BATTLE OF ALIWAL. 28th. January, 1846.
Reading edition
On the 16th. of January, 1846, the first brigade, with a few guns and some native cavalry, received sudden orders to march on the following morning in the direction of Loodiana, 316under the command of Major-General Sir Harry Smith. By a forced, march on the 17th., the fort of Dhurrumkote was surprised, and the garrison, consisting of about three hundred men, laid down their arms, and were sent prisoners to head-quarters. On the 20th. of the same month this division was reinforced near the fort of Jugraon by the 16th. Lancers, the 53rd. Foot, a detachment of recruits of the Queen’s regiments, and a troop of horse artillery. The Major-General decided on attempting the relief of Loodiana, which was but slightly garrisoned, and was threatened by a large body of the enemy. The troops commenced their march about one o’clock in the morning of the 21st.; about eleven the enemy was observed to be drawn up, parallel with the British line of march, in a strong position at Buddiwal, his front covered by a ridge of low sand-hills, bristling with forty pieces of artillery, which were so placed that it was necessary, in order to gain Loodiana, either to risk a battle to dislodge him from a strong position,—which, with troops fatigued by a long march, under a burning sun, and greatly inferior in numbers, would have been a hazardous proceeding,—or to proceed along the entire front of his position under a galling fire.
Having a just confidence in the steadiness of his troops, Sir Harry Smith chose the latter course. The infantry, formed in open column of companies right in front (the grenadier company of the 31st. leading,) and ready at any moment to form line, preceded by the artillery, and covered by the cavalry, marched at a distance of five hundred yards, along the front of this formidable line, receiving the fire of each battery as it bore upon them. The Sikh position being passed, and the enemy declining to follow, by three o’clock in the afternoon the troops arrived at Loodiana, thus effecting the desired object.
On the 22nd. and 23rd. the soldiers were permitted to rest themselves after their late fatigue, and on the 24th. the enemy retired to Aliwal, a village on the Sutlej. The British moved to the ground lately occupied by them at Buddiwal, where they were reinforced by the second brigade of Sir Harry Smith’s division, consisting of the 50th. Foot and 48th. 317Native Infantry, with some cavalry and infantry from Loodiana.
At daylight on the 28th. Sir Harry Smith marched with his whole force to attack the Sirdar Runjoor Singh and the Rajah of Ladwa in their camps at Aliwal, the enemy being drawn up in line of battle with his left resting on the village, numbering about fifteen thousand men, with fifty-six guns. From information afterwards received, it appeared that the Sikhs were about to march upon Jugraon that very morning, for the purpose of getting between Sir Harry Smith’s force and the heavy guns coming up from Delhi under a very slender escort. The march having been previously conducted in columns of brigades at deploying distance, each brigade deployed on its leading company, and thus formed one long line. Abour ten o’clock in the morning the action commenced by a heavy cannonade from the Sikh artillery, which was principally directed on the British centre. The village of Aliwal was filled with infantry, supported by cavalry in the rear, and further defended by two guns on its left.
“The enemy,” says Sir Harry Smith, “fought with much resolution, and maintained frequent encounters with our cavalry hand to hand. In one charge of infantry upon the 16th. Lancers, they threw away their muskets, and came on with their swords and targets against the lance.” But all their bravery was fruitless. The village was carried, and the two guns were captured,[119] but the line being in consequence somewhat disarranged, it was quickly re-formed, and advanced in excellent order, overcoming all opposition. The attack of the enemy by the left wing was equally successful; the line advanced, making a steady and successful charge, and the Sikhs, being beaten in every quarter, fled towards the river in the utmost confusion, leaving their camp, baggage, and stores, with fifty-two pieces of artillery, as trophies in the hands of the victors.
The regiments engaged in this battle were the 16th. Lancers, 31st., 50th., and 53rd. Foot, 3rd. Skinner’s Horse, 1st. and 2nd. Ghoorkas, and 7th. and 13th. Bengal Infantry.
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