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

111

LONDON, TUESDAYTRARCH 3, 1846.

The Earl of Sns.vrtsnuny took his seat on the Woolsack
at Five o'clock.

After the presentation of several petitions and some desul-
tory conversation on the subject of the business of the House

The Earl of RIPON rose to move—

" That the thanks of this House be given to the Right
Hon. Lieut.-General Sir HENRY HARDLNGE, Governor-Ge-
neral of India, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the
lath, for the energy and ability with which he
directed the military means at his disposal, to the re-
pelling of the unprovoked invasion by the Seikh army of
the dominions of the British Government, and of the pro-
tected States upon the left bank of the Sutlej ; and also for
the firmness and gallantry with which he directed the opera-
tions of that portion of the army under his immediate com-
mand, in the afternoon and night of December 21, 1845, and
on the morning of the 22d, upon which occasion the enemy's
defences were carried by storm, the greater part of their ar-
tillery captured, and their subsequent attempts to regain
what they had lost repeatedly defeated.
"That the thanks of this House be given to Gen. Sir HUGH
GOUGH, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Rath,,
Commander-in-Chief of the forces in the East Indies, for
the distinguished valour with which he led the ,several at-
tacks upon the enemy in the battles of the 18th, 21st, and
22d of December, 1845, displaying, in cosjunctiun with the
Governor-General, a brilliant example to the troops of per-
severance and courage in critical circumstances, and of ir-
resistible ardour in the several attacks made upon the enemy.
" That this House desires to tender its thanks to Major-
General Sir HARRY SMITH, Knight Commander of the Order
of the Bath, to Major-General WALTER RALEIGII GILBERT,
and to Major-General SirJoitm LITTLER, Knight Commander
of the Order of the Bath,
,and to the several officers under
their command, for the eminent services rendered by them
in the recent arduous and successful operations.
" That the thanks of this House be given to the non-com-
missioned officers and private soldiers (European and native),
for the perseverance and fortitude maintained by them at
Nlcodkee, on the 18th of December, 1845, and for the daring
valour with which they forced the enemy's intrenchments
at Ferozeshah on the 21st and 22d of December, captured
most of his guns, and finally compelled the Seikh army, of
greatly superior numbers, to retire within their own
frontier.

this resolution be signified to them by the com
manders of the several corps."

The Noble Earl went at great length into the history of the
events which had taken place in the Punjaub, from the death
of RUNJMET SINGH up to the present time. It appeared
that in November last, the Governor-General had received
information that it was the intention of the Seikh
army to undertake an invasion of the British terri-
tories at several points simultaneously, and the
Governor-General had ordered the army to concentrate
at such a point as would enable them to move at once to-
wards any direction to meet an invading army, at the same
time Ferozepore and Loodianah were strengthened. Shortly
afterwards the Seikhs' plan of operations was aban-
doned, and they assembled in force at the Sutlej, and or- '
ders were given for the British force to concentrate
at Umballa, and when the advance of the Seikhs took place,
it was evident that Fotozepore, and not Loodianab, was
threatened, and the Loodianah and Umballa forces were
ordered to concentrate at Buseean, a point between Loodianah
and Ferozepore. The Seikhs bad in the mean time crossed
the Sutlej, a part of their force had entrenched themselves in '
the neighbourhood of Ferozepore, and another portion
had pushed forward to meet the army advancing from
Buseean, and placed themselves between the advancing
British army and Ferozepore. The armies met at Moodker ;
the Siekhs were defeated, retreated, and communications
were opened between the advancing army of Ferozepore.
Sir J. LITTLER, with a portion of the garrison of Ferozepore,
effected a junction with the army under the Com-
mander-in-Chief and the Governor-General. The entrenched
camp was attacked ; great slaughtet took place; but a por-
tion of the camp was stormed and burned, and the army
at night-fall kept possession of what they had taken.
andttithn eet
enemy'she
nreetprreue ankr repulsed. An attack was made by the, army during the night,
ge were
Itreteiarct ake ka
ewv
nep.a.l was i renewedni,
swept.huereip eo
enemy
inso:
:rtriehosaer
renewed
,ivn,maeyndo morning ;
and
theast then
nnthe rear of them, and the whole of the cannon mounted in
at-
tack, but were driven back, and retired to a village, four miles
retired across the Sutlej to their own territory, defeated and
disheartened. He believed that it would be acknowledged that
this was one of the most gallant actions ever performed, and
that never had the skill of the General or the courage of
the soldiers been more brilliantly displayed. With regard
to Sir H. HARDINGE, he ordered the troops to lie down
during the night, and keep quiet, and, finding among
the troops four regiments who bad been old comrades
of his during the Peninsula, ke passed the night with them
on the field, Four of his aides•de•camv were killed
entrenchmentslm.eaevnTitnhs