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tially within our grasp, our soldiery had to face such a fire of musketry from the Sikh infantry, arrayed behind their guns, that, in spite of their most heroic efforts, a portion only of the entrenchment could be carried. Night fell while the conflict was everywhere raging.

Although I now brought up Major-General Sir Harry Smith's division, and he captured and long retained another point of the position, and Her Majesty's 3rd light dragoons charged and took some of the most formidable batteries, yet the enemy remanied in possession of a considerale portion of the great quadrangle, whilst our troops, intermingled with theirs, kept possession of the remainder, and finally bivouacked upon it, exhausted by their gallant efforts, greatly reduced in numbers, and suffering extremely from thirst, yet animated by an indomitable spirit. In this state of things the long night wore away.

Near the middle of it, one of their heavy guns was advanced and played with deadly effect upon our troops. Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Hardinge immediately formed Her Majesty's 80th foot and the 1st European light infantry. They were led to the attack by their commanding officers, and animated in their exertions by Lieutenant-Colonel Wood (Aid-de-Camp to the Lieutenant-General), who was wounded in the outset, the 80th captured the gun, and the enemy, dismayed by this counter-check, did not venture to press on further. During the whole night, however, they continued to harass our troops by fire of artillery, wherever moonlight discovered our position.

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

of Ferozeshah and their encampment; then, changing front to its left, on its centre, our force continued to sweep the camp, bearing down all opposition, and dislodged the enemy from their whole position. The line then halted, as if on a day of manoeuvre, receiving its two leaders as they rode along its front with a gratifying cheer, aud displaying the captured standards of the Khalsa We had taken upwards of seventy-three pieces of cannon,

army.

and were masters of the whole field.

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

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

For twenty-four hours not a Sikh has appeared in our front. The remains of the Khalsa army are said to be in full retreat across the Sutlej, at Nuggurputhur and Tilla, or marching up its left bank towards Hurreekeeputhur, in the greatest confusion and dismay. Of their chiefs, Bahudur Sing is killed; Lal Sing said to be wounded; Mehtab Sing, Adjoodhia Pershad, and Tej Sing, the late governor of Peshawur, have fled with precipitation. Their

camp is the scene of the most awful carnage, and they have abandoned large stores of grain, camp equipage, and ammunition.

Thus has apparently terminated this unprovoked and criminal invasion of the peaceful provinces under British protection.

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 honour to command on the 21st and 22nd instant. To their gallant exertions I owe the satisfaction of seeing such a victory achieved, and the glory of having my name associated with it.

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

In addition to our losses in the battle, the captured camp was found to be everywhere protected by charged mines, by the successive spring of which many brave officers and men have been destroyed.

I must bear testimony to the valour displayed in these actions by the whole of the regiments of Her Majesty's service employed, and the East India Company's 1st European light infanty: the native force seconded in a most spirited manner their gallant conduct.

To Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Hardinge, my second in command, my warmest thanks are due, not only for his personal exertions, which were conspicuous to all, but for the able assistance he afforded me through all the eventful scenes of this well-fought action. To the general and my personal staff, I feel deeply indebted for their unceasing exertions. Major-Generals Sir Harry Smith, Gilbert, and Sir John Littler, and Brigadier Wallace (who nobly fell in the hour of victory), fully realized the high expectations I had formed of their conduct as leaders of divisions.

With the brigadiers, the commandant of artillery, and the chief engineer, the commanding officer of regiments, and with the departmental staff, I was also greatly pleased; their exertions were most unremitting, and highly praiseworthy.

The reports I have received from the Generals of divisions of Infantry, the Brigadiers of Cavalry, and the Commandant of Artillery, speak in the highest terms of their respective staff; and it is my intention, as soon as possible, to forward to you, Right honourable Sir, a list containing the names of the officers I have just enumerated, together with the names of all those who appear to me especially to merit approbation and favour.

The hurried manner in which I am forced to collect information, and prepare these numerous details, may, I fear, cause the omission of the names of some officers well deserving of notice; but I shall not fail to send in a supplementary list when I can assure myself of their individual merits, as it would be most painful to me to feel that I had not done justice to any one of the brave men who shared with me the glories and dangers of this arduous conflict.

I beg now to mention the conduct of an illustrious noblemen, Count Ravensburg, who, with the officers of his suite, Counts Greuben and Oriola, did us the honour to accompany the force during our operations. They were present at Moodkee, and in this great battle. It is with the greatest pleasure and sincerity I can bear my testimony to their gallant conduct on these occasions, worthy of the high reputation in arms of their countrymen, and of the great ancestor of one of them. I lament to add, that Dr. Hoffmeister, the medical attendant on the Count, was killed in the action of the 21st instant.

I herewith enclose the report of Lieutenant-General the Right Honourable Sir H. Hardinge, second in command. I have the honour to be, &c. H. GOUGH, General, Commander-in-Chief, East Indies.

G

Return of Killed and Wounded of the Army of the Sutlej, under the Command of His Excellency General Sir Hugh Gough, Bart. G. C. B. Commander in Chief, in the Actions fought near Ferozeshah, on the 21st and 22nd of December, 1845.

Camp, Sultan Khan Walla, December 27, 1845. Staff-1 European officer killed; 3 European officers wounded. Artillery Division-2 European officers, 2 native officers, 1 serjeant, 26 rank and file, 4 lascars, 4 syce drivers, 2 syce grasscutters, 118 regimental horses, killed; 4 European officers, 2 warrant officers, 10 serjeants, 61 rank and file, 7 lascars, 2 syce drivers, 2 syce grasscutters, 75 regimental horses, wounded.

Cavalry-3 European officers, 2 native officers, 4 havildars, 1 trumpeter, 78 rank and file, 9 officers' chargers, 163 regimental horses, killed; 9 European officers, 2 native officers, 1 warrant officer, 9 havildars, 133 rank and file, 2 officers' chargers, 112 regimental horses, wounded.

1st Infantry-4 European officers, 6 native officers, 5 serjeants or havildars, 1 drummer, 119 rank and file, 9 officers' chargers, killed; 19 European officers, 21 serjeants or havildars, 8 drummers, 399 rank and file, 2 officers' chargers, wounded.

2nd Infantry-8 European officers, 3 native officers, 6 serjeants or havildars, 150 rank and file, 6 officers' chargers, killed; 13 European officers, 9 native officers, 26 serjeants or havildars, 8 drummers, 365 rank and file, 2 officers' chargers, wounded.

3rd Infantry-11 European officers, 1 native officer, 2 serjeants or havildars, 2 drummers, 111 rank and file, 2 officers' chargers, killed; 9 European officers, 2 native officers, 13 serjeants or havildars, 2 drummers, 315 rank and file, 1 lascar, wounded.

4th Infantry-8 European officers, 3 native officers, 9 serjeants or havildars, 115 rank and file, 7 officers' chargers, killed; 21 European officers, 5 native officers, 20 serjeants or havildars, 5 drummers 323 rank and file, wounded.

Grand Total-37 European officers, 17 native officers, 27 serjeants or havildars, 4 trumpeters or drummers, 599 rank and file, 4 lascars, 4 syce drivers, 2 syce grasscutters, 33 officers' chargers,

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