Reinforcements accordingly proceeded to the frontier, and the FIFTY-THIRD was one of the regiments ordered to join the Army of the Sutlej. The regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Shakespear Phillips, marched from Delhi on the 5th of January, 1846, and arrived at Kurnaul on the 10th of that month: two days afterwards the FIFTY-THIRD marched to join the portion of the army detached under the command of Major-General Sir Harry Smith, who was proceeding to the relief of Loodianah (celebrated for its manufacture of imitative Cashmere shawls), which was threatened by a force of twenty thousand Sikhs under the command of Runjoor Singh. The junction was effected on the 21st of January, on which day the regiment suffered severely from the heavy fire of the enemy's artillery on the march to Loodianah, sustaining a loss of thirty-six men killed. Major-General Sir Harry Smith, by a series of skilful movements, avoided a regular engagement, and effected his communication with Loodianah, but not without severe loss. On the 28th of January the Major-General determined to attack the Sikhs under Runjoor Singh in their strong position at _Aliwal_, and the result was a splendid victory. Runjoor Singh's camp, with all his baggage, ammunition, and stores, fell into the hands of the victors, and the left wing of the Sikh army was thus almost completely disorganised. Her Majesty's FIFTY-THIRD, and the thirtieth native infantry, formed the third brigade, under Brigadier Wilson, and were opposed upon the left to the "_Aieen_" troops, called _Avitabiles_,[12] when the conflict was fiercely raging. The enemy, driven back on his left and centre, endeavoured to hold his right to cover the passage of the river, and strongly occupied the village of Bhoondree, which was carried by the FIFTY-THIRD at the point of the bayonet: the regiment then moved forward, in support of the thirtieth native infantry, by the right of the village. After expressing his thanks to Lieut.-Colonel Phillips of the FIFTY-THIRD regiment, Major-General Sir Harry Smith added in his official despatch:-- "I have only to report upon Her Majesty's FIFTY-THIRD, a young regiment, but veterans in daring gallantry and regularity; and Lieut.-Colonel Phillips's bravery and coolness attracted the attention of myself and every staff-officer I sent to him." The casualties of the regiment were limited to three men killed and eight wounded. Although the Sikh army was much disheartened at the sight of the numerous bodies which floated from the battle-field to the bridge of boats at Sobraon, yet in a few days they appeared as confident as ever of being able to retain their entrenched position, and to prevent the passage of the river. On the 3rd of February the regiment marched from Aliwal, and joined the head-quarters of the Army of the Sutlej on the 8th of that month.