The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-03 00:00:00

THE MILITIA.

Dr. BOWRING wished to know whether the Go-
vernment, in the course they had pursued towards ; re-
organising the staff of the militia, had any nit( trior
design of re-establishing the militia?
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT, it: answer stated the it it
was only the intention of the Government to .fill
up such vacancies as mays have occurred in the
staff of the militia.

VOTES OF THANKS TO THE INDIAN ARV'. Y.
Sir R. PEEL—Sir, the motion which takes preo
dence this day of all other motions, and which I am et :-
tided to bring forward, is that of which I gace notit
immediately on the receipt of the intelligence of Our re -
cent successes in India. lam about, Sir, to nit vice . a
motion which, interposed as it is between discussio ne etf
great political importance, leading to much eager an&
angry contreversy, and great differences of st mti-
ment and opinion, will, I know from past e ape-
riens.:Pe meet with a perfect and unanimous concurre ince.
I ate ahoot to make a motion' which will enable the. re-
prosentetif es of g great empire, proud of their mill nary
skill and ref:fur, to unite in acknowledging the prote4ctive
!: of Almighty God, the giver of all good, but an :the
Hama time to express their exultation in this a .x-
-imple of heroism, which has maintaineo', to nd
even raised the military character of this ce aintry.
--.(dear, hear.) I am about to make a n toil on
which will enable us to pay the tribute of ci )rdi al
gratitude to the generals and the officers, and ts. a the
'nen who have been concerned in the victories that liseve
been lately achieved on the banks of the Sutl t
(Ches rs.) It will enable us also to min Jo with our ' eel-
esiretioe for their skill the expression of manly, lout
heartfelt Sorrow for the loss of their comrades, who I nave
sacrificed their lives in the defence of their country, and
el the maintenance of their Sovereign's rights. The rs is o-
latieti which I shall move will convey the grateful ackni se a
sedgements of this House fer two splendid victorfei
echi, ved eithin a very limited period, and also in a
limits-d space, but I have telt it to be my duty not to in -
corporate our thanks for these victories in one resolution y
but to move that for each victory the separatt,
acknowledgements of the House he presented to due
Indian army. It has been my good fortune sinees
the month of February, 1843, upon live separate occa-.
sions, to propose to this House that the thanks of thee
Commons of England should be conveyed to the Eura-
peen and native army for their exertions in the service
of their country. At the termination of the Chinose
war, I proposed the thanks of the House to the army,
and on differeni; occasions I have moved the thanks of
the House for victories achieved in that part of the
globe, but the repetition of those acknovledgments
in no degree tend to din; their lustre. The rational gra -
titude must, and ought, to keep pace with the aavanoe
of national achievements, awl our acknewledgemeot f
every achievement adds lustre to our national honour.
she, I propose to make two separate motions, one in ace
knowledgment of the distinguished and gallant conduct
of Sir Henry Smith and the division under his com-
mand, and the other conveying an equal acknowledge-
ment for the glorious services rendered. by the army
under the command of Sir Hugh bough.—(Cheers.)
The House, no doubt, recollects that on Le termination
of the battles which already entitle the Indian army to
our best thanks (I mean the battles of Moodkee and
Fcrozgee), the army with whom we had
to contend displayed great military skill, to-
gether with that undaunted and characteristic
bravery for which they have been so long distinguished,
notwithstanding the reverses they bad met with on the
18th and 21st of December, collected on the banks of
the Sutlej in considerable force, and protected by if
powerful artillery. They establishad themselves oainZ
right bank of the Sutlej in considerable force,
possession of the bridge, by which tf2.-sy were enabled
to pass from the north to the south silo of the river.
They established on the left, bank of the Outlej au en-
trenched camp, and by constant accessions to their force
they were enabled to collect an army of not. less than
35,000 men, supported by seventy pieces of artil-
lery; of great range and heavy calibre. 'inhey not
only did this, after the battle of Moodkee, in the' face of
the British army, then under the command of Sir .1-lugh
Gough, but also detached a force of not less than 2,0,000
men of great skill and courage to conduct an opera:ion
against the city of Loodianah, from which our forces we're
necc,sarily withdrawn at that time by other duties"
They did this not merely for the purpose of investing'
4)r occupying the city, but also with a view to threatent
,ur communication and intercept the arrival of our
•atillery, which was then advancing towards than
faint with a reinforcement. In oreler to prevent
that most skilful movement, Sir Henry Smith
was detached by Sir Hugh Gough, and Sir Henry
hirdinge, who reserved their forces for the porpose of
tat( sly defeating the formidable enemy that; threatened
,ur cfmamuilicetion with the rear, and by that means
transfer the seat of general war from the neighbooirhood
etf Ferez .pore It was intended that Sir Henry :niithe
hefere tie st.acked the forces under the command of
the Seikh leaslers, not less than 24,000 strong, with 60
pieces of artillery, should attack the division at Looditanal
and that desperate action was fought under the command
of Sir Henry Smith—the result of which was the echo-
plete discomfiture of the enatny, the capture of all his
vire., the disorganisation of ..his whole army, and the
verest loss, across tho
e
fight of that army, with the se
Riser Sutlej. These operations were described wit h 5
much precision—(Hear, hear)—ao these operat ionst
without exception (be they descr,ibe'd by whom theft
may), are described with such fulness ushd such beat Ides
cl arness, and the Housse must be so facei.liar with a veri
one of them, that I will not attempt to weasken the uffec,
by attempting the description over again.. All ahet:i
can say is, that the hand that held the p on wielded,
it with the same success as it wielded the "t)r
—(Hear, hear.) But the House and the .loui ltrfi
know only of- the successes of Sir Henry Smith:. ;, one
I wilt now speak—with confidence that it will be t4e) h"
honour—of the interruptions and checks which r.e:
ceived. There cannot be an uninterrupted succs is s
war ; and I like to see the man who recovers from tom,
disappointment, for it adds to his real gl 01f:
It is unwise to conceal reverses for which he is not rs";
'
spossible, and I will endeavour to present to the Ho 11.
e
the reverses which took place before that battle in whsee
he was so successful. In the accounts which we be
only recently received, there is no account of the ditn;
culties and disc ointments encountered by him Wit'
pp
the same spirit with which he afterwards achieved the
victory. It is because those difficulties were so
encountered that he is so well entitleel to our
,e
thanks. On the 21st of January, the gre at bate:
having been fought on the 28th, Sir Honey Smith
met with what some persons might conside r are
verse. He was encountered before he could offect
junction with Colonel Wheeler and the five Tagl,
is ments which ere at Loodianah ; and in stbe
absence of all intelligence, he encountered tba,
enemy, and was exposed to a serious loss.
let me eead to the House in what manner he extrical
himself. In writing on the 21st, after having sineeeedeo
in relieving Loodianah, he says that he had effeeeed th
operation, but it was under circumstances not so favour;
able as those which he had before. In the lettei
Sir Hugh Gough he says that the enemy were
moving parallel to him to interrupt his advance. 'II%
had a series of villages in their front, each of which
ton"
capable of being formed into an entrenched poeitieer
The enemy was moving on roads, and I was moving ho,
over-
The
sands. He was in advance beyond the right flank of L"4..
Europeans, with a numerous array of infantry and Piller
Ile opened a furious cannonade of thirty-five guns IF.
very large calibre, and, as usual, they were right area,served. My object heing to unite myself with tile Oor
at Loodianah, which every moment I expected to ePPvel
in sight, for it was nine o'clock, I moved fears he
to the enemy, resolved to attack the 'Rome tit on
Loodianah farce reached me, mad I so pressed' aped
him that the effect was considerable. I was prtreee.
to form a line upon this wing of the enemy, sewn
rTbe
afents, with their guns, being at right angles wit 1; 4,ee.
line I was about to attack with considerable "_yee
Now, we were under the impression, that wh at :eni
posAion the enemy might obtain, it would not be a ee,
' matter to overpower tie m, but tittle, 14 to
wheluaing numbers were of such sup.riority ft? Loy
sheir guns, 1 had no alternative but to throw h4e"; be'
line on its right, forming a small line on theahlr"
&rah
Ili oast of a right anglo—thatis to say, the two