Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 367, May 1846Various
History
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 367, May 1846
Various
England -- Periodicals; Scotland -- Periodicals
perfect order to the common focus, the passage of the river. The
enemy, completely hemmed in, were flying from our fire, and
precipitating themselves in disordered masses into the ford and
boats, in the utmost confusion and consternation. Our eight-inch
howitzers soon began 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. It appears as if they
had been unlimbered to cover the ford. These, being loaded, were
fired once upon our advance. To others were sticking in the river;
one of them, we got out. Two were seen to sink in the quicksands;
two were dragged to the opposite bank and abandoned. These, and the
one in the middle of the river, were gallantly spiked by Lieutenant
Holmes, of the 11th irregular cavalry, and Gunner Scott, of the 1st
troop 2nd 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 Aliwal, one of the most glorious
victories ever achieved in India. By the united efforts of her
Majesty's and the Hon. Company's troops, every gun the enemy had
fell into 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; 52 guns are now in the ordnance park, two sank in
the bed of the Sutlej, and two were spiked on the opposite
bank--making a total of 56 pieces of cannon captured or
destroyed.[19] Many jingalls, which were attached to Avitabile's
corps, and which aided in 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 river; his camp,
baggage, stores of ammunition, and of grain--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 Shekawattee brigade, and by the eight-inch
howitzers--our guns literally being constantly ahead of every
thing. 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 no troops in
any battle on record ever behaved more nobly. British and native
(no distinction) cavalry all vying with her Majesty's 16th lancers,
and striving to head in the repeated charges. Our guns and gunners,
officers and men, may be equalled, but cannot be excelled, by any
artillery in the world. Throughout the day no hesitation--a bold
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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