The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-23
Indian Anairn.

We rejoice to state that our Indian news
is Of more satisfactory character The
Sikhs have been defeated in pitched bat
tie; and although we are as yet unacquaint-
ed with the details, upon consideration OIL
all the circumstances we are very sanguine
that the present defeat will be decisive oil
the campaign, and that it will be altogether
impossible for the enemy to rally for long
period to come. The dates are from Bonn
bay 10 the 4th Of March, and from near Gu
zerat, where the battle was fought, to the
2lst Of February; on which day Lord
Cough and General Whish routed the enc
my, and were in hot pursuit Of the van
pushed Shere Singh. In our last report the
British army under Lord Cough was posted
at Chillianwallah, where it was strongly en-
camped. Shere Singh having been rein
forced BY the junction Of Chuttur Singh,
his fathers troops took up position to the
right Of Lord Coughs camp, as il with the
intention Of outfanking the British Al
though :Shere Singh resorted to many arti-
fees to induce Lord Cough 10 leave his
camp, and come to the attack, his iordship,
now grown wiser, prudentr held his posi-
ton, continuing to act entirely on the defen-
sive Feigned attacks on the British camp
were made up to the 10th Of February, but
Lord Cough continued immoveable. On
the 18th the Sikhs made prodigious show
Of offensive operations, and under cover Of
these withdrew the whole of their army
General Gilbert then advanced to their
abandoned position, the strength Of which
gave ample proof that Lord Cough would
have erred fatally If be had Tentured to at
tack It. Tie Skis had now disappeared
and from the road they took we do not won
der that Lord Cough was puzzled 10 know
what had become Of them Shere Singh
instead OF crossing the Jhelum and falling
back towards Attock, moved southwark to-
wards the Chenab, which he attempted to
cross at Vizierabad Providentislly, Gen
eral Whish, with the Bombay division, in-
tercepted his progress, having reached Ram
nugar with his main body the day before the
Sikhs appeared at the ford at Vizierabad
and by judicious detachment Of 5000
men, posted at the latter ford, prevented
the Sikhs from passing. Lord Cough, in
the meantime, fell back TO Sudalpore, where
the two British divisions effected junction
and the next day they brought the enemy tc
battle 10 the open field near the city o
Guzerat; and at the period Of the departure
Of the Bombay packet, it was only know,
that the Sikhs were completely routed, lsav
ing great portion Of their guns and ammu
milton, as well as their standing camp in thu
possession Of their conquerors, The oticia
intelligence extends no further, but from
the concurrent circumstances, il seems evi
dent that the Sikhs could no longer hold thu
'mpregnable position which they had Judi
ciously selected, on account Of their want 0
provisions; that they had plnndered til,
surrounding provinces 10 great extent, ana
finding that no support came from Attock OF
frsm the east, they determined to move upor
Lahore, which they hoped to reach before
the Bombay column could arrive. The ex,
traordinary exertions Vi General Whish
who moved sixty-one miles in iony-.ighl
hours, defeated these man9uvres; and hi
timely arrival on the banks Of the Chensl
frustrated oil the hopes Of the Silks. Hsv
ing no longer the advantage Of field chosel