Chapter VI: Part 6

“The Sikh army remained in its intrenched position; and though,
on the first intelligence of the victory of Aliwal, and at the
sight of the numerous bodies which floated from the neighbourhood
of that battle-field to the bridge of boats at Sobraon, the Sikhs
seemed much shaken and disheartened,--yet after a few days, the
Sikh troops seemed to be as confident as ever of being able to
defy us in their intrenched position, and to prevent our passage
of the river.

“The Commander-in-Chief was not in a state to take advantage of
the enemy’s defeat at _Aliwal_, by an attack on his intrenched
position at _Sobraon_, until the troops under Major-General
Sir Henry Smith should have rejoined his Excellency’s camp,
and the siege-train and ammunition should have arrived from
Delhi. The first portion of the siege-train, with the reserved
ammunition for 100 guns, reached the Commander-in-Chief’s camp
on the 7th and 8th of February. On the latter day the brigades,
which had been detached from the main army, rejoined the
Commander-in-Chief.”

Notwithstanding the signal defeat in the battles of _Moodkee_, _Ferozeshah_, and _Aliwal_, and the loss of 143 pieces of artillery captured by the British in these actions, the enemy determined to persevere in his rash project of invading the British dominions. For this purpose he made extraordinary efforts; he had collected all his available troops, and assembled a large army on the left bank of the Sutlej, near the village of _Sobraon_. Here the Sikhs formed an intrenched camp, defended by 30,000 men with 70 pieces of artillery; this camp was supported by a large reserve on the opposite side of the river, the communication being preserved by a bridge of boats.

The THIRTY-FIRST regiment, under its distinguished and experienced leader, Major-General Sir Henry Smith, rejoined the head-quarter camp on the 8th of February, just in time for the crowning and decisive victory of _Sobraon_. The arrival of Sir Henry Smith’s force enabled the Commander-in-Chief to carry his plan of attacking the enemy into execution. Two days were allowed, that this division should rest after its fatigues.

The entrenched camp of the Sikhs was in a position judiciously chosen in a bend of the river, about five or six miles from the British camp. The defences of the enemy were constructed scientifically by European engineers.

On the morning of the 10th of February, some hours before daylight, the several divisions were silently formed in column of attack. Major-General Sir Henry Smith’s division was on the extreme right; it was formed into two lines; the first line consisted of the first brigade, to which the THIRTY-FIRST regiment belonged, under Lieut.-Colonel Spence: this line was supported by the second brigade at a short distance in the rear. When the day dawned, the first brigade found itself about three-quarters of a mile in front of the enemy’s works. The cannonading, which commenced a little after daylight, continued with little interruption, until about nine A.M. A stray shot was now and then sent at the regiment, but did no damage, when orders were given to the infantry to advance to the attack. The men, who had been lying down, instantly jumped up, formed line, and advanced.

The ground immediately in front of the enemy’s works was very irregular, which made it difficult for the men to keep their places. The enemy’s fire, which commenced at a distance of two or three hundred yards, grew gradually more and more heavy; and firing, as the Sikhs did, from behind lofty entrenchments at the assaulting party, who offered a fair mark as they scrambled up the ramparts, they shot down a number of the British troops, while the survivors, after in vain attempting to reach the top, the loose nature of the soil rendering the footing extremely insecure, were compelled to fall back on the advancing second brigade, who saw with indignation that the enemy were hacking the wounded.

The line was quickly re-formed and advanced a second time; the same determined resistance was again made: but the men, burning to revenge their comrades, would not be deterred. Here Lieut. Tritton, bearing the Queen’s colour, was shot through the head; and Ensign Jones,[33] who carried the regimental colour, was, nearly at the same time, mortally wounded; the regimental colour, falling to the ground, was seized by Serjeant Bernard M‘Cabe, who, rushing forward, crossed the ditch and planted it on the ramparts. The men cheering, scrambled into the works as best they could, and drove the enemy, who were beaten at all points, before them into the river, Lieut. Noel gallantly carrying the Queen’s colour in front of the regiment, the staff of which was shivered in his hand.

The attack having been everywhere successful, the slaughter of the Sikhs, as they crossed the river, was tremendous. Many casualties, however, in the THIRTY-FIRST regiment occurred within the enemy’s works. Lieutenant Timbrell was dangerously wounded by a grape-shot, which broke both his thighs, and Lieutenant Elmslie was also severely wounded by a musket-ball. Captain Garvock, Major of Brigade, and Lieutenant and Adjutant Bolton, were both severely wounded outside the works, where Lieutenants Gabbett and Law were also wounded. Thirty-five rank and file were killed, and 102 wounded.

Two stands of colours were captured by the regiment, making four stands altogether.

The first brigade, on this glorious occasion, was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Spence, whose horse was shot during the advance, and the sword in his hand bent nearly double by a grape-shot.

Captain White, the senior Captain, being left sick at Loodiana, from the effects of the sun on service, Captain Longworth commanded the regiment during the action. He was promoted for his gallant conduct to be major in the army; his horse was killed under him. Captains Garvock and Lugard were also promoted to be majors in the army on the same occasion.

The following account of the action is given in Captain Longworth’s despatch, dated 11th of February, 1846:--

“Camp, Attia, 11th February, 1846.

“SIR,

“I have the honor to state for the information of the Brigadier,
that H. M.’s THIRTY-FIRST regiment, under my command, marched
from Camp Tulwondee yesterday morning at four A.M., in
quarter-distance column, right in front, being the leading
regiment of the first brigade, first division. We advanced in
this order till within about two miles of the enemy’s position,
and then halted, formed line, and waited till daybreak, when
we advanced some distance and halted till sunrise, and again
advancing halted with our right resting on the Sutlej within
range of the enemy’s guns; here we remained about two hours, when
we were ordered to advance. This was no sooner discovered by the
enemy than they opened upon us a most tremendous fire of round
shot from the whole of the guns upon the left flank of their
intrenched camp; shell, grape, canister, and a very heavy fire of
musketry were showered upon us as we neared the fortifications:
but in spite of this, I am proud to say, the regiment advanced
steadily and in the best order till within thirty paces of the
intrenched camp, when a most destructive fire from overpowering
numbers forced us to retire to a short distance, for the purpose
of re-forming, as we left a full third of the regiment upon the
ground; and I feel convinced that had the regiment remained for
five minutes longer in its exposed situation it must have been
annihilated, as our fire was totally ineffectual against the
enemy’s strongly fortified position, which completely protected
them, until by a desperate charge, in conjunction with H. M.’s
Fiftieth Regiment, we succeeded in penetrating the extremity of
their works extending to the river, and thereby were enabled to
bring our fire to bear upon their gunners, who with the most
desperate courage turned their guns upon the portion of their
own camp in our possession, and fought till bayoneted where they
stood. Their infantry in masses now retiring, we followed them
up, and, in concert with the other branches of the army, shot and
bayoneted them into the river, where immense numbers were brought
down by our fire. Shortly after the battle was over the regiment
was ordered into camp.

“I beg to bring to your notice the gallant conduct of Serjeant
M‘Cabe of the light company, who planted the regimental colour on
the highest point of the enemy’s fortifications, and maintained
his position under a most tremendous fire, the colour being
completely riddled by the enemy’s shot;--he did this after the
officer carrying the colour was shot.[34] I beg further to
bring to your notice Private Williams of No. 7 company, and
Private Biffin of the light company, who each took a colour from
the enemy, one of which is supposed to have belonged to their
artillery. I have much pleasure in expressing my high approbation
of both officers and men under my command for their gallant
conduct throughout the day. I regret to add that Lieutenant Law,
my second in command, and Lieutenant and Adjutant Bolton, were
both severely wounded.

“List of Officers who were present at the Battle of _Sobraon_.

Lieut.-Colonel Spence.

Captain Garvock.
” Longworth.
” Lugard.

Lieutenant Atty.
” Law.
” Robertson.
” Bolton (_Adjutant_).
” Elmslie.
” Gabbett.
” Timbrell.
” Noel.
” Paul.
” Hutton.
” Tritton.

Ensign Jones.
Quarter-Master Benison.”

On the 14th of February, 1846, the Governor-General published a General Order, dated from his camp at Kussoor, from which the following extracts are taken:--

“The Governor-General, having received from his Excellency the
Commander-in-Chief the despatch annexed, announces to the army
and to the people of India, for the fourth time during this
campaign, a most important and memorable victory obtained by the
army of the Sutlej over the Sikh forces at _Sobraon_, on the 10th
instant.

“On that day the enemy’s strongly intrenched camp, defended by
35,000 men and 67 pieces of artillery, exclusive of heavy guns on
the opposite bank of the river, was stormed by the British Army
under the immediate command of His Excellency Sir Hugh Gough,
and in two hours the Sikh forces were driven into the river with
immense loss, 67 guns being captured by the victors.

“The Governor-General most cordially congratulates the
Commander-in-Chief and the British Army on this exploit, one of
the most daring ever achieved, by which in open day a triple line
of breastworks, flanked by formidable redoubts, bristling with
artillery, manned by thirty-two regular regiments of infantry,
was assaulted, and carried by the forces under His Excellency’s
command.

“This important operation was most judiciously preceded by
a cannonade from the heavy howitzers and mortars, which had
arrived from Delhi on the 8th of February, the same day on which
the forces under Major-General Sir Henry Smith, which had been
detached to Loodiana, and had gained the victory of Aliwal,
rejoined the Commander-in-Chief’s camp.

“The British infantry, formed on the extreme left of the line,
then advanced to the assault, and, in spite of every impediment,
cleared the intrenchments and entered the enemy’s camp. Her
Majesty’s tenth, fifty-third, and eightieth regiments, moving at
a firm and steady pace, never fired a shot until they had passed
the barriers opposed to them, a forbearance much to be commended,
and most worthy of constant imitation, to which may be attributed
the success of their first effort, and the small loss they
sustained. The attack was crowned with the success it deserved!

“The same gallant efforts, attended by the same success,
distinguished the attack on the enemy’s left, made by the
first division, under the command of Major-General Sir Henry
Smith, K.C.B., in which the troops nobly sustained their former
reputation.

“These three divisions of infantry, concentrated within the
enemy’s camp, drove the shattered forces into the river, with a
loss which far exceeded that which the most experienced officers
had ever witnessed.

“Thus terminated, in the brief space of two hours, this most
remarkable conflict, in which the military combinations of the
Commander-in-Chief were fully and ably carried into effect with
His Excellency’s characteristic energy; the enemy’s select
regiments of regular infantry have been dispersed, and a large
portion destroyed, with the loss, since the campaign began, of
220 pieces of artillery taken in action. * * *

“The Governor-General, in the name of the Government and
of the people of India, offers to His Excellency the
Commander-in-Chief,--to the General Officers, and all the
Officers and Troops under their command, his grateful and
heartfelt acknowledgments for the services they have performed.
* * *

“The Governor-General acknowledges the meritorious conduct of
Brigadier Penny, and Lieut.-Colonel Spence,[35] commanding
brigades in the first division.

“Her Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST and fiftieth regiments greatly
distinguished themselves, as well as the forty-second and
forty-seventh native infantry, and the Nusseeree battalion.”

The despatch of the Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Hugh Gough, to the Governor-General, dated Camp, Kussoor, 13th of February, 1846, giving a detailed account of the battle of Sobraon, contained the following expressions of approbation and thanks:--

“I have now to make the attempt,--difficult, nay impracticable,
though I deem it,--of expressing in adequate terms my sense of
obligation to those who especially aided me by their talents and
self-devotion in the hard-fought field of _Sobraon_.

“The major-generals of the divisions engaged deserve far more
commendation than I am able, within the limits of a despatch, to
bestow. * * *

“Brigadier Penny and Lieut.-Colonel Spence commanded the two
brigades of Major-General Sir Henry Smith’s division, and
overcame at their head the most formidable opposition. I beg to
bring both in the most earnest manner to your notice. * * *

BATTLE OF SOBRAON 10^{TH} FEB^Y 1846

_Madeley lith. 3 Wellington S^t Strand._

_For Cannon’s Military Records_]

“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 in the intrenchments
made by our sappers, in single file, and re-formed as they passed
them; and the third light 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 field-works, and until the full weight of _three
divisions is 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 their 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 earlier 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.

“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.

“The consequences of this great action have yet to be fully
developed. It has at least, in God’s providence, once more
expelled the Sikhs from our territory, and planted our standards
on the soil of the Punjaub. After occupying their intrenched
position for nearly a month, the Khalsa army had perhaps mistaken
the _caution_ which had induced us to wait for the necessary
materiel, for _timidity_; but they must now deeply feel that the
blow, which has fallen on them from the British arm, has only
been the heavier for being long delayed.”

Lieut.-Colonel Spence, Captain Garvock (Major of Brigade), and Captain Lugard (Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General) of the THIRTY-FIRST, were specially mentioned in the above despatch.

At the close of a despatch dated Camp, Lahore, 22nd of February, 1846, the Governor-General added the following:--

“The soldiers of the army of the Sutlej have not only proved
their superior prowess in battle, but have on every occasion,
with subordination and patience, endured the fatigues and
privations inseparable from a state of active operations in the
field.

“The Governor-General has repeatedly expressed on his own part,
and on that of the Government of India, admiration and gratitude
for the important services which the army has rendered.

“The Governor-General is now pleased to resolve, as a testimony
of the approbation of the Government of India of the bravery,
discipline, and soldierlike bearing of the army of the Sutlej,
that all the generals, officers, non-commissioned officers, and
privates, shall receive a gratuity of twelve months’ batta.”

In writing the history of the part borne by a regiment in the brilliant victories of this glorious campaign, there are many traits of individual heroism which should not pass unrecorded. The modesty of true valour prevents officers, who have had an opportunity of distinguishing themselves, from announcing their own deeds, but the historian, who impartially records the service of a corps, can have no such scruples. No hesitation is therefore felt in giving a place in the records of the service of this distinguished corps to the following extract from the Calcutta Star, an Indian newspaper, which described the recent battles of the Sutlej:--

“THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT.--This gallant old corps seems to have
received more than its share of hard knocks, in the last four
glorious battles it was engaged in. Lieut.-Colonel Spence who
commanded in all four actions, seems to have had a charmed life,
having escaped in a most astonishing way. He had two horses
killed under him; balls through his cap and scabbard; his sword
broken in his hand by grape-shot; and at Sobraon, a Sikh, who
was lying apparently dead in the trenches, jumped up when he saw
the Colonel’s head turned, and rushed at him to cut him down,
which was only prevented by a private who called the Colonel’s
attention to his danger, and afterwards bayoneted the Sikh, the
Colonel’s sword having broken in the encounter.”

The glorious _Victory of Sobraon_ was decisive: the invaders were repelled; their army, discomfited, retreated sullenly from the field; the whole of their artillery, their camp, warlike stores, and baggage fell into the hands of the victors; the enemy retired over their bridge, which, from the weight and pressure of the immense mass of the defeated troops passing over it, gave way; the Sikhs were precipitated into the water; the whole river was filled with the confused bodies of the flying enemy, the British artillery playing on them with round and grape-shot; the stream was choked up with the dead and dying: the carnage was frightful!

The enemy never attempted to rally. With the loss of his artillery, on which all his confidence was placed, his spirit was broken, and all his hopes of successfully resisting the British troops vanished: his pride was humbled: the last and final struggle was over; the battle was ended, and the power of the haughty and turbulent Sikhs received a blow on the sanguinary field of _Sobraon_ from which it could not recover: the city of _Lahore_ was at the mercy of the conquerors.

Preparations were now made for the advance of the British army into the Punjaub; the engineer department constructed a pontoon-bridge, and the whole British force, with its artillery, passed the Sutlej, and encamped on the opposite side, in the territory of the Sikhs: the enemy, disheartened and dismayed by their late defeats offered no opposition, retiring as the British army advanced. The distance from the river Sutlej to the capital of the Sikhs is less than fifty miles; the march to it was performed without opposition, and without difficulty: the power of the Sikhs was prostrate; their government sent chiefs of high rank as ambassadors to the British camp, to offer terms of submission to the Governor-General, suing for peace on whatever terms the conquerors might please to dictate.

Lieutenant Tritton died of his wounds on the evening of the battle, and early the next morning the regiment marched towards the bridge of boats, which was in progress at the nearest point on the Sutlej to Ferozepore; on this march it was joined by a detachment of sixty men under the command of Lieutenant M‘Kenzie, along with Assistant-Surgeon Massey, who had just arrived from Umballa, being part of an escort in charge of heavy guns, and an immense train of ammunition hackeries, which they had hoped to bring up in time for the last great battle, and were sadly disappointed to find it was all over;--such are the chances of war!! On the 12th the regiment was turned out at 10 o’clock P.M., and marching all night, crossed the river in native boats at sunrise, along with a large force under Sir Henry Smith, the band in the first boat playing “Garry-Owen,” and the men in high spirits at the prospect of entering the Punjaub.

This forced march was effected from a report having been sent to the Commander-in-Chief, that the Sikhs were about to oppose the crossing of the river, but no such demonstration took place. After halting some days at Kussoor, which is one march from the Sutlej, the army moved towards Lahore, marching at daylight every morning in order of battle, and every regiment in brigade keeping its own place through fields and jungles, forcing a way through every obstacle, and ready to form line at any moment. It was indeed a grand sight to see this splendid army on the morning of the 20th of February approaching the city of Lahore, over a boundless and perfectly open plain, on which it encamped about two miles from the city. On the 22nd the British Standard was hoisted on the citadel, and the event was announced to the army by the following General Orders of the Governor-General:--

GENERAL ORDERS BY THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF
INDIA.

“Camp, Lahore, 22nd February, 1846.

“The British army has this day occupied the gateway of the
citadel of _Lahore_, the Badshahee Mosque, and the Huzzooree Bagh.

“The _Army of the Sutlej_ has now brought its operations in the
field to a close, by the dispersion of the Sikh army, and the
military occupation of Lahore, preceded by a series of the most
triumphant successes ever recorded in the military history of
India.

“Compelled suddenly to assume the offensive by the unprovoked
invasion of its territories, the British Army, under the command
of its distinguished leader, has in sixty days defeated the
Sikh forces in four general actions, has captured 220 pieces of
field-artillery, and is now at the capital, dictating to the
Lahore durbar the terms of a treaty, the conditions of which will
tend to secure the British provinces from the repetition of a
similar outrage.”

The decisive termination of the war in the Punjaub enabled the Governor-General and the Supreme Council to reduce the number of the Queen’s regular regiments in India. An order was accordingly issued for the return of the THIRTY-FIRST to Europe, but as it was desirable to retain all the efficient men who were willing to continue their services in India, the soldiers were permitted to volunteer into the other regiments serving in the Bengal Presidency.

A General Order was issued permitting the soldiers of the sixteenth lancers and the THIRTY-FIRST regiment to volunteer into other corps; the volunteering of the THIRTY-FIRST to commence on the 26th and to close on the 28th of February.

The regiment now mustered only 420 bayonets fit for duty out of 844 which left Umballa, and during these three days 103 men volunteered to other corps; at Umballa, on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of March, it again volunteered 214 men; and at Chinsurah, on the 10th of July, 12 men, in all 329, who remained in India. Within the last few years, the regiment had gained a considerable accession to its strength by volunteers from corps leaving India: these men, whose object in volunteering was to remain in India, again availed themselves of the General Order granting them a bounty, of thirty rupees, and volunteered into other corps with which they had served during the late campaign.

After the authority for volunteering had taken effect the strength of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment was much reduced: all the young soldiers who were desirous of serving in India volunteered into other regiments. Several of the officers exchanged into corps remaining in India: Lieut.-Colonel Byrne into the fifty-third regiment; Major Young into the tenth; and Brevet Major Lugard into the twenty-ninth.

On the publication of the General Order for the return of the regiment to Europe,--the following Division Order was issued by Major-General Sir Henry Smith, K.C.B., commanding the first division:--

“Camp, Lahore, 3rd March, 1846.

“Comrades,--Officers and Soldiers of the gallant THIRTY-FIRST
regiment,--you and I have been so associated in the recent
conflicts, where your services have been distinguished, that I
cannot lose you from under my command without an expression of
the deepest regret; that regret is however mitigated, when I know
that you are about to return to your native country, from which
the regiment has been absent twenty-one years,--much diminished
in numbers,--caused by your valiant conduct and recent glorious
victories; but the former renown of your distinguished corps has
acquired additional fame, by the valour of Lieut.-Colonel Spence,
the officers, and soldiers; and the long list of triumphant
victories now recorded on your colours, has been much increased
by your services in India. Farewell, my gallant comrades, for
the present; may every success, happiness, honor, and prosperity
attend you, the gallant THIRTY-FIRST regiment, in peace, as it
has so gloriously done in war! and, believe me, one of the most
happy and proud recollections of my life will be that I have
witnessed the indomitable valour of the corps.”

On the same occasion the following Brigade Orders were issued by Brigadier Monteath, who commanded the brigade in which the THIRTY-FIRST regiment served in the Cabool campaign:--

BRIGADE ORDERS BY BRIGADIER MONTEATH, C.B.

“Camp, Lahore, 3rd March, 1846.

“Her Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST regiment being now about to quit
the army, Brigadier Monteath cannot allow it to depart without
expressing the deep regret he feels at the approaching separation
from those to whom he has been bound by so many ties of friendly
feeling for their private good qualities, and high admiration for
their public services. On a former occasion, when associated with
them under the most difficult and trying circumstances, he had
the gratification of recording, that the regiment had exhibited,
in a high degree, the best qualities of the best British
soldiers; and he has now the proud pleasure of telling them, that
by their gallant conduct during the late sanguinary conflicts
with the enemy, they have encircled themselves with every honor,
nobly maintained the former character of the regiment, and
placed its number amongst the foremost of those whose military
achievements are most conspicuously engraved upon the records
of their country; and he sincerely prays, on their arrival in
England, that their beloved Sovereign may be induced to confer
such marks of distinction upon the regiment as its gallant deeds
so eminently deserve.

“Farewell, my gallant comrades; may every happiness and
prosperity attend you. Your old Commander will ever remember you
with pleasure, and watch your future progress with all the deep
interest of your firmest friends.

“By order,
(Signed) “G. A. TYTLER, Brigade-Major.”

The Commander-in-Chief in India, having deemed it advisable to send home as many of the severely wounded men of the army as possible, before the beginning of the hot weather, gave orders for the boats to be prepared on the Sutlej to convey them to Bombay, and the command of this detachment was given by His Excellency to Lieutenant Robertson, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment. It consisted of about 158 men of all the European corps lately engaged, and an escort of 63 duty men of the THIRTY-FIRST, making in all 221, 97 of which belonged to the regiment. The detachment sailed from Ferozepore on the 14th of March, 1846, and arrived safely at Bombay on the 27th of April, whence it embarked on board the ship ‘Herefordshire’ on the 14th of May, and landed at Gravesend on the 29th of September, 1846, being the first portion of the regiment that arrived in England.

On the 28th of February the officers of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment were specially invited to dinner by Lieut.-General Lord Hardinge, the Governor-General, and on the 3rd of March the same honor was conferred on them by General Lord Gough, the Commander-in-Chief in India.

The volunteering being completed, the volunteers were delivered over to their new corps. The regiment separated from the army with which it had gained such distinguished renown, and commenced its march on the 4th of March towards Ghurmuktesir Ghât, on the river Ganges, where boats were prepared for its conveyance to Calcutta. The regiment recrossed the river Sutlej on the 7th of March, and on the 20th reached Umballa.

The women, children, and baggage of the regiment, having been left at Umballa when the regiment proceeded on service, a halt was required to enable the officers to arrange their affairs and dispose of their property, and that of the deceased officers and men; the houses which the officers occupied being their own property and built by themselves, as they were the first to inhabit the station when it was formed into a new cantonment in 1843.

The regiment moved again on the 28th of March, and, passing through the station of Meerut, arrived at Ghurmuktesir Ghât, on the right bank of the Ganges, on the 13th of April.

The boats provided by the commissariat for the conveyance of the regiment to Calcutta being in readiness for the voyage, the wounded and sick men, women, and children were embarked with as little delay as possible. By the 16th of April the whole were embarked, and the fleet of boats sailed for the Presidency of Calcutta on the following day.

Lieut.-Colonel Spence, after having commanded the regiment in every action during this brilliant and glorious campaign,--at _Moodkee_ on the 18th of December, _Ferozeshah_ on the 21st and 22nd of December, 1845, _Buddiwal_ on the 21st of January, _Aliwal_ on the 28th, and on the 10th of February, 1846, at the crowning victory at _Sobraon_,--had now the satisfaction of embarking with it on board the boats appointed to convey it to the port of Calcutta, where the ships lay at anchor, which were engaged to carry the war-worn veterans of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment to their native country.

On the 3rd of April Her Majesty was pleased to appoint Lieut.-Colonel Byrne and Lieut.-Colonel Spence, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, to be Companions of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath, for their distinguished gallantry in the late actions on the Sutlej.

In consequence of the particularly gallant conduct of Serjeant Bernard M‘Cabe, Major-General Sir Henry Smith, in a letter dated 17th February, was pleased to recommend him for a commission, in the following terms:--“This intrepid non-commissioned officer, in the midst of a hand-to-hand conflict with the enemy, planted the colour of Her Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST regiment upon one of the towers of the enemy’s intrenchments,--one of the most bold and daring acts of a gallant soldier I ever witnessed, and which, I now deliberately consider, tended much to shorten the struggle alluded to. This serjeant is a young man of excellent character, and, if I may be permitted to remind His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief of the promise made me almost in the heat of battle, it is,--‘_This Serjeant shall be recommended for a commission_.’ I can only add (which is unnecessary to the soldiers’ friend, Sir Hugh Gough) that, if he receives a commission, it will be as gratifying to me as was the gallant conduct I witnessed at the moment the colour-head was shot off, and the flag perforated with balls, as he triumphantly waved it in the air in the very midst of the enemy.”

This highly honorable testimony of the bravery of Serjeant M‘Cabe at the battle of Sobraon, was supported by the strong recommendation of General Lord Gough to His Grace the Commander-in-Chief, and Serjeant Bernard M‘Cabe was appointed by Her Majesty to an ensigncy in the Eighteenth, Royal Irish, regiment of foot, on the 8th of May, 1846.

The details of the campaign on the Sutlej afford abundant proofs of the skill and bravery of the troops: the highest praise is due, and has been rendered by their admiring and grateful countrymen, to the officers and soldiers by whose gallantry four battles were fought, and victories obtained, in sixty days, over an enemy who had most ample means of equipping and supplying his corps with all the _matériel_ of war, and of choosing his own time and opportunity of commencing his perfidious attack.

The army of the Sikhs, at the commencement of this unprovoked aggression, is ascertained to have amounted to 60,000 men, and their artillery to 108 pieces of cannon, some of them being of large calibre.

The Anglo-Indian forces, which had been hastily collected to contend against this immense army, amounted only to about 20,000 men, a great proportion of which had marched one hundred and sixty miles, in order to arrive at the seat of war.

Under the most serious disadvantages, fatigues, and privations, the British troops, with the aid of their faithful allies, the Native corps, nobly contended with their Sikh adversaries, “who, in spite of their exceeding numbers and advantageous positions, were vanquished in every battle.”

In expressing admiration of the heroic conduct of the British troops in this short but decisive war, it is the duty of the nation to acknowledge, with gratitude, the wonderful interference of a Supreme Power, by whose all-wise decree the army of the Sikhs was destroyed and dispersed; and, notwithstanding its numbers, received a complete and signal overthrow, as a just but severe punishment for its faithless conduct and daring violation of every honorable and religious feeling.

When it is considered that with a disparity of force of three to one, independent of artillery, the Sikh army was discomfited, and the enemy was driven back to his capital to seek for safety and peace, the British Nation must be sensible that an over-ruling Power aided their cause, and gave strength where numbers were deficient; and that another signal instance of Divine favour and protection has been added to the numerous claims which demand the nation’s humble acknowledgment and gratitude.

The campaign on the Sutlej having terminated by the destruction of the Sikh army and the capture of the city of Lahore, a treaty of peace was entered into. The Sikh government requested that a force of 10,000 British troops might be left at their capital for the protection of the city and the maintenance of good order: this being complied with, arrangements were made for the return of the British army to the territories of the East India Company.

The glorious news of the Battle of Sobraon was received in London on the 1st of April, and was announced to the British public by a royal salute from the guns of the Tower and in St. James’s Park; and the royal standard was displayed at Buckingham Palace and at the Tower of London. The greatest sensation pervaded all ranks of society: no military event, with the exception of the Battle of Waterloo, excited such wonder and surprise, mingled with joy, that the cloud, which had hung over the fate of the British Empire in India, was completely dissipated by this last splendid and decisive victory, which effected the final overthrow of the power of the Sikhs, the destruction of their army, and the capture of their artillery, on the sanguinary field of _Sobraon_.

On the 2nd of April the Thanks of the House of Lords were proposed by the Earl of Ripon, and carried unanimously.

_Extracts from Minutes of Proceedings of the House of Lords.--2nd
April, 1846._

“That the Thanks of this House be given to Major-General Sir
Henry George Smith, Knight Commander of the Most Honorable
Military Order of the Bath, for his skilful and meritorious
conduct when in command of the British troops employed against a
large portion of the Sikh army, of greatly superior numbers, and
for the signal valour and judgment displayed by him in the battle
of the 28th of January, 1846, when the enemy’s force was totally
defeated, and a new lustre added to the reputation of the British
arms.

“That the Thanks of this House be given to the several officers,
European and Native, under the command of Sir Henry Smith, for
the distinguished services rendered by them at the battle of
Aliwal.

“That this House doth highly approve of and commend the
intrepidity and exemplary discipline displayed by the
non-commissioned officers and private soldiers, European and
Native, on the 28th of January, 1846, in their attack on the
enemy’s position, by which the Sikhs were completely routed and
driven in confusion across the Sutlej, with the loss of all their
artillery and military equipment; and that the same be signified
to them by the Commanders of the several corps, who are desired
to thank them for their gallant behaviour.

“That in requesting the Governor-General of India to communicate
these Resolutions to the several Officers referred to therein,
this House desires to acknowledge the zeal and judgment evinced
by the Right Honorable Lieut.-General Sir Henry Hardinge, Knight
Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Governor-General of India,
and also by General Sir Hugh Gough, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross
of the Order of the Bath, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in
India, in supplying Major-General Sir Henry Smith with such
reinforcements and military means as enabled him, under Divine
Providence, to overcome all the obstacles thrown in his way by a
brave and determined enemy.

“That the Thanks of this House be given to the Right Honorable
Lieut.-General Sir Henry Hardinge, Knight Grand Cross of the Most
Honorable Military Order of the Bath, Governor-General of India,
for the judgment, energy, and ability with which the resources
of the British Empire in India have been applied in repelling
the unjust and unprovoked invasion of the British Territory by
the Sikh Nation; and for the valour and indefatigable exertions
which he displayed on the 10th of February, 1846, at the battle
of Sobraon, when, by the blessing of Almighty God, which we
desire most humbly to acknowledge, this hostile and treacherous
invasion was successfully defeated.

“That the Thanks of this House be given to General Sir Hugh
Gough, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Military
Order of the Bath, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in India,
for the signal ability and valour with which, upon the 10th of
February, 1846, he directed and led the attack, when the enemy’s
intrenchments were stormed, their artillery captured, their army
defeated and scattered, and the Punjaub laid open to the advance
of our victorious troops.

“That the Thanks of this House be given to Major-General Sir
Henry George Smith, Knight Commander of the Most Honorable
Military Order of the Bath; Major-General Walter Raleigh Gilbert;
and Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell, Knight Commander of the
Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath; and to the other
officers, European and Native, for the distinguished services
rendered by them in the eminently successful operations at the
battle of Sobraon.

“That this House doth highly approve of and commend the
invincible intrepidity, perseverance, and steady discipline
displayed by the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers,
European and Native, on the 10th of February, 1846, by which
the glory of the British arms has been successfully maintained
against a determined and greatly superior force, and that the
same be signified to them by the Commanders of the several corps,
who are desired to thank them for their gallant behaviour.

“That the said Resolutions be transmitted by the Lord Chancellor
to the Governor-General of India, and that he be requested to
communicate the same to the several officers referred to therein.”

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Votes of Thanks to the same effect were proposed by Sir Robert Peel in the House of Commons, and carried without a dissenting voice.

THE EAST INDIA COMPANY.

On the same day, a Special General Court of the proprietors of stock was held at the East India House, for the purpose of passing a Vote of Thanks to Major-General Sir Henry Smith for his victory at Aliwal over the Sikh army; to the Governor-General Sir Henry Hardinge; to General Sir Hugh Gough, and to the European and Native troops who were engaged in the war on the Sutlej. The resolutions of the Court were proposed by Sir Henry Willock, the chairman, and were unanimously adopted.

THE COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL OF LONDON.

At a Special Court of the Court of the Common Council of the City of London, the Thanks and Congratulations of the Court were awarded to Lieut.-General Sir Henry Hardinge, G.C.B., General Sir Hugh Gough, G.C.B., and Major-General Sir Henry Smith, K.C.B., for the valour, judgment, and ability displayed by them in the recent battles of Aliwal and Sobraon; also the Thanks of the Court to the other officers, European and Native, for the intrepidity, perseverance, and discipline evinced by them upon both these memorable occasions.

After a tedious voyage down the Ganges, owing to the shallowness of the river and the numerous sand-banks, the regiment did not reach the station of Chinsurah until the 6th of July, on which day it landed and marched into barracks. Chinsurah, formerly a Dutch settlement, was ceded by Holland to the British Government in 1827; it is situated on the right bank of the Ganges, about thirty miles from Calcutta: the East India Company have built an excellent barrack here for a regiment of infantry. The regiment was halted here until the necessary preparations were made for its embarkation for England.

On the 30th of July the arms of the regiment, which had been proudly borne and successfully used on many occasions on the battle-field, were given over to the ordnance department, and deposited in the arsenal of Fort William.

On the arrival of the regiment at Fort William, the military officers of the Presidency invited the officers of the sixteenth lancers and THIRTY-FIRST regiment to a ball and supper at the Town-hall, to show their high sense of the distinguished conduct of those regiments in the field during the recent campaign on the Sutlej.

The Lieut.-Governor, Sir Herbert Maddox, also invited the officers to a splendid banquet at the Government House on the 1st of August.

The officers were also hospitably entertained by the officers of the Bengal artillery stationed at Dum-Dum, the head-quarters of that corps.

The entertainment given by the military officers at Calcutta to the officers of the sixteenth lancers and THIRTY-FIRST regiment is thus noticed in the public paper called the “Star,” of the 1st of August, 1846:--

“The ball given by the military to Her Majesty’s sixteenth
lancers and Her Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST regiment, came off
with great brilliancy last night at the Town Hall; there were
probably from 400 to 500 persons present. The hall was decorated
with remarkable taste, and the honored Peninsular colours of
the THIRTY-FIRST regiment hung in tatters under the principal
canopy, blood-stained in the recent engagements, in all of which
the gallant regiment was present. At the opposite end of the
table was a large transparency of the battle of Sobraon. Colonel
Warren presided at the supper-table; and Colonel Burlton, in an
excellent speech, reviewing the services of the regiments from
the commencement of the present century, gave the toast of the
evening, which was acknowledged by Lieut.-Colonel MacDowell and
Lieut.-Colonel Spence.”

Previous to the departure of the regiment from India, the following General Order was issued by General Lord Gough, the Commander-in-Chief:--

“Head-Quarters, Simla, 23rd May, 1846.

“Those distinguished regiments, the sixteenth lancers and the
THIRTY-FIRST foot, are about to return to their native country
after a service in India, the former of twenty-four, the latter
of twenty-one years; and although the Commander-in-Chief has
recently, and so frequently, had occasion to laud the gallant
conduct of these corps before an intrepid enemy, he cannot
permit them to embark without again expressing his admiration
of their continued and conspicuous bravery in all the battles
they have been engaged in during the long and eventful period
of their Indian service, whether in Affghanistan, or at the more
sanguinary conflicts of 1845 and 1846.

“These brave regiments may be assured they will be received in
their native land with every demonstration of that patriotic
feeling which gallant exploits ensure from their countrymen.

“The sixteenth lancers have added to their standards ‘Bhurtpore,
Affghanistan, Ghuznee, Maharajpore, Aliwal, and Sobraon;’ and the
THIRTY-FIRST regiment will have recorded on their already highly
decorated colours--‘Cabool, Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, and
Sobraon.’

“Again must Lord Gough express the gratification it affords him
thus to be able to record his opinion of their merits; and both
these corps are assured that their correct conduct in quarters,
and almost total absence of crime for many years, have mainly
conduced to the gallant achievements in the field to which their
good fortune has afforded them the opportunity to contribute.

“That every happiness and welfare may hereafter attend these
regiments, is the Commander-in-Chief’s ardent desire, for he
must ever feel the warmest interest in the career of such highly
distinguished regiments.

“The Commander-in-Chief congratulates the two officers,
Lieut.-Colonel MacDowell, C.B., and Lieut.-Colonel Spence,
who accompanied their regiments to India nearly a quarter of
a century ago, upon now having the honor and gratification of
commanding them, after such distinguished services, on their
return to their native land. Lieut.-Colonel MacDowell has never
left India since his first arrival.

“By order of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.

(Signed) “H. G. SMITH, Major-General,
“Adjutant-General to the Forces in India.”

The regiment embarked for England, the left wing under the command of Lieutenant Plaskett, on board the ‘Plantagenet,’ on the 2nd of August, 1846, consisting of 5 officers, 12 serjeants, 4 drummers, and 102 rank and file, 10 women and 10 children. The head-quarters, or right wing, embarked on board the ‘Madagascar’ on the 3rd of August, 1846, under the command of Major Staunton, and consisted of 10 officers, 19 serjeants, 7 drummers, and 194 rank and file, 21 women, and 32 children. Unfortunately, as the ‘Plantagenet’ was putting out to sea, she sprung a leak, and was obliged to return to Calcutta with all speed, the pumps being worked night and day by the soldiers, without whose assistance she must have gone down: they succeeded in bringing her safe into dock, there being then above seven feet of water in the hold. This detachment again embarked in the same ship on the 29th of August, and arrived in England on the 13th of January, 1847, having lost on the passage seven men. The ‘Madagascar,’ with head-quarters, arrived in England on the 5th of December, and lost on the passage Lieutenant Richard Sparrow and five soldiers.

After a voyage of four months, the surviving veterans of the regiment were gladdened with the sight of the shores of their native land. The head-quarters of the regiment reached Gravesend on the 4th of December, 1846; and on the 6th disembarked and marched to Chatham. Nothing could exceed the enthusiasm of the public to welcome the arrival of this distinguished corps.

The following description of the reception the regiment met with on its arrival, is taken from the ‘Illustrated London News’ of December, 1846:--

“_The Return of the_ THIRTY-FIRST _Regiment from India_.--On the
4th instant the head-quarters of this distinguished regiment
arrived by the ship Madagascar from Calcutta, from which place
they embarked on the 3rd of August last: they lost by deaths on
the voyage five men and one officer, Lieut. Richard Sparrow.
They brought home with them four captured colours, which they
took in the short but brilliant campaign against the Sikhs.
* * * On the evening of the 6th the head-quarters marched into
Chatham garrison from Gravesend, by the Rochester and Gravesend
Railway, where they were met by the very superior band of the
royal marines. On the arrival at the Rochester terminus, the
band struck up, ‘God save the Queen,’ and these heroes of the
Sutlej were greeted by hundreds of people with loud and repeated
huzzas. The soldiers, in return for this spirited welcome, waved
the four colours captured from the enemy, one at Ferozeshah,
one at Aliwal, and two taken at Sobraon. These banners bear
testimony of the severe engagements. The Queen’s colour, and the
regimental colour, are complete fragments. The head-quarters were
also accompanied by the depôt band, which played at intervals in
passing with the regiment through the streets of Rochester and
Chatham, and were greeted along the whole line by thousands of
people who assembled to witness their return.

“Out of the 215 men landed from the Madagascar there are but 80
unwounded. Lieut.-Colonel Spence, and Quarter-master Benison, are
the only officers, now with the regiment, who went out with it in
the ‘Kent’ East Indiaman, which took fire and sank in the Bay of
Biscay.

“The following officers have come home with the
head-quarters:--Major George Staunton, Brevet Major D. F. G.
Longworth, Lieut. G. Elmslie, Lieut. T. Scarman, Lieut. R.
Mackenzie, Lieut. and Adjutant A. S. Bolton, Lieut. H. P. Hutton,
Quarter-master S. Benison, and Assistant-Surgeon H. C. Foss.
Total nine officers and 215 serjeants, drummers, and rank and
file.

“Lieut.-Colonel Spence headed the troops. The officers of this
regiment, having been on the most friendly terms with the royal
marine corps, and being members of the mess of the royal marines,
they dined at the royal marines’ mess-room with the officers, who
invited them on their arrival at the garrison to a superb repast.

“The officers of the regiment were invited to dinner by Colonel
Sir Frederick Smith and the officers of the royal engineers in
garrison at Chatham. They also received invitations to dinner
from the officers of the 2nd battalion of the 60th rifles, and
also from the officers of the provisional battalion quartered in
this garrison.”

Shortly after its arrival in England, the following complimentary letter was received by Lieut.-Colonel Spence, commanding the regiment, from that distinguished officer General Sir Colin Halkett, G.C.B., the Colonel of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment:--

“United Service Club, London, 22nd Dec., 1846.

“MY DEAR COLONEL,

“It is with the liveliest satisfaction that I avail myself of
the arrival in England of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, under
your command, to offer you, and the corps, my most sincere
congratulations on your return to your native land, after your
arduous and distinguished services in the East. Connected as I
have the honor to be with the regiment, it was natural for me
to take a deep interest in its welfare, and to follow its fate
and fortunes with all the attention in my power; and as some
professional experience enabled me to appreciate the toils you
had to encounter, and the dangers you had to overcome, it was
with highly gratified pride and most heartfelt delight, that I
heard how nobly you had supported the first, and how gallantly
you had vanquished the latter.

“At the very outset of the voyage from England, the regiment
was already called upon to give proofs of that high state of
discipline, which is the soldier’s best shield in difficulties.
On dark and distant seas, amid the flames of the unfortunate East
India ship Kent, you remained firm and tranquil, obedient to
orders issued by that meritorious soldier, your then commanding
officer, Lieut.-Colonel Fearon (now Major-General), and thus
ensured the safety of all when every semblance of hope seemed to
have vanished, and when confusion must have led to inevitable
destruction.

“The promise, which such noble conduct gave, was fully justified
by your subsequent behaviour. Called upon to aid in avenging
disasters which the feebleness of allies had brought upon your
country’s arms, you forced your way through the most difficult
part of Central Asia, through mountain wildernesses unequalled
on the face of the globe, and never traversed by disciplined
troops since the days of the great Macedonian conqueror. Even
the gallantry, which you displayed during this campaign, seems
to be forgotten, when we reflect on the steady discipline, and
dauntless energy, evinced in contending against the toils and
difficulties which had to be overcome at every step of this
memorable march, only eclipsed by the more brilliant actions you
were soon afterwards called upon to perform.

“An Army, composed of the most warlike tribes of Asia, trained
to arms by European officers, long accustomed to victory under
the sway of an able and ambitious prince, assuming, on the death
of Runjeet Singh, the power of absolute control over its feeble
government, resolved to invade the British provinces; which,
protected by a disciplined army, ruled by a wise and paternal
government, had long prospered in peace, and acquired a degree of
wealth too well calculated to tempt the rapacity of such lawless
bands.