The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-28 00:00:00

ment deceived their army by false statements of the fitielit Yapt by
native troops, whom they have in vain attempted to cort
emissaries employed by that Government. had
And there is also reason to believe that active intrigues 4. our
some time past been resorted to, in order to induce the chiefs •e._,er,
protected Seikh territorities to rise in arms against the British Pu"
as soon m
as a Seikh army should cross the Sutlej. ot of
There was no proof that such a conspiracy existed on the .very
the leading Seikh chiefs on this side the Sutlej, •althoughl,-"1,,,, se-
few instances, where the personal character of the indivi
fornueve
counted for the folly of their conduct, there were reasons f
anY Late
ing that disaffection did exist, and would be exhibited With
re:er,;,
on the first favourable opportunity, and particularly i
should attend our arms. notice
I shall have occasion to advert to this subject when I
proclamation I issued on the 13th ins:ant. • intellige°
But I will previously resume the narrative of the daily pee
frees Lahore, as affording a connected series of the events wn.`;„ed
it
occurred since Dec. 4, when I informed you that I had nesi"
in cone-
eapedient to desire the Lahore Vakeel to leave my caniP, „oaat's
quence of the disregard shown by his Court to my Politic:l,lv the
remonstrance of Nov. 18, and of the determination min eu
Durbar to withhold all explanation of their conduct. h.na towardS
I had moved with my camp on Dec. 6 from Urn--- sn"
Loodianah, peaceably making my progress by the route
pister dc-
pounced, with the intention of visiting the Seikh protected
cording to the custom of my predecesors. Indian G°.
In common with the most experienced officers of the cros, at
vernment, I was not of opinion that the Seikh army ruld
Sutlej with its infantry and artillery. „,tes.so
I considered it probable that some act of -7 tile
would be committed by parties of plunderers, Itrerfero
purpose of comp e llin the British Government to
to which course the §eikh chiefs knew I was roost •:secro.
but I concurred with the Commander-in-Chief, and the Our No,jor
tary to the Government, as well as with my political o,g en not n$
Broadfoot, that offensive operations, on a large scale, woule
resorted to. 4 carry mY
Exclusive of the political reasons which induced me .° the or''
forbearance, as far as it was possible, I was confident, from Too
nions given by the Commander-in-Chief and Major-General
_i.i-v;00.1
Littler, in command of the forces at Ferozepore, that that PTiastaii
resist any attack from the Seikh army as long aa provisien%rairs'
and that I could at any time relieve it, under the ordinarY
stances of an Asiatic army making an irruption into our ter,,;e
provided it had not the means of laying siege to the fort and
trenched camp. mined b 5 t)ie
Up to this period no act of aggression had been con
Seikh army. the Lahore Govenunent had as good
force their bank of the river Sutlej, as we had to reinforce 0' `
on that river. „
a right
~„° r„os'-;
The Seikh army had, in 1843 and 1844, mooed down uk,•,oelt‘
river from Lahore, and, after remaining there encamped f°‘,.,„•
had returned to the capital. These reasons, and, above au,
_riot/
treme anxiety to avoid hostilities, induced me not to make au fie into
movement with our army, which, when the two armies CO
each others esence, might brin a collision
The army had, however, beenordered to be in readiness tow..-0
at the shortest notice ; and on the 7th and Bth of December, mite
heard from Lahore that preparations were making on a lsrg.to tje
for artillery, stores, and all the munitions of war, I wreteto
Commander-in-Chief, directing his Excellency, on the lith, in
up the force from Umballa, from Meerut, and some other eta."
brio
the rear. to
Up to this time no infantry or artillery had been reported ;war
left Lahore, nor had a single Seikh soldier crossed the Sidie•L' dove:
theless, I considered it prudent no longer to delay the forW..i.it th
ment of our troops, having given to the Lahore Governu?'"
most ample time for a reply to our remonstrance. , agent !,ti
On the 9th, at night, Capt. Nicolson, the assistant politica, icae,
Ferozepore, reported that a portion of the Seikh army had aPPnr'forros,'
within three miles of the river. On the, other hand, the I. as 'W.
tion received byMajor Broadfoot on that day from l,abore as $
of a character to make it probable that any Seikh Moveinen
large scale was meditated. o torlm
rsr
On the 10th no intelligence was received from Lahore cou`'oed
of Captain Nicholson's report, and the usual opinion eeln*-
prevail that the Seikh army would not cross the Stith?). in
The troops, however, moved on the 10th, 11th, and tetb ;,hole
suance of the orders given on the 7th and Bth ; and Mum
sub"
the forces, destined to move up to the Satlej, were in Mu
the 12th. t
I did not consider the force, moving up from Uraballa,la ena'y
cient to force its way to relieve Ferozepore, if a large 71_, at it
with a numerous and well served park of artillery, sliew,h case,
to intercept it in its approach to Ferozepore, as, in ana-pieg
could with difficulty receive any aid fromthat garrison. over
days march in advance of the Commander-in-Chief, ret'e„ats
Loodianah ; and, having inspected the fort, the cant:da-001$
the troops, it appeared to me most advisable that the wheleog tp.
force should be moved up with the Umballa force, resirieroy
defence of Loodianah to the fort, which could he aeel.l,a.' et red
risoned by the more infirm soldiers of the regiment aL-proby"
unless attacked by heavy artillery, which was a very E 0
contingency. aidon`",..4 •
The risk to be incurred of leaving the town and the eA-- lio~t'of
liable to be plundered, was maturely considared, and I hanaciendae
tion in incurring that risk to ensure the strength and au.'",titn;te
the force which might separately be brought into aetiel,l,raeeiP
whole of the Seikh army. I, therefore, ordered Brigadier

be prepared to march at the shortest notice.
The Umbella force, in March, was 7,500 men and 36 gun..° Atie
The Loodianah force amounted to 5,000 men and 12 gun'a tlllsfint
The Commander-in-Chief concurred in these views ; 01_0 pv,7,,
body of men, leading a rpid march on Busseean, an 1113P°1.'
Oro' bad
where the roads from Umbella and Kurnaul wee', svuic/1
been
advanced
id colatumn of the army, and secured the suPPlie' d•rr
oci
la in Busseean. DP°
Up to the morning of the 12th, the i 004,6
from Lahore had not materially varied ; but 10rd 0;,,
ports received on that day, the general aspect ~,en
ce
appeared More warlike. Still no Seikh aggression bad ""
mitted, and no artillery had moved down to the river. 4 to Fe-7,11
On the 13th I first received precise information th3'at for'
army had crossed the Sutlej, and was concentrating in gr-
tbr.
thThee lettU bank of the river.
mballa force at that time had been in 1110—„f
days. On th s date I issued the proclamation, a copY 0,
enclosed.
u10.rc".,,S

On the 14th the British forces moved up by double -
ternate days, and on the 18th reached Bloodkee, 20 nail° coie
Fag zepore, after a march of 21 miles. force •
On this day, and at this place, the whole British .stiee
centrated, with the exception of two European and two4of
raents, expected on the following day.
le 010 ,a•
The troops were engaged in cooking their meals, was lac,
Broadfoot received information that the Seikh army trooP:to,
march, with the intention to sarprise the camp. Th!itat
mediately stood to their arms, and advanced. The I.`"'"nissit" 1.0
short, but decisive action, was the signal defeat of the ene „ea to fr
point, and the capture of 17 guns, the details of Which are,rht
report of the Commander-in-Chief, herewith sent.
turned to their camp at midnight, and halted the 194`The cap
refresh the men, to collect the wounded, and bring In
guns. .
There was no objection to this delay, as it was e-'4,,defic`',oll,*oo
preparations and movements of the Seikh army, that it! ojaile
was intent upon intercepting the relieving force, arid b n ,(1,0
of risking an attack upon Ferozepore. baggegs'elpf
On the 21st the Commander-in-Chief, having left the otee!
army, the wounded, and the captured guns at Moodkee,,L3 S ea
two regiments of native infantry, marched at four e,e'.l-ttole
ps
morning by his left, keeping about three or four lave'eeeial
enemy's entrenched position at Ferozeshah, in which tee iia
placed 108 pieces of cannon, protected by breastworks. itigi!
soi
A communication had been made during the preceding,,oo.,,,!
Sir John Littler, informing him of the intended line of luojoi'
desiring him to move out with such a part of his force 0,9 441
compromise the safety of his troops and the post. „rebe4,l,'sl4
At half-past one o'clock the Umballah 11
force, having '-„,e,
the country disencumbered of every description of bagg,leisi
the reserve ammunition, formed its junction with Sir I,"*Joies
who had moved out of Ferozepore with 5,000 men, two ,
cavalry, and 21 field guns. de
fee° t!D
This combined operation having been effected, the Cv_reis f,',40.11$
Chief, with my entire concurrence, made his arrangell'ilos c`"
attack of the enemy's position at Ferozeshah, about four al „Ili
from the point where our forces had united.
The British force consisted of 16,700 men, and 69 gav'' led
horse artillery. 101
oof
The Seikh forces varied from 48,000 to 60,000 men,
of cannon of heavy calibre, in fixed batteries. et let
wog 00'0
You will observe that every soldier who could be
_Aso ote
ranks had, by these combinations from Umballah and I,vv-0,,
rozepore, been rendered available ; that the force was
and, notwithstanding the difficulty of the ground, !„a`w,,ftalc",:llfr
jungle, the vast superiority of the enemy's well-servev, '""bt ee, or
the breast-works behind which their infantry fouBllL, Detse,,,etedi
tish force, particularly our infantry, surmounted ever)" teL
an
turing that evening and the following morning 70 Piceee,stoPd
the whole of the enemy's camp-equipage and _
tlic jeole e
, .3
X refer to the report of the Commander-in-Chief far 5.
this brilliant exploit.'Trj
The three attempts of the Seikh army, reinforced b,f,,v
army, to retake their position in the course of the 'l"' • ‘ll
evening. 014'
$
The Seikh. army then retreated on the fords 0,.•
re the lose to the
by the capture of its artillery, mid the sell over
sustained in killed and wounded, and has since crossed
Tite tO
other side ef the river. ll tv
- tjec
'she force thus promptly brought forward front _am
frontier, has proved that it was sufficient for the protece;istam
which it was prepared, to repulse the treachery of the 00 ill
Government, and the arrogance of the Seikh army tO tern
It has further proved, that the military precaudo 01
most necessary. It has driven the invaaing force frettnuescre?
Do
rie.l, and punished the mutinous soldiery of a la° of stetGoeernment. P in t
It remains for me to advert to the proclamation, a co, •te o,
forms an enclosure of this despatch. I have eladeiee
,Latioldee'ro.,
paper, to give a brief outline of our relations with the event onl)
and of the circumstances which have preceded the Pc lea!tist tee,
That this invasion of our territory by the Seikh ariliagrit.;"
yoked, must be apparent to all; and I considered 't for .4
forbearance I had shown, with the motives of that pee;
should be distinctly promulgated. fee or
The caution to the protected chiefs was necesSael2o Pee,!, cl/0;
many months past, though no overt acts of hostilitt beeiiorae'r
mlttedt with one exception, there was a feeling very t ralDyiele;,
valent among them favourable to the Lahore Governraei.'4 OPP 0,1
to our's, which evinced itself in a backwardness to a!!'"cietiefaie
our army, and to attend to the requisitions of the „,1
e'
with the exception of the Maharaja of Puteala, _oat a
el
perhaps all the chiefs. • • Into sve'eed Orteell
Immediate measures will be taken for bringing most 0 e
settlement the states which have been declared C0".5 of the
side of the Sutlej, when it is hoped that the advantage tas, " ,
„ eve
rule may, by light assessment and judicious arrangeMe
dee!' tir
apparent to them. tooe to e
I have now to conclude this dispatch, by expressingf that ste
cern for the loss, in the action of the 21st instant, tees,,e, 1)4
valuable officer, Major Broadfoot, my political agent, 'Wray 51.15.
He was wounded, and thrown off his horse, his te'eot
I failed in prevailing on him to retire. He remotaaiteing en ivnieloe•ia
shortly afterwards received a mortal wound in leads e's4c6o.
against the battery in our front. I entertained the 5 OfAil
his abilities. He was second to none in this accoMP.,tereo,;.so;:„.
every qualification by which the political or military inestsoirDe
East India Company could be advanced, and I shalt °flour e. r
if, at a season of more leisure, some special mark of Ina/
nsia
ferred, by which his great merits and glorious deal'
11,,1ei
pet uated.
Major George Broadfoot was the last of three
the-
Leo os
appointments in the Company's army, and all tP-- pore' seel
battle, in the service of their country. Fero' .0e
Captain Nicholson, assistant political agent feern, aioet
also killed in the action of the 21st inst., and Wee . r
gallant officer. their
otioerti4i,
Captain Abbott and Lieut. Lake, assistants
uAn their 0111193 r
foot, were wounded, and have ever since continue-no, teotos
Captain Mills, assistant political agent at Leedi%,,
mend of a troop of horse artillery during the acu otOoceoto3o-0,
at! Dt
queutly been of the greatest use by his intelligencteea'
tae Yariged,
I owe great obligations to the Chief SecretarY. tee-enanco
of India, Frederick Currie, Esq., who has, during,, beeautps,
and sometimes conflicting, duties, in which Tmes ce,tt,.. ol
nd
given me his sound advice and active aid, Bonet jest ladgcaew
cco c t
me in the field, and at all times evincing the _ „.ree e'
exhibiting the resources of his experience to the e- to e:,eor,
the Company's service.essistandepolo'ia
Dlr. Cust, of the civil service, confidential_ejtate
Broadfoot, both in the field and in his own jai" to
has shown great intelligence in duties which were

notice him as a most promising °Ricer.
..."."
..„. 0(
lowed
woTuehsdee , COURT CIRC ULAii• reno go
the enrr,.os i,
llQnsulecaelon:othlavenridgheart.rirrini,ahcgeeefrAlajlibeoiydrt, accoMpaniece in so0,•o
Wales and the Princess Royal left Buckingham ova,,g fa Oa s)l'
3alnaojtohre-
another
carriagee n e r alNVaenmdyi
and four, at half-past eight o'clock yesterdaY Elfuln Btlfrea 9
Princess Alice, accompanied by tallifonlinDignolTvTeashgsirs,
...,rLgritind_Yedvr.l:sratittielitec4;oo,ll,tiCi!
v nerfle Doi' be,
occupied a chariot and four ; and the Countess of -- 0
_.,,,, foie
Lord George Lennox, Colonel Bowles, and Dr. Prxlo,"'" 1r cif;
ducted t° to,' el
sosura.nd Major-General Sir 4 ant 1-,
0,0 ,
Her Majesty and her Royal Consort were con ober- 01013
riages bLord Cue C,
the Maids of Henour ill Waltillg• the vniotiCf, t,
Master of the Horse, Lord Gnlyon, Sir Henry 01ace,,,,,
Drummond, Colonel Arbuthnot, and Colonel Wylde.__ the r . V!,
A party of Light Dragoons formed the escort fr*e fours" I,
the terminus of the South-Western Railway, at 'ton, g°
royal party left by a special train for Southanip
t 10 air
Osborne House.
Major-General Wemyss has relieved Colon io.jorte,,,..ejatLe
duties of Equerry in Waiting to the Queen
wit(lic duties of s..
_..t AO
Edward Bowater has relieved Colonel ilrYide in s"' of
in Iv siting to his Royal Highness Prince Albert. ~,.. grey
,nre
At the Queen's Drawing-room, on ThursdaY, ';`,,.:1 0 .
ntslo,,
Presented to her Majesty by Duly Gordine,fLwort. . Clir o,
Barclay was presented to her Majesty by Mrs• ~doteo,o otie
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent li , eF,
rds) te 1' f
' , flier t,03 se e
the Hon James Murray (of the Scots lus Pudie
her Royal Highness's Equerries. ed tl'e
Kent visit
„v 0'
Her Royal Hl hness the Duchess of
Gloucester yesterday, at Gloucester liouse. ~tonde.l ile yes"
Her Royal HighllC,..B the Duchess of Kent, e'
honoured
ning' ide-
Fanny/Howard and Sir George Couper, dent' last eve fore of
formance of the French Plays with her prescnene ..r, ot the floe ,
oo 1 the •-seeteo
A Cabinet Council was held yesterday atter
...„,„
~.._.
ji
office. The Ministers present were--Sir Itobeqr-i:.;i'n, *fir,
i:
Buccleuch, the Earl of Haddington, Sir James
rte tei`i'e‘ I,;ari_;ii two,
tary Gladstone, the Chancellor of the Excheaneu;„
, the I‘,l,loit t '
borough, the Earl of Ripon, the Earl of Dale ii; Coun'''
ooP,
Sidney Herbert, and the Earl a St. Germans.
hours. • d by 3/1... retie-
coMPanie the t e
Sarim Effendi, Ottoman Ambassador, ac
__,,cov et ot
Secretary Interpreter, transacted business Yes" 001 e
office.
'0 tile
debate 1
Prince Castelcicala [was present at the
Commons yesterday evening. Clel Arbutho,oo 41.11:rei
10'
140. et
oelo
..-vhDO TCll7l",o'the r 000
London': Printed and Published by ....,--,0 stood, .., rep
Strand, Printer, at The 'Suet Office, No. 1' '' ,4aturaPi'
bliddiee•Ar .
of the Savoy, in tko comity of
28, 1846.