intrepidity and exemplary discipline displayed by the
non-commissioned officers and private soldiers, European and
Native, on the 28th of January, 1846, in their attack on the
enemy’s position, by which the Sikhs were completely routed and
driven in confusion across the Sutlej, with the loss of all their
artillery and military equipment; and that the same be signified
to them by the Commanders of the several corps, who are desired
to thank them for their gallant behaviour.
“That in requesting the Governor-General of India to communicate
these Resolutions to the several Officers referred to therein,
this House desires to acknowledge the zeal and judgment evinced
by the Right Honorable Lieut.-General Sir Henry Hardinge, Knight
Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Governor-General of India,
and also by General Sir Hugh Gough, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross
of the Order of the Bath, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in
India, in supplying Major-General Sir Henry Smith with such
reinforcements and military means as enabled him, under Divine
Providence, to overcome all the obstacles thrown in his way by a
brave and determined enemy.
“That the Thanks of this House be given to the Right Honorable
Lieut.-General Sir Henry Hardinge, Knight Grand Cross of the Most
Honorable Military Order of the Bath, Governor-General of India,
for the judgment, energy, and ability with which the resources
of the British Empire in India have been applied in repelling
the unjust and unprovoked invasion of the British Territory by
the Sikh Nation; and for the valour and indefatigable exertions
which he displayed on the 10th of February, 1846, at the battle
of Sobraon, when, by the blessing of Almighty God, which we
desire most humbly to acknowledge, this hostile and treacherous
invasion was successfully defeated.
“That the Thanks of this House be given to General Sir Hugh
Gough, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Military
Order of the Bath, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in India,
for the signal ability and valour with which, upon the 10th of
February, 1846, he directed and led the attack, when the enemy’s
intrenchments were stormed, their artillery captured, their army
defeated and scattered, and the Punjaub laid open to the advance
of our victorious troops.
“That the Thanks of this House be given to Major-General Sir
Henry George Smith, Knight Commander of the Most Honorable
Military Order of the Bath; Major-General Walter Raleigh Gilbert;
and Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell, Knight Commander of the
Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath; and to the other
officers, European and Native, for the distinguished services
rendered by them in the eminently successful operations at the
battle of Sobraon.
“That this House doth highly approve of and commend the
invincible intrepidity, perseverance, and steady discipline
displayed by the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers,
European and Native, on the 10th of February, 1846, by which
the glory of the British arms has been successfully maintained
against a determined and greatly superior force, and that the
same be signified to them by the Commanders of the several corps,
who are desired to thank them for their gallant behaviour.
“That the said Resolutions be transmitted by the Lord Chancellor
to the Governor-General of India, and that he be requested to
communicate the same to the several officers referred to therein.”
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Votes of Thanks to the same effect were proposed by Sir Robert Peel
in the House of Commons, and carried without a dissenting voice.
THE EAST INDIA COMPANY.
On the same day, a Special General Court of the proprietors of
stock was held at the East India House, for the purpose of passing
a Vote of Thanks to Major-General Sir Henry Smith for his victory
at Aliwal over the Sikh army; to the Governor-General Sir Henry
Hardinge; to General Sir Hugh Gough, and to the European and Native
troops who were engaged in the war on the Sutlej. The resolutions
of the Court were proposed by Sir Henry Willock, the chairman, and
were unanimously adopted.
THE COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL OF LONDON.
At a Special Court of the Court of the Common Council of the
City of London, the Thanks and Congratulations of the Court were
awarded to Lieut.-General Sir Henry Hardinge, G.C.B., General Sir
Hugh Gough, G.C.B., and Major-General Sir Henry Smith, K.C.B.,
for the valour, judgment, and ability displayed by them in the
recent battles of Aliwal and Sobraon; also the Thanks of the Court
to the other officers, European and Native, for the intrepidity,
perseverance, and discipline evinced by them upon both these
memorable occasions.
After a tedious voyage down the Ganges, owing to the shallowness
of the river and the numerous sand-banks, the regiment did not
reach the station of Chinsurah until the 6th of July, on which day
it landed and marched into barracks. Chinsurah, formerly a Dutch
settlement, was ceded by Holland to the British Government in 1827;
it is situated on the right bank of the Ganges, about thirty miles
from Calcutta: the East India Company have built an excellent
barrack here for a regiment of infantry. The regiment was halted
here until the necessary preparations were made for its embarkation
for England.
On the 30th of July the arms of the regiment, which had been
proudly borne and successfully used on many occasions on the
battle-field, were given over to the ordnance department, and
deposited in the arsenal of Fort William.
On the arrival of the regiment at Fort William, the military
officers of the Presidency invited the officers of the sixteenth
lancers and THIRTY-FIRST regiment to a ball and supper at the
Town-hall, to show their high sense of the distinguished conduct
of those regiments in the field during the recent campaign on the
Sutlej.
The Lieut.-Governor, Sir Herbert Maddox, also invited the officers
to a splendid banquet at the Government House on the 1st of August.
The officers were also hospitably entertained by the officers of
the Bengal artillery stationed at Dum-Dum, the head-quarters of
that corps.
The entertainment given by the military officers at Calcutta to
the officers of the sixteenth lancers and THIRTY-FIRST regiment is
thus noticed in the public paper called the “Star,” of the 1st of
August, 1846:--
“The ball given by the military to Her Majesty’s sixteenth
lancers and Her Majesty’s THIRTY-FIRST regiment, came off
with great brilliancy last night at the Town Hall; there were
probably from 400 to 500 persons present. The hall was decorated
with remarkable taste, and the honored Peninsular colours of
the THIRTY-FIRST regiment hung in tatters under the principal
canopy, blood-stained in the recent engagements, in all of which
the gallant regiment was present. At the opposite end of the
table was a large transparency of the battle of Sobraon. Colonel
Warren presided at the supper-table; and Colonel Burlton, in an
excellent speech, reviewing the services of the regiments from
the commencement of the present century, gave the toast of the
evening, which was acknowledged by Lieut.-Colonel MacDowell and
Lieut.-Colonel Spence.”
Previous to the departure of the regiment from India, the
following General Order was issued by General Lord Gough, the
Commander-in-Chief:--
“Head-Quarters, Simla, 23rd May, 1846.
“Those distinguished regiments, the sixteenth lancers and the
THIRTY-FIRST foot, are about to return to their native country
after a service in India, the former of twenty-four, the latter
of twenty-one years; and although the Commander-in-Chief has
recently, and so frequently, had occasion to laud the gallant
conduct of these corps before an intrepid enemy, he cannot
permit them to embark without again expressing his admiration
of their continued and conspicuous bravery in all the battles
they have been engaged in during the long and eventful period
of their Indian service, whether in Affghanistan, or at the more
sanguinary conflicts of 1845 and 1846.
“These brave regiments may be assured they will be received in
their native land with every demonstration of that patriotic
feeling which gallant exploits ensure from their countrymen.
“The sixteenth lancers have added to their standards ‘Bhurtpore,
Affghanistan, Ghuznee, Maharajpore, Aliwal, and Sobraon;’ and the
THIRTY-FIRST regiment will have recorded on their already highly
decorated colours--‘Cabool, Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, and
Sobraon.’
“Again must Lord Gough express the gratification it affords him
thus to be able to record his opinion of their merits; and both
these corps are assured that their correct conduct in quarters,
and almost total absence of crime for many years, have mainly
conduced to the gallant achievements in the field to which their
good fortune has afforded them the opportunity to contribute.
“That every happiness and welfare may hereafter attend these
regiments, is the Commander-in-Chief’s ardent desire, for he
must ever feel the warmest interest in the career of such highly
distinguished regiments.
“The Commander-in-Chief congratulates the two officers,
Lieut.-Colonel MacDowell, C.B., and Lieut.-Colonel Spence,
who accompanied their regiments to India nearly a quarter of
a century ago, upon now having the honor and gratification of
commanding them, after such distinguished services, on their
return to their native land. Lieut.-Colonel MacDowell has never
left India since his first arrival.
“By order of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.
(Signed) “H. G. SMITH, Major-General,
“Adjutant-General to the Forces in India.”
The regiment embarked for England, the left wing under the command
of Lieutenant Plaskett, on board the ‘Plantagenet,’ on the 2nd of
August, 1846, consisting of 5 officers, 12 serjeants, 4 drummers,
and 102 rank and file, 10 women and 10 children. The head-quarters,
or right wing, embarked on board the ‘Madagascar’ on the 3rd of
August, 1846, under the command of Major Staunton, and consisted
of 10 officers, 19 serjeants, 7 drummers, and 194 rank and file,
21 women, and 32 children. Unfortunately, as the ‘Plantagenet’ was
putting out to sea, she sprung a leak, and was obliged to return
to Calcutta with all speed, the pumps being worked night and day
by the soldiers, without whose assistance she must have gone
down: they succeeded in bringing her safe into dock, there being
then above seven feet of water in the hold. This detachment again
embarked in the same ship on the 29th of August, and arrived in
England on the 13th of January, 1847, having lost on the passage
seven men. The ‘Madagascar,’ with head-quarters, arrived in England
on the 5th of December, and lost on the passage Lieutenant Richard
Sparrow and five soldiers.
After a voyage of four months, the surviving veterans of the
regiment were gladdened with the sight of the shores of their
native land. The head-quarters of the regiment reached Gravesend on
the 4th of December, 1846; and on the 6th disembarked and marched
to Chatham. Nothing could exceed the enthusiasm of the public to
welcome the arrival of this distinguished corps.
The following description of the reception the regiment met with
on its arrival, is taken from the ‘Illustrated London News’ of
December, 1846:--
“_The Return of the_ THIRTY-FIRST _Regiment from India_.--On the
4th instant the head-quarters of this distinguished regiment
arrived by the ship Madagascar from Calcutta, from which place
they embarked on the 3rd of August last: they lost by deaths on
the voyage five men and one officer, Lieut. Richard Sparrow.
They brought home with them four captured colours, which they
took in the short but brilliant campaign against the Sikhs.
* * * On the evening of the 6th the head-quarters marched into
Chatham garrison from Gravesend, by the Rochester and Gravesend
Railway, where they were met by the very superior band of the
royal marines. On the arrival at the Rochester terminus, the
band struck up, ‘God save the Queen,’ and these heroes of the
Sutlej were greeted by hundreds of people with loud and repeated
huzzas. The soldiers, in return for this spirited welcome, waved
the four colours captured from the enemy, one at Ferozeshah,
one at Aliwal, and two taken at Sobraon. These banners bear
testimony of the severe engagements. The Queen’s colour, and the
regimental colour, are complete fragments. The head-quarters were
also accompanied by the depôt band, which played at intervals in
passing with the regiment through the streets of Rochester and
Chatham, and were greeted along the whole line by thousands of
people who assembled to witness their return.
“Out of the 215 men landed from the Madagascar there are but 80
unwounded. Lieut.-Colonel Spence, and Quarter-master Benison, are
the only officers, now with the regiment, who went out with it in
the ‘Kent’ East Indiaman, which took fire and sank in the Bay of
Biscay.
“The following officers have come home with the
head-quarters:--Major George Staunton, Brevet Major D. F. G.
Longworth, Lieut. G. Elmslie, Lieut. T. Scarman, Lieut. R.
Mackenzie, Lieut. and Adjutant A. S. Bolton, Lieut. H. P. Hutton,
Quarter-master S. Benison, and Assistant-Surgeon H. C. Foss.
Total nine officers and 215 serjeants, drummers, and rank and
file.
“Lieut.-Colonel Spence headed the troops. The officers of this
regiment, having been on the most friendly terms with the royal
marine corps, and being members of the mess of the royal marines,
they dined at the royal marines’ mess-room with the officers, who
invited them on their arrival at the garrison to a superb repast.
“The officers of the regiment were invited to dinner by Colonel
Sir Frederick Smith and the officers of the royal engineers in
garrison at Chatham. They also received invitations to dinner
from the officers of the 2nd battalion of the 60th rifles, and
also from the officers of the provisional battalion quartered in
this garrison.”
Shortly after its arrival in England, the following complimentary
letter was received by Lieut.-Colonel Spence, commanding the
regiment, from that distinguished officer General Sir Colin
Halkett, G.C.B., the Colonel of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment:--
“United Service Club, London, 22nd Dec., 1846.
“MY DEAR COLONEL,
“It is with the liveliest satisfaction that I avail myself of
the arrival in England of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, under
your command, to offer you, and the corps, my most sincere
congratulations on your return to your native land, after your
arduous and distinguished services in the East. Connected as I
have the honor to be with the regiment, it was natural for me
to take a deep interest in its welfare, and to follow its fate
and fortunes with all the attention in my power; and as some
professional experience enabled me to appreciate the toils you
had to encounter, and the dangers you had to overcome, it was
with highly gratified pride and most heartfelt delight, that I
heard how nobly you had supported the first, and how gallantly
you had vanquished the latter.
“At the very outset of the voyage from England, the regiment
was already called upon to give proofs of that high state of
discipline, which is the soldier’s best shield in difficulties.
On dark and distant seas, amid the flames of the unfortunate East
India ship Kent, you remained firm and tranquil, obedient to
orders issued by that meritorious soldier, your then commanding
officer, Lieut.-Colonel Fearon (now Major-General), and thus
ensured the safety of all when every semblance of hope seemed to
have vanished, and when confusion must have led to inevitable
destruction.
“The promise, which such noble conduct gave, was fully justified
by your subsequent behaviour. Called upon to aid in avenging
disasters which the feebleness of allies had brought upon your
country’s arms, you forced your way through the most difficult
part of Central Asia, through mountain wildernesses unequalled
on the face of the globe, and never traversed by disciplined
troops since the days of the great Macedonian conqueror. Even
the gallantry, which you displayed during this campaign, seems
to be forgotten, when we reflect on the steady discipline, and
dauntless energy, evinced in contending against the toils and
difficulties which had to be overcome at every step of this
memorable march, only eclipsed by the more brilliant actions you
were soon afterwards called upon to perform.
“An Army, composed of the most warlike tribes of Asia, trained
to arms by European officers, long accustomed to victory under
the sway of an able and ambitious prince, assuming, on the death
of Runjeet Singh, the power of absolute control over its feeble
government, resolved to invade the British provinces; which,
protected by a disciplined army, ruled by a wise and paternal
government, had long prospered in peace, and acquired a degree of
wealth too well calculated to tempt the rapacity of such lawless
bands.
“To avoid every appearance of hostility, and preserve peace to
the last, the British authorities had kept their forces at a
distance from the frontier; and the enemy thus emboldened by
forbearance, which was probably taken for timidity, crossed the
Sutlej, and attacked our possessions without even a declaration
of war. In this difficulty it was only by extraordinary exertion
on the part of the troops, by toil and fortitude never surpassed,
if ever equalled, that your comrades posted along the frontier
could be saved from ruin, and an unprincipled foe checked in
time to avert the greatest calamities.
“The march from Umballa must ever be memorable in the annals of
war. Under the burning sun of India, you supported, at duty’s
call, an excess of toil and fatigue, which would have tried the
hardiest and the best, even in the bracing atmosphere of our
northern climate; and your victory of _Moodkee_ was actually
achieved over bold, numerous, and well-prepared foes, after a
march of twenty miles, performed under the rays of a vertical
sun, through a waste and parched country, not affording even a
drop of water to allay the scorching thirst occasioned by the
clouds of dust raised from the burning soil; fought, and won in
fact, after an excess of toil that would have overcome all but
the first and foremost soldiers of their time.
“A single defeat was not, however, to daunt the fierce and
numerous foes with whom you had to contend; and hardly had
you recovered from the fatigues of your long march and first
victory, when you were called upon to storm an entrenched camp,
defended by vastly superior numbers, and by a train of heavy
and well-served artillery such as the East had never beheld. To
assail works, under such circumstances, is one of the most trying
and difficult operations of war; and when the strength of the
position, and the fierce resolution with which it was defended,
are considered, your victory may safely be termed an action of
unsurpassed boldness, energy, and perseverance.
“Never will your country’s banner suffer a stain, so long as
its soldiers shall equal those who stormed the Sikh camp of
_Ferozeshah_: greater fortitude and gallantry than those of
which you had given proof in these actions could not possibly be
displayed. But every species of high soldiership was to be called
for during the course of this brief campaign, and it was your
fortune to be present in the different actions, all fought under
different circumstances.
“At _Aliwal_ you had to execute on an open and level plain, and
under a heavy fire of artillery, the skilful movements which
ensured the success of that brilliant day; and at _Sobraon_ you
were again called upon to force entrenchments, constructed with
European science, and defended with all the fierce resolution
of Asiatic despair. But neither savage valour, nor European
art, could withstand your efforts,--could compete with high and
matchless gallantry, regulated by discipline, and fired to noble
exertion by the consciousness of what was due to your country’s
name and fame!--The _Battle of Sobraon_, which crushed the power
of unprincipled adversaries, terminated your exploits in the
East, saved the British provinces from devastation, and secured
to our youthful and beloved Sovereign the peaceful and happy
possession of India! Never indeed were nobler objects attained by
nobler conduct!
“It is needless for me to tell you how greatly all ranks of your
countrymen sympathised with your fortunes during these trying
times; how much they felt for your sufferings; how deeply they
mourned for the heavy losses you sustained; and how highly they
exulted in the gallantry you displayed. The admiration your
behaviour excited, must have reached you even on the distant
shores of India; and I feel confident that every step you
take on British ground will show how justly your conduct is
appreciated by all those whose good opinion can be of value.
It only remains for me, therefore, again to offer you my most
sincere congratulations on your return to your native land, to
wish you every success and happiness in your future progress, and
to assure you, that as far as my sphere of action extends, no
effort shall be wanting to give effect to the sentiments I feel
such high satisfaction in now expressing.
“Believe me,
“My dear Colonel, ever yours sincerely,
“COLIN HALKETT,
“General, and Colonel Thirty-first Regt.
“Lieut.-Colonel Spence, C.B., “Commanding Thirty-first Regiment.”
As an additional testimony of the consideration of the services
of the officers and men of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment who had
returned from India, His Grace the Commander-in-Chief was pleased
to authorize the following letter to be addressed to the officer
commanding, dated Horse Guards, 21st of December, 1846:--
“Sir,
“In transmitting the enclosed Copy of the General Order of the
30th of October last, granting leave of absence to officers, and
furloughs to non-commissioned officers and men, to the 10th of
March next, I have it in command to intimate to you, that the
Commander-in-Chief, duly considering the glorious and important
services recently performed by the regiment under your command,
as well as its protracted service abroad, has been pleased to
direct that furloughs may be forthwith granted to such of the
non-commissioned officers and men recently returned from India,
without limitation as to numbers, as may be desirous of availing
themselves of that indulgence, so as to enable them immediately
to visit their friends; and that leave of absence may, in like
manner, be extended to as large a portion of the officers as can
be spared from the duties of the regiment.
“I have, &c.
(_Signed_) “JOHN MACDONALD,
“_Adjutant-General_.”
The usual directions were given by the Secretary at War for
reducing the establishment of the regiment, in order to assimilate
it to that of other regiments on home duty, from the 6th of
December, 1846.
After transferring to the Invalid Depôt the men selected for
discharge on account of wounds and other disabilities, and
incorporating the depôt with the other companies, the regiment was
removed from Chatham to Walmer, where it arrived on the 20th of
December, and was received at Deal and in the neighbouring parts,
with the same honors and marks of distinction as had been evinced
on its arrival in the garrison of Chatham.
[Sidenote: 1847]
The remainder of the regiment, consisting of five officers, viz.,
Lieutenants Plaskett, Law, Pilkington, and Noel, Assistant-Surgeon
Massey, and 111 men, arrived at Gravesend on the 13th of January,
1847, on board of the Plantagenet freight ship: the delay in their
arrival was occasioned by that vessel having sprung a leak, which
compelled her to put back to Calcutta. This division proceeded
from Chatham on the 20th of January, to join the head-quarters of
the regiment at Walmer.