BATTLE OF CHILIANWALA. 13th. January, 1849.
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Lord Gough having received information on the 10th. of January of the fall of the fortress of Attock, which had been defended for a lengthened period, by Major Herbert, and of the advance of Chuttur Singh, in order to unite his forces 326with those under his son, Shere Singh, resolved to attempt the overthrow of the Sikh army in his front; and, accordingly, at daylight on the morning of the 12th., moved on the Dingee from Loah Tibba, and thence on the following morning towards the village of Chilianwala, the army making a considerable detour to the right, partly to distract the enemy’s attention, but chiefly with the view of keeping as clear of the jungle as possible. The village was reached about noon, when a strong picket of the enemy’s cavalry and infantry was discovered on a mound close to it. This was at once dispersed, and from the elevation was obtained a very extended view of the country and of the enemy drawn out in order of battle.[126] The ground in front although not a dense was still a difficult jungle; and as the day was so far advanced, Lord Gough decided to take up a position in rear of the village.
While ground was being selected for the encampment the enemy advanced some horse artillery, and opened a fire on the skirmishers in front of the village. Orders were given for this fire to be silenced by a few rounds from the heavy guns, which was instantly returned by that of nearly the whole of the enemy’s field artillery, thus exposing the position of his guns, which had hitherto been concealed by the jungle. As it was evident that the Sikhs intended to fight, and would probably advance their guns so as to reach the encampment during the night, the British were at once drawn up in order of battle. After about an hour’s fire that of the enemy appeared to be, if not actually silenced, at least sufficiently disabled to justify an advance upon his position and guns.
The left division, under Brigadier-General Colin Campbell (afterwards Lord Clyde), was then ordered to advance. This had to move over a greater extent of ground, in front of which the foe appeared not to have many guns. Shortly afterwards Sir Walter Gilbert was directed to advance, Brigadier Pope being instructed to connect the flank and support the movement. 327Brigadier Penny’s brigade was held in reserve, while the Irregular Cavalry, under Brigadier Hearsey, with the 20th. Native Infantry, was ordered to protect the provisions and baggage.
Brigadier Pennycuick’s brigade having failed in maintaining the position it had carried, Brigadier Penny’s reserve was ordered to support; but Brigadier-General Colin Campbell, (to use Lord Gough’s own words,) “with that steady coolness and military decision for which he is so remarkable, having pushed on his left brigade and formed line to his right, carried everything before him, and soon overthrew that portion of the enemy which had obtained a temporary advantage over his right brigade.”
This last brigade mistook for the signal to move in double time the action of their brave leaders, Brigadier Pennycuick and Lieutenant-Colonel Brookes, who waved their swords over their heads as they cheered on their gallant troops. This unfortunate mistake caused the Europeans to outstrip the native corps, which were unable to keep pace, and arriving, completely blown, at a belt of very thick jungle, got into some confusion, and Lieutenant-Colonel Brookes, heading the 24th., was killed between the Sikh guns. At this moment a numerous body of infantry, which supported their guns, opened so destructive a fire that the brigade was compelled to retire, but not before having lost their gallant leader, Brigadier Pennycuick,[127] and the three other field officers of the 24th., together with nearly half the regiment;[128] the native corps also suffered severely.
328In the height of the conflict, from causes never satisfactorily explained, the cavalry of Brigadier Pope’s brigade, suddenly retreated, bursting through their own artillery in their course. They were pursued by the Sikh horse, who charged the artillery, unable to fire without killing their own cavalry, as friends and foes in the mêlée were intermixed. Seventy-five of the gunners were cut down, and six guns captured by the enemy. But the reserve artillery came up, the cavalry rallied, and the infantry standing firm, the Sikh horsemen were repulsed with loss, and two of the guns captured retaken.
Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell, on the extreme left and rear, charged the enemy’s cavalry wherever they shewed themselves, and the right attack of infantry, under Major-General Sir Walter Gilbert, was most successful, whilst the left brigade, under Brigadier Mountain, was highly distinguished. Brigadier Godby ably supported the advance with the right brigade.[129]
Lord Gough remained with Brigadier-General Campbell’s division, which had been reinforced by Brigadier Mountain’s brigade, until nearly eight o’clock, in order to effect the bringing in of the captured ordnance,[130] and of the wounded.
At the close of this battle, which Havelock states:—“was the most sanguinary, and the nearest approximation to a defeat of any of the great conflicts of the British power in India,”—Lord Gough, for want of water, fell back for about a mile, and took up a new position clear of the jungle.
The loss of the Sikhs, principally among their old and tried soldiers, was computed at three thousand killed, and four thousand wounded. With the exception of Sobraon, it was remarked by Lord Gough that he never remembered seeing so many of an enemy’s slain upon the same space. The British casualties were likewise heavy.[131]
In this battle the “undaunted bravery” of Her Majesty’s 29th. regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Congreve, was specially noticed, and the conduct of the 61st. was equally distinguished. The regiments engaged at Chillianwala were the 3rd. and 14th. Light Dragoons, 9th. Lancers, 24th., 29th., and 61st. Foot; Bengal Fusiliers, and 2nd. and 11th. Bengal Native Infantry.
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