In short, the conduct of the troops, European and Native, regular and irregular, was, throughout the field, an honourable rivalry, in which every corps bravely did its duty.

Her Majesty's 16th Lancers, on this occasion, have added to their former reputation acquired in various fields of battle in Asia, by routing the enemy's cavalry in every direction, and by resolute charges of two of its squadrons, under Captain Bere and Major Smyth and Captain Pearson, penetrating the enemy's square of Infantry, in which charges the squadrons were gallantly supported by the 3rd Light Native Cavalry under Major Angelo.

In these exploits the Native Cavalry distinguished itself throughout the day, and the Governor-General is happy to bear his testimony to the fact that, since the army of the Sutlej commenced its operations on the 18th December, the Native Cavalry has on every occasion proved its superior prowess, whether in the general actions which have been fought, or in the various skirmishes at the outposts, such as that in which Captain Becher was gallantly engaged with a small party of the 8th Irregular Cavalry at Alloowalla, on the morning of the 27th January.

The Governor-General's thanks are due, in an especial manner, to Brigadier Cureton, who commanded the Cavalry. This officer's whole life has been spent in the most meritorious exertions in Europe and Asia; and on this occasion, the skill and intrepidity with which the cavalry force was handled, obtained the admiration of the army which witnessed their movements.

The Government of India, ever desirous to mark its grateful sense of the services of the Army, will cause a medal to be presented to every officer and soldier of the East India Company's Service, engaged in the battle of Aliwal, and requests, through His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, that a nominal roll may be furnished for that purpose.

By order of the Right Hon. the Gov.-Gen. of India,

F. CURRIE,

Secretary to the Government of India with the Gov.-Gen.

General Sir Hugh Gough, Bart., G. C.B., Commander-in-Chief in India, to the Governor-General.

Camp, Nihalkee, February 1, 1846.

After its final repulse, on the 22d of December, the Sikh army retired, in great confusion, across the ferries and fords of the Sutlej.

I established my head quarters at Sultan Khan Walla on the 24th, my divisions being encamped at that place, at Peer Khan Walla, and at Kool. On the 27th I advanced to Hurruff; and, the same day, personally pushed a reconnoisance to the bank of the river, at the Ghat of Sobraon.

The enemy was seen stretching along the right bank in force, not half a dozen of his stragglers being surprised by our Irregular Cavalry on this side.

Major-General Sir Harry Smith's division I placed in an advanced position, with its right on the village of Mallowal, and its left on a nullah, an offset from the Sutlej.

From this point the enemy was watched by the Major-General with equal activity and circumspection, whilst the rest of our troops were held in hand ready to support him should the Sikhs venture to resume the initiative.

On or about the 5th, our attention was directed to a predatory incursion of the enemy, in the direction of Loodiana. They burnt a few of the residences of our officers, and barracks of our soldiers, at that station, but avoided the combat, when the Sirmoor battalion, and other troops, interrupted them in the work of destruction.

Rumour exaggerated the nature and extent of this inroad, and excited some alarm for our communications; but the object of this foray was, eventually, discovered to be for the purpose of favouring the escape, across the Sutlej, of the Raja of Ladwa, who had alone, of all the principal princes and chiefs of the Protected States, evinced towards us, at this conjuncture, decided hostility. With him, the predatory Sikhs recrossed the Sutlej.

On the 12th of January, I determined to bring my whole force into a position, from which it might more closely observe the move

K

ments of the enemy, now posted near the greater Sobraon, on the right bank. At an early hour, it executed an oblique movement to its right and front. Major-General Sir Harry Smith, supported by a cavalry brigade, under Brigadier Cureton (recently brought up from Meerut) was, in this new alignment, still on the right, opposite to Hurreke Puttun: Major-General Gilbert in the centre; and Major-General Sir Robert Dick on the left, covered again by cavalry. Major-General Sir John Grey, posted at Attaree, watched the Nuggur ford. The troops of Major-General Sir John Littler occupied, or were drawn around, the cantonment and entrenchment of Ferozepore.

The enemy, on his side, reinforced his army on the right bank, completed and strengthened his bridge, and increased the force of his posts and picquets on the left bank. These parties having, on

the 14th, evinced more than usual audacity, I caused that body of his infantry which held the head of the bridge, to be driven in by the fire of artillery and rockets, supported by the presence of our light troops. On the following day, a partial cannonade, which was again opened, on our side, upon the boats of the Sikhs, on their outposts on the left bank, and their encampment on the right, enabled me to ascertain, from the direction of their corresponding fire, the nature of all their defensive dispositions.

Meanwhile, the upper Sutlej has become the scene of very interesting operations.

It is a strange feature of this war that the enemy, pressed for supplies on his own bank, has been striving to draw them from his Jaghire States on this side of the river. In the town and fort of Dhurmkote, which were filled with grain, he had, in the second week of January, a small garrison of Mercenaries, Rohillas, Eusufzies, and Affghans. Major-General Sir Harry Smith was, on the 18th, sent against this place, with a single brigade of his division, and a light field battery. He easily effected its reduction, the troops within it surrendering at discretion, after a few cannon shots. But, whilst he was yet in march, I received information of a more serious character. There remained little cause to doubt

that Sirdar Runjoos Sing Mujethea had crossed from Philour, at the head of a numerous force of all arms, and established himself in position at Baran Hara, between the old and the new courses of the Sutlej, not only threatening the city of Loodiana with plunder and devastation, but indicating a determination to intersect the line of our communications at Busseean and Raekote.

The safety of the rich and populous town of Loodiana had been in some measure provided for by the presence of three battalions of native infantry under Brigadier Godby: and the gradual advance of our reinforcements, amongst which was included her Majesty's 53rd regiment, and the position of the Shekawattee Brigade, near Busseean, gave breathing time to us in that direction.

But, on the receipt of intelligence which could be relied on, of the movements of Runjoor Sing, and his apparent views, MajorGeneral Sir Harry Smith, with the brigade at Dhurmkote, and Brigadier Cureton's cavalry, was directed to advance by Jugraon towards Loodiana; and his second brigade, under Brigadier Wheeler, moved on to support him.

Then commenced a series of very delicate combinations, the momentous character of which can only be comprehended by reflecting on the task which had devolved on this army of guarding the frontier from Roopur down to Mundote.

The Major-General, breaking up from Jugraon, moved towards Loodiana; when the Sirdar, relying on the vast superiority of his forces, assumed the initiative, and endeavoured to intercept his progress by marching in a line parallel to him, and opening upon his troops a furious cannonade. The Major-General continued coolly to manœuvre; and, when the Sikh Sirdar, bending round one wing of his army, enveloped his flank, he extricated himself by retiring, with the steadiness of a field day, by echelon of battalions, and effected his communication with Loodiana, but not without severe loss.

Reinforced by Brigadier Godby, he felt himself to be strong; but his manoeuvres had thrown him out of communication with Brigadier Wheeler, and a portion of his baggage had fallen into the

hands of the enemy. The Sikh Sirdar took an entrenched position at Budhowal, supporting himself on his fort; but, threatened on either flank by General Smith and Brigadier Wheeler, finally decamped, and moved down to the Sutlej. The British troops made good their junction, and occupied the abandoned position of Budhowal; the Shekawattee Brigade and Her Majesty's 53rd Regiment also added to the strength of the Major-General, and he prepared to attack the Sikh Surdar on his new ground. But, on, the 26th, Runjoor Sing was reinforced, from the right bank, with 4,000 regular troops, twelve pieces of artillery, and a large force of cavalry.

Emboldened by this accession of strength, he ventured on the measure of advancing towards Jugraon, apparently with the view of intercepting our communications by that route.

It is my gratifying duty to announce that the presumption has been rebuked by a splendid victory obtained over him. He has not only been repulsed by the Major-General, but his camp at Aliwal carried by storm, the whole of his cannon and munitions of war captured, and his army driven headlong across the Sutlej, even on the right bank of which he found no refuge from the fire of our artillery

I have the honour now to forward the Major-General's report which has just reached me. It is so ample and luminous that I might perhaps have spared some of the details into which admiration of the Major-General's conduct, and of the brave army confided to him in these operations has led me.

It now remains for me only to congratulate you, Right honourable Sir, and the Government of India, on the brilliant success which, under Divine Providence, the Major-General has achieved; and to record my opinion that, throughout these arduous and important operations, he has displayed all the qualities of an able commander. Most strongly, and most earnestly at the same time, I beg to bring to your notice, and to that of His Grace the Duke of Wellington, and the Honourable the Court of Directors, the officers and corps on whom he has so justly bestowed his commendations.