The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-28 00:00:00

LONDON GAZETTE

EXTRAORDINARY.

FRIDAY, MA.RC Fl 27.

An Extraordinary Gazette was published lant evening,
containing the Official Dispatches of Sir H. Hardinge,
Sir H. Gough, arid Sir H. Smith, detailing the proceed-

ings of the army of the Sutlej from the 22d December,
1845, the day after the victory of Ferozshah, to the 30th

January, 1846, two days after the victory of Aliwal.
The first dispatch given is the general order of the
Governor General, dated Camp Ferozepore. Feb. 2.1846.

announcing the victory of Aliwal, which has already
appeared in the Sun. Then comes the following:—

•16
General Sir Hugh Gough, Bart., G.C.8., Commander-in-
Chief in India, to the Governer-General.
Camp, Nihalkee, Feb. 1, 1846.
(Extract.)
After its final repulse, on the 22d of December, the Seikh
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 Hur-

ruff; and, the same day, personally pushed a reconnoissance
to the banks of the River, at the Ghat of Sobraon.
The enemy was seen stretching along the right bank in
force, not more than half-a-dozen of his stragglers being sur-
prised by our irregular cavalry on this side.
Major-General Sir Harry Smith's division I placed in an
advanced position, with its right en the village of Mallowal,
and its left on a nullab, an offset from the Sutlej.
From this point the enemy was watched by the Major-
General with equal activity and circumspection, whilst the
the rest of our troops were held in hand ready to support him,
should the Seikhs venture to resume the initiative.
On or about the sth, our attention was directed to a pre-
datory incursion of the enemy, in the direction of Loodiana.
They burnt a few of the residences of our officers, and bar-
racks 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
Seikhs recrossed the Sutlej.
On the 12th of January, I determined to bring my whole
force into a position, from which it might more closely ob-
serve the movements 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 his new alignment, stilt 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 canton-
ment and entrenchment of Ferozepore.
The enemy, on his side, reinforced his army on the right
bank, cottipleted 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
atidecity, I caused that body of his infantry which held the
head of tile 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 Seikhs, on their
outposts on the left bank, and their encampment on the
right, ebabled me to ascertain, from the direction of their
corresponding fire, the nature of all their defensive dis-
positions.
Meanwhile, the upper Sutlej has become the scene of very
interesting operations.
It is a strange feature of this war that the enemy, preseed
for supplies on his own bank, has been striving to draw them
from his Jaghire States on this side of the river. In 1110
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 divi-on 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 Runjoor 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 de-
termination to intersect the line of our communications at
Busseean and Raekote.
The safety of the rich and populous town of Loodianah
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 53d 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 Singh, and his apparent
views, Major-General 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 he compre- ,
hended by reflecting on the tusk which had devolved on this
army, of guarding the frontier from Itoopur down to Mun-
dote.
The Major-General, breaking up from Jugraon, moved to-
wards Loodiana, when the Sirdax, relying on the vast supe-
riority of his forces, assumed the initiative, and endeavoured
to intercept his progress by mar4;hing in a line parallel to
him, and opening upon his troops. a furious cannonade. The
Major-General continued coolly to manoeuvre ; and, when
the Seikh Sirdar, bending round one wing of his army, en-
veloped his flank, he extricated hi mself, by retiring, with the
steadiness of a field day, by e, ehelon of battalions, and
effected his communication with Loodiana, bast not without
severe loss.
Reinforced by Brigadier Godl he felt himself to be
strong; but his manoeuvre had I ;brown him out of commu-
nication with Brigadier Wheeler, and a portion of hig bag-
gage had fallen into the hands of the enemy. The Seikh
Sirdar took up an entrenched position at Budhowal, support-
ing himself on its fort; but, threatened on either flank by
General Smith- and Brigadier ' Wheeler, finally decamped,
and moved down to the Sutle:i. The British troops made
good their junction, and occupied the abancipned position of
Budhowal. The Shekawattee Brigade and he: Majesty's
58d_Reginichat, also added to the atroastla of th. Major-
• • T