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Commentaries on the Punjab Campaign, 1848-49

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Commentaries on the Punjab Campaign, 1848-49
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Author(s): James Henry Lawrence-Archer
Date Published: 2010/04
Page Count: 204
Softcover ISBN-13: 978-0-85706-073-0
Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-0-85706-074-7

An infantry officer’s view of the fall of the Sikhs

The author of this book served with No 6 company of HM 24th Regiment—an infantry regiment of the British Army—which saw much service in the Second Sikh War and suffered greatly in the fighting particularly at Chillianwalla. So there could hardly be a more qualified writer—or one with closer connections to other participants—to take on the task of reporting the war. At the conclusion of the First Sikh War there remained a sense of business unfinished. The Sikhs were yet masters of the Punjab and the Khalsa remained one of the most formidable armies the Sub-Continent had ever seen. Most importantly the centre of Sikh power, the seemingly impregnable and daunting fortress of Mooltan remained defiant. Once again the British Empire learnt the lesson of what a formidable foe the Sikhs were as they joined battle with them at Ramnuggar, Chillianwalla, Mooltan and Googerat. Archer takes us through this campaign in compelling detail embellished by an insight only first hand experience can provide.

The cannonade had not been of long duration, when a body of Ghorchurhas made a demonstration to their right, with the evident intention of penetrating to the rear. To prevent this being carried out, Unett’s squadron of the 3rd Light Dragoons, and three squadrons of the 5th Light Cavalry, were ordered to charge, which they did in line. The Sikhs opened a desultory matchlock fire.
The 3rd Light Dragoons forcing their way through the hostile ranks, never pulled rein until they had gone some distance beyond the enemy. Unett, severely wounded, with his men dispersed, resolved with the few near him, to cut his way back, while Stisted and Macqueen returned as they could.
The 5th Cavalry, despite the earnest exhortations of their gallant officers, avoiding collision with the foe, retired with precipitation.
The fate of Unett, and his squadron, seemed inevitable, when at length they were seen to emerge from their perilous position with honour to themselves.
Unett and Stisted were wounded, and many of their men were killed and wounded. (This regiment lost during the day, in killed and wounded, twenty-four men killed, and two officers and fourteen men wounded.) No mention, however, was made of the devotion of these brave officers, in the body of Lord Gough’s despatch, although some days after the action, his Lordship visited the former, and promised to recommend him for promotion.
The enemy’s fire had now slackened; when Brind received an order from the commander-in-chief to move his guns to the right flank; and shortly after, White’s brigade was directed to conform to that movement. But, no sooner had the 3rd Light Dragoons been put in motion, than the enemy’s fire was redoubled.
In the perplexing intricacies of the jungle, Brigadier Pope’s Cavalry brigade, which included a portion of the 9th Lancers, as well as the 14th Light Dragoons, not only overlapped the troops of Horse Artillery, on the right of Sir W. R. Gilbert’s division, but even got in front of the latter, so that when the former found it necessary to open fire, the cavalry proved an unexpected obstruction.
During his advance, Brigadier Pope, who was at the time in bad health, received a severe wound from a tulwar on the head; and it appears that a temporary halt was ordered in consequence, when the Sikh Cavalry skirmishing in front, were emboldened by what they mistook for hesitation.
Meanwhile, Major Christie, commanding the Horse Artillery, on the right of Gilbert’s division, had scarcely expressed astonishment at the movement of Pope’s brigade, when, suddenly, the latter was observed to be in full retreat on his guns.
In an instant, guns, gunners, and wagons, were everywhere upset by the rush of the British cavalry, when the 14th Light Dragoons happened to be pushed against Christie’s troop by the other regiments; and to crown the whole, the enemy’s Ghorchurhas in close pursuit, entered the ranks of the artillery.
Major Christie, with many of his gunners, was cut down on horseback, before he had time to draw his sword. Huish would have shared the same fate, had not Major Stewart, of the 14th Dragoons, despatched his assailant with a pistol shot. Many were trampled by the horses. Lieut. Cureton, son of the gallant officer who had so recently fallen at Ramnuggur, met his fate by his horse becoming unmanageable, and carrying him into the hostile ranks.
The few Ghorchurhas who pursued, had been mistaken for a larger body, and would have penetrated still farther, had not one or two squadrons of the 9th Lancers rallied behind the guns, and opposed their progress. Some of the former advanced to within a short distance of Lord Gough and his staff, and his escort of cavalry was preparing to charge, whereupon the Ghorchurhas retired.
Meanwhile, Major Ekins, deputy adjutant-general of the Indian Army, seeking to deliver an order to the retreating brigade, received a wound. His friend, Major Chester, hastened to his assistance; the enemy was close at hand. Ekins, however, begged him to leave him to his fate, and the enemy presently coming up, hacked him to pieces.
This disaster occasioned the loss of all the guns in Christie’s troop, and two in Huish’s; but two of the former were afterwards recovered, at the Battle of Googerat. (The day after the action, a court for inquiry into the conduct of the 14th Dragoons was held, with a result satisfactory to that much injured but gallant corps.)
While these events were in progress. Col. Lane, of the Horse Artillery, with his guns, two squadrons of the 9th Lancers, and two of the 6th Light Cavalry, was engaged, repelling an attack of the enemy’s horse, on the extreme right. The 3rd Light Dragoons forcing their way through the hostile ranks, never pulled rein until they had gone some distance beyond the enemy. Unett, severely wounded, with his men dispersed, resolved with the few near him, to cut his way back, while Stisted and Macqueen returned as they could.<br>
The 5th Cavalry, despite the earnest exhortations of their gallant officers, avoiding collision with the foe, retired with precipitation.<br>
The fate of Unett, and his squadron, seemed inevitable, when at length they were seen to emerge from their perilous position with honour to themselves.<br>
Unett and Stisted were wounded, and many of their men were killed and wounded. No mention, however, was made of the devotion of these brave officers, in the body of Lord Gough’s despatch, although some days after the action, his Lordship visited the former, and promised to recommend him for promotion.<br>
The enemy’s fire had now slackened; when Brind received an order from the commander-in-chief to move his guns to the right flank; and shortly after, White’s brigade was directed to conform to that movement. But ,no sooner had the 3rd Light Dragoons been put in motion, than the enemy’s fire was redoubled.<br>
In the perplexing intricacies of the jungle, Brigadier Pope’s Cavalry brigade, which included a portion of the 9th Lancers, as well as the 14th Light Dragoons, not only overlapped the troops of Horse Artillery, on the right of Sir W. R. Gilbert’s division, but even got in front of the latter, so that when the former found it necessary to open fire, the cavalry proved an unexpected obstruction.<br>
During his advance. Brigadier Pope, who was at the time in bad health, received a severe wound from a tulwar on the head; and it appears that a temporary halt was ordered in consequence, when the Sikh Cavalry skirmishing in front, were emboldened by what they mistook for hesitation.<br>
Meanwhile, Major Christie, commanding the Horse Artillery, on the right of Gilbert’s division, had scarcely expressed astonishment at the movement of Pope’s brigade, when, suddenly, the latter was observed to be in full retreat on his guns.<br>
In an instant, guns, gunners, and wagons, were everywhere upset by the rush of the British Cavalry, when the 14th Light Dragoons happened to be pushed against Christie’s troop by the other regiments; and to crown the whole, the enemy’s Ghorchurhas in close pursuit, entered the ranks of the artillery.<br>
Major Christie, with many of his gunners, was cut down on horseback, before he had time to draw his sword. Huish would have shared the same fate, had not Major Stewart, of the 14th Dragoons, despatched his assailant with a pistol shot. Many were trampled by the horses. Lieut. Cureton, son of the gallant officer who had so recently fallen at Ramnuggur, met his fate by his horse becoming unmanageable, and carrying him into the hostile ranks.
The few Ghorchurhas who pursued, had been mistaken for a larger body, and would have penetrated still farther, had not one or two squadrons of the 9th Lancers rallied behind the guns, and opposed their progress. Some of the former advanced to within a short distance of Lord Gough and his staff, and his escort of cavalry was preparing to charge, whereupon the Ghorchurhas retired.<br>
Meanwhile, Major Ekins, deputy adjutant-general of the Indian Army, seeking to deliver an order to the retreating brigade, received a wound. His friend, Major Chester, hastened to his assistance; the enemy was close at hand. Ekins, however, begged him to leave him to his fate, and the enemy presently coming up, hacked him to pieces.<br>
This disaster occasioned the loss of all the guns in Christie’s troop, and two in Huish’s; but two of the former were afterwards recovered, at the battle of Googerat.<br>
While these events were in progress. Col. Lane, of the Horse Artillery, with his guns, two squadrons of the 9th Lancers, and two of the 6th Light Cavalry, was engaged, repelling an attack of the enemy’s horse, on the extreme right.