Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-05-16
LIBERTY, MISSISSIPPI, SATURDAY, MAY l6, 1876

spies, convinced us that there had devol-I
we'd on US the arduous task Of attacking,
in position covered with formidable en-.
trenchments, not fewer than 10000 men
the best of the Khalsa troops, with 70I
pieces OF cannon, united by a good bridge
to reserve on the opposite bank, onI
which the enemy had a considerable camp
and some artillery, commanding and
Ranking his field works on our side. Ma
jor Gen. Sir Harry Smiths division ha-
wing rejoined me on the evening of the
9th, and part of my siege train having
come up with me, resolved, on the NOR.
ming of the 10th, to dispose our mortars
and battering guns on the alluvial land,
within good range Of the enemy's works
To enable US to do this, it was necessary
frs: to drive in the enemy's pickets at the
post Of observation in .ront oil Koodeewal-
la, and at the Little Sobraon. ! was d.
rected that this should be done during the
night OF the 9th, but the execution otthis
part of the plan was deferred, owing to
misconceptions and casual clrcumst ances,
until near daybreak. The delay was oil
little Importance, as the event showed
that the Sikhs'had followed our example
in occupying the two posts in by day
only. OF both, therefore, possession was
taken by opposition. The batterlng and
disposed field artillery was then put In
position in an extended semi-clrIe, embra.
cling within its fire the works of the SIkhs.
1t b ad been intended that the cannonade
should have commenced at daybreak; but
so heavy a mist hung over he plain and
river, that it became necessary to wal
until the rays Of the sun I'd penetrated
it and cleared the atmosphere Mean
while, on the margin Of the outlel, on our
left, two brigades Of Major Gen. Sir r..
Dicks division under his personal COM
mand, stood ready to commence The as
sault against the enemy's extreme right
The 7th brigade, in which was the 10th
Foot, reinforced by the SD Foot, and led
by Brig. Stacy, was to head the attack,
supported at 200 yards distance by the
9th brigade, under Brig. Wilkinson. Its
freserve was me own nrtg aas7, unaOI briga'
der the Hon. T. Ashburnham, which was
TO move forward from the lntrenched vii
lage of koodeewalla, leaving, if neces'
sary, regiment for its defence. In the
centre Major Gen. Gilbert's division was
depIoyed for support or attack, lis right
resting on and in the village of the Lit
tie Sobraon. Major Gen. Sir Harry
Smiths was formed near the village of
Guttah, with its right thrown up towards
the Sutlej. Brigadier Cureton's cavalry
threatened, by leigned attacks, the ford
at Hurrekee, and the enemy's horse, I'M
der Rajah LaII Singh Misr, on the oppo-
site bank. Brigadier Campbell, taking
an intermediate position in the rear, be-
tween Maj. Gen. Gilbert's right and Maj
Gen. Sir Harry Smiths left, projected
both. Major Gen. Sir Joseph Thackwell,
under whom was Brigader Scott, held in
reserve on our left, ready to act as cir.
cumstances might demand, The rest Of the
cavalry.
Our battery of nine-pounders, enlar-
ged into tweIves, opened near the little
Sobraon with a brigade of howitzers for
med from the light field batteries and
troops of horse artillery, shortly at-
ter daybreak. But it was half past six
before the whole of our artillery fire was
developed. 1t was most spirited and well
cannot speak in terms too
high Of the iudicious disposition OF the
guns, their admirable practice, Or the &C
tIvlty with which the connonade was sus-
tanned; but Notwithstanding the formula
Bile callbre of our guns, mortars and howlt-I
GERS, and the admirable way in which,
they were served, and aided by rocket
battery, it would have been visionary .oI
expect that they could, within any
limited time, silence in the fire OF 20
pieces behind we'll constructed batteries OF
earth, plank and facines, or dislodge troops
covered either by redoubts or epaule-
ment, or within a treble line of trenches.
The effect Of the cannonade was, as has
since been proved by an inspection OF the
camp, most severely felt by the enemy;
out it soon became evident that the issue
IF this struggle must be brought to the
lrbitrament Of musketry and the oayonet.
At 9 o'clock, Brigadier Stacy's brigade,
supported on either flank By Captains
and Fordyce's batteries, and
lieut. Col, Lanes troop of Horse Artil'
cry, moved to the attack in admirable or
Ter. The infantry and guns aided each
,ther co-relalively. The former march, |
d steadily on in line, which they halted
MY 10 correct when necessary. The lat
err took up successive positions at the
allop, until at length they were within
90 yards Of the heavy batteries oil the c
khs; but, Notwithstanding the regular
Y, and GOODNESS, and scientific character
/ this assault, which Brig Wilson well c
Imported, so hot was the fire OF cannon $
ausketry and zumboorucks, kept up bylE