in any occurrence of note, the Governor-General and
Commander-in-Chief taking advantage of the interval to collect the
munitions of war; while on the other hand, the Sikhs, having been
strengthened by reinforcements, continued to hold strong positions
on the banks of the Sutlej; and notwithstanding their defeat in
the battles of Moodkee and Ferozeshah on the 18th, 21st, and 22nd
December, 1845, they subsequently formed a strongly entrenched camp
at _Sobraon_. Although the intelligence of the victory of Aliwal
on the 28th January, 1846, and the sight of the numerous bodies
which floated from the vicinity of that battle-field to the bridge
of boats at Sobraon, apparently disheartened the enemy, and caused
many of them to return to their homes, yet in a few days they
appeared as confident as ever of being able in their entrenched
position to defy the Anglo-Indian army, and to prevent the passage
of the Sutlej.
The heavy ordnance having arrived on the 8th February, the day
on which the forces under Major-General Sir Henry Smith, who had
been detached to Loodiana, and had obtained a signal victory over
the enemy at Aliwal, rejoined the main body of the army, it was
determined on coming at once to a battle with the Sikhs, to storm
their entrenchments, and finally to drive them out of Hindoostan.
This was an undertaking of some magnitude. From observations made
during the time the head-quarters of the army were stationed at
the village of Nihalkee, it was ascertained that the position at
Sobraon was covered with formidable entrenchments, and defended by
thirty thousand of the _élite_ of the Khalsa troops; besides being
united by a good bridge to a reserve on the opposite bank of the
river, on which was stationed a considerable camp, with artillery,
which commanded and flanked the enemy's field-works on the British
side of the Sutlej.
About daybreak on the 10th February, the mortars, battering guns,
and field-artillery were disposed on the alluvial land, embracing
within its fire the enemy's works. As soon as the sun's rays
cleared the heavy mist which hung over the plain, the cannonade
commenced, but notwithstanding the admirable manner in which the
guns were served, it would have been visionary to expect that
they could, within any limited time, silence the fire of seventy
pieces of artillery behind well-constructed batteries, or dislodge
troops so strongly entrenched. It soon became evident to the
Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Hugh Gough, that musketry and the
bayonet must ultimately decide the contest.
Accordingly the seventh brigade, in which was the TENTH foot,
reinforced by the fifty-third regiment, and led by Brigadier
Stacy, was ordered to head the attack, to turn the enemy's
right, to encounter his fire before his numbers were thinned, or
spirit broken, and (to use the soldier-like expression of the
Commander-in-Chief General Sir Hugh Gough) "_to take off the
rough edge of the Sikhs in the fight_." An opportunity was now
afforded for the TENTH to distinguish itself, and the regiment
nobly availed itself of this opportunity. At nine o'clock the
brigade moved on to the attack over the sandy flat in admirable
order, halting to correct, when necessary, any imperfections in
its line. For some moments, notwithstanding the regularity and
coolness of the assault, so hot was the fire of the Khalsa troops,
that it seemed almost impracticable to gain the entrenchments. A
brief halt ensued, the brigade again advanced, and persevering
gallantry triumphed. The TENTH foot, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Franks, now for the first time brought into serious contact with
the enemy, greatly distinguished itself. With cool and steady
courage, the regiment marched on with the precision of a field-day,
and _never fired a shot until within the works of the enemy_[10]--a
forbearance much to be commended, and worthy of constant imitation,
to which the success of the first effort, and the small loss
sustained by the regiment, may be attributed.[11]
Other brigades, at the moment of this successful onset, were
ordered forward in support. The thunder of upwards of one hundred
pieces of ordnance reverberated through the valley of the Sutlej,
and it was soon perceived, that the weight of the whole force
within the enemy's camp was likely to be thrown upon the two
brigades (sixth and seventh) that had passed the trenches.[12] The
Sikhs fought with the energy of desperation, and, even when some
of their entrenchments were mastered with the bayonet, endeavoured
to recover with the sword the positions they had lost. It was not
until the weight of all three divisions of infantry, in addition
to several regiments of cavalry, with the fire of every piece of
field-artillery that could be sent to their aid, had been felt,
that the enemy gave way. The Sikh regiments retreated at first in
tolerable order, but the incessant volleys of the British soon
caused them to take to a rapid and discomfited flight. Masses of
them precipitated themselves on to their bridge, which being broken
by the fire of the British, was incapable to sustain the multitude
pressing forward, and the sudden rise of the Sutlej rendered the
ford almost impassable, adding another obstacle to the escape of
the enemy. A dreadful carnage ensued. The stream was red with the
bodies of men and horses, the bridge in many places had given way,
and it is considered, that, at least a third of the Sikh army
perished in this battle; sixty-seven of their guns fell into the
hands of the victors, together with two hundred small camel-swivels
(zumboo-rucks), numerous standards, and vast munitions of war.
In this manner ended the _Battle of_ SOBRAON; at six in the morning
it commenced; at nine it became a hand-to-hand conflict; and by
eleven the victory was gained.
The TENTH regiment had Lieutenant Walter Yonge Beale, one serjeant,
and twenty-eight rank and file killed. Lieutenants Henry R. Evans
and Charles J. Lindam, two serjeants, and ninety-eight rank and
file wounded.
Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to authorise the TENTH
regiment to bear on its colours and appointments the word
_Sobraon_, in commemoration of its gallantry in that battle; and
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Harte Franks was nominated a Companion of
the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath.
The regiment left Nihalkee on the 11th February, crossed the Sutlej
on the 13th, and on the 20th of the same month arrived before
_Lahore_, where it was present at the occupation of that city, and
at the signing of the treaty, which, while it convinced the world
of the moderation and justice of the paramount power of India,
is calculated to add to the stability of the Anglo-Indian empire,
and also to provide for the future tranquillity of the Punjaub, by
maintaining a Sikh government at Lahore, capable of controlling its
army, protecting its subjects, and securing the British frontier
against similar acts of aggression.
On the 23rd of March, 1846, the regiment marched from Lahore,
recrossed the Sutlej on the 26th of that month, and arrived at
Meerut on the 15th of April following. It marched again from
Meerut, _en route_ to Ferozepore, on the 27th of October, 1846, and
arrived in cantonments on the 20th of November, where it remained
encamped until the 28th of December, when it again proceeded to
Lahore, under the charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Strickland, with
a body of troops under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Franks,
and occupied quarters in the garrison of that city on the 2nd of
January, 1847.
[Sidenote: 1847]
The TENTH regiment continued in the occupation of Lahore, as a part
of the garrison of that city, to the end of the year 1847, at which
period this record is concluded.
NOTES TO PAGES 45 AND 59.
_Page 45._--In 1783, the regular regiments of infantry were
authorised to assume "_County Titles_," in order to promote the
recruiting service, and the Tenth was directed to bear the title
of _North Lincolnshire_ Regiment in addition to the numerical
title.
_Page 59._--Lieutenant-General Lord William Bentinck returned
to Sicily in October, 1813, and in February, 1814, he proceeded
with a body of English and Sicilian troops, amounting to 6,500
men, from that island to Leghorn, from whence he published a
Proclamation, inviting the Italians to shake off the French yoke:
he subsequently landed his combined troops, and after a few
slight actions made himself master of Genoa, on the 18th April,
1814. On the termination of the War in 1814 His Lordship retired
for some time to Rome.
[Illustration:
_Madeley lith. 3 Wellington S^t. Strand._
TENTH FOOT.
1848.
_For Cannon's Military Records._
]
FOOTNOTES:
[6] Disembarkation Return, TENTH Foot, June, 1801--LANDED AT
COSSEIR, 2 lieut.-colonels, 2 majors, 6 captains, 16 lieutenants, 5
ensigns, 5 staff, 46 serjeants, 18 drummers, and 854 rank and file.
Lieut.-Colonel Samuel Auchmuty of the TENTH performed the duty of
adjutant-general to the expedition.
[7] Route from Cosseir on the Red Sea to Kenna on the Nile.
Miles.
From Cosseir to the New Wells 11 _Water._
Half way to Moilah 17 _No water._
Moilah 17 Water and provisions.
Advanced Wells 9 _Water._
Half way to Legaitte 19 _No water._
Legaitte 19 _Water and provisions._
Baromba 18 Water.
Kenna 10 The Nile.
---
120
The distances were thus computed at the time, but it was believed
that they were greatly underrated.
[8] Extract from a despatch from Field-Marshal the Marquis of
Wellington, dated _Toulouse, 19th April, 1814_:--
"Upon the breaking up of this army, I perform a most satisfactory
duty in reporting to your Lordship my sense of the conduct and
merit of Lieutenant-General William Clinton, and of the troops
under his command since they have been employed in the Peninsula.
Circumstances have not enabled those troops to have so brilliant
a share in the operations of the war, as their brother officers
and soldiers on this side of the Peninsula; but they have not been
less usefully employed; their conduct, when engaged with the enemy,
has always been meritorious; and I have had every reason to be
satisfied with the General Officer commanding, and with them."
[9] Now Deputy Adjutant-General to the Forces in Ireland.
[10] Despatch of General Sir Hugh Gough, Commander-in-Chief in
India.
[11] A similar proof of coolness on the part of the TENTH Regiment
of Foot was evinced at the Battle of _Steenkirk_, in 1692, and is
narrated at page 8.
[12] The sixth brigade consisted of Her Majesty's 80th regiment,
and 33rd and 63rd regiments of native infantry.
The seventh brigade consisted of Her Majesty's 10th and 53rd
regiments, and 43rd and 59th regiments of native infantry.
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF
THE TENTH, OR THE NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE,
REGIMENT OF FOOT.
JOHN EARL OF BATH.
_Appointed 20th June, 1685._
JOHN GRANVILLE, son of Sir Beville Granville, Knight, who was
distinguished for his devotion to the royal cause during the
rebellion in the reign of King Charles I., commanded his father's
regiment of loyal Cornishmen in His Majesty's service, when in his
fifteenth year, and was so conspicuous for valour and discretion
beyond what is usually evinced at that age, that after taking part
in several skirmishes in the west of England, he was placed at the
head of a brigade of six regiments, with the rank of major-general,
and he was severely wounded at the second battle of Newbury. He
held the appointment of Gentleman of the Bedchamber to His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, afterwards King Charles II., whom he
attended, during the exile of the royal family, and shared in His
Majesty's travels and afflictions in France, Flanders, Holland, and
the island of Jersey. The King appointed him governor of the Scilly
Islands, which he defended against the fleet of Cromwell, under
Admirals Blake and Askew. He took part in bringing to maturity
the measures which led to the restoration of the royal family,
frequently consulting with General Monk, his near kinsman; and in
April, 1661, His Majesty rewarded this faithful and zealous servant
of the Crown with the dignity of Baron Granville of Kilkhampton
in Cornwall, and of Bideford in Devonshire, Viscount Granville
of Lansdown, and EARL OF BATH. He was heir to the titles of Earl
of Carboile, Thorigny, and Granville, in Normandy, in as full
and ample a manner as his ancestors had formerly enjoyed them,
before that dukedom was lost to the Crown of England, and he was
authorized, by royal warrant, to use the same. The EARL OF BATH was
appointed governor of Plymouth and commandant of an independent
company of foot in garrison at that fortress, and on the breaking
out of the rebellion of James Duke of Monmouth, in June, 1685, his
lordship was appointed colonel of a newly-raised corps, of which
his independent company was the nucleus,--now the TENTH, or the
NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT. When the destruction of the
established religion and laws of the kingdom appeared to have been
resolved upon by the court, the EARL OF BATH communicated with the
Prince of Orange, and when His Highness arrived with an armament
from Holland, he arrested the Earl of Huntingdon, and several other
officers in garrison at Plymouth, and declared for the Prince of
Orange, for which he was deprived of his commissions by King James,
but he was restored by the Prince in three weeks afterwards. In
1693, he resigned the colonelcy of the TENTH foot, in favour of his
nephew, Lieut.-Colonel Sir Beville Granville. He died in 1701.
SIR CHARLES CARNEY.
_Appointed 8th December, 1688._
SIR CHARLES CARNEY was an officer in the reign of King Charles
II., and served on the Continent in the war between the United
Provinces, the Emperor of Germany and France; and on the breaking
out of the rebellion in 1685, he raised a company in the EARL OF
BATH's regiment, now TENTH foot, of which corps he was appointed
major, and was afterwards promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy, in
succession to Sir Nicholas Stannings. He adhered to King James
II. at the Revolution in 1688, and obtained the colonelcy of his
regiment, but was removed by the Prince of Orange, on the 31st of
December, 1688. He was not afterwards employed in the service.
JOHN EARL OF BATH.
_Reappointed 31st December, 1688._
_Resigned in October, 1693._
SIR BEVILLE GRANVILLE.
_Appointed 29th October, 1693._
SIR BEVILLE GRANVILLE obtained a commission in the army in June,
1685, and served in the regiment of which his uncle, JOHN EARL OF
BATH was colonel, now TENTH foot, of which corps he was appointed
lieut.-colonel at the Revolution in 1688. He highly distinguished
himself at the battle of Steenkirk in 1692, leading his regiment
into action with cool collected valour, which procured for him the
commendations of the general officers who witnessed his conduct.
He also displayed intrepidity and firmness at the forcing of the
French lines in 1693; and the Earl of Bath resigned the colonelcy
of the TENTH in his favour, in the autumn of the same year. He
continued to serve in the Netherlands, and commanded a brigade
in the campaign of 1695. Queen Anne promoted him to the rank
of major-general, and appointed him governor of the island of
Barbadoes, when he was succeeded in the colonelcy of his regiment
by Lord North and Grey. The climate of Barbadoes not agreeing with
his constitution, he obtained permission to return to England, but
died on his passage home in 1706.
WILLIAM LORD NORTH AND GREY.
_Appointed 15th January, 1703._
WILLIAM LORD NORTH AND GREY, of Rolleston, acquired great
reputation in the wars of Queen Anne, while serving under the
celebrated John Duke of Marlborough. He was appointed colonel
of the TENTH regiment of foot in January, 1703, and served the
campaign of that year at the head of his regiment, performing a
conspicuous part at the siege of Huy. In the following year he
accompanied his regiment to Germany, evinced signal gallantry at
Schellenberg, and had his right hand shot off at the battle of
Blenheim. This loss did not occasion him to retire from active
service; but he continued at the head of the TENTH, and soon after
the celebrated victory of Ramilies, in 1706, he was promoted to
the rank of brigadier-general and placed at the head of a brigade
of infantry. During the campaign of 1707, he was at the head of
the fifth brigade of foot; at the battle of Oudenarde, in 1708, he
commanded a battalion of the royals, and the TENTH, twenty-first,
and twenty-sixth regiments; he also took part in covering the
siege of Lisle, and evinced signal gallantry at the siege and
capture of Ghent. On the 1st of January, 1709, he was promoted to
the rank of major-general, and in 1710 to that of lieut.-general.
He served the campaign of 1712, under James Duke of Ormond, and
his services were rewarded with the appointment of governor of
Portsmouth. When measures were adopted to prevent the accession of
the house of Hanover to the throne of Great Britain, Lord North
and Grey espoused the interest of the Stuart dynasty, and became a
secret advocate for the elevation of the Pretender to the throne.
King George I. deprived his lordship of the colonelcy of the TENTH
foot, and of the government of Portsmouth; also confined him in the
Tower of London. He was subsequently released, and he withdrew to
the Continent. Although a very gallant officer in the field, yet
he lost sight of the best interests of his country; and during his
residence at Brussels, he embraced the Roman Catholic religion. He
died at Madrid in October, 1734.
HENRY GROVE.
_Appointed 23rd June, 1715._
This officer entered the army on the 1st of December, 1688, as an
ensign in one of the regiments which had declared for the Prince
of Orange. He was many years an officer of the TENTH foot, and
served with the regiment in the wars of King William III., which
were terminated by the peace of Ryswick in 1697. He also served
the campaigns of 1702, 1703, and 1704, with the regiment, and was
at the battles of Schellenberg and Blenheim. In the autumn of 1704
he succeeded Major Granville, who was wounded at the battle of
Blenheim, in the majority of the TENTH, with which corps he served
at the forcing of the French lines in 1705, and at the battle of
Ramilies in 1706; and he succeeded lieut.-colonel Rawley in the
lieut.-colonelcy of the regiment in the same year. Lieut.-Colonel
Grove commanded the TENTH at the battle of Oudenarde, in July,
1708, and in December following he was taken prisoner at the
siege of Ghent. He was liberated soon afterwards, and in the
following year he commanded the regiment at the siege of the
castle of Tournay, and at the battle of Malplaquet. The practice
of giving medals, promotion, and inscriptions on regimental
colours, for battles and sieges, had not been introduced; but
lieut.-colonel Grove's services were rewarded with the rank of
colonel in the army, and in 1711 he was promoted to the rank of
brigadier-general. King George I. conferred the colonelcy of the
TENTH foot on brigadier-general Grove, who was promoted to the rank
of major-general in 1727, and to that of lieut.-general in 1735. He
died on the 20th of November, 1736.
FRANCIS COLUMBINE.
_Appointed 27th January, 1737._
FRANCIS COLUMBINE served in the wars of Queen Anne, under the
celebrated John Duke of Marlborough; he was many years an officer
of the eighth regiment of foot, in which corps he rose to the rank
of major, and he was subsequently promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy
of the TENTH. He performed the duty of commanding officer of the
TENTH upwards of twelve years, and preserved the regiment in a high
state of discipline and efficiency. He was promoted to the rank of
major-general on the 29th of October, 1735, and was rewarded with
the colonelcy of the TENTH foot in 1737; on the 2nd of July, 1739,
he was advanced to the rank of lieut.-general. He died on the 22nd
of September, 1746.
JAMES LORD TYRAWLEY.
_Appointed 22nd December, 1746._
THE HONOURABLE JAMES O'HARA entered the army on the 15th of March,
1703, as lieutenant in the royal regiment of fusiliers, commanded
by his father. He proceeded with his regiment to the relief of
Barcelona in 1706; in the following year he served on the staff
of the army in Spain, and was wounded at the battle of Almanza,
where he was instrumental in saving the Earl of Galway's life.
He afterwards served in Catalonia, and in the island of Minorca,
and in 1713, he was promoted to the colonelcy of the seventh
royal fusiliers, in succession to his father, at whose decease,
in 1733, he succeeded to the dignity of BARON TYRAWLEY. The rank
of brigadier-general was conferred on his lordship, in 1735, that
of major-general, in July 1739, and in the following month he was
removed from the royal fusiliers to the fifth horse, now fourth
dragoon guards. In March, 1743, he was promoted to the rank of
lieut.-general, and in April of the same year, he obtained the
colonelcy of the second troop of horse grenadier-guards, from which
he was removed, in 1745, to the third troop of life-guards, which
gave him the privilege of taking the court duty of gold-stick.
King George II. resolved to disband the third and fourth troops of
life-guards, in 1746, and LORD TYRAWLEY was removed to the TENTH
foot; he was again removed, in 1749, to the fourteenth dragoons;
in 1752 to the third dragoons, and in 1755, to the second regiment
of foot-guards. He was appointed governor of Portsmouth, in 1759,
and was promoted to the rank of general in 1761. LORD TYRAWLEY
held the appointment of governor of Minorca for several years, and
was employed as envoy and ambassador to the courts of Portugal and
Russia. He died in 1773.
EDWARD POLE.
_Appointed 10th August, 1749._
This officer was appointed cornet in the Scots Greys on the 23rd of
January, 1709, and he served with his regiment in the Netherlands
during the remainder of the war, which was terminated by the treaty
of Utrecht, in 1713. He was at the battle of Malplaquet in 1709,
and was actively employed in suppressing the rebellion in Scotland,
in 1715 and 1716. He was several years major in the twenty-third
foot; in 1739 he was promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy of the
twelfth dragoons, and in 1749, King George II. rewarded his long
and faithful services with the colonelcy of the TENTH foot. He
was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1757, and to that of
lieut.-general in 1759. His decease occurred in December 1762.
EDWARD SANDFORD.
_Appointed 14th January, 1763._
EDWARD SANDFORD served many years in the first regiment of
foot-guards, in which corps he was promoted to captain and
lieut.-colonel in February, 1748. On the 21st of April, 1758, he
was appointed colonel of the sixty-sixth regiment, which was formed
at that period of the second battalion of the nineteenth; and in
June of the same year he was removed to the fifty-second foot. He
was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1761; was removed
to the TENTH regiment in 1763, and was advanced to the rank of
lieut.-general in 1770. He died in 1781.
SIR ROBERT MURRAY KEITH, K.B.
_Appointed 10th October, 1781._
When King George II. discovered the excellent qualities of the
Scots Highlanders, as soldiers of the regular army, His Majesty
authorized several corps to be raised among the clans, and they
proved a valuable addition to the military establishment of the
kingdom. One of these corps was designated the eighty-seventh, or
Highland volunteers; it was raised by Robert Murray Keith, who
was appointed lieut.-colonel commandant on the 10th of May, 1760.
This officer served with his regiment in Germany, under Prince
Ferdinand of Brunswick, and the Highland volunteers signalized
themselves on several occasions, but they were disbanded at the
peace in 1763. Lieut.-Colonel Keith was promoted to the rank of
colonel in 1772, and to that of major-general in 1777; in 1781 he
was appointed colonel of the TENTH foot, and promoted to the rank
of lieut.-general. His services were rewarded with the dignity of
Knight of the Bath. He died in 1795.
THE HONOURABLE HENRY EDWARD FOX.
_Appointed 23rd June, 1795._