The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-03-20

IN the rsepzmsndsnon list shall have the honor Of
forwarding. At an early date. 20 government. FSsN
+ General, Commander-in.Cn Chief
From his Ercslswcy thu Covsmandsr 10 Chief to the
& Right Hon the Governor General Of India
CAMP, FERozEsHAa. Dec z, 1875
an hsn. Hon SUI have again TO conggIa. S., you
been fought against the Sikh army at this place,
and, by the blessing of Divine Providence, victory
has been won. by the vslor OF our troops, against
odds and under circumstances which will render
this action one OF the most memorable IN the page
OF Indian history.
After the combat Of the 18th, at Moodkee, infor-
nation was received the following day that the ene-
my, In increased numbers, were moving 10 attack
US. A line Of defence was taken up IN advance OF
our encampment and dispositions made to repel all
pearne and at night we had the satisfaction Of be-
ing reinforced by her Majesty's 29th Foot, and the
East India Companys LIST European Light Infantry,
with our small division of heavy guns
! must here alude to a circumstances most favor
able to our efforts in the field. On this evening, IN
addition to the valuable counsel In which you had
in every emergency before favored me, you were
pleased yet further TO strengthen my hands 0y Kind
ly offering your services as second Ia command IN
my army. I need hardly say with how much plea
sure the of-r was accepted
sumed. Our columns OF all arms dt ,uched four
mics the road to Ferozseshah, where 1t was
known that the enemy, posted IN great force, and
with most formidable artillery, had renamed
encr the action Of Is h, necessarily employed IN
entrenching his position. Instead OF advancing to
ths direct attack of their formidable works. our
force man1uvred to their right the second and
fourth divisions of infantry, in 'front.' supported by
the first DIVISION and cavalry in second line, CONT
nued to defi!e for some time out Of cannon shot
effect was not long delayed cloud Of dust was
seen on our LETT, and according to the instructions
sent hlm on the preceding, evening, Major General
sr John LgT with ms division avsins himself
march TO unite his force with nine. The junction
was soon effected, and thus was accomplished one
OF the great objects OF all our harasslng marches
army from the blockade Of the numerous force by
which 1t was surrounded.
Dispositions were now made for united attack
on1he enemy's entrenched camp We found it to
be paralelogram, OF about a mile in length and
hall mile in breadth, including within its area the
strong village Of Ferozeshsh the shorter sides look
ing towards the sutlej and Moodkee, and the longer
moved against the last-named force, the ground in
front OF which was like the Sikh position at Mood
kee, covered with low Jungle
The divisions of Major General Sir John Littler,
Brlgadier Wallace, (who had succeeded Ma. Gene
raj Sir John M. Cash. and Major General Gilbert,
dspoyed into line, having In the centre our whole
force Of artillery with the exception Of three troops
OF horse artillery, one on either flank and one in
support in order to be moved occasion required
Major Gen~ral Sir Harry Smiths division. and our
small cavalry force, moved in second line, having
brigade in reserve 10 cover each wing
Ishould here observe, thatI committed the charge
and direction OF the left wing Lieut. General Sir
Henry Hardnge, while personally conducted the
right
Avery heavy cannonade was opened by the enc
my. who had dispersed over their position upwards
OF one hundred guns, more than forty of which were
OF hattering calibre: These kept up heavy and
weldrected fire. which the practice Of our tar less
numerous artillery of much lighter metal, checked
in some degree, but could not silence Finally, in
the face Of storm of shot and shell, our infantry
advanced, and carried these formidable entrench.
ments. They threw themselves upon the guns, and
with matchless gallantry wrested them from the
enemy but when the batteries were partially within
our grasp, our soldiery had to face such fire of
musketry from the Sikh infantry, arrayed behind
their guns, that, in spite OF the most heroic efforts
aportion only OF the entrenchment could be carried
Naht fell while the conflict every where raging
Although now brought up Msjor-GeneraI Sir
Harry Smiths division, and he captured and long
retained another point OF the position, and her Ma
jesty's Srd Light Dragons charged and took some
Of the most formidable batteries, yet the enemy re.
NAMED IN possession OF a considerable portion OF
the great quadrangle, whilst our troops, intemngled
with theirs, kept possession Of the remainder, and
finally bivouacked upon it, exhausted by their gal
liant efforts, greatly reduced in numbers, and suffer-
ing extremely from thirst, yet animated by an In
domi,able spirit In this state Of things the long
Near the middle Of it, one Of their heavy guns
was advanced and played with deadly effect on our
troops. eut-General Sir Henry Hardinge imme-
dlatrly formed her Msjesty's S0h Foot, and the LIST
European Light Infantry They were led to the at
tack by their commanding officers, and animated in
their exertions by Lieutenant Colonel Wood (side-
de-camp to the Leutenant-G enera), who was
wounded in the outset The S0.h captured the gun,
and the enemy, dlsmayed by this counter check,
did not venture to press on further. During the
whole night, however, they continued to harass
our troops by fire Of artillery, wherever moonlight
discovered our position.
But with daylight of the 22i came retributon-
Our infantry formed line, supported on both TANKS
by horse artillery, whilst a fire was opened from
our centre BY such OF our heavy guns as renamed
effective. aided by a flight or rockets. A MAJ ked
battery played with great effect upon this point,
Drills. At This moment Lieut~nant-G General Sir
Henry Hsrdinge placed himself at the head OF the
len. whilst rode at the head Of the right wing
Oar line advanced, and unchecked by the enemy's
6s, drove them rapidly ow OF the village Of Feroze
shah and their encsmpmenf; then changing front to
Its left, its centre, our force continued to sweep
the camp, bearing down all opposition, and dislodg-
then haiiet, a. II on day OF manGuvre, receiving
Its two leaders a. they rode along its front with
z Rss. and ne stand
Whole fied. " " - 49, -
The force assumed position on the ground
which IL had won, but even here its abors were not
to cease. In the course Of two hours, Sirdar Tel
Sing. who had commanded in the great last battle,
brought up from the vicinity OF Ferozepore fresh
batalons and large field Of artillery, supported by
60 goo Ghorepurras hitherto encamped near the nv
err He drove In our cavalry parties, and made stren
uous efforts to regain the position al Ferozeshah,
this attempt was defeated, but its failure had scarce
ly become manifest, when the Sirdar renewed the
OF test with more troops and large artillery He
cs&inenced by combination against our LETT flank,
AMI when this was frustrated made such demon
srauon against the captured village compelled
70 change our whole front to the right His guns
during this man1uvre, maintained an ncessant fire.
whilst our artillery ammunition being completely ex-
pended in these protracsed combafs we were unable
10 answer him with single shot. / now directed
our almost exhausted cavalry TO threaten both TANKS
st once preparing the infantry to advance in support
which apparently caused him suddenly to cease his
fire. and 10 abandon the field.
For twenfy-touf hours not Sikh has appeared in
our front The remains of the Khasa army are said
p be in full retreat across tine Su:lej. at Nuggurpu-
6snr and Tea, marching up its left bank towards