1 THE FIRST SIKH WAR. 545.
2 sixty-eight wounded, and seventy-seven missing. Of the last, several were
3 taken prisoners to Lahore, among them being Mr. Barron, an Assistant
4 Surgeon.
5 Ranjar Singh had by this time been reinforced from the right bank of
6 the Sutlej by 4,000 regular troops, twelve pieces of artillery and a large
7 body of cavalry, and he advanced to Jagrdon, with the apparent object of
8 intercepting the British communications by that route. The Sikhs, elated
9 with their success at Baddowdl, boasted of driving the British off the field.
10 Guléb Singh arrived at Lahore on 27th January, 1846, and was immediately
11 hailed as minister and leader. Simultaneously with the Sikhs, Sir Harry
12 Smith was reinforced by a brigade under Brigadier Wheeler, and a junction
13 was effected with the Ludhidnd troops, which raised the forces under his
14 command to 11,000 men, with thirty-two guns, With this force he advanced
15 at daylight,on the 28th to attack the enemy, who had taken up an en-
16 trenched position at, Aliwal, with an army estimated at 15,000, with fifty-six
17 guus. Immediately on the British troops coming in view, the enemy opened
18 a fierce cannonade along his whole line, and a brilliant action ensued, the
19 gleam of the bayonets and swords having a most imposing effect. There was
20 no dust, and the sun shone brightly. The British line was compelled to halt
21 for a few minutes under fire, till the brigades on the right were brought up,
22 and a rapid charge being made, the village of Aliwdl was carried ; but the
23 Sikhs stood their ground on the field, and fought with much resolution.
24 They sustained frequent hand-to-hand encounters with the British cavalry.
25 Tn one charge of infantry upon the 16th Lancers they threw away their
26 muskets, and advanced with sword and shield against the lances of their
27 opponents, Their most resolute resistance, however, proved unavailing, the
28 British troops, storming position after position, and capturing battery after
29 battery; and although the enemy made repeated attempts to rally behind
30 Bundi, they were at length completely hemmed in, and fled precipitately
31 across the Sutlej, hundreds of them being drowned in the stream, and
32 hundreds more perishing under the fire from the British artillery, directed
33 with great precision against the enemy’s boats, The spectacle of numerous
34 corpses floating on the river was most horrible. The whole of the enemy's
35 guns were either captured or spiked, or else were sunk in the river, and all
36 his munitions of war, stores of grain and nearly everything that had been
37 brought into the field, fell into the hands of the victors. The Commander-in-
38 Chief, describing the successful issue of this memorable battle, thus exult-
39 ingly remarks in his official despatch, “I am unwont to praise, when praise
40 is not merited, and I here must avowedly express my firm opinion and
41 conviction, that no troops in any battle on record ever behaved more nobly.”
42 The loss sustained by the English in this battle was 151 killed, 413 wounded
43 and 25 missing.
44 The immediate effect of the opportune defeat of the Sikhs at Aliwal
45 was the evacuation by them of all the forts garrisoned on the British side of
46 the Sutlej, and the cession to the British Government of all the territory
47 on the left bank of that river. Guldb Singh, who, on the exclusion of Lal
48 Singh, had undertaken the office of minister, instead of rallying the van-
49 quished troops, reproached them for the folly of hoping to succeed against
50 the conquerors of Hindostdén. He opened negotiations with the Governor-
51 General; but, when told that the first demand of the British Government
52 antecedent ta the acknowledgment of a Sikh sovereignty in Ldhore, was the
53 immediate dishandment of the Sikh army, he declared that he was helpless
54 to effect it, as he could not deal with the turbulent soldiery,
55 Meanwhile, the Sikhs were not wanting in energetic preparations for
56 Gulib Singh arrives"
57 at Lahore and is hailed
58 as minister,
59 The battle of Aliw§),
60 January, 1946,
61 Defeat of the Sikhs
62 Loss on the side
63 of the British.
64 The immediate effect
65 of the yictory gained,
66 Negotiations,
67 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com