The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-25 00:00:00

THE VICTORY 1N INDIA

OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.

"GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY."

INDIA BOARD, FEB. 23, 1846.
A dispatch, from which the following is an extract, bag
been this day received at the East India House :

FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA TO TUE SECRET
Cr;MMITTEE OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY, DATED CAMP,
FEROZEPORE, DEC. 31, 1845.
(Extract.)
. . _

The Seikh army, in large numbers, commenced crossing
the Sutlej on the 11th, and, after investing Ferozepore on
one side, took up an entrenched position at the village of
Ferozeshah, about ten miles in advance of Ferezepore, and
about the same distance from the village of Moodkee.

In this camp the enemy had placed 108 pieces of cannon,
some of large calibre, with a force exceeding 50,000 men,
for the purpose of intercepting the approach of the British
force moving up from Umballa, to the relief of Ferozeporn,
which had been thus treacherously attacked, without pro-
vocation or declaration of hostilities.

I had ordered, on the Bth instant, that portion of our army
posted at Umballa for defensive purposes, to move up on
the 11th ; and, after a rapid march of 150 miles, it reached
Moodkee on the 18th, where, on the evening of the same
day, it repulsed an attack of the Seikh army, and captured
17 guns. On the following day the army was concentrated,
at Moodkee, and, on the 21st, moved by its left on Feroze-
pore ; and having on the march formed its junction at half-
past one o'clock with 5,000 men and 21 guns, under Major-
General Sir John Littler, which had moved from Ferozepore
that morning, the Commander-in-Chief the army in order
of battle, and attacked the enemy's entrenched camp, and on
that evening and the following morning, captured seventy
pieces of artillery, taking possession of the enemy's camp, with
large quantities of ammunition and warlike stores.
These successful and energetic operations have been fol-
lowed by the retreat of the Seikh army to the other side of
the Satlej ; the British army being now encamped between
Ferozepore and the fords of the Satlej.
You will not fail to observe that these important and bril-
Kant successes have been achieved by that portion of our army
posted at and in advance of Umballa for defensive purposes,
and that our forces from Meerut and other stations from the.
rear, ordered to move up at the sometime, are in reserve, and
will reach this neighbourhood between the sth and the 9th
of January.
I have the honour to inclose two reports from the Com-
mander-in-Chief, detailing the admirable manner in which
these important duties have been performed ; and I am con-
vinced the Court of Directors of the East India Company, in
concurrence with her Majesty's Government, will highly
ap-
precia!,e the eminent services rendered by the Commander-
in-Chief, and by the officers. non-commissioned officers, anti
soldiers of the Indian army.

The Commander-in-Chief has successfully accomplished
every object I had directed him to effect for the relief of
Ferozepore, and the protection of these British States. No ac-
:n the complicated opera-
tionsand our army, whether
cidentoof a
rfaeoilmurbeinheasd omccouvrermedendtui
for defence or attack, has shown, as heretofore, that its power
is irresistible.

FROM GENERAL SIR HUGH GOUGH, BART., G.C.8., THE COM-
MANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY IN INDIA, TO THE
GOVERNOR GENERAL OF INDIA.
Head-quarters, Army of the Sutlej,
Camp, Moodkee, Dec. 19, 1845.
Right Hon. Sir,—lt would be a superfluous form in me to
address to you a narrative of the campaign which has opened
against the Seilihs, and the successful action of yesterday,
since you have in person shared the fatigues and dangers of
our army, and witnessed its efforts and privations, but that
my position at its head renders this my duty ; and it is
necessary, from that position, I should place these events on
record, for the information of all Europe as well as of all
India.

You, Sir, know, but others have to br told, that the saddea
and usprovoked aggression of the Seikhs, by crossing the
Sutlej with the great proportion of their army, with the
avowed intention of attacking Ferozepore in time of profound
peace, rendered indispensable, on our side, a series of difficult
combinations for the protection of our frontier station, so
unjustifiably and so unexpectedly menaced.
From the advanced and salient situation of Ferozepore,
and its vicinity to the Seikh capital, its defence against a
sudden attack became a difficult operation. It was always
possible for the Seikh Government to throw a formidable
force upon it before one sufficiently numerous could on
our side be collected to support it : but when, upon the Ilth
instant, it became known at Umballa, where I had esta-
blished my head-quarters, that this invasion had actually
taken place, the efforts to repel it followed each other in
quick succession ;• notwithstanding I had the fullest con-
fidence in Major• General Sir John Littler, commanding at
Ferozepore, and in the devotedness and gallantry of the
troops occupying it.
The troops from the different stations in the Sirhind
division were directed to move by forced marches upon
Busseean, where, by a most judicious arrangement, you had
directed supplies to be collected, within a wonderfully short
space of time.
The main portion of the force at Loodiana was with-
drawn, and a garrison thrown into the little fortress there.
From this central position, already alluded to, both Loodi-
ana and Ferozepore could be supported, and the safety of
both places might be considered to be. rought, in some mea-
sure, within the scope of the contingencies of a general
action to be fought for their relief. All this is soon related;
but most harassing have been the marches of the troops in
completing this concentration. When tLeir march had been
further prolonged to this place, they had moved over a dis-
tance of upwards of 150 miles in sax days, along roads of
heavy sand; their perpetual labour allowing them scarcely
time to cook their flood, even when they received it, and
hardly an hour for repose, before they were called upon for
renewed exertion.

When our leading corps reached Wudnee, a small jaghire
of the late Maharaja Shere Singh, its garrison shut the
gates of the fort against them; and, as our battering guns
were far in the rear, it was determined to reserve it for future
chastisement, and we remained content with compelling the
village to furnish supplies (it could, however, provide little,
except for our overworked cattle), under pain of enduring a
Parn:onade an,l assault ; this it aid without the necessity of
firing A ..a.,t.
When we reached Wudnee, it was evident that the farce
before Ferozepore felt the influence of our movements, as we
heard that a very large portion of that force had been de-
tached to oppose our further advance ; their feeling parties
retired on the morning of the 18th before our cavalry picquets,
near the village cnd fort of Moodkee.

Soon after mid-day, the division under Major-General Sir
Harry Smith, a brigade of that under Major-General Sir J.
M'Caskill, and another of that under Major-General Gilbert,
with five troops of horse artillery, and two light field bat-
teries, under Lieutenant-Colonel Brooke, of the Horse Artil-
lery (brigadier in command of the artillery force), and the
cavalry division, consisting of her Majesty's 3d Light Dra-
goons, the body guard, 4th and sth Light Cavalry, and 9th
Irregular Cavalry, took up their encamping ground in front
of Moodkee.

The troops were in a state of great exhaustion, principally
from the want of water, which was not procurable on the
road, when, about three P.M., information was received that
the Seikh army was advancing ; and the troops had scarcely
time to get under arms, and move to their positions, when
the fact v,as ascertained.

I immediately pushed forward the horse artillery and
cavalry, directing the infantry, accompanied by the field bat-
teries, to move forward in support. NVe had not proceeded
beyound two miles when we found the enemy in position.
They were said to consist of from 15,000 to 20,000 infantry,
about the same force of cavalry, and forty guns. They evi-
dently had either just taken up their position, or were ad •
vancing in order of battle against us.
To resist their attack, and to cover the formation of the
infantry, I advanced the cavalry under Brigadiers White,
Gough, and Mactier, rapidly to the front, in columns of
squadrons, and occupied the plain. They were speedily fol-
lowed by the five troops of horse artillery, under Brigadier
Brooke, who took up a forward position, having the cavalry
then on his flanks.

The country is a dead flat, covered at short intervals with
a low, but, in some places, thick, jhow jungle, and dotted
with sandy hillocks. 'The enemy screened their infantry
and artillery behind, this jungle, and such undulations as
the ground afforded; and, whilst our twelve battalions
formed from echellon ofbrigades into line, opened a very se-
vere cannnonade upon our advancing troops, which was
vigorously replied to by the battery of horse artillery under
Brigadier Brooke, which was soon joined by the two light
field batteries. The rapid and well-directed fire of our
artillery appeared soon to paralyse that of the ene.my;. and,
as it was necessary to complete our infantry dispositions
without advancing the artillery too near. to the ,ungle, I
mdiarecketeadfitohnekcoixioavlerroeuin,tdoeiri Bthreigoandeimersy,BWlelfnit,e
withand trough to
ofto
threatening and turning that flank, if possible. With praise-
worthy gallantry, the 3d Light Dragoons, with the 2d brigade
of cavalry, consisting of the body guard and sth Light
Cavalry, with a portion of the 4th Lancers, turned the
left of the Seikh army, and, sweeping along the whole
rear of its infantry and guns, silenced for a time the latter,
and put their numerous cavalry to flight. Whilst this move-
ment was taking place on the enemy's left, I directed the re-
mainder of the 4th Lancers, the 9th Irregular Cavalry, under
Brigadier Mactier, with a light field battery, to threaten their
right. This manoeuvre was also successful. Had not the
infantry and guns of the enemy been screened by the jungle,
these brilliant charges of the cavalry would have been pro-
ductive of greater effect.

When the infantry advanced to the attack, Brigadier
Brooke rapidly pushed on his horse artillery close to the
jungle; and the cannonade was resumed on both sides. The
infantry, under Major-Generals Sir Harry Smith, Gilbert,
and Sir John Bl‘Caskill, attacked in echellon of lines the
enemy's infantry, almost invisible amongst wood and the ap-
proaching darkness of night. The opposition of the enemy
was such as might have been expected from troops who had
everything at stake, and who had long vaunted of being irre-
sistible. Their ample and extended line, from their great
superiority of numbers, far outflanked ours; but this was
counteracted by the flank movements of our cavalry. The
attack of the infantry now commenced ; and the roll of firo
from this powerful arm soon convinced the Seikh army that
they had met with a foe they little expected ; and their whole
force was driven from position after position with great
slaughter, and the loss of 17 pieces of artillery, some of them
of heavy calibre; our infantry, using that never-failing wea-
pon, the bayonet, whenever the enemy stood. Night only
saved them from worse disaster, for this stout conflict was
maintained during an hour and a half of dim starlight, amidst
a cloud of dust from the sandy plain, which yet more ob-
scured every object.
I regret to say, this gallant and successful attack was at-
tended with considerable loss; the force bivouacked on the
field for some hours, and only returned to its encampment
after ascertaining that it had no enemy before it, and that
enloxoti,igesl
rheehtrstiaovope,
s,rreeovecf-oeetrn?l. prevented dr
reason
sh.ooelne possibility sibi 1 i t y of a regular
suit.firsltbdeegfeatto
ocfoonugrra invaderstlat ey you, Right
thearmy 110 Honourable
have the
attained
command. The perseverance by which success
I am- sure, felt
you personally witnessed; and the troops,ht
birGovernor-General
proud of the self-devotion with wine
it coul be esteemed
been severe,
said that our loss has
\hen I mention that, to-
arnybeietl Sihr4ooouratios
small if we had no other to record,
good d eb ts ee dr.,
affair, Major. General Sir Robert
wards the conclusion of the,
exposed himself to every danger a.m ongst them. I before
grape s i ,I ot and that the
had his left thigh shattered
Sir John M'Caskill, an old
' e proved mortal. .
wound has sine
Besat,nobnurt3l,leanaddvßanyerne
eo,fabnida
and valued officer, w
Sale, to whom IndiialohnxdsdLohnly a
vice, received giela;ids caoriemsotry mi
unucchh
Mactier, and Lieutenal
valuable officers, are amongst the wounded. These
division, and immediately expired. Brigadiers Bolton and
country and the service
a ball
thrlot-uCoghlohniselesh
will deplore, but not
con-
sider unavailing,
when I erozepore shall be rescued from the
invader, and the insult to our territory and rule fitly
punished.
bt
eh
e officersproud of,
aannddtgrroavtisdoefdtmh,isitha,rtmhye
on this arduous occasion; with the conduct and dispositions
of the generals of divisions, the brigadiers of the several arms,
the general, personal, divisional, and brigade staff, and the

* Sic in orig.