THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT
Madeley lith. 3 Wellington St Strand.
From a sketch by Major G. F. White, 31st RegimentThe 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.
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.
“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. | Lieutenant | Gabbett. | |
| Captain Garvock. | ” | Timbrell. | |
| ” Longworth. | ” | Noel. | |
| ” Lugard. | ” | Paul. | |
| Lieutenant | Atty. | ” | Hutton. |
| ” | Law. | ” | Tritton. |
| ” | Robertson. | ||
| ” | Bolton (Adjutant). | Ensign Jones. | |
| ” | Elmslie. | 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. * * *
Madeley lith. 3 Wellington St Strand.
THE THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT“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:—