Historical Record of the Thirty-first, or, the Huntingdonshire Regiment of Foot;: containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1702, and of its subsequent services to 1850Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Thirty-first, or, the Huntingdonshire Regiment of Foot;: containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1702, and of its subsequent services to 1850
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Foot, 31st
“Morning at length approached, and our troops were once more
arrayed for the fight. With daylight came retribution and triumph
to our arms. Our infantry was formed in line, supported on both
flanks by the horse artillery. A masked battery now began to play
on us with fearful effect; the heavy shot of the Sikhs dismounted
our guns; nine of our tumbrils were blown up. A general charge
was now determined on; amidst a terrific storm of shot and shell,
the troops rushed on undismayed; the carnage was fearful: battery
after battery was carried at the bayonet’s point; the camp was
pierced with loaded mines, which exploded with fearful slaughter
as we advanced. The village of _Ferozeshah_ was stormed, and the
enemy driven out of it at every point. When changing its front
to the left, our force continued to sweep the camp, carrying
everything before them.
“Undisturbed and unbroken by the fearful service in which they
had been engaged, the troops drew up, when the camp was won,
and halted to cheer their generals on the field they had just
conquered, with the regularity of a parade. Seventy-three
guns had now been taken; 20 more quickly fell into our hands.
We had lost 37 European and 17 Native officers, with 630
non-commissioned officers and rank and file,--nearly 700 in all
killed. Our casualties in killed and wounded amounted to 2415.”
The Commander-in-Chief in his despatch to the Governor-General,
after the battle of _Ferozeshah_, bears the following testimony
of his approbation of the gallant conduct of the army under his
command on that glorious occasion. At the conclusion of the
despatch General Sir Hugh Gough stated:--
“On the conclusion of such a narrative as I have given, it is
surely superfluous in me to say, that I am, and shall be, to the
last moment of my existence, proud of the army which I had the
honor to command on the 21st and 22nd instant. To its gallant
exertions I owe the satisfaction of seeing such a victory
achieved, and the glory of having my own name associated with it.”
On receipt in London of the despatch of the Governor-General of
India, announcing the victories of _Moodkee_ and _Ferozeshah_,
the thanks of both Houses of Parliament were voted unanimously
to the Governor-General, the Right Honorable Lieutenant-General
Sir Henry Hardinge,--to General Sir Hugh Gough, Bart., the
Commander-in-Chief,--and to the several officers under their
command,--for the eminent services rendered by them in the recent
arduous and successful operations;--also to the non-commissioned
officers and soldiers, European and Native, for the perseverance
and fortitude maintained by them at _Moodkee_ on the 18th of
December, 1845, and for the daring valour with which they forced
the enemy’s intrenchments at _Ferozeshah_ on the 21st and 22nd of
December, captured most of his guns, and finally compelled the
Sikh army, of greatly superior numbers, to retire within their own
frontiers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account