Historical Record of the Thirty-first, or the Huntingdonshire Regiment of Foot, by Richard Cannon

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.”

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

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.

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.

“To avoid every appearance of hostility, and preserve peace to the last, the British authorities had kept their forces at a distance from the frontier; and the enemy thus emboldened by forbearance, which was probably taken for timidity, crossed the Sutlej, and attacked our possessions without even a declaration of war. In this difficulty it was only by extraordinary exertion on the part of the troops, by toil and fortitude never surpassed, if ever equalled, that your comrades posted along the frontier could be saved from ruin, and an unprincipled foe checked in time to avert the greatest calamities.

“The march from Umballa must ever be memorable in the annals of war. Under the burning sun of India, you supported, at duty’s call, an excess of toil and fatigue, which would have tried the hardiest and the best, even in the bracing atmosphere of our northern climate; and your victory of Moodkee was actually achieved over bold, numerous, and well-prepared foes, after a march of twenty miles, performed under the rays of a vertical sun, through a waste and parched country, not affording even a drop of water to allay the scorching thirst occasioned by the clouds of dust raised from the burning soil; fought, and won in fact, after an excess of toil that would have overcome all but the first and foremost soldiers of their time.

“A single defeat was not, however, to daunt the fierce and numerous foes with whom you had to contend; and hardly had you recovered from the fatigues of your long march and first victory, when you were called upon to storm an entrenched camp, defended by vastly superior numbers, and by a train of heavy and well-served artillery such as the East had never beheld. To assail works, under such circumstances, is one of the most trying and difficult operations of war; and when the strength of the position, and the fierce resolution with which it was defended, are considered, your victory may safely be termed an action of unsurpassed boldness, energy, and perseverance.

“Never will your country’s banner suffer a stain, so long as its soldiers shall equal those who stormed the Sikh camp of Ferozeshah: greater fortitude and gallantry than those of which you had given proof in these actions could not possibly be displayed. But every species of high soldiership was to be called for during the course of this brief campaign, and it was your fortune to be present in the different actions, all fought under different circumstances.

“At Aliwal you had to execute on an open and level plain, and under a heavy fire of artillery, the skilful movements which ensured the success of that brilliant day; and at Sobraon you were again called upon to force entrenchments, constructed with European science, and defended with all the fierce resolution of Asiatic despair. But neither savage valour, nor European art, could withstand your efforts,—could compete with high and matchless gallantry, regulated by discipline, and fired to noble exertion by the consciousness of what was due to your country’s name and fame!—The Battle of Sobraon, which crushed the power of unprincipled adversaries, terminated your exploits in the East, saved the British provinces from devastation, and secured to our youthful and beloved Sovereign the peaceful and happy possession of India! Never indeed were nobler objects attained by nobler conduct!

“It is needless for me to tell you how greatly all ranks of your countrymen sympathised with your fortunes during these trying times; how much they felt for your sufferings; how deeply they mourned for the heavy losses you sustained; and how highly they exulted in the gallantry you displayed. The admiration your behaviour excited, must have reached you even on the distant shores of India; and I feel confident that every step you take on British ground will show how justly your conduct is appreciated by all those whose good opinion can be of value. It only remains for me, therefore, again to offer you my most sincere congratulations on your return to your native land, to wish you every success and happiness in your future progress, and to assure you, that as far as my sphere of action extends, no effort shall be wanting to give effect to the sentiments I feel such high satisfaction in now expressing.

“Believe me,
“My dear Colonel, ever yours sincerely,
“Colin Halkett,
“General, and Colonel Thirty-first Regt.

“Lieut.-Colonel Spence, C.B.,
“Commanding Thirty-first Regiment.”

As an additional testimony of the consideration of the services of the officers and men of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment who had returned from India, His Grace the Commander-in-Chief was pleased to authorize the following letter to be addressed to the officer commanding, dated Horse Guards, 21st of December, 1846:—

“Sir,

“In transmitting the enclosed Copy of the General Order of the 30th of October last, granting leave of absence to officers, and furloughs to non-commissioned officers and men, to the 10th of March next, I have it in command to intimate to you, that the Commander-in-Chief, duly considering the glorious and important services recently performed by the regiment under your command, as well as its protracted service abroad, has been pleased to direct that furloughs may be forthwith granted to such of the non-commissioned officers and men recently returned from India, without limitation as to numbers, as may be desirous of availing themselves of that indulgence, so as to enable them immediately to visit their friends; and that leave of absence may, in like manner, be extended to as large a portion of the officers as can be spared from the duties of the regiment.

“I have, &c.
(Signed) “John Macdonald,
“Adjutant-General.”

The usual directions were given by the Secretary at War for reducing the establishment of the regiment, in order to assimilate it to that of other regiments on home duty, from the 6th of December, 1846.

After transferring to the Invalid Depôt the men selected for discharge on account of wounds and other disabilities, and incorporating the depôt with the other companies, the regiment was removed from Chatham to Walmer, where it arrived on the 20th of December, and was received at Deal and in the neighbouring parts, with the same honors and marks of distinction as had been evinced on its arrival in the garrison of Chatham.