THE BATTLES OF ALIWAL AND SOBRAON—END OF SIR HARRY SMITH’S
AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
_Major-General Sir Harry Smith, K.C.B., to the Adjutant-General of the
Army._
“Camp, Field of the Battle of Aliwal, Jan. 30, 1846.
“Sir,
“My despatches to his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief of the
23rd[140] instant, will have put his Excellency in possession of
the position of the force under my command, after having formed a
junction with the troops at Loodiana, hemmed in by a formidable body
of the Sikh army under Runjoor Singh and the Rajah of Ladwa. The enemy
strongly entrenched himself around the little fort of Budhowal by
breastworks and ‘abattis,’ which he precipitately abandoned on the
night of the 22nd instant (retiring, as it were, upon the ford of
Tulwun), having ordered all the boats which were opposite Philour to
that Ghat. This movement he effected during the night, and, by making
a considerable détour, placed himself at a distance of ten miles, and
consequently out of my reach. I could, therefore, only push forward
my cavalry as soon as I had ascertained he had marched during the
night, and I occupied immediately his vacated position. It appeared
subsequently he had no intention of recrossing the Sutlej, but
moved down to the Ghat of Tulwun (being cut off from that of Philour,
by the position my force occupied after its relief of Loodiana),
for the purpose of protecting the passage of a very considerable
reinforcement of twelve guns and 4000 of the regular, or ‘Aieen’
troops, called Avitabile’s battalion, entrenching himself strongly
in a semicircle, his flanks resting on a river, his position covered
with from forty to fifty guns (generally of large calibre), howitzers,
and mortars. The reinforcement crossed during the night of the 27th
instant, and encamped to the right of the main army.
[Illustration: PLAN of the BATTLE
OF
ALIWAL
JAN. 28^{th} 1846
[_Opposite p. 536._]
“Meanwhile, his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, with that foresight
and judgment which mark the able general, had reinforced me by a
considerable addition to my cavalry, some guns, and the 2nd brigade
of my own Division, under Brigadier Wheeler, C.B. This reinforcement
reached me on the 26th, and I had intended the next morning to move
upon the enemy in his entrenchments, but the troops required one day’s
rest after the long marches Brigadier Wheeler had made.
“I have now the honour to lay before you the operations of my
united forces on the morning of the eventful 28th January, for his
Excellency’s information. The body of troops under my command having
been increased, it became necessary so to organize and brigade them
as to render them manageable in action. The cavalry under the command
of Brigadier Cureton, and horse artillery under Major Lawrenson,
were put into two brigades; the one under Brigadier MacDowell, C.B.,
and the other under Brigadier Stedman. The 1st Division as it stood,
two brigades:—Her Majesty’s 53rd and 30th Native Infantry, under
Brigadier Wilson, of the latter corps;—the 36th Native Infantry, and
Nusseree battalion, under Brigadier Godby;—and the Shekawattee brigade
under Major Forster. The Sirmoor battalion I attached to Brigadier
Wheeler’s brigade of the 1st division; the 42nd Native Infantry having
been left at head-quarters.
“At daylight on the 28th, my order of advance was—the Cavalry in
front, in contiguous columns of squadrons of regiments, two troops
of horse artillery in the interval of brigades; the infantry in
contiguous columns of brigades at intervals of deploying distance;
artillery in the intervals, followed by two 8-inch howitzers on
travelling carriages, brought into the field from the fort of Loodiana
by the indefatigable exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel Lane, Horse
Artillery; Brigadier Godby’s brigade, which I had marched out from
Loodiana the previous evening, on the right; the Shekawattee infantry
on the left; the 4th Irregular Cavalry considerably to the right,
for the purpose of sweeping the banks of the wet nullah on my right,
and preventing any of the enemy’s horse attempting an inroad towards
Loodiana, or any attempt upon the baggage assembled round the fort of
Budhowal.
“In this order the troops moved forward towards the enemy, a distance
of six miles, the advance conducted by Captain Waugh, 16th Lancers,
the Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master of Cavalry, Major Bradford, of
the 1st Cavalry, and Lieutenant Strachey of the Engineers, who had
been jointly employed in the conduct of patroles up to the enemy’s
position, and for the purpose of reporting upon the facility and
point of approach. Previously to the march of the troops it had been
intimated to me by Major Mackeson, that the information by spies led
to the belief the enemy would move somewhere at daylight, either on
Jugraon, my position of Budhowal, or Loodiana. On a near approach
to his outposts, this rumour was confirmed by a spy, who had just
left the camp, saying the Sikh army was actually in march towards
Jugraon. My advance was steady; my troops well in hand; and if he had
anticipated me on the Jugraon road, I could have fallen upon his
centre with advantage.
“From the tops of the houses of the village of Poorein, I had a
distant view of the enemy. He was in motion and appeared directly
opposite my front on a ridge, of which the village of Aliwal may be
regarded as the centre. His left appeared still to occupy its ground
in the circular entrenchment; his right was brought forward and
occupied the ridge. I immediately deployed the cavalry into line, and
moved on. As I neared the enemy, the ground became most favourable
for the troops to manœuvre, being open and hard grass land. I ordered
the cavalry to take ground to the right and left by brigades; thus
displaying the heads of the infantry columns; and, as they reached
the hard ground, I directed them to deploy into line. Brigadier
Godby’s brigade was in direct échellon to the rear of the right;
the Shekawattee infantry in like manner to the rear of my left; the
cavalry in direct échellon on, and well to the rear of, both flanks
of the infantry; the artillery massed on the right and centre and
left. After deployment, I observed the enemy’s left to outflank me,
I therefore broke into open column and took ground to my right. When
I had gained sufficient ground, the troops wheeled into line. There
was no dust, the sun shone brightly. These manœuvres were performed
with the celerity and precision of the most correct field day. The
glistening of the bayonets and swords of this order of battle was most
imposing; and the line advanced. Scarcely had it moved 150 yards,
when, at ten o’clock, the enemy opened a fierce cannonade from his
whole line. At first his balls fell short, but quickly reached us.
Thus upon him, and capable of better ascertaining his position, I was
compelled to halt the line, though under fire, for a few moments,
until I ascertained that, by bringing up my right and carrying the
village of Aliwal, I could with great effect precipitate myself
upon his left and centre. I therefore quickly brought up Brigadier
Godby’s brigade; and, with it, and the 1st brigade under Brigadier
Hicks, made a rapid and noble charge, carried the village, and two
guns of large calibre. The line I ordered to advance,—Her Majesty’s
31st Foot and the native regiments contending for the front; and the
battle became general. The enemy had a numerous body of cavalry on the
heights to his left, and I ordered Brigadier Cureton to bring up the
right brigade of cavalry, who, in the most gallant manner, dashed in
among them and drove them back upon their infantry. Meanwhile a second
gallant charge to my right was made by the light cavalry and the
body-guard. The Shekawattee brigade was moved well to the right, in
support of Brigadier Cureton, when I observed the enemy’s encampment
and saw it was full of infantry: I immediately brought upon it
Brigadier Godby’s brigade, by changing front, and taking the enemy’s
infantry ‘en reverse.’ They drove them before them, and took some guns
without a check.
“While these operations were going on upon the right, and the enemy’s
left flank was thus driven back, I occasionally observed the brigade
under Brigadier Wheeler, an officer in whom I have the greatest
confidence, charging and carrying guns and everything before it, again
connecting his line, and moving on, in a manner which ably displayed
the coolness of the Brigadier and the gallantry of his irresistible
brigade,—Her Majesty’s 50th Foot, the 48th Native Infantry, and the
Sirmoor battalion,—although the loss was, I regret to say, severe in
the 50th. Upon the left, Brigadier Wilson, with Her Majesty’s 53rd and
the 30th Native Infantry equalled in celerity and regularity their
comrades on the right; and this brigade was opposed to the ‘Aieen’
troops, called Avitabile’s, when the fight was fiercely raging.
“The enemy, well driven back on his left and centre, endeavoured to
hold his right to cover the passage of the river, and he strongly
occupied the village of Bhoondree. I directed a squadron of the
16th Lancers, under Major Smyth and Captain Pearson, to charge a
body to the right of a village, which they did in the most gallant
and determined style, bearing everything before them, as a squadron
under Captain Bere had previously done, going right through a square
in the most intrepid manner with the deadly lance. This charge was
accompanied by the 3rd Light Cavalry under Major Angelo, and as
gallantly sustained. The largest gun upon the field, and seven others,
were then captured, while the 53rd Regiment carried the village by
the bayonet, and the 30th Native Infantry wheeled round to the rear
in a most spirited manner. Lieut.-Col. Alexander’s and Capt. Turton’s
troops of horse artillery, under Major Lawrenson, dashed among the
flying infantry, committing great havoc, until about 800 or 1000
men rallied under the high bank of a nullah, and opened a heavy but
ineffectual fire from below the bank. I immediately directed the 30th
Native Infantry to charge them, which they were able to do upon their
left flank, while in a line in rear of the village. This native corps
nobly obeyed my orders and rushed among the Avitabile troops, driving
them from under the bank and exposing them once more to a deadly fire
of twelve guns within 300 yards. The destruction was very great, as
may be supposed, from guns served as these were. Her Majesty’s 53rd
Regiment moved forward in support of the 30th Native Infantry, by
the right of the village. The battle was won; our troops advancing
with the most perfect order to the common focus—the passage of the
river. The enemy, completely hemmed in, were flying from our fire,
and precipitating themselves in disordered masses into the ford and
boats, in the utmost confusion and consternation; our 8-inch howitzers
soon began to play upon their boats, when the ‘débris’ of the Sikh
army appeared upon the opposite and high bank of the river, flying in
every direction, although a sort of line was attempted to countenance
their retreat, until _all_ our guns commenced a furious cannonade,
when they quickly receded. Nine guns were on the river by the ford. It
appears as if they had been unlimbered to cover the ford. These being
loaded, were fired once upon our advance; two others were sticking
in the river, one of them we got out; two were seen to sink in the
quicksands; two were dragged to the opposite bank and abandoned.
These, and the one in the middle of the river, were gallantly spiked
by Lieutenant Holmes, of the 11th Irregular Cavalry, and Gunner Scott,
of the 1st troop 2nd brigade Horse Artillery, who rode into the
stream, and crossed for the purpose, covered by our guns and light
infantry.
“Thus ended the battle of Aliwal, one of the most glorious victories
ever achieved in India, by the united efforts of Her Majesty’s and
the Honourable Company’s troops. _Every gun_ the enemy had fell into
our hands, as I infer from his never opening one upon us from the
opposite bank of the river, which is high and favourable for the
purpose—fifty-two guns are now in the Ordnance Park; two sank in the
bed of the Sutlej; and two were spiked on the opposite bank; making a
total of fifty-six pieces of cannon captured or destroyed.[141] Many
jingalls which were attached to Avitabile’s corps and which aided in
the defence of the village of Bhoondree, have also been taken. The
whole army of the enemy has been driven headlong over the difficult
ford of a broad river; his camp, baggage, stores of ammunition and of
grain,—his all, in fact, wrested from him, by the repeated charges of
cavalry and infantry, aided by the guns of Alexander, Turton, Lane,
Mill, Boileau, and of the Shekawattee brigade, and by the 8-inch
howitzers;—our guns literally being constantly ahead of everything.
The determined bravery of all was as conspicuous as noble. I am unwont
to praise when praise is not merited; and I here most unavowedly
express my firm opinion and conviction, that no troops in any battle
on record ever behaved more nobly;—British and native, no distinction;
cavalry, all vying with H.M.’s 16th Lancers, and striving to head in
the repeated charges. Our guns and gunners, officers and men, may
be equalled, but cannot be excelled, by any artillery in the world.
Throughout the day no hesitation—a bold and intrepid advance;—and thus
it is that our loss is comparatively small, though I deeply regret to
say, severe. The enemy fought with much resolution; they maintained
frequent rencontres with our cavalry hand to hand. In one charge, upon
infantry, of H.M.’s 16th Lancers, they threw away their muskets and
came on with their swords and targets against the lance.
* * * * *
“The fort of Goongrana has, subsequently to the battle, been
evacuated, and I yesterday evening blew up the fort of Budhowal. I
shall now blow up that of Noorpoor. A portion of the peasantry, viz.
the Sikhs, appear less friendly to us, while the Mussulmans rejoice in
being under our Government.
“I have, &c.,
“H. G. Smith,
“_Major-General Commanding_.”
My loss during the 21st January was, of killed and wounded and sick
taken, upwards of 200 men, but many of our wounded and exhausted
Infantry were brought off in the Artillery carriages and by the noble
exertions of H.M.’s 16th Lancers, who dismounted and put the sick and
wounded upon their horses. My orders to the baggage guard (composed
of 400 Irregular Horse, to which I afterwards added one squadron of
Regular Native Cavalry) were only half obeyed, or our loss of baggage
would have been next to nothing; but young soldiers are excited under
a heavy cannonade and apprehend more of its deadly effect than I have
ever seen the heaviest cannonade (not grape and canister) merit.
This short but most eventful campaign was one of great difficulty and
embarrassment for the General (or myself). The enemy was concentrated,
whilst my force was to accumulate contingent on a variety of
combinations distant and doubtful.
The political importance of my position was extreme. All India was at
gaze, and ready for anything. Our army—truth must out—most anxious,
the enemy daringly and exultingly regarding himself invincible, as the
_bold_ and _most able_ and energetic move of Runjoor Singh with his
whole force throwing himself between my advance from Jugraon _viâ_
Budowal to Loodiana most fully demonstrated. It is the most scientific
move made during the war, whether made by accident or design, and had
he known how to profit by the position he had so judiciously occupied,
he would have obtained wonderful success. He should have attacked me
with the vigour his French tutors would [have displayed, and] destroyed
me, for his force compared to mine was _overwhelming_; then turned
about upon the troops at Loodiana, beaten them, and sacked and burnt
the city—when the gaze I speak of in India would have been one general
blaze of revolt! Does the world which argues on my affair at Budowal
suppose I was asleep, and had not in clear perspective a full view of
the effect such success of the enemy would have had upon the general
features and character of the war? It must be remembered that our
battering train, an immense treasure, our ammunition, etc., etc., were
not ten miles from me, occupying a line of road of ten miles in length.
The end was accomplished, viz. the battle of Aliwal and its results. In
a few days after the victory I received from my Political Associate,
Major Murchison, a very clever fellow, a long report, of which this is
an extract: “I cannot help mentioning to you that the result of your
decisive victory of the 28th has been the abandonment by the enemy of
_all_ his posts south of the Sutlej from Hurreekee upwards to Nunapoor
Mackohoorvara, and the submission to our rule of a country yielding an
annual revenue of upwards of twenty-five lacs of rupees. The post of
the enemy at Sobraon is now the only one held by the Sikhs south of the
Sutlej.” And again, in a letter from Colonel Godby after he had crossed
into the Jullundur with Brigadier Godby, “I have no doubt the battle of
Aliwal will be esteemed in England as it deserves; it finished a most
painful crisis both in India and in England, and its moral effect in
Hindostan and the Punjaub was greater than any other achievement of
the war. In the Jullundur the natives speak of it as most unaccountable
that the soldiers they thought invincible should be overthrown and
driven into the river in two or three hours, and be seen scampering
through the country before the people had heard of their defeat. The
defeat was so cleanly and unquestionably done, that they ascribed it to
supernatural intervention for the many atrocious crimes of the Sikhs,
especially upon the oppressed followers of the true Prophet.”
All men, especially Generals, reflect in times of peace and quiet upon
their exertions, their enterprises, and the measures they adopted.
Human life once extinct is in this world gone, and how gratifying it is
under Divine Providence to feel that not a soldier under my command was
wantonly, unnecessarily, or unscientifically sacrificed to his country!
Had I adopted any other course at Budowal on the 21st of January than I
pursued, had I not pushed the war entrusted to my conduct with vigour
and effected a junction with the troops at Loodiana, they and the city
would have fallen, and next our treasure, battering train, ammunition,
etc., would have been captured or scattered and lost to the army; had
I sustained a serious reverse, all India would have been in a blaze.
I steered the course invariably pursued by my great master the Duke,
never needlessly to risk your troops or fight a battle without an
object. Hence the decisive victory of Aliwal and its wonderful results
and important aid in repelling the Sikh army at Sobraon and seizing
the capital of his vaunted glory.
Months have now passed since I conducted these operations,[142] and
although reflection as a guide for the future prompts me to find fault
with any movement or march, I cannot, but with the blessing of the
Almighty, I say, “Results even cannot dictate to me—if you had done
this or that, it would have been better.”
Having disposed of my captured cannon[143] (I sent forty-seven to the
fortress of Loodiana, and took five with me to Head-quarters, the most
beautiful guns imaginable, which will, I believe, be placed in St.
James’s Park, London), provided for my sick and wounded, replenished my
ammunition and stores, given over to Brigadier Wheeler the troops he
was to command on the Upper Sutlej, and furnished him and the Political
Agent, Major Murchison, with my views of their operations as a guide,
I marched on the morning of the 3rd February on my route back to the
Commander-in-Chief.
I had with me three troops Horse Artillery, two 8-inch howitzers, the
16th Lancers, the 3rd and 5th Light Cavalry, one corps of Irregular
Horse, H.M.’s 31st, 50th, and 53rd Regiments, and 200 convalescents,
and of Native Infantry the 47th Regiment, and the Sermoor and Nusseeree
Battalions. The rest of my Aliwal heroes remained with Wheeler.
I reached the right of the army on the 7th, and was received by the
Commander-in-Chief with a burst of enthusiastic welcome[144] to be
equalled only by that of the army at large. His Excellency addressed
each Corps in terms as gratifying to them as to me, and I, Staff,
Commanding Officers of Corps, Prince Waldemar,[145] etc., dined with
the Commander-in-Chief, who again, in a speech when drinking our
healths, bestowed upon us every encomium, and attached the utmost
importance to the great cause—our signal victory. The Governor-General
was at Ferozepore.
The ground I had been directed to occupy being filthy to excess, I
begged to move my position, which I was permitted to do on the 8th.
On this day the Governor-General arrived in camp. He sent for me, and
received me with all the warmth of a long-standing friendship, and
bestowed personally upon me all the praises he had so lavishly given me
in his General Orders.
On the 9th, all Generals of Divisions, Brigadiers, and Heads
of Departments were summoned in the afternoon to attend in the
Commander-in-Chiefs tent. I pretty clearly guessed the purport of
such a summons. His Excellency explained to all that the enemy’s
most strongly fortified position was to be attacked at daylight, and
he clearly detailed to each General and Commander his position and
portion of the attack. In my own mind I very much disagreed with my
gallant Commander-in-Chief as to the place of his attack being the most
eligible one. I saw at once that the fundamental principle of “being
superior to your enemy on the point of attack” was lost sight of, and
the whole of our army, with the exception of my Division, which was
reduced to 2400 bayonets, was held in reserve just out of the reach
of the enemy’s cannon. At daylight our heavy guns (which had been
placed with the object of destroying or greatly impairing the enemy’s
defences) opened fire, and with apparent success where the fire was
the most heavy, but to our astonishment, at the very moment of this
success our fire slackened and soon ceased altogether, when it was
ascertained that the ammunition was expended, the officer in command
of the Artillery not having brought half the quota into the field which
was ordered by the Governor-General and the Commander-in-Chief. Thus no
time was to be lost.
* * * * *
At this point Sir Harry Smith’s autobiography breaks off. He laid
down the pen, probably through temporary illness, and never took it
up again. In place of any fuller account of the battle of Sobraon, we
have only the following passages relating to his individual share in
the victory. The first occurs in a letter dated “Camp Lahore, 25th
February, 1846,” and addressed to his sister, Mrs. Sargant.
“Our last fight was an awful one. My reduced-in-numbers Division—only
2400 bayonets—was, as in other fights, placed in reserve, but pretty
soon brought into action, and as at Ferozeshuhur again I had the good
luck to turn the fortune of the day. In so doing I lost out of my
2400 men, 635 killed and wounded [100 more than out of 12,000 men at
Aliwal]. My first attack on the entrenchments was repulsed. I attacked
when _I_ did not wish, and had to take ground close to the river on
the enemy’s left, consequently our right. [Never catch a butting
animal by the horns; though, as a good soldier, obey your superior’s
orders.] By dint of the hardest fighting I ever saw (except Badajoz,
New Orleans, and Waterloo) I carried the entrenchments. By Jupiter!
the enemy were within a hair’s-breadth of driving me back. Their
numbers exceeded mine. And such a hand-to-hand conflict ensued, for 25
minutes I could barely hold my own. Mixed together, swords and targets
against bayonets, and a fire on both sides. I never was in such a
personal fight for half the time, but my bulldogs of the 31st and old
50th stood up like men, were well supported by the native regiments,
and my position closed the fight which staggered everywhere. Then such
a scene of shooting men fording a deep river, as no one I believe ever
saw before. The bodies _made a bridge_, but the fire of our musquetry
and cannon killed every one who rushed. The hand of Almighty God has
been upon me, for I may say to you what all the army knows, I was
foremost in the fight, and on a _noble_ horse the whole time, which
sprang over the enemy’s works like a deer, neither he nor I nor my
clothes being scratched. It is a _miracle_ for which I am, I trust,
even more grateful to my God than humble towards my comrades. You
always so desired I should distinguish myself. I have now gratified
you, although I so egotistically write it to my sister, and in every
battle have I with my noble horses been exposed without a graze. The
only thing was my stick shot out of my hand; my clothes are covered
with blood in many cases. Poor Holdich[146] got a bad wound in the
shoulder and arm. He is a gallant and cool boy as ever lived. He is at
Ferozepore, too far off for me to go and see, or I should do so and
write to his mother.”
The words in square brackets are inserted from a letter to Mr. Justice
Menzies of the Cape. The following additional touches are taken from a
letter to Sir James Kempt, dated 24th February.
“I never was in such a hand-to-hand fight; my gallant 31st and 50th
literally staggered under the war of cannon and musquetry. Behind such
formidable entrenchments I could not get in where I was ordered to
attack, but had to turn my right close to the river, where, if left
alone, I should have commenced. I carried the works by dint of English
pluck, although the native corps stuck close to me, and when I got in,
such hand-to-hand work I have never witnessed. For twenty-five minutes
we were at it against four times my numbers, sometimes receding (never
turning round, though), sometimes advancing. The old 31st[147] and
50th[148] laid on like devils.... This last was a brutal bulldog
fight, although of vast political and definite results; but my fight
at Aliwal was a little sweeping second edition of Salamanca—a stand-up
gentlemanlike battle, a mixing of all arms and laying-on, carrying
everything before us by weight of attack and combination, all hands at
work from one end of the field to the other.”
Sir Harry Smith’s services at Aliwal were thus acknowledged by Sir
Henry Hardinge:
“To Major-General Sir Harry Smith, and to the brave troops he
commanded, the Governor-General conveys the tribute of his admiration,
and the grateful acknowledgments of the Government and the people of
India. The service rendered was most important, and was accomplished
by the ability of the commander and the valour of the troops.”
The following tributes were paid by Sir Henry Hardinge and Sir Hugh
Gough respectively to Sir Harry Smith’s conduct at Sobraon:—
“The Governor-General has much satisfaction in again offering to
Major-General Sir Harry Smith, K.C.B., commanding the 1st Division of
Infantry, his best thanks for his gallant services on this occasion,
by which he has added to his well-established reputation.”
“In his attack on the enemy’s left, Major-General Sir Harry Smith
displayed the same valour and judgment which gave him the victory of
Aliwal. A more arduous task has seldom, if ever, been assigned to a
Division. Never has an attempt been more gloriously carried through.”