spirit, they vied in
ardent courage in the charge with the grenadiers of our own nation,
and, armed with the short weapon of their mountains, gave a terror
to the Sikhs throughout this great combat.

"Sixty-seven pieces of cannon, upwards of two hundred camel
swivels, (zumboorucks,) numerous standards, and vast munitions of
war, captured by our troops, are the pledges and trophies of our
victory. The battle was over by eleven in the morning, and in the
forenoon I caused our engineers to burn a part and to sink a part
of the vaunted bridge of the Khalsa army, across which they had
boastfully come once more to defy us, and to threaten India with
ruin and devastation."[21]

This stupendous battle--the climax and the close of a campaign unparalleled in many of its circumstances in modern history--was in itself an epitome of every thing most dreadful and most imposing, most destructive and most heroic, which had distinguished its predecessors. Here fell gloriously, at the moment of victory, DICK, the veteran of the Peninsula and Waterloo, "displaying the same energy and intrepidity as when, thirty-five years ago, in Spain, he was the distinguished leader of the 42d Highlanders." No better man--no better soldier--sleeps the sleep of the brave. The lists of our loss show 320 dead, while 2063 wounded bear additional testimony to the desperation and havoc of this sanguinary action. Ancient times involuntarily rush back upon us, recalling the youthful Conqueror of Macedon, who, radiant with the triple glories of the Granicus, of Issus, and of Arbela, vanquished Porus at the Hydaspes, and paused in his career, with a sigh, not far from the banks of the Sutlej. He was wont, and justly, to attribute his Asiatic triumphs to his faithful Macedonians. Does not Britain attribute her Asiatic triumphs to her faithful sons? Yes; with the important explanation, that Europeans and Indians are alike British. Between them no demarcation was made, or seen, or felt, in the majestic spectacle of the campaign of the Sutlej. Their toil and their perils were in common--so shall be their honours and their fame: and while all men agree that every excellence which can illuminate and dignify the character of a British soldier, was displayed in stainless brightness by our European regiments on these colossal battle-fields, all men will also agree that the exact and cloudless counterpart of such merit shone in the indefatigable hardihood, the indomitable valour, the immoveable, incorruptible fidelity of our native Indian troops.

The banners of our country have crossed the Sutlej, and advanced to Lahore. But our present task is done. The policy which has now to regulate the internal condition of a great country, will be better discussed hereafter. We have simply narrated the course of a terrible necessity, which, against the desires of this country, has made the ravages of war a bloody but unavoidable prelude to the beneficent functions of peace. The conflict was not of our seeking. Be the consequences what they may, the Sikhs will have themselves to blame, should it so happen, for the illustration of the maxim, that "when lenity and cruelty play for a kingdom, the gentler gamester is the soonest winner."

FOOTNOTES:

[13] Governor-General to the Secret Committee, 2d December 1845.

[14] Governor-General to the Secret Committee, 2d December 1845.

[15] Governor-General to the Secret Committee, 4th December 1845.

[16] Commander-in-Chief to the Governor-General, December 22, 1845.

[17] Commander-in-Chief to Governor-General, 22d December 1845.

[18] Commander-in-Chief to Governor-General, 1st February 1846.

[19] Eleven guns since ascertained to be sunk in the river--total 67; 30 odd jingalls fell into our hands.

[20] Sir Harry Smith to the Adjutant-General, 30th January 1846.

[21] Commander-in-Chief to Governor-General, 13th February 1846.

_Edinburgh. Printed by Ballantyne and Hughes, Paul's Work._