Tempo:
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
266 1845-6.
CHAP. IX
eight or ten thousand which had before been engaged. The wing of the Sikh army attacked did not, therefore'
greatly surpass
its assailants, except in the number size of its guns, the English artillery consisting almost wholly of six and nine pounders.' But the belief
and
m the fortune of the British arms was strong, and the
Sepoys would then have marched with alacrity against own numbers. A junction was effected with Sir John Littler's division about midday on the 21st December, and at a distance of four miles from the enemy's position. Considerable delay occurred in arranging \he details of the assault, which was not commenced until within an hour of sunset. The confident English had at last got the field they wanted; they marched in even array, and tneir famed artillery opened its steady fire. But the gims of the Sikhs were served with rapidity and precision, and the foot-soldiers stood between and behind the batteries, firm in their order, and active with their muskets. The resistance met was wholly unexpected, and aJl started with astonishment. Guns were dismounted, and their ammunition was blown into the air; squadrons were checked in mid career; battalion after battalion was hurled back with shattered ranks, and it was not until after sunset that portions of the enemy's position were finally carried. Darkness, and the obstinacy of the contest, threw the English into confusion; men of all regiments and arms were mixed ten times their
The battle of
P'heeroo shuhur, and retreat of the Sikhs, 21st
and
22nd Dec. 1845.
together; generals were doubtful of the fact or of the extent of their own success, and colonels knew not what had become of the regiments they commanded, or of the army of which they formed a part. Some portions of the enemy's line had not been broken, and
Both the Sikhs and the European officers in the Lahore service agree in saying that there were only twelve battalions in the lines of P'heerooshuhur, and such indeed seems to have been the truth. The Governor-General and Commander-inChief vaguely estimated the whole Sikh army on the left bank of the Sutlej at 60,000 strong, and Lord Gough makes Tej Singh bring 30,000 horse, besides fresh battalions, and a large park of artillery into action on the 22nd December, which would leave but a small remainder for the previous defence of P'heerooshuhur. (See the dispatches of the 22nd and 31st Dec. 1845,) The author has learnt that, after the war. Lord Gough ascertained, through the British authorities at Lahore, that the Sikhs esimated their numbers at P'heerooshuhur at 46,808 men, of all kinds, with 88 guns, 'including those brought up and taken away by Tej Singh'. This low estimate of the strength of the Sikhs in artillery is in favour of the credibility of the statement, and if Tej Singh's men are likewise included in the numbers given, the estimate may perhaps be fully trusted. 1
266 1845-6.
CHAP. IX
eight or ten thousand which had before been engaged. The wing of the Sikh army attacked did not, therefore'
greatly surpass
its assailants, except in the number size of its guns, the English artillery consisting almost wholly of six and nine pounders.' But the belief
and
m the fortune of the British arms was strong, and the
Sepoys would then have marched with alacrity against own numbers. A junction was effected with Sir John Littler's division about midday on the 21st December, and at a distance of four miles from the enemy's position. Considerable delay occurred in arranging \he details of the assault, which was not commenced until within an hour of sunset. The confident English had at last got the field they wanted; they marched in even array, and tneir famed artillery opened its steady fire. But the gims of the Sikhs were served with rapidity and precision, and the foot-soldiers stood between and behind the batteries, firm in their order, and active with their muskets. The resistance met was wholly unexpected, and aJl started with astonishment. Guns were dismounted, and their ammunition was blown into the air; squadrons were checked in mid career; battalion after battalion was hurled back with shattered ranks, and it was not until after sunset that portions of the enemy's position were finally carried. Darkness, and the obstinacy of the contest, threw the English into confusion; men of all regiments and arms were mixed ten times their
The battle of
P'heeroo shuhur, and retreat of the Sikhs, 21st
and
22nd Dec. 1845.
together; generals were doubtful of the fact or of the extent of their own success, and colonels knew not what had become of the regiments they commanded, or of the army of which they formed a part. Some portions of the enemy's line had not been broken, and
Both the Sikhs and the European officers in the Lahore service agree in saying that there were only twelve battalions in the lines of P'heerooshuhur, and such indeed seems to have been the truth. The Governor-General and Commander-inChief vaguely estimated the whole Sikh army on the left bank of the Sutlej at 60,000 strong, and Lord Gough makes Tej Singh bring 30,000 horse, besides fresh battalions, and a large park of artillery into action on the 22nd December, which would leave but a small remainder for the previous defence of P'heerooshuhur. (See the dispatches of the 22nd and 31st Dec. 1845,) The author has learnt that, after the war. Lord Gough ascertained, through the British authorities at Lahore, that the Sikhs esimated their numbers at P'heerooshuhur at 46,808 men, of all kinds, with 88 guns, 'including those brought up and taken away by Tej Singh'. This low estimate of the strength of the Sikhs in artillery is in favour of the credibility of the statement, and if Tej Singh's men are likewise included in the numbers given, the estimate may perhaps be fully trusted. 1
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