THE BATTLE OF ALEEWAL. (From the South African Commercial Advertiser.)

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 99, 11 July 1846, Page 3

THE BATTLE OF ALEEWAL. (From the South African Commercial Advertiser.)

The following account of the battle is extracted from Sir Harry Smith's despatches : — (Copy.) Camp, Field of the Battle ot Aleewal, 30th of January, 1846. From Major-General Sir H. Smith, K. C. 8., Commanding, to the Adjutant-General of the Army. Sir,— My despatch to his Excellency the Com-mander-in-Chief, of the 23d inst., 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 Runjor Sing and the Rajah of Ludwa. The enemy strongly intrenched hiinselt around the little Fort of Buddawul by breastwoiks and ' Abattis,' which he precipitately abandoned on the night of the 22d instant retiring as it were upon the fort of Tulwun, having ordered all the boats which were opposite Phelor to that Ghat. This movement he effected during the night, and by making||Bgpnsiderable detour, placed himself at a distamsPof ten miles, and consequently out of my reach, I could therefore only push forward my cavalry so 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 recrossiug the Sutledge, but moved down to the Ghat of Tulwun (being cut off from that of Philor, by the position my force occupied after its relief ot Loodiana) for the purpose of protecting the passage of a very considerable reinforcement of 12 guns and 4,ooo of the regular, or 'Ajeen' troops, called Avitabille's battalions, entrenching himself strongly in a semi-circle, his flanks resting on the river, his position covered with from 40 to 50 guns (generally of large calibre), howitzers and mortals. The reinforcement crossed during the night of the 27th instant, and encamped on the rightvof the main army. Meanwhile his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, with that foresight and judgment which marks the able general, reinforced me by a considerable addition to my cavalry, some guns, and the 2d 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. ] 1 have now the honor 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 organise and brigade them as to render them manageable in action. The cavalry under the command of Brigadier Cureton, and horse artillery under Major La wren son, were put into two brigades: the one under Brigadier Macdowell, C.8.., and the other under Brigadier Stedman. The Ist division as it stood —two brigade! H..M.'s 53d and 30th Native Infantry, under Brigadier Wilson of the latter corps. The 36th Native Infantry and Nusseree > battalion under Brigadier Godby, aod^tßo §ac-

kawuttee brigade under Major Forster. The Sirmoor battalion I attached to Brigadier Wheeler's brigade of the Ist division, the 42d 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 intervals of brigades. The infantry in contiguous columns of brigades at intervals of deploying distance.. Artillery in the intervals followed by two 8-mch howitzers on travelling carnages brought into the field trom the Fort of Loodiana by ihe indefatigable exertions of Lieut.- Col. Lane, horse artillery, Brigadier Godby's brigade, which I had marched out from Londiana the previous evening on the ri°-ht. The Shekawuttee infantry on the leK. The 4th irregular cavalry and the Shekawuttee s 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 3 horses attempting an inroad towards Loodiana, or any attempt upon the baggage assembled round the Fort of Buddawal. - In this order the troops moved forward towards the enemy, a distance of six miles, the advance conducted by Captain Waught, 16th Lancers, the Deputy Assistant Quarter Master of cavalry, Major Bradford, of the Ist cavalry, and Lieut. Strachey, of the Engineers, who had been jointly employed in the conduct of patrols up to theenemy's position, and for the purpose of reporting upon the facility and points 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 in jugraon, my position of Buddawal, or Loodiana. On a near approach to his outposts this rumour was confirmed by a spy, who had just left his camp,' saying the Sikh army was actually m march towards Jugraon. My advance was steady, my troops he well 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 ot Poorein I had a distant view of the enemy. He was in motion, and appeared directly opposite my front from a ridge of which the village of Aleewal 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 T nearad the enemy, the ground became most favorable for the troop 3 to manoeuvre, being open and hard grassland. I or. dered the cavalry to take ground to the right and left by brigades; thus displaying the heads of the infantry columns, and, as they readied the hard ground, I directed them to deploy into line— Brigadier Godby's brigade was in direct eschellon to the rear of the right; the Shekawuttee infantry in like manner to the rear ot my left The cavalry in direct eschellon on, and well to the rear of, both flanks of tbe infantry. The artillery massed on the right, and centre, and left ; after deployment I observed the enemy's left o 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 manceuveies were performed with the celerity and precision of the most correct field day. The glistening of the bayonets and swoids of this order of battle was most imposing, and the line advanced. Scarcely had it moved forward 150 yards when, at 10 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, 1 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 Aleewal, 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 Ist brigade under Brigadier Hicks, made a rapid and noble charge, carried the village and 2 guns of large calibre, file line I ordered to advance, H. M. s 31st foot, and the 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 andthe^ body guard. The Shekawuttee brigade was 5 " moved well to the right in support of Brigadier Curt ton, when I observed the enemy's encampment, and saw it was full of infantry, 1 immediately brought upon it Brigadier Godby s brigade, by changing front, and taking the enemy's infantry "en revers." They drove them before them, and took some guns without s 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 eveiy thing before it, again connecting his line and moving 1 on, in a manner which ably displayed the coolness of the Brigadier and the gallantry of his irresistible brigade, H. M.'s 50th Foot, the 48th N. 1., and the Sirmoor Battalion, although the loss was, I regret to say, severe in the 50th — upon the left Brigadier Wilson, with H. M.'s 59th and the 30th N. 1., equalled in celerity and regularity their comrades on the right, and this brigade was opposed to the " Aieen " troops, called Avitabille'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 Bhoondee. I urated a squadron of the 16th Lancers, under Majpr Smyth and Captain Pearson to charge a .body to the right of the village, which they did m the most gallant and determined style, bearing every thing before them, as a squadron under Captain Bere had previously done, going right through a square of Infantry, wheeling about and re-entering the square in the. most intrepid manner with the deadly lance. This charge was accompanied by tbe 3d Light Cavalry under Major Angelo, and as gallantly sustained. The largest gun upon the field and seven others were then- captured, vrbile- tb* 53d regiment

carried the village by the bayonet, and the 30th N. I. wheeled round to the rear in a most spirited manner. Lieut.-Colonel Alexander's and Captain Turton's troops of Horse Artillery uTider Major Lnwrenson, dashed almost among the flying Infantry, committing great havock, until about 80u bundled or 100i> men rnlli d under the high bank t.f Nulloh, and opened a heavy but ineffectual fire from below the bank. I immediately directed the 30th N. I. to charge thorn, 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 iu-.hed among the Avitabille troops, driving them from under the bank, and exposing them once more to the deadly fire of 12 guns within 3000 yards. The destruction was very great, as may be supposed by guns served as those were — H. M.'s 53d regiment moved forward in support of the 30th N. I. by the right of the village. The battle was won — our troops advancing with the most pejfect order to the common focus, the passage of the rivpr. The enemy completely hemmed in were flying from our fire, and precipitating themselves in disordered masses into the fords amd boats in the utmost confusion and consternation. Our 8-inch howitzers soon be^an to play upon their boats, when the "debris" 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 verge of the river by the ford. Jt appears as if they had been unhmbered to cover the ford. These being loaded were fired once upon our advance. Two others were •sticking in the liver; one of which we gotout. Two were seen to sink in the quick sands. Two were diagged to the opposite bank and abandoned. These and the one in the middle of the river were gallantly spiked by Lieut. Holmes, of 11th Irregular Cavaliy, and 'Gunner Scott, of the Ist Troop 2d 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 Aleewal, one of the most glorious victories ever achieved in India, by the united efforts of her Majesty's and honorable Company's troops; every gun the enemy had fell in 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 Sutledge, and two were spiked II guns ascertained to on the opposite bank, «iak~ SU Totl"e7 eriver ' »"» a total of 56 P ie « & of SO odd Jinjalls fell cannon, captui e t d-or destroying our hands. cd. Many Jinjalls, which were attached to Avitabille's Corps, and which aided the defence of the village of Bhoondee, have also been taken. The whole army of the enemy has been driven headlong over the difficult ford of a broad rivet, his "camp,baggage,.stoves of ammunition andgrain, 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 Shekawuttee Brigade, and of the 8 inch howitzers. Our guns literally being constantly a-head 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 avowedly express my firm opinion and conviction, that Ho troops in any-bat-tle on record ever behaved more nobly, British and Natives no distinction. Cavalry all vying' witb 11. 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 exceeded by any artillery in the woild. Throughout the day -no hesitation, a bold and intrepid advance, and thus it is that our loss is compaiatively small though I deeply regret to say severe. The ene«y fought with much resolution. They maintained frequent reeontres with our cavalry hand to hand. In one charge upon infantry, of H. M.'s 16th Lancers, they threw away their muskets, and- came o.n with their swords and targets against -the JSnce^

LIST OF OFFICERS KILI.ED AND WOUNDED. Lieut. H. D. Swetenham, H.M. 16th Lancer* Lieut, or Cornet Williams, same corps Capt. C. R. Grimes, H.M. 50th Foot Lieut. Smallpage, of the 55th N.I. (4th Irregular.) •WOXJNDtD. Major Smyth, H.M. 16th Lancers s Xieut. Dv Vernet, H.M. 31st Foot -Ensign John Parcell, H M. 31st Foot (? 50th) Ensign Farmer, H.M. 50th Foot Capt. Pringle O'Hanlon. Major of Brigade Lieut. H. J. Frampton, H.M. 50th Foot Lieut. W. P. Elgee ditto Ensign F. J. S. Bragshawe, 36th Bengal N. I. Lieut, and Adjutant F. Wall, 48th Bengal Infantry (badly) Capt. H. Palmer, 46th Bengal Infantry Ensign W. E. Marshall, ditto Capt. H. L. Bird, ditto The intelligence of the action, despatched from the field of battle at half-past one p.m. of the 28th January, reached Ferozepore dm ing the night of the 6ame day, and on the morning ot the 29th a royal salute announced the result of the army in camp, a fact which shews that the communication has been immensely improved during the last few days. The effect of this victory will be incalculable on this side of the river, and ensure entire submission on the part of all those who were induced, so long as the Sikhs remained in force on this side, to do what they could to impede our arrangements. The siege train willprobably reachFerozepore this day. — Delhi Gazette Extra, Feb. 2.