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{{Short description| | {{Short description|Part of the First Anglo-Sikh War (1846)}} | ||
{{Use British English|date=May 2011}} | {{Use British English|date=May 2011}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} | ||
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| image = Bataille d'Aliwal 1.jpg | | image = Bataille d'Aliwal 1.jpg | ||
| image_size = 300 | | image_size = 300 | ||
| caption = Charge of the British 16th Lancers against Sikh [[Fauj-i-Ain]] infantry and artillery | | caption = Charge of the British 16th Lancers against Sikh [[Fauj-i-Ain]] infantry and artillery | ||
| date = 28 January 1846 | | date = 28 January 1846 | ||
| place = near the [[Sutlej]] river | | place = near the [[Sutlej]] river | ||
| map_type = India Punjab#India | |||
| map_relief = yes | |||
| latitude = | |||
| longitude = | |||
| map_size = | |||
| map_marksize = | |||
| map_caption = Location within [[Punjab]] | |||
| map_label = Aliwal | |||
| result = British victory | | result = British victory | ||
| combatant1 = [[File:Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg|25px]] [[East India Company]] | | combatant1 = [[File:Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg|25px]] [[East India Company]] | ||
| combatant2 = [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[Sikh Empire]] | | combatant2 = [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[Sikh Empire]] | ||
| commander1 = Sir [[Sir Harry Smith, 1st Baronet|Harry Smith]] | | commander1 = [[File:Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg|25px]] Sir [[Sir Harry Smith, 1st Baronet|Harry Smith]] | ||
| commander2 = [[Sardar]] [[Ranjodh Singh Majithia]] | | commander2 = [[File:Sikh Empire flag.jpg|25px]] [[Sardar]] [[Ranjodh Singh Majithia]] | ||
| strength1 = | | strength1 = 10,000<br>28–32 guns<ref>Hernon, p. 564</ref><ref name=Tucker1174>{{cite book| last=Tucker| first=Spencer C.| title=A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle ...| year=2009| page=1174}}</ref> | ||
| strength2 = | | strength2 = 15,000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Battle of Aliwal, 28 January 1846 {{!}} Online Collection {{!}} National Army Museum, London |url=https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1971-02-33-505-6 |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=collection.nam.ac.uk}}</ref><br>69–70 guns<ref name=Cassell104>Cassell, p. 104</ref><ref name=Tucker1174/> | ||
| casualties1 = 850<ref name=Tucker1174/> | | casualties1 = 589-850<ref name=Tucker1174/> | ||
| casualties2 = 2,000<ref name=Tucker1174/><br>67 guns<ref name=Perrett104>Perrett, p.104</ref>| | | casualties2 = 2,000<ref name=Tucker1174/><br>67 guns<ref name=Perrett104>Perrett, p. 104</ref>| | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Campaignbox First Anglo-Sikh War}} | {{Campaignbox First Anglo-Sikh War}} | ||
The '''Battle of Aliwal''' was fought on 28 January 1846 between [[East India Company|British]] and [[Sikh Empire|Sikh]] forces in northern India (now [[Punjab]]). The British were led by Sir [[Sir Harry Smith, 1st Baronet|Harry Smith]],<ref>Smith, Sir Harry. ‘'The Autobiography of Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Smith Baronet of Aliwal on the Sutlej.'’ Publisher: | The '''Battle of Aliwal''' was fought on 28 January 1846 between the [[East India Company|British]] and [[Sikh Empire|Sikh]] forces in northern India (now [[Punjab, India]]).<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Sidhu |first=Amarpal Singh |title=The Second Anglo-Sikh War |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |others=John Chapple |year=2016 |isbn=9781445650241 |edition=1st |location=United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |chapter=Chronology}}</ref> The British were led by Sir [[Sir Harry Smith, 1st Baronet|Harry Smith]],<ref>Smith, Sir Harry. ‘'The Autobiography of Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Smith Baronet of Aliwal on the Sutlej.'’ Publisher: John Murray, Albemarke Street, 1903 [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/57094/57094-h/57094-h.htm]</ref> while the Sikhs were led by [[Ranjodh Singh Majithia]]. Britain's victory in the battle is sometimes regarded as the turning point in the [[First Anglo-Sikh War]]. | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
The First Anglo-Sikh War began six years after the death of [[Ranjit Singh]], who had established the [[Sikh Empire]] in the [[Punjab region|Punjab]]. The Punjab became increasingly disordered, while the British increased their military forces on their border with the Punjab. Eventually, the increasingly turbulent [[Sikh Khalsa Army]] | The First Anglo-Sikh War began six years after the death of [[Ranjit Singh]], who had established the [[Sikh Empire]] in the [[Punjab region|Punjab]]. The Punjab became increasingly disordered, while the British increased their military forces on their border with the Punjab. Eventually, the increasingly turbulent [[Sikh Khalsa Army]] crossed the [[Sutlej River]] and invaded British territory under leaders who were distrustful of their own troops. | ||
On 21 December and 22 December 1845, the army of the [[British East India Company]] commanded by Sir [[Hugh Gough, 1st Viscount Gough|Hugh Gough]] and the Governor-General of Bengal, Sir [[Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge|Henry Hardinge]], fought the bloody [[Battle of Ferozeshah]]. The Sikh armies under [[Vizier]] Lal Singh and Commander in Chief Tej Singh eventually retreated, but the British army was shaken by its heavy losses. They did not renew hostilities for some weeks, and Hardinge sought to relieve Gough of his command, blaming his tactics for the heavy casualties. | On 21 December and 22 December 1845, the army of the [[British East India Company]] commanded by Sir [[Hugh Gough, 1st Viscount Gough|Hugh Gough]] and the Governor-General of Bengal, Sir [[Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge|Henry Hardinge]], fought the bloody [[Battle of Ferozeshah]]. The Sikh armies under [[Vizier]] Lal Singh and Commander in Chief Tej Singh eventually retreated, but the British army was shaken by its heavy losses. They did not renew hostilities for some weeks, and Hardinge sought to relieve Gough of his command, blaming his tactics for the heavy casualties. | ||
The Sikhs too were temporarily disheartened by the retreats ordered by their commanders. However, they were reinforced by troops who had not yet seen action and moved back across the Sutlej to occupy a bridgehead at Sobraon, while a detachment under Ranjodh Singh Majithia (sometimes transcribed as | The Sikhs too were temporarily disheartened by the retreats ordered by their commanders. However, they were reinforced by troops who had not yet seen action and moved back across the Sutlej to occupy a bridgehead at Sobraon, while a detachment under Ranjodh Singh Majithia (sometimes transcribed as "Runjoor Singh"), with 7,000 men and 20 guns, crossed higher up the Sutlej to besiege the British-held fortress of [[Ludhiana]] and menace Gough's and Hardinge's supply lines. The British commanders detached a division under Sir Harry Smith to clear this threat to their rear. | ||
==Campaign== | ==Campaign== | ||
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==Battle== | ==Battle== | ||
The Sikhs had occupied a position {{convert|4|mi|km}} long, which ran along a ridge between the villages of Aliwal, on the Sutlej, and Bhundri. The Sutlej ran close to their rear for the entire length of their line, making it difficult for them to manoeuvre and also potentially disastrous if they were forced to retreat. | [[File:16th Lancers, Battle of Aliwal, 28 January 1846.jpg|thumb|16th Lancers, Battle of Aliwal, 28 January 1846]] | ||
The Sikhs had occupied a position {{convert|4|mi|km}} long, which ran along a ridge between the villages of Aliwal, on the Sutlej, and Bhundri. The Sutlej ran close to their rear for the entire length of their line, making it difficult for them to manoeuvre and also potentially disastrous if they were forced to retreat. Facing them Smith had about 10,000 men and 28 guns.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Burton |first=Reginald |title=The First and Second Sikh Wars |publisher=Government Central Branch Press |year=1911 |edition=1st |location=Simla |pages=138 |language=English}}</ref> | |||
After the initial artillery salvoes, Smith determined that Aliwal was the Sikh weak point. He sent two of his four infantry brigades to capture the village, from where they could [[Enfilade and defilade|enfilade]] the Sikh centre. They seized the village, and began pressing forwards to threaten the fords across the Sutlej. | After the initial artillery salvoes, Smith determined that Aliwal was the Sikh weak point. He sent two of his four infantry brigades to capture the village, from where they could [[Enfilade and defilade|enfilade]] the Sikh centre. They seized the village, and began pressing forwards to threaten the fords across the Sutlej. | ||
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The infantry in the Sikh centre tried to defend a ''[[nullah]]'' (dry stream bed), but were enfiladed and forced into the open by a Bengal infantry regiment and then cut down by fire from Smith's batteries of Bengal Horse Artillery. | The infantry in the Sikh centre tried to defend a ''[[nullah]]'' (dry stream bed), but were enfiladed and forced into the open by a Bengal infantry regiment and then cut down by fire from Smith's batteries of Bengal Horse Artillery. | ||
[[File:Aliwal (BM 1943,0726.1).jpg|thumb|Captain Fyler, centre, leading cavalry charge into Sikh infantry; casualties in foreground. Chromolithograph, 1849.]] | |||
Unlike most of the battles of both Anglo-Sikh Wars, when the Sikhs at Aliwal began to retreat, the retreat quickly turned into a disorderly rout. When the Sikh soldiers fled across the fords, they abandoned most of their guns, either on the river bank or in the fords, along with all baggage, tents and supplies. They lost 2,000 men and 67 guns. | Unlike most of the battles of both Anglo-Sikh Wars, when the Sikhs at Aliwal began to retreat, the retreat quickly turned into a disorderly rout. When the Sikh soldiers fled across the fords, they abandoned most of their guns, either on the river bank or in the fords, along with all baggage, tents and supplies. They lost 2,000 men and 67 guns. | ||
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==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
Smith wrote afterwards: | Smith wrote afterwards: | ||
{{cquote|I have gained one of the most glorious battles ever fought in India ... Never was victory more complete, and never was one fought under more happy circumstances, literally with the pomp of a field day; and right well did all behave.}} | {{cquote|I have gained one of the most glorious battles ever fought in India ... Never was victory more complete, and never was one fought under more happy circumstances, literally with the pomp of a field day; and right well did all behave.}} | ||
Many commentators referred to Smith's victory as the "Battle without a mistake".<ref name=Perrett104/> Except for the 16th Lancers, who lost 144 men out of about 300, few of Smith's units had heavy casualties. | Many commentators referred to Smith's victory as the "Battle without a mistake".<ref name=Perrett104/> Except for the 16th Lancers, who lost 144 men out of about 300, few of Smith's units had heavy casualties. Total British casualties numbered 589, of which 151 were killed.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
==Order of battle== | ==Order of battle== | ||
===British regiments=== | ===British regiments=== | ||
*[[16th The Queen's Lancers]] | *[[16th The Queen's Lancers]] | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070225063643/http://www.britishbattles.com/first-sikh-war/aliwal.htm BritishBattles.com] | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070225063643/http://www.britishbattles.com/first-sikh-war/aliwal.htm BritishBattles.com] | ||
*[http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/history-of-sikhism/25278-battle-of-aliwal.html SikhPhilosophy.Net] – | *[http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/history-of-sikhism/25278-battle-of-aliwal.html SikhPhilosophy.Net] – history of Sikhism | ||
{{Sikh Empire}} | {{Sikh Empire}} | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Aliwal, Battle of}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Aliwal, Battle of}} | ||
[[Category:Battles of the Anglo-Sikh wars]] | [[Category:Battles of the Anglo-Sikh wars]] | ||
[[Category:Battles involving the British East India Company]] | [[Category:Battles involving the British East India Company]] | ||
[[Category:Conflicts in 1846]] | [[Category:Conflicts in 1846]] | ||
[[Category:1846 in India]] | [[Category:1846 in India]] | ||
[[Category:January 1846 | [[Category:January 1846]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:22, 17 December 2025
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it remains largely unverified because it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2011) |
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The Battle of Aliwal was fought on 28 January 1846 between the British and Sikh forces in northern India (now Punjab, India).[6] The British were led by Sir Harry Smith,[7] while the Sikhs were led by Ranjodh Singh Majithia. Britain's victory in the battle is sometimes regarded as the turning point in the First Anglo-Sikh War.
Background[edit | edit source]
The First Anglo-Sikh War began six years after the death of Ranjit Singh, who had established the Sikh Empire in the Punjab. The Punjab became increasingly disordered, while the British increased their military forces on their border with the Punjab. Eventually, the increasingly turbulent Sikh Khalsa Army crossed the Sutlej River and invaded British territory under leaders who were distrustful of their own troops.
On 21 December and 22 December 1845, the army of the British East India Company commanded by Sir Hugh Gough and the Governor-General of Bengal, Sir Henry Hardinge, fought the bloody Battle of Ferozeshah. The Sikh armies under Vizier Lal Singh and Commander in Chief Tej Singh eventually retreated, but the British army was shaken by its heavy losses. They did not renew hostilities for some weeks, and Hardinge sought to relieve Gough of his command, blaming his tactics for the heavy casualties.
The Sikhs too were temporarily disheartened by the retreats ordered by their commanders. However, they were reinforced by troops who had not yet seen action and moved back across the Sutlej to occupy a bridgehead at Sobraon, while a detachment under Ranjodh Singh Majithia (sometimes transcribed as "Runjoor Singh"), with 7,000 men and 20 guns, crossed higher up the Sutlej to besiege the British-held fortress of Ludhiana and menace Gough's and Hardinge's supply lines. The British commanders detached a division under Sir Harry Smith to clear this threat to their rear.
Campaign[edit | edit source]
On 16 January 1846, Smith recovered two outposts which the Sikhs had seized at Fategarh and Dharmkot. Although Runjodh Singh's irregular cavalry had raided over a wide area and set fire to part of the British cantonments at Ludhiana, his main body was advancing only slowly on Ludhiana.
Harry Smith first intended to attack Runjodh Singh's army at Buddowal. However, on learning of the Sikh strength, and receiving further orders from Gough, he instead force-marched his troops via Jagraon, collecting a British regiment there, to reach Ludhiana ahead of the Sikh main body. On 21 January, as he left Buddowal, the Sikh irregular cavalry (the Gorchurras) continually attacked his rearguards. They captured most of Smith's baggage animals (mules, bullocks and elephants), and cut down any straggling troops. Nevertheless, Smith succeeded in reaching Ludhiana, with his troops exhausted. A brigade of troops from Delhi, including two Gurkha battalions, reinforced him.
After resting his troops, Smith once again advanced to Buddowal. The Sikhs had withdrawn to Aliwal on the Sutlej, awaiting reinforcements. On 28 January, Smith advanced against them, cautiously at first.
Battle[edit | edit source]
The Sikhs had occupied a position 4 miles (6.4 km) long, which ran along a ridge between the villages of Aliwal, on the Sutlej, and Bhundri. The Sutlej ran close to their rear for the entire length of their line, making it difficult for them to manoeuvre and also potentially disastrous if they were forced to retreat. Facing them Smith had about 10,000 men and 28 guns.[8]
After the initial artillery salvoes, Smith determined that Aliwal was the Sikh weak point. He sent two of his four infantry brigades to capture the village, from where they could enfilade the Sikh centre. They seized the village, and began pressing forwards to threaten the fords across the Sutlej.
As the Sikhs tried to swing back their left, pivoting on Bhundri, some of their cavalry presented a threat to the open British left flank. A British and Indian cavalry brigade, led by the 16th Lancers, charged and dispersed them. The 16th Lancers then attacked a large body of Sikh infantry. These were battalions organised and trained in contemporary European fashion by Neapolitan mercenary, Paolo Di Avitabile. They formed square to establish a strong front against a cavalry charge, as most European armies did. Nevertheless, the 16th Lancers broke the square. Both forces suffered heavy casualties.
The infantry in the Sikh centre tried to defend a nullah (dry stream bed), but were enfiladed and forced into the open by a Bengal infantry regiment and then cut down by fire from Smith's batteries of Bengal Horse Artillery.
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Unlike most of the battles of both Anglo-Sikh Wars, when the Sikhs at Aliwal began to retreat, the retreat quickly turned into a disorderly rout. When the Sikh soldiers fled across the fords, they abandoned most of their guns, either on the river bank or in the fords, along with all baggage, tents and supplies. They lost 2,000 men and 67 guns.
Aftermath[edit | edit source]
Smith wrote afterwards:
I have gained one of the most glorious battles ever fought in India ... Never was victory more complete, and never was one fought under more happy circumstances, literally with the pomp of a field day; and right well did all behave.
Many commentators referred to Smith's victory as the "Battle without a mistake".[5] Except for the 16th Lancers, who lost 144 men out of about 300, few of Smith's units had heavy casualties. Total British casualties numbered 589, of which 151 were killed.[8]
Order of battle[edit | edit source]
British regiments[edit | edit source]
Indian regiments[edit | edit source]
- Governor General’s Bodyguard
- 1st Bengal Native Cavalry
- 3rd Bengal Native Cavalry
- 5th Bengal Native Cavalry
- 4th Irregular Cavalry
- Shekawati Cavalry
- 3 Batteries of Horse Artillery
- 2 Field Batteries of Artillery
- 24th Bengal Native Infantry
- 36th Bengal Native Infantry
- 47th Bengal Native Infantry
- 48th Bengal Native Infantry
- Nasiri Gurkha Battalion
- Sirmoor Gurkha Battalion
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Hernon, p. 564
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Tucker, Spencer C. (2009). A Global Chronology of Conflict: From the Ancient World to the Modern Middle ... p. 1174.
- ↑ "Battle of Aliwal, 28 January 1846 | Online Collection | National Army Museum, London". collection.nam.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ↑ Cassell, p. 104
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Perrett, p. 104
- ↑ Sidhu, Amarpal Singh (2016). "Chronology". The Second Anglo-Sikh War. John Chapple (1st ed.). United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445650241.
- ↑ Smith, Sir Harry. ‘'The Autobiography of Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Smith Baronet of Aliwal on the Sutlej.'’ Publisher: John Murray, Albemarke Street, 1903 [1]
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Burton, Reginald (1911). The First and Second Sikh Wars (1st ed.). Simla: Government Central Branch Press. p. 138.
References[edit | edit source]
- Perrett, Bryan (2007). British Military History for Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-03213-8.
- Cassell, John; Howitt, William (1864). Cassell's Illustrated history of England. Vol. 8. W. Kent and Co.
- Hernon, Ian (2003). Britain's forgotten wars. Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-3162-0.
- Farwell, Byron (1999). Queen Victoria's little wars. Wordsworth Military Library. ISBN 1-84022-216-6.
External links[edit | edit source]
- BritishBattles.com
- SikhPhilosophy.Net – history of Sikhism