The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-02 00:00:00

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talsisig an intermediate position in the rear between Major.
General Gilbert's right and Major-General Sir Harry Smith's
left, protected both. Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell,
under whom *SS-Brigadier Scott, held in reserve on our left,
ready to act as circumstances might demand, the rest of the
cavalry.
Our battery of 9-pounders, enlarged ink, twelves, *pawl
near the little Sobraon with a brigade of hosAtTers, formed
from the light field batteries and troops of horse an-tiller'',
shortly after daybreak. But it was half-past six before i.h•
whole of our artillery fire was developed. It was most
spirited and well directed. I cannot speak in terms too high
of the judicious disposition of the guns, their admirable,
practice, or the activity with which the cannonade WAS 1U1;
tamed ; but, notwithstanding the formidable calibre of our
iron guns, mortars, and howitzers, and the admirable way in,
which they were served, and aided by a rocket battery, it
would have been visionary to expect that they could, within
any limited time, silence the fire of seventy pieces behind well
constructed Waterier; of earth, plank, and fascines, or dislodge
troops covered either by redoubts or epaulements, or within
a treble line of trenches. The effect of the cannonade was,
as has since been proved by an inspection of the camp, most
severely felt by the enemy; but it soon became evident that
the issue of this struggle must be brought to the arbitremexa
of musketry and the bayonet.
At nine o'clock Brigailier Stacey's brigade, supported on
either flank by Captains Horaford's and Fordyee's batteries
and Lieutenant-Colonel' Lane's troop of Horse Artillery,
moved to the attack in admirable order. The infantry and
guns aided each other co-relatively. The former marched
steadily on in line, which they hafted only to correct when
necessary. The latter took up successive positions at the
gallop, until at length they were within 300 yards of the
heavy batteries of the Seikbe ; but, notwithstanding the reel-
larity, and coolness, and scientific character of this assault,
which Brigadier Wilkinson well supported, so hot was the
fire of cannon, musketry, and zumboorucks kept up by the
Khalsa troops, that it seemed for some moments impossible
that the intrenchments could be won under it; but soon per-
severing gallantry triumphed, and the whole army had the
satisfaction to see the gallant Brigadier Stacey's soldiers
driving the Seikhs in confusion before them within the area
of their encampment. The 10th Foot, under Lieutenant-
Colonel Franks, now for the first time brought into serious
contact with the enemy, greatly distinguished themselves.
This regiment never fired a shot till it got within the
works of the enemy. The onset of her Majesty's 53d Foot
was as gallant and effective. The 43d and 59th Native
Infantry brigaded with them, and emulated both in cool
determination.
At the moment of this first success, I directed Brigadier
the Hon. T. Ashbarnham's brigade to move on in suppott,
and Major-General Gilbert's and Sir Harry Smith's divisions
to throw out their light troops to threaten their works aided
by artillery. As these attacks of the centre and right com-
menced, the fire of our heavy guns had first to be directed
to the right, and then gradually cease, bat at one time the
hadiro sae n
adn
thunder of full 120 pieces of ordnance reverberated in this
mighty combat through the valley of the Satlej, and as it
wag. soon seen that the weight of the whole force within the
camplpwas likely to be thrown upon the two brigades
that n
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raged with inconceivable fun* from right to left. The Seikhs,
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 of the in-
trenchments made by our sappers, in single file, and re-formed
as they passed them, and the 3d Dragoons, whom no obstacle
usually held formidable by horse appears to cheek, 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 of infantry, with every
field artillery gun which could be sent to their aid, had
thebee British.ncastintmo tehfierescaofle,thethasteikhvicstogs
nearly ceased, and the victors then pressing them on every
tfisnlaalcklyendedecia anrrith for
en
' side, precipitated them in numbers 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 at-
tempting the perilous passage. Their awful slaughter, con-
fusion, and dismay were such as would have excited com-
passion in the hearts of their generous conquerors, if the
balsa troops had not, in the earlypart 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. I must pause in this
narrative especially to notice the determined hardihood and
bravery with which our two battalions of Ghoorkhas, the
Sirmoor and Nusseree, met the Seikhs wherever they were
opposed to them. Soldiers of small stature, but indomitable
spirit, they vied in ardent courage in the charge with the
grenadiers of our own nation, and armed with the short
weapon of their mountains, were a terror to the Seikhs
throughout this great combat.
Sixty-seven pieces of cannon, upwards of 200 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.
We have to deplore a loss severe in itself, but certainly not
heavy when weighed in the balance against the obstacle
overcome and the advantages obtained. I have especially to
lament the fall of Major-General Sir Robert Dick, K.C.8.,
a gallant veteran of the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns.
He survived only till evening the dangerous grape-shot
wound which he received close to the enemy's entrench-
ments whilst personally animating, by his dauntless example,
the soldiers of her Majesty's 80th Regiment in their career of
noble daring. Major-General Gilbert, to whose gallantry
and unceasing exertions I have been so deeply indebted, and
whose services have been so eminent throughout this eventful
campaign, and Brigadier Stacey, the leader of the brigade,
most hotly and successfully engaged, both received contu-
sions. They were such as would have caused many men to
retire from the field, but they did not interrupt for a
moment the efforts of these heroic officers. Brigadier
M'Laren, so distinguished in the campaigns in Aff-
ghanistan, at Maharajpore, and now again in our
conflicts with the Seikhs, has been badly wounded by
a ball in the knee. Brigadier Taylor, (C. 13.), one of the
most gallant and intelligent officers of the army, to whom
I have felt deeply indebted on many occasions, fell in this
right at the head of his br.gade, in elvee encounter with
the enemy, and covered with honourable wounds. Brigadier
Penny, of the Nusseree Battalion, commanding the 2d
brigade, has been wounded, but not, I trust, severely. I
am deprived for the present of the valuable services of
Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Gough, C.D., Acting Quarter-
Master General of her Majesty's troops, whose aid I have so
highly prized in all my campaigns ia China and India. He
has received a wound from a grape shot, which is severe,
but I hope not dangerous. Lieutenant-Colonel Barr, Act-
ing Adjutant-General of her Majesty's forces, whose superior
merit as a staff officer I have before recorded, has suffered
a compound fracture in the left arm by a ball. Ito is feared
that amputation may become necessary. Liutenant-
Colonels Ryan and Petit, of the 50th Foot, were both badly
wounded with that:gallant regiment. Captain John Fisher,
Commandant of the Sirmoor battalion, fell at the head of his
valiant little corps, respected and lamented by the whole

army.
I have now to make the attempt, difficult, nay impracti-
cable 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.
First, Right Hon. Sir, you must permit me to speak of
yourself. Before the action. I had the satisfaction of sub-
mitting to you my plan of attack, and I cannot describe
the support which I derived from the circumstances of its
having in all its details met your approbation. When a
soldier of such sound judgment and matured experience as
your Excellency assured me that my projected operation
deserved success, I could not permit myself to doubt that,
with the blessing of Divine Providence, the victory would
be ours. Nor did your assistance stop here ; though suf-
fering severely from the effects of a fall, and unable to mount
on horseback without assistance, your uncontrollable de-
sire to see this army once more triumphant, carried you
into the hottest of the fire, filling all who witnessed your ex-
posure to such peril at once with admiration of the in-
trepidity that prompted it, and_ anxiety for your personal
safety, involving so deeply in itself the interests and happi-
ness of British India. I must acknowledge also my obligation
to you for having, whilst 1 was busied with another portion
of our operations, superintended all the arrangements that
related to laying our bridge across the Sutlej near Feroze-
pore. Our prompt appearance on this bank of the river
after victory, and advance to this place, which has enabled
us to surprise its fort and encamp without opposition in one
of the strongest positions in the country, is the result of this
invaluable assistance.
The Major-Generals of divisions engaged deserve far more
commendation than I am able, within the limits of a dispatch,
to bestow. Major-General Sir Robert Dick, as I have already
related, has fallen on a field of renown worthy of his military
career and services, and the affectionate regret of his country
will follow him to a soldier's grave.
In his attack on the enemy's left littOr-General Sir Harry
Smith displayed the same valour and judgment which gave
him the victory of Aliwal. A more arduous task has seldom,
if ever, been assigned to a division. Never has an attempt
belenwmanotrewgolordrisoustel3e,xcarprreisesd
mythrough.
gratitude to Major-General
Gilbert. Not only have Ito record that in this great fight
all was achieved by him which, as Commander-in-Chief, I
could desire to have executed; not only on this day was his
division enabled by his skill and courageous example to
triumph over obstacles from which a less ardent spirit would
have recoiled as insurmountable, but since the hour in which
our leading-columns moved out of Umballah I have found in
the Major-General an officer who has not merely carried out
all my orders to the letter, but whose zeal and tact have
enabled him in a hundred instances to perform valuable ser-
vices in exact anticipation of my wishes. I beg explicitly to
recommend him to your Excellency's especial notice as a
divisional commander of the highest merit.
Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell has established a
claim on this day to the rare commendation of having
achieved much with a cavalry force, where the duty to be
done consisted entirely of an attack on field works usually
supposed to be the particular province of infantry and artil-
lery. His vigilance and activity throughout our operations,
and the superior manner in which our out-post des have
been carried on under his superintendence, de duties have
been carried on under his superintendence demand my
warmest acknowledgments.
Brigadier Stacey (C. 8.), I must commend to your special
protection and favour. On him devolved the arduous duty
of leading the first column to the attack, turning the enemy's
right, encountering his fire, before his numbers had been
thinned, or his spirit broken, and, to use a phrase which tt
soldier like your Excellency will comprehend, takinghoo:
the rough edge of the Seikhs in the fight. How ably,before
gallantly, how successfully this was done,
and his noble troops will hold their due place in youw,h At
endeavoured to relate. I feel certain that B rfgahrerre
_S
xtacceez
lency's estimation, and that his merits will meet
it
reward.
aged in the action,
abirriueßrigadieragradidgyeasdb. Orchard (C
went under his command, that w s g
• was himself to it,
being with Brigadier Stacey's bilge !
mtaance
..; nd success.
yn,erahind
and shared all its dangers, g10..e6,
I begß.), in consequerce of the only regi-
which Brigadier 's works.
followed his lead into the enemy
as. warmly.
il,i
laknidnsosiiinscueprepolyrtaetod_ brraigi raise
eta:es
Brigadier the Hon. T. Ashburnhain manoeuvred with great
coolness and success as a reserve to the two last-mentioned
ieeernit'aei-dl,orinhtehre Majesty'sdiseharge 29th, fell
duty. He
nobilly;
iasshilmiu.
self beyond the reach of earthly praise ; but ft is my earnest
tdhesaltrehisthraetgihmiesamt,
ayrmmyaywbiteh hwohnoiauhredheisnerhviesd,falala;dahniad
etmheor
country, may know that no officer held a higher place in my
poor estimation, for gallantry or skill, than Brigadier C. C.
Taylor.
Brigadier M'Laren (C. 8.), in whom I have ever confided
as one of the ablest of the senior officers of this force, sus-
tained in this day, as I have before intimated, his already
enviable reputation ; I trust he may not long be kept by his
wound out of the sphere of active exertion which is his na-
tural element.
Brigadiers Penny and Hicks commanded the two brigades
' of Major-General; Sir Harry pmithl division, and oTercarin