1 The Sikhs concen-
2 trate at Ferozshabr.
3 The battle of Feroz-
4 shahr, December 21st,
5 1845.
6 Attack on the en-
7 ttcenched position.
8 Severe fighting.
9 Yhe night of terrors.
10 Its description by Sir
11 Henry Hardinge,
12 Gallant conduct of
13 the Governor-General,
14 542 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
15 During the battle, the Sikhs had drums beaten to keep up their spirits,
16 They had captured Captain Biddulph and kept him bound with a chain
17 until victory began to declare itself for the British, when they sent him
18 back. The Captain was clothed in a long red garment which the Sikhs had
19 put on him, while they had taken away his own clothes out of curiosity.
20 Captain Biddulph, on coming back, furnished important intelligence as to
21 the disposition of the Sikh troops, the number of their guns and their
22 munitions of war.
23 After the action of the 18th, the Sikhs were incessantly emploved in
24 entrenching themselves in their position around the village of Ferozshahr,
25 distant about ten miles both from Mudkiand from Ferozepur. It was now
26 resolved to make an_ assault on the great Sikh entrenchments in this locality,
27 and, with that view, Sir John Littler effected a junction with the main body of
28 the British army, bringing with him from Ferozepur 5,000 infantry, two regi-
29 ments of cavalry and 21 guns. The British forces now numbered
30 16,700 men and 69 guns, while those of the enemy consisted of 338,000 of
31 the flower of the Sikh army, with 108 guns of heavy calibre, vastly superior
32 in weight of metal to those of the British. Sir Henry Hardinge offered his
33 services to the Commander-in-Chief, as second in command, and they were
34 gladly accepted. The junction with Sir John Littler’s division having been
35 effected about midday on 21st December, at a distance of four miles from
36 the Sikh entrenchments, an immediate attack on the enemy’s position
37 was resolved upon. The assault was commenced at about four o’clock in
38 the afternoon, Sir Hugh Gough commanding the right wing, the Governor-
39 General the left. The British army marched in even array, and their
40 artillery opened a steady fire, which was replied to with such rapidity and
41 precision by the enemy that the best efforts of the British soldiers to silence
42 their guns were unavailing. In the midst of a storm of whizzing bullets,
43 cannon balls, and shells, the British infantry, under Captain Pringle
44 O’Hanlon, of the staff, advanced, and having gained a footing in the
45 entrenchments, wrested some of the guns from the enemy, but the Sikh
46 infantry, drawn up behind the guns, opened such a tremendous fire of
47 musketry that the advanced force was hurled back, much shattered. The
48 British troops renewed the assault, and by sunset a portion of the enemy’s
49 entrenchments was finally carried. Major-General Sir Harry Smith’s brigade
50 captured the village of Ferozshahr, but was unable to retain it during the
51 night, and had to withdraw, Her Majesty's 8rd Dragoons charged the
52 enemy with great gallantry and took some of their most formidable batteries ;
53 yet the enemy continued to hold a considerable portion of their position.
54 Darkness now fell upon the scene ; the contest was raging everywhere, and the
55 obstinacy and persistency with which it was carried on, threw the English
56 into confusion and disorder, The night that ensued was truly designated
57 a “night of terrors.” Thirst, cold and fatigue oppressed the weary soldiers,
58 exhausted by over-exertion and reduced in numbers. Yet they were
59 animated by an indomitable spirit, and the courage and tact displayed by
60 them were truly worthy of British soldiers. Sir Henry Hardinge gave a
61 vivid description of the events of that memorable night in his official des-
62 patches, which were read with great enthusiasm in the House of Commons
63 by Sir Robert Peel. “The night of the 21st December,” wrote Sir Henry,
64 “ was the most extraordinary of my life. I bivouacked with the men with-
65 out food or covering, and our nights were bitter cold. A burning camp in
66 our front, our brave fellows lying down under a heavy cannonade, which
67 continued during the whole night, mixed with the wild cries of the Sikhs,
68 SriSatgtlt SOR SR Aya prike tramp of RS AERB NS Gta eay ing. In