BATTLE OF FEROZESHAH OR FEROZESHUHUR. 21st. and 22nd. December, 1845.
Reading edition
On the 19th. of December the army was concentrated at Moodkee, no further operations taking place until the 21st., when it moved by its left on Ferozepore; and having on the march been reinforced by Major-General Sir John Littler’s division of five thousand men from that place, General Sir Hugh Gough formed his forces in order of battle. It was then resolved to attack the enemy’s entrenched camp at Ferozeshah, or Ferozeshuhur, where they were posted in great force, and had a most formidable artillery; their camp was a parallelogram, about a mile in length, and half that distance in breadth, including within its area the village of Ferozeshuhur, the shorter sides looking towards the Sutlej and Moodkee, and the longer towards Ferozepore, and the open country. The plains, as at Moodkee, were covered with low jhow jungle; this added to the difficulty of the advance, which was made in four divisions; the left wing under the direction of the Governor-General, (Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Hardinge,) who had volunteered his services as second in command. The force of the Sikhs was about 35,000 men, two-thirds of whom were regular troops, with ninety-eight guns, and another army of 23,000 regulars and sixty-seven guns, under Tej Singh, was only ten miles distant. Upwards of one hundred guns of the enemy, nearly one half of battering calibre, opened a heavy cannonade, which was checked, but not silenced, by the far less numerous artillery of the 313assailants.[115] In spite of this storm of shot and shell, the infantry gallantly advanced, and boldly carried the formidable entrenchments, throwing themselves upon the guns, and wresting them from the enemy. These exertions, however, only partially gained the batteries, and the soldiery had to face so hot a fire from the Sikhs from behind their guns, that the most heroic efforts could only succeed in carrying a portion of the entrenchment. Darkness did not bring a total cessation of hostilities, for about the middle of the night the Sikhs caused one of their heavy guns to bear upon that part of the field gained, and on which the troops had bivouacked. The gun was soon captured by the 80th. regiment;[116] but the enemy, whenever moonlight revealed the position, still continued to harass the troops by the fire of their artillery.
At length the long night wore away, and with daylight of the 22nd. of December came retribution. The infantry formed into line, supported on both flanks by horse artillery, whilst a fire was opened from the centre, aided by a flight of rockets. Here a masked battery played with great effect, dismounting the pieces and blowing up the tumbrils of the British, but at this juncture Sir Henry Hardinge placed himself at the head of the left wing, the right being led by Sir Hugh Gough. Unchecked by the opposing fire, the line advanced, and drove the foe rapidly out of the village of Ferozeshah, and the encampment; then changing front to the left, continued to sweep the camp, bearing down all opposition. Eventually the Sikhs were dislodged from their whole position. The line now halted, and the two brave leaders rode along its front, amid the cheering of the soldiers and the waving of the captured standards of the Khalsa army. Seventy-three pieces of cannon were also captured.
314The British, masters of the entire field, now assumed a position on the ground they had so nobly won; but their labours were not ended, for in less than two hours Sirdar Tej Singh brought up from the vicinity of Ferozepore fresh battalions, and a large field of artillery, supported by thirty thousand Ghorechurras, previously encamped near the river. Driving in the cavalry parties, he made strenuous efforts to regain the position at Ferozeshah; this attempt was defeated; but the Sirdar renewing the contest with fresh troops, and a large artillery, commenced the attack by a combination against the left flank; and after being frustrated in this attempt, essayed such a demonstration against the captured village, as compelled the British to change the whole front to the right. Meanwhile an incessant fire was maintained by the foe without being answered by a single shot, the artillery ammunition being completely expended in these protracted encounters. The almost exhausted cavalry were now directed to threaten both flanks at once, the infantry preparing to advance in support; this soon caused the Sikhs to discontinue firing, and to abandon the field, precipitately retreating towards the Sutlej, large stores of grain and matériel of war being abandoned by the enemy.[117]
It is not surprising that the British casualties were numerous; the total loss being six hundred and ninety-four killed, and one thousand seven hundred and twenty-one wounded. The entire staff of the Governor-General was killed or wounded, except his son, Captain Hardinge, who had his horse shot under him. Within thirty hours an entrenched camp had been stormed, a general action fought, and two considerable conflicts sustained with the enemy. Thus in less than four days, sixty thousand Sikh soldiers, supported by upwards of one hundred and fifty pieces of cannon, were dislodged from their position, and received a just retribution for their treacherous proceedings, without provocation or declaration of hostilities.
The 3rd. Light Dragoons, 9th., 29th., 31st., 50th., 62nd., and 80th. Foot; the 2nd. Skinner’s Horse, 8th. Bengal Irregular Cavalry, Bengal Sappers and Miners, Royal Bengal Fusiliers; 4th., 5th., and 7th. Bengal Infantry, took part in the battle of Ferozeshuhur. In the official despatch there were no regiments particularized, for all were equally exposed during this protracted conflict.[118]
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