Chapter V: Part 5

The camp was attacked on the night of the 12th of September, but the enemy made no impression, and little loss occurred, although all the piquets of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment were engaged until daybreak.

Shortly after daybreak on the 13th of September the army moved off its ground towards the _Tezeen Pass_, the advanced guard, commanded by Sir Robert Sale, being composed of three companies of the ninth regiment, three companies of the thirteenth or Prince Albert’s Light Infantry, together with two companies of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, under Captain Baldwin and Lieutenant Greenwood.

After moving carefully along the pass for about two miles, the Affghans were discovered, in great force, occupying strong positions on the heights on either side, while their artillery and cavalry were formed some distance farther on in the pass itself. The action commenced by a heavy fire from the enemy on the advanced guard of the British; and the distance being too great for musketry, from the effect of which also the Affghans were covered by extensive _sunghas_, or intrenchments formed of large blocks of stone, for the whole length of their position, it was judged necessary for the troops to ascend the heights, and drive them from their posts at the point of the bayonet.

This service was most brilliantly performed on the left heights by the ninth and THIRTY-FIRST regiments, and on the right by the thirteenth light infantry.

The companies ascended the face of the mountain under a most galling fire, from the effects of which many casualties occurred, and not returning a shot until the ledge was gained: a combined volley within ten yards of the enemy, followed by an immediate charge of bayonets, drove him from his defences with great slaughter, and the heights were gained. For this service Captain Baldwin received the brevet rank of Major.

The Affghans’ advanced posts being driven in and pursued as far as the broken and difficult nature of the country would admit, they retired upon their supports, which were, with great judgment, defended by endless _sunghas_, erected in every position from which a fire could be brought on advancing troops.

The British, having gained the heights, and being reinforced by fresh troops, pushed on, and, storming one intrenchment after another, threw the Affghans into great confusion. The artillery, having been brought up, played upon them with terrific effect, while the British cavalry, having charged and overthrown their horse, posted in the pass, and taken their guns, together with the state tent of Akbar Khan, the fortune of the day at this early period evidently smiled on the British arms; but the warlike mountaineers, who composed the Affghan army, fought with desperate valour to retrieve the day. Attack after attack was made upon the troops occupying the posts from which the enemy had first been driven. Reckless of life, the stern fanatics came on to be shot down from the defences which they had themselves thrown up. In a series of desultory attacks the day declined, and the British, having obtained possession of every height commanding the pass, the remains of the Affghan army made a _détour_ among the hills, falling with great fury upon the British rear-guard, commanded by Colonel Richmond, of the thirty-third regiment of Native Infantry. Here they were so warmly received that their discomfiture was completed, and the day was won. The victorious British encamped for the night in the valley of Khoord (Little) Cabool, a village distant about sixteen miles from Cabool.

In this action Lieutenant Pollard received a severe contusion from a large block of stone while attempting to take a standard. Major Skinner, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, highly distinguished himself with the force which was detached under his command, and which proceeded, in the afternoon of the 12th of September, across the hills towards the valley of Khoord Cabool by a route different from that of the main army. On the march, Major Skinner came suddenly in presence of a greatly superior number of Affghans. Notwithstanding that the country was difficult and imperfectly known, by a series of skilful manœuvres he extricated his troops from the perilous situation in which they were placed, and defeated the Affghans, who exceeded five times his force, with great slaughter, on the 13th of September.

So complete was the defeat of the Affghan army on the 13th of September, that Akbar Khan escaped from the field accompanied only by a solitary horseman.

The enemy acknowledged to have lost fifty-three chiefs and persons of consequence, and 700 men. The casualties on the part of the British amounted to 185.

Major-General Pollock, in his despatch dated 14th of September, again acknowledged the services of Lieut.-Colonel Bolton and Major Skinner, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment.

No impediments now existed to the advance of the British on the city of Cabool. On the 15th of September the army arrived at Cabool, and encamped on the race-course. On the following day the place was occupied and the standard of England hoisted on the highest pinnacle of the battlements of the Bala Hissar (Upper Fort), on which occasion the flank companies of the THIRTY-FIRST formed part of the guard which garrisoned the citadel. The British colours were hoisted daily as long as the army remained at Cabool.

All the objects of the campaign having been gained, and the rescue of the prisoners effected,--among whom were several officers and ladies (Lady Sale, the partner of the gallant defender of Jellalabad being among the number), also three serjeants, three drummers, and thirty rank and file of Her Majesty’s forty-fourth regiment,--the Anglo-Indian army commenced its march towards Hindoostan on the 12th of October, after having destroyed the grand bazaar of Cabool, named the Chahar Chuttah, where the remains of the British Envoy had been exposed to public insult by the infuriated Affghans.

The THIRTY-FIRST regiment was again constantly engaged in desultory skirmishes with the Ghilzees and Afreedee tribes which infested the passes.

At the _Jugdulluck Pass_ the Affghans again made head, and a severe action occurred on the 18th of October, in which the THIRTY-FIRST regiment sustained some loss, but the Ghilzees were put to flight with great slaughter. Lieutenant Thomas Pender, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, received a severe wound near Seh Baba, from the effects of which he died on the 18th of November.

Major-General McCaskill, in his despatch dated 20th of October, 1842, recording the attacks on his division by the predatory tribes of the mountains between Tezeen and Gundamuck, stated that,

“Throughout these affairs the conduct of the troops employed,
including the second and sixteenth Native infantry, temporarily
attached to me, has deserved my highest approbation, and I feel
it to be my duty to record, that in the advance to Cabool, and
in retiring from it, the bravery of that portion of the fourth
brigade which took part in the active operations, namely, Her
Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST regiment, and a wing of the thirty-third
Native infantry,--the remaining wing and the sixth Native
infantry having been detained to garrison Jellalabad and
Gundamuck,--as well as their endurance of privations and fatigue,
have been beyond all praise. No troops could, in every respect,
have behaved better; and I feel myself to be deeply indebted to
Brigadier Monteath, C.B., and to Lieut.-Colonel Bolton, of Her
Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST, and to Lieut.-Colonel Richmond, of the
thirty-third Native infantry, for the able and gallant manner in
which they have been led.”

The THIRTY-FIRST regiment arrived at Jellalabad on the 23rd of October, and, after destroying the fortifications, proceeded thence on the 27th to Peshawur, where it arrived in the beginning of November.

The campaign having now been brought to a close, the THIRTY-FIRST reached Ferozepore on the 19th of December, having been in the field for eleven months during this arduous campaign.

On arrival at Ferozepore the THIRTY-FIRST regiment joined the “Army of Reserve,” which had been assembled on the frontier, and where the Governor-General, Lord Ellenborough, and General Sir Jasper Nicolls, the commander-in-chief in India, had proceeded to receive the army of Affghanistan.

For his services connected with the command of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, Lieut.-Colonel Bolton was made a Companion of the Bath, and appointed aide-de-camp to the Queen, with the rank of colonel.

In testimony of the services of the THIRTY-FIRST during the campaign in Affghanistan, Her Majesty was graciously pleased to authorize the regiment to bear the word “CABOOL, 1842,” on the regimental colour and appointments.

[Sidenote: 1843]

On the breaking up of the army at Ferozepore, the THIRTY-FIRST, commanded by Colonel Bolton, was ordered to Umballa, a place about 170 miles to the south, and which had never been previously occupied by troops. Here the regiment arrived on the 27th of January, 1843, and, cantonments having been marked out, barracks were commenced for the men, and ground allotted for the erection of bungalows for the officers.

On the 5th of May the THIRTY-FIRST sustained a severe loss by the death of Major and Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Skinner, a zealous and talented officer, whose services are frequently alluded to in the historical record of the regiment.[27]

In May, 1843, the regiment was ordered to Khytul, and formed part of a force under Major-General Fast, which was sent to reduce the city and state of Khytul to British subjection. The force arrived at Khytul after about a week’s march, and the enemy, after a slight show of resistance, evacuated the city, which was occupied by the British troops. All the objects of the expedition having been fulfilled, the regiment returned to its cantonments at Umballa. All, however, remained under canvas, exposed to most intense heat, until July, 1843, when the men were housed, and a few of the officers got shelter. In October, 1843, an outbreak occurred at Lahore, and the Maharajah, Shere Singh, was shot at a review by his brother-in-law, Ajeet Singh; after this event the youthful Dhuleep Singh, a reputed son of the late Runjeet Singh, was placed on the throne.

The THIRTY-FIRST regiment was in consequence ordered to the frontier, and marched for Ferozepore on the 16th of November, where it arrived on the 1st of December, 1843, and remained as a corps of observation.

[Sidenote: 1844]

The THIRTY-FIRST, commanded by Colonel Bolton, C.B., continued at Ferozepore, where the regiment was joined by ninety-three recruits from England. On the 16th of January, 1844, the regiment was inspected, and elicited great praise from Major-General Hunter of the Company’s Service, and again on the 16th of February, by Major-General Sir Robert Dick, K.C.B., who expressed great praise as well of the soldierlike and gallant bearing as of the high state of discipline of the regiment.

The weather becoming extremely hot, the regiment marched from Ferozepore on the 19th of April, 1844, _en route_ to Umballa, where it arrived on the 2nd of May.

On the 30th of December, 1844, his Excellency General Sir Hugh Gough, Bart., Commander-in-Chief in India, inspected the THIRTY-FIRST, in review order, on which occasion he expressed himself highly satisfied with the soldierlike appearance of the regiment.

[Sidenote: 1845]

On the 12th of March, 1845, a detachment of recruits and volunteers, consisting of one major, one captain, three lieutenants, two ensigns, one assistant-surgeon, with four hundred and seventy-one rank and file, joined the regiment from the lower provinces, under the command of Major Spence.

Many men continued to die from the effects of the Cabool campaign, but the station in itself proved healthy until July, when it was visited by cholera in a most fearful manner. On the 26th of July the regiment was ordered into camp, about two miles from the barracks, at a few hours’ notice, with orders for one officer per company, as well as the medical officers, constantly to remain in camp under Major Spence, where they continued until the 5th of August. In one month the regiment lost by cholera eighty-nine men, women, and children.

After the death of Maha Shere Singh, the Punjaub was in a state of anarchy; the juvenile sovereign, Dhuleep Singh, under the tutelage of his mother and uncle, was unable to control the turbulent Sikh chieftains, and open hostility soon manifested itself against the British Government in India.

In the beginning of December, 1845, the inclination of the Sikh Sirdars to invade the British territories appeared to increase, and about the 11th of that month, with a large army and a well-appointed artillery, they actually crossed the Sutlej, the boundary river which separates the Punjaub from the British dominions.[28]

The Commander-in-Chief in India, General Sir Hugh Gough, sent immediate orders for the Umballa division of the army, which had lately been considerably increased in strength, to be pushed on towards the invaded frontier.

Previous to its march, this force had been formed into divisions and brigades. The first brigade of the first division was composed of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, and two regiments of Native infantry, viz., the twenty-fourth and forty-seventh regiments. The first division was commanded by Major-General Sir Henry Smith; Colonel Bolton, C.B., of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, was appointed Brigadier to command the first brigade. Lieut.-Colonel Byrne, the next senior officer, assumed the command of the regiment. Captain Garvock was appointed Brigade-Major to the first brigade, and Captain Lugard, Assistant-Adjutant-General to the first division.

It being of the utmost importance to aid the division of the army in the defence of Ferozepore, a fort on the left bank of the Sutlej, where the British Government had large magazines containing munitions of war, a park of artillery, military stores, and equipments for the field army, which protected the frontier, it was necessary to push on the Umballa division, with all possible speed, by rapid and forced marches, towards the point near which the Sikhs, after having crossed the Sutlej, were assembled in large force, emboldened by numbers, and their army composed of well-disciplined troops, with a numerous and well-appointed artillery. This army had been instructed and trained in European tactics and discipline by French and Italian officers; it was confident in its own strength and in the powerful aid of its formidable artillery.

It was evidently the object of the enemy to prevent the junction of the Umballa division with the Ferozepore field force, to cut off the latter division, and to capture the fort and magazines of Ferozepore, before the Umballa division could arrive at the scene of action. The enemy hoped also to have a rich booty in the plunder of the large town of Ferozepore. The Sikhs knew and calculated the distance the Umballa troops had to march before they could reach the vicinity of Ferozepore, one hundred and fifty miles, and the nature of the country through which they had to march; but they did not calculate on the energy, patient endurance of hardships, and privation, which the British soldier would cheerfully undergo, when he knew, that his brave and heroic Commander-in-Chief was leading him in person against the foe, who had dared to invade the British possessions.

On the 10th of December the THIRTY-FIRST received the order to march, and the morning of the 12th saw the regiment leave Umballa, mustering 30 officers and 844 men.

After long and harassing marches of twenty-five to thirty miles a day, the severe nature of which it is impossible to describe, the regiment arrived at the village of _Moodkee_ about two o’clock in the afternoon of the 18th of December, having on that day performed a march of not less than twenty-five miles: some idea may be formed of the sufferings which the men endured from fatigue on this eventful day, when it is known that at the last halt, about two miles from Moodkee, scarcely _fifty_ men were left with the colours; and for miles to the rear they might be seen staggering forward through the soft sand in an exhausted state from want of water and rest.

The soldiers were in the act of pitching their tents, and had eaten nothing, when the alarm was given that the enemy was close upon them in force. The THIRTY-FIRST rushed to arms, and forming the right of the first brigade of the first division, under Major-General Sir Henry Smith, formed in quarter-distance column, left in front, advanced two or three miles, deployed on the grenadier company, and so continued the line formed by the regiments on their right.

The THIRTY-FIRST were now on ploughed land in front of a thick jungle of thorny bushes, and moving forward under a heavy fire of round and grape-shot, entered the jungle, through which it was impossible to move in anything like a correct line, and beyond which the Sikhs were formed. It was here that the gallant Colonel Bolton received his death-wound;--his last emphatic words to the men were, “_Steady_, THIRTY-FIRST, _and fire low_,”--when man and horse came down together; but he did not allow himself to be removed from the field until the action was over. The regiment now found itself in front of a battery of fourteen or fifteen guns. By this time the men were falling quickly under severe discharges of grape from the guns, a few yards only distant, which were also protected by a battalion of infantry, from which withering volleys were sent into the ranks of the THIRTY-FIRST, who, however, returned it with interest, and the intrepid valour of the men bore down all opposition. One continued fire from the regiment laid low nearly the whole of the enemy’s artillery-men opposed to its part of the line, while the bayonet disposed of such of the remainder of the foe as had not time to save themselves by flight. The opposition of the Sikhs was desperate; but nothing could resist the bravery of the British troops, who drove them from one position after another with great slaughter: all their advanced guns remained in the hands of the British.

It was not till an hour and a half after sunset that this hand to hand conflict was over, when the rolling of musketry gradually died away, and the British found themselves undisputed masters of the field. Soon after the commencement of the action, Lieut.-Colonel Byrne being severely wounded, the command of the regiment devolved upon Major Spence, the senior major.

The regiment, being much broken and scattered over the field in pursuit of the enemy, was re-formed in quarter-distance column, and marched back to within about a mile of Moodkee, where it bivouacked on the sand until daylight, and then returned to camp.

In this short but hard-fought action the regiment suffered severely. Of 30 officers and 814 men, who went into action, 9 officers and 155 rank and file were killed or wounded.

The following officers were killed or wounded in the action at Moodkee:--

Colonel Bolton C.B., } Mortally wounded.
commanding first brigade }
Lieut.-Colonel Byrne Severely ”
Captain Willes Mortally ”
” Bulkeley Dangerously ”
” Young Dangerously ”
” Lugard Slightly ”
Lieut. Pollard Slightly ”
” H. W. Hart Killed.
” Brenchley Mortally ”[29]
Assistant-Surgeon Gahan, } Mortally ”
9th foot, doing duty }

In this action Lieutenant Bolton, of the twenty-first Fusiliers, acted as aide-de-camp to his father Brigadier Bolton.

The army was commanded in the action by General Sir Hugh Gough, the Commander-in-Chief, aided by the counsel and military experience of the Governor-General, Sir Henry Hardinge. The following extract is taken from the despatch of the Commander-in-Chief, dated 19th of December, 1845:--

“The opposition of the enemy was such as might have been expected
from troops who had everything at stake, and who had long vaunted
of being irresistible. Their ample and extended line, from their
great superiority of numbers, far out-flanked ours; but this was
counteracted by the flank movements of our cavalry. The attack
of the infantry now commenced; and the roll of fire from this
powerful arm soon convinced the Sikh army that they had met with
a foe they little expected; and their whole force was driven from
position after position with great slaughter, and the loss of
seventeen pieces of artillery, some of them of heavy calibre; our
infantry using that never-failing weapon, the bayonet, whenever
the enemy stood. Night only saved them from worse disaster, for
this stout conflict was maintained during an hour and a half of
dim starlight, amidst a cloud of dust from the sandy plain, which
yet more obscured every object.

“I regret to say, this gallant and successful attack was
attended with considerable loss. The force bivouacked upon the
field for some hours, and only returned to its encampment after
ascertaining that it had no enemy before it, and that night
prevented the possibility of a regular advance in pursuit. * * *

“I have every reason to be proud of, and gratified with, the
exertions of the whole of the officers and troops of this army on
this arduous occasion.”

It appears from the list of killed and wounded, that the first or Major-General Sir Henry Smith’s division bore the brunt of the action at Moodkee, as the casualties in that division out-numbered those of the other two infantry divisions united, as will be seen by the following published list:--

FIRST DIVISION OF INFANTRY.

Officers. Native Officers. Serjeants. Rank & File.
Killed 4 1 4 69
Wounded 18 2 20 299
-- -- -- ---
Total 22 3 24 368

SECOND DIVISION OF INFANTRY.

Killed .. 1 .. 17
Wounded 4 5 10 81
-- -- -- --
Total 4 6 10 98

THIRD DIVISION OF INFANTRY.

Killed 1 .. 1 6
Wounded 1 .. 4 73
-- -- -- --
Total 2 .. 5 79

The army of the Sikhs amounted, it is said, to upwards of 32,000 men of all arms. The British force did not amount to more than one-third of that number.

Thus terminated the battle of _Moodkee_, the first action in which the Sikhs measured their strength with British troops in the field.

The following extracts are taken from an account of the battle of Moodkee:--

“Between the 11th and 18th the army had marched over a distance
of 160 miles, along roads of heavy sand; the incessant toil
scarcely leaving them leisure to cook their food. Hardly an hour
of repose was allowed them when they were summoned to renewed
exertion. On the 18th the army took up their encamping ground
in front of Moodkee. Our troops had scarcely time to prepare
their food, when intelligence was brought that the enemy, 30,000
strong, was close at hand. It was about three o’clock P.M.; the
men were tired with incessant work, suffering from scarcity
of water, and exhausted for want of nourishment and rest. The
instant the order was given, however, they turned out with the
utmost alacrity, as if fresh from their lines.”

After describing the preliminary movements of the cavalry and artillery, the narrator proceeds:--

“The afternoon was by this time far spent, and the evening
at hand. The infantry, under Generals Smith, Gilbert, and
McCaskill, pushed on in echellon right for the enemy’s line,
now nearly invisible from the wood and approaching darkness. We
were out-flanked and fearfully out-numbered. The struggle was
tremendous. The Sikhs fought with the fury of desperate men.
Nothing could resist the dauntless courage of our troops, and
fearful was the storm of musketry poured forth by them as they
rushed. The bayonet,--the never-failing resource of British
soldiers,--completed the confusion and havoc the musketry had
begun. Every position was forced; the enemy driven from the
ground they had so well selected, and for a time so obstinately
maintained; and night found eighteen pieces of artillery in our
possession. Darkness only saved them from extreme disaster;
and so fierce and unrelenting had been the fray, that it was
maintained through an hour of dim starlight, while the dust of
the sandy plain added to the obscurity of the advancing night.
Pursuit was impossible, and the troops bivouacked on the field.”

The following officers were present with the regiment at the battle of Moodkee on the 18th of December:--

Colonel S. Bolton, C.B. (_Commanding the first brigade_).
Lt.-Col. John Byrne (_commanding the regiment_).

Major James Spence.
” G. Baldwin.

Capt. W. G. Willes.
” T. Bulkeley.
” G. D. Young.
” G. F. White (_Acting Paymaster_).
” J. Garvock.
” D. F. Longworth.
” E. Lugard.

Lieut. T. H. Plasket.
” W. F. Atty.
” J. L. R. Pollard.
” H. W. Hart.
” Robert Law.
” J. P. Robertson.
” Graham Elmslie.
” Poole Gabbett.
” S. J. Timbrell.
” John Brenchley.
” A. Pilkington.
” E. A. Noel.

Ensign James Paul.
” H. P. Hutton.
” C. H. G. Tritton.

Adjt. William Bernard.
Q. M. Samuel Benison.
A. Surg. G. W. Macready.
” David Stewart.
Lieut. A. S. Bolton (_H. M. 21st Fusiliers, doing duty_).
Surg. R. B. Gahan (_H. M. 9th Foot, in medical charge_).

It being expected that the Sikhs, notwithstanding their defeat on the previous evening, would make a second attack, the troops were ordered under arms early on the following morning, the 19th, and remained so till evening, when, no enemy appearing, they returned to their tents.

It having been subsequently ascertained, by scouts, that the enemy was strongly entrenched in great numbers round the village of Ferozeshah, the Commander-in-Chief determined to effect a junction with the troops at Ferozepore, and with the combined force to drive the Sikhs from their position. Accordingly at daylight on the 21st of December the army was formed in separate columns of attack, and marched in order of battle in the supposed direction of the enemy. Having proceeded about five miles, it was ascertained that the Sikhs had retired to their entrenched camp at _Ferozeshah_, about twelve miles from Moodkee.

The troops then fell into columns of route, and after a very fatiguing and circuitous march, rendered more so from no water being procurable on the road, they arrived about three o’clock P.M. in the neighbourhood of the enemy’s position, having, on the march, effected the desired junction with the division under Major-General Sir John Littler, consisting of five thousand men and twenty-one guns, which had moved from Ferozepore on the morning of the 21st of December: about a quarter of an hour was allowed for rest, and the plan of battle was then immediately arranged. The first division formed the reserve, and was drawn up in line, the THIRTY-FIRST being about the centre: here they remained about twenty minutes, during which time the round shot were passing through the ranks, killing and wounding several men.

The order was now given to advance to the support of the troops, who were hotly engaged and hard-pressed; the reserve moved forward in excellent order, though darkness was coming on, and very shortly became engaged and exposed to a heavy fire. The two lines were shortly reduced to one, the shattered remains of the reserve scarcely filling up the gaps formed in the first line by the deadly fire of the enemy, who nobly fought, and fell every man in his place; thus those _two_ lines, which had so shortly before presented the regularity of a field-day, were now but _one_, standing surrounded by their dead and dying comrades, and the brave fellows of other European regiments could scarcely understand how they came to be fighting in the ranks of the THIRTY-FIRST. After a long and desperate contest, the Sikhs were driven from their guns, but not without severe loss on the part of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, both in officers and men. Lieut. and Adjutant Bernard was killed on the spot, and Major Baldwin and Lieut. Pollard were mortally wounded; Lieut. Pilkington was struck by two shots, one passing through each ankle; and the horse of Major Spence was shot under him. On the death of Lieutenant and Adjutant Bernard, Lieutenant Robertson was appointed Adjutant, which appointment he held until the nomination of Lieutenant Bolton was received from the Horse Guards, he having been applied for by his father, Colonel Bolton, previously to the campaign. The camp of the Sikhs being now on fire in several places, mines and magazines exploding with terrific violence at short intervals, the enemy’s fire being silenced,--and their guns standing undefended,--the order was given to fall back a short distance and re-form, which was accordingly done; the troops bivouacked during the night in front of the Sikh camp, within reach of shot from their guns, which, having been left unspiked, were quickly reopened upon the exhausted troops, whose sufferings on that fearful night, from thirst and intense cold, will never be forgotten by those who endured them.

Towards morning the troops were formed in one line facing the enemy; the THIRTY-FIRST happened to be on the right of the whole. At the break of day, the British artillery opened on the enemy, who returned their fire, and after a short cannonading the infantry advanced to the attack: the THIRTY-FIRST moved steadily towards a battery of seven guns on the enemy’s extreme left, which kept up a continued fire of grape; it was, however, carried by the bayonet without a single check, and almost without a shot being fired by the assailants, though the loss of the THIRTY-FIRST was severe. Having killed all the enemy’s artillery-men who remained at their guns, the regiment, led by its brave commander, Major Spence, passed through the battery, and advanced steadily in an excellent line for about 300 yards, when it halted. The Governor-General and the Commander-in-Chief passed down the ranks amidst the cheers of the men; the line saluted them, dropping the regimental colours; and private William Ash, a grenadier, stood in front of his company displaying a colour taken from the enemy in the battery before mentioned.

_From a sketch by Major G. F. White, 31^{st} Regiment_

BATTLE OF FEROZESHAH. (2^{ND} DAY) 22^{ND} DECEMBER, 1845.

_Madeley lith. 3 Wellington S^t Strand._

_For Cannon’s Military Records_]

The defeat of the enemy now appearing to be complete, the soldiers were allowed to go in search of water, the want of which was severely felt. In the course of half an hour the alarm was suddenly given, that the Sikhs were coming down in force; the troops were quickly placed in position, though there could be no regularity as regarded brigades, and on the near approach of the enemy’s horse, the THIRTY-FIRST formed square, the Governor-General and his Staff placing themselves in the centre: a terrific fire was now opened upon the devoted troops (whose artillery ammunition was expended) from the guns of Tej-Singh’s army advancing to the support of the already defeated Sikhs, and the tide of victory appeared about to turn, when Sir Henry Hardinge, glancing at the small but undismayed band around him, exclaimed “THIRTY-FIRST, remember _Albuhera_.” Line was, however, soon after re-formed, no decided attack being made by the enemy, who nevertheless kept up a galling and destructive fire from his guns. The THIRTY-FIRST suffered very considerably without the power of retaliation, but patiently maintained their position; at one time, when threatened by cavalry, forming an oblong square of four deep, one side of the square being composed of the twenty-ninth foot under Brigadier Taylor of that corps, the twenty-ninth forming four deep to the front, and the THIRTY-FIRST four deep to the rear, and in this position they remained for some time, ready to receive cavalry. The THIRTY-FIRST maintained their position upwards of three hours, when they were once more enabled to go in search of water by the sudden and precipitate retreat of the enemy. The water in the wells was, however, found to be in such a putrid state, as to be nearly useless, from the bodies of the dead having been thrown into them; and the ground in the neighbourhood was extremely dangerous, having been extensively mined.

The loss of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment at the battle of _Ferozeshah_, on the 21st and 22nd of December, amounted to two officers killed and six wounded.

Serjeants. Rank and File.
Killed, 2 57
Wounded, 4 92

The following officers were killed or wounded on this occasion:--

Killed. Wounded.

Lieut. Pollard. Major Baldwin, mortally.
Lieut. & Adj. Bernard. Lieut. T. Plasket, severely.
” A. Pilkington, ”
Ensign Paul, slightly.
” Hutton, ”

Captain Garvock, Major of Brigade, had his horse shot under him in the advance to charge the enemy’s batteries.

On the 21st of December, Lieutenant Bolton was appointed to carry orders from the Governor-General to Major-General Sir Henry Smith, and was transferred from the twenty-first Fusiliers to the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, to which he was appointed adjutant shortly afterwards.

Lieutenant Pollard, a promising officer, was wounded at Moodkee; but being a high-spirited young man, he would not remain behind, when his regiment went into action at Ferozeshah, although suffering from his wound, and advised to remain in his tent by the medical officers. He went into action on horseback; his wound being in the foot, he was unable to walk. At the desire of Sir Henry Smith he was employed as second adjutant to convey the orders of his commanding officer, Major Spence, who was so hoarse from a severe cold which he had caught at the battle of Moodkee, that he could not make himself sufficiently heard by the men; in the performance of this duty this gallant young officer nobly fell.

“The field after the retreat of the enemy was literally covered
with dead,--they had abandoned large stores of grain, military
stores, camp-equipage, and ammunition. The loss of the British
army was very heavy; being opposed to a highly disciplined and
organized army more than treble their number, with a field of
artillery of battering calibre, admirably served, which kept
up an incessant and destructive fire on the British troops:
justifying the remark of an officer, who had been in all
Napoleon’s great battles, that he never saw such devastation
committed by artillery at any battle in Europe. What other army
in the world would, under such circumstances, have, within thirty
hours, stormed an entrenched camp, fought a general action, and
sustained two considerable combats with the enemy? Within four
days it dislodged from their positions 60,000 Sikh soldiers
supported by 150 pieces of artillery, 108 of which the enemy
acknowledged to have lost, and 91 of which fell into our hands.”

Another account of the action states:--

“The right wing was commanded by the Commander-in-Chief in
person; the left by the Governor-General. As our troops deployed
into line, and prepared for an advance, a tremendous fire from
upwards of one hundred pieces of artillery, 40 of them of
battering size, was opened by the enemy. The right wing, under
Sir Hugh Gough, threw themselves with matchless gallantry on the
guns, and wrested them from the enemy, when the storm of shot
from the Sikh infantry behind became so fearful, that a portion
only of the intrenchments could be carried, when darkness put an
end to the conflict.

“Night had now closed in; the carnage had proved tremendous; our
men thinned in numbers, harassed with forced marches, exhausted
with fatigue, with little food and scarcely any water, and
nothing whatever to cover them from the chill and heavy dew as
the evening advanced, bivouacked amidst the dying and the dead,
close under the intrenchments, and within reach of the shot of
the enemy. All night long their artillery played upon us, and
as the waning moon showed them our position, the cannon-shot
ploughed up the ground right through, and amidst the wearied
soldiers.

“Morning at length approached, and our troops were once more
arrayed for the fight. With daylight came retribution and triumph
to our arms. Our infantry was formed in line, supported on both
flanks by the horse artillery. A masked battery now began to play
on us with fearful effect; the heavy shot of the Sikhs dismounted
our guns; nine of our tumbrils were blown up. A general charge
was now determined on; amidst a terrific storm of shot and shell,
the troops rushed on undismayed; the carnage was fearful: battery
after battery was carried at the bayonet’s point; the camp was
pierced with loaded mines, which exploded with fearful slaughter
as we advanced. The village of _Ferozeshah_ was stormed, and the
enemy driven out of it at every point. When changing its front
to the left, our force continued to sweep the camp, carrying
everything before them.

“Undisturbed and unbroken by the fearful service in which they
had been engaged, the troops drew up, when the camp was won,
and halted to cheer their generals on the field they had just
conquered, with the regularity of a parade. Seventy-three
guns had now been taken; 20 more quickly fell into our hands.
We had lost 37 European and 17 Native officers, with 630
non-commissioned officers and rank and file,--nearly 700 in all
killed. Our casualties in killed and wounded amounted to 2415.”

The Commander-in-Chief in his despatch to the Governor-General, after the battle of _Ferozeshah_, bears the following testimony of his approbation of the gallant conduct of the army under his command on that glorious occasion. At the conclusion of the despatch General Sir Hugh Gough stated:--

“On the conclusion of such a narrative as I have given, it is
surely superfluous in me to say, that I am, and shall be, to the
last moment of my existence, proud of the army which I had the
honor to command on the 21st and 22nd instant. To its gallant
exertions I owe the satisfaction of seeing such a victory
achieved, and the glory of having my own name associated with it.”

On receipt in London of the despatch of the Governor-General of India, announcing the victories of _Moodkee_ and _Ferozeshah_, the thanks of both Houses of Parliament were voted unanimously to the Governor-General, the Right Honorable Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Hardinge,--to General Sir Hugh Gough, Bart., the Commander-in-Chief,--and to the several officers under their command,--for the eminent services rendered by them in the recent arduous and successful operations;--also to the non-commissioned officers and soldiers, European and Native, for the perseverance and fortitude maintained by them at _Moodkee_ on the 18th of December, 1845, and for the daring valour with which they forced the enemy’s intrenchments at _Ferozeshah_ on the 21st and 22nd of December, captured most of his guns, and finally compelled the Sikh army, of greatly superior numbers, to retire within their own frontiers.

The thanks of the Court of East India Directors were voted to the army of the Sutlej at the same time.

The Court of East India Directors confirmed the grant of a medal to all the officers and soldiers engaged in the battles of _Moodkee_ and _Ferozeshah_, denoting that they served in this important campaign.

On the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd of December, the army bivouacked on the field of battle, having been, since the morning of the 20th, without tents, or any regular supply of food; and owing to the extreme heat by day, and intense cold by night, both officers and men had suffered much. On the 24th the troops changed their ground about four miles to Sultan Khan Walla, and three days afterwards the regimental baggage arrived.

At Sultan Khan Walla they remained seven days; the whole army was then moved to the banks of the Sutlej, not far from the fort of Hurreekee, where large camps were formed. For nearly a week after these terrible encounters, the Sikhs remained on the British side of the Sutlej, the army being unable to follow up its victory, as the troops, which were on their march to join, had not yet arrived; the heavy artillery, which was on the march from Cawnpore, was still very distant, and until the whole of the army was concentrated, it would be impossible to attack the enemy, who had again collected a formidable force of 70,000 men, with 110 pieces of ordnance, which were encamped on the opposite side of the river, and ready to oppose the British.

In the meantime the wounded officers and soldiers had been removed to the hospital at Ferozepore.

Lieut.-Colonel Byrne being prevented from resuming the command of the regiment by the severe wound he received at Moodkee, Major Spence continued to exercise the command during the arduous conflict of the 21st and 22nd of December at Ferozeshah, where he showed an example of bravery to his distinguished regiment. He was ably supported by every Officer and Man under his command. All nobly performed their duty on this well-contested field.

Colonel Bolton, being mortally wounded at Moodkee, died on the 4th January, 1846;[30] and the Commander-in-Chief promoted Major Spence, the senior major, to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the regiment.

Major Baldwin also died of the wounds received at Ferozeshah.[31] Captains Bulkeley and Young were promoted to the vacant majorities, a promotion which they justly merited for their gallant conduct at Moodkee, where both these officers were severely wounded.

Captain Willes, a meritorious and deserving officer, also died of the wounds received at Moodkee. The THIRTY-FIRST regiment, now greatly reduced in numbers from the heavy loss, both of officers and men, sustained in the late arduous conflicts, still preserved its spirit and energy, and was ready at a moment’s notice to be led on to future victories.

On the 30th of December, the Governor-General published a General Order, congratulating the Army on the recent victories, from which the following are extracts:

“The Governor-General again cordially congratulates His
Excellency Sir Hugh Gough, G.C.B., on the great and important
victories obtained by the army under his command.

“The Governor-General, in the name of the government and of the
people of India, gratefully acknowledges the noble services
rendered to the public by His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief,
by all the General and other Officers, and by the
Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers of the brave Indian army.

“The Governor-General’s thanks are due to all the infantry
regiments of Her Majesty, and to the first 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.”

* * * * *

Thus ended the year 1845. The Sikhs, after having suffered two severe defeats, were preparing to renew the contest; they had made large additions to their army, and had again collected a formidable train of artillery.

[Sidenote: 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 Henry 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 head-quarters. On the 20th of the same month, this division was reinforced near the fort of Jugraon by the sixteenth lancers, the fifty-third 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. Jugraon is distant from Loodiana about twenty-five miles, and the road (if road it can be called) is over a heavy and sandy soil. The troops were formed, and commenced their march about one o’clock on the morning of the 21st; about eleven A.M. 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 march along the entire front of his position under a galling fire.

Major-General Sir Henry Smith, having a just confidence in the steadiness of his troops, chose the latter. The infantry, formed in open column of companies right in front (the grenadier company of the THIRTY-FIRST 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 regiment formed line on the grenadier company.

On this occasion, and under the fire of forty guns, the THIRTY-FIRST received an order from Sir Henry Smith to change front to the rear on the centre, a movement which was rendered necessary by the manœuvres of the enemy, who had thrown forward his right in such a manner as to get into the rear of the British; this movement could not be attempted without the most perfect steadiness on the part of the men, and it was performed in such a manner as to call forth the praises of the Major-General. This was the first time this manœuvre was ever done under fire of the enemy; after which, the retirement of corps in line, covered by the sixteenth lancers, to relieve Loodiana (the object being to relieve that place), was beautifully executed.

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 Sir Henry Smith’s object. In this affair the THIRTY-FIRST lost 21 men killed and wounded; and 19 men, who had, from the length and severity of the march, been unable to keep up with the column, were taken prisoners. The greatest part of the baggage belonging to the division was taken by the enemy.

On the 22nd and 23rd the troops were permitted to rest themselves after their late fatigues, and on the 24th the enemy retired to _Aliwal_, a village on the Sutlej. The British force moved to the ground lately occupied by them at Buddiwal, where it was reinforced by the second brigade of Sir Henry Smith’s division, consisting of Her Majesty’s fiftieth foot, and forty-eighth Native infantry, from head-quarters, with some cavalry and infantry from Loodiana.

On the 28th of January at daylight, Major-General Sir Henry Smith marched with his whole force to attack the enemy under Sirdar Runjoor Singh and the Rajah of Ladwa in their camps at Aliwal, but found him, on approaching it, 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 Henry 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. The troops advanced on the enemy, distant about one mile and a half, and about ten A.M. the action was 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, immediately opposite that part of the line occupied by the THIRTY-FIRST regiment. The village was carried, and the two guns were captured.

The line, being somewhat disordered in carrying the village, was quickly re-formed, and advanced in excellent order, carrying everything before it. The attack of the enemy by the left wing was equally successful. The line advanced, and made a steady and successful charge; the enemy, being everywhere beaten, gave way, and fled towards the river in the utmost confusion, leaving his camp and fifty-two pieces of artillery, as trophies in the hands of the victors. A standard was captured here by the THIRTY-FIRST regiment; also a gurry, or gong.[32]

The advance of the British force in order of battle is thus described by Major-General Sir Henry Smith in his despatch containing an account of the action:--

“As I neared the enemy, the ground became most favourable for
troops to manœuvre, 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 high ground, I directed them to deploy into line.
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. These manœuvres
were performed with the celerity and precision of the most
correct field-day; the glistening of the bayonets and the swords
of this order of battle was most imposing, and the line advanced.
Scarcely had it moved forward 150 paces, when at ten 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 on his left and centre; I therefore quickly brought up
Brigadier Godby’s brigade, and, with it and the first 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 THIRTY-FIRST regiment and the Native
regiments contending for the front, the battle became general.
* * * 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. * * *

“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 Honorable Company’s troops, every gun the enemy
had, fell into our hands: fifty-two guns are now in the Ordnance,
two sunk in the bed of the Sutlej, and two spiked on the opposite
bank, making a total of fifty-six pieces of cannon captured or
destroyed!

“Having thus done justice, and justice alone, to the gallant
troops his Excellency trusted to my command, I would gladly,
if the limits of a despatch permitted me, do that justice to
individuals all deserve. This cannot be; therefore I must confine
myself to mention those officers whose continued services,
experience, and standing placed them in conspicuous commands.”

After lauding the gallant service performed by the artillery, Sir Henry Smith proceeds to state in his official despatch:--

“To Brigadiers MacDowell and Stedman, commanding their gallant,
brigades of cavalry, the fortune of the day is greatly indebted,
and to all commanding officers of cavalry and infantry my warmest
thanks are due; to Major Smyth, commanding the sixteenth lancers;
to Lieut.-Colonel Spence, commanding Her Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST
foot; to Lieut.-Colonel Ryan, K.H., commanding Her Majesty’s
fiftieth regiment; and to Lieut.-Colonel Phillips, commanding Her
Majesty’s fifty-third foot.

“His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief having witnessed the
glorious services of Her Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST and fiftieth
regiments, I have only to report upon Her Majesty’s fifty-third,
a young regiment, but veterans in daring gallantry and regularity.

“To Captain Lugard (THIRTY-FIRST regiment) the
Assistant-Adjutant-General of this force, I am deeply indebted,
and the service still more so; a more cool, intrepid, and
trustworthy officer cannot be brought forward.

“The brigadiers all speak in high terms of their majors of
brigade, Captain O’Hanlan, of the second brigade, and Captain
Garvock, of Her Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST foot, of the first
brigade.”

The loss of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment in this conflict was fortunately small: one officer, Lieut. Atty, slightly wounded, and fifteen men killed and wounded. The troops bivouacked for the night near the field of battle. The army remained at Aliwal five days, during which the following General Order was received from General Sir Hugh Gough, the Commander-in-Chief:--

“GENERAL ORDERS TO THE ARMY OF THE SUTLEJ.

“Head-Quarters, Camp, Nihalkee,
“29th January, 1846.

“A glorious victory, with the capture of all the enemy’s guns,
having been achieved by the force under Major-General Sir Henry
Smith, K.C.B., the whole line will parade at eight o’clock
this morning for the inspection of the Right Honorable the
Governor-General and his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, and
a royal salute will be fired from the eighteen-pounder battery,
and three cheers will be given by the line after the salute, in
celebration of this triumphant event.”

The following extract is taken from the General Orders issued by the Governor-General, dated “Camp, Ferozepore, 2nd of February, 1846:”--

“Great praise is due to Brigadier Hicks, who, with Her Majesty’s
THIRTY-FIRST regiment, the twenty-fourth and forty-seventh Native
infantry, stormed the village of _Aliwal_, drove the enemy from
it, and seized the guns by which it was defended.”

Extract of the despatch of the Governor-General of India to the Secret Committee, dated “Camp, Kanha Kutchwa, 19th of February, 1846:”--

“The immediate result of the victory of Aliwal was the evacuation
by the Sikh garrisons of all the forts hitherto occupied by
detachments of Lahore soldiers on this side of the river Sutlej,
and the submission of the whole of the territory on the left
bank of that river to the British government.