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Ameers had lost heart, and six of them came out to and all their rights and possessions shall be secured to the British camp, and laid their swords with their precious ornaments, valued at thousands of pounds, at the feet of the conqueror, who magnanimously returned them, saying:-"Their misfortunes are their own creation; but as they are great, I give them back their swords." He also left untouched their palaces and property, and respected the sanctity of their harems. But though the city was in his possession, conquest seemed only to increase his difficulties. He had to keep possession of a large hostile city, and to defend his own entrenched camp against 20,000 Beloochees, who were still in the field under Shere Mahommed, and to accomplish all this he had but 2,000 effective men under his command. Reinforcements, however, were

them." It was not likely that a high-spirited chief, at the head of an army of 20,000 men, well posted, with fifteen guns, protected in front by a nullah, twenty feet wide and eight deep, with the protection of a wood on one side, and of a village with the houses loop-holed on the other, as well as another deep nullah with its sides scarped-all supported by a large force of cavalrywould submit without a struggle to such humiliating terms. Nothing daunted, however, Sir Charles Napier attacked the enemy. His plan of action was altered, on account of an unauthorised attack made by Colonel Stark with his cavalry, in consequence of the giving way of the centre before an onset of the Irish regiment. The cavalry charge, the result of a sudden inspiration,

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quickly dispatched by Lord Ellenborough. They arrived safely, and gave him an army of 5,000 veteran troops. In the meantime, Shere Mahommed had come within five miles of the British camp, and sent Sir Charles Napier a summons to surrender. He conducted the messengers along the whole front of his army, which was then under inspection, and then dismissed them, with a letter to their chief, in which he said: "If the Ameer Shere Mahommed chooses to meet me to-morrow, as I march to attack him at the head of my army, and will surrender himself a prisoner, with no other condition than that his life shall be safe, I will receive him. If the Beloochee chiefs choose to accompany him, I will receive them, on condition that they swear obedience to the Governor-General, and then they may return to their villages with their followers,

was brilliantly successful. The cavalry swept everything before them, and carried confusion and dismay into the rear of the enemy's centre. The British general instantly took advantage of this success, and, changing his plan, he led on the Irish infantry to storm the first nullah. After a fierce resistance, the scarp was mounted, and Lieutenant Coote fell wounded, while in the act of waving the Beloochee standard in triumph on the summit. The Sepoys were equally successful in storming the second nullah, which was bravely defended, but ultimately carried with great loss to the enemy, who were routed in all directions, their retreating ranks being mowed down by our artillery, and pursued by our cavalry for a distance of several miles. The loss of the British in this great victory was only 270 men, of whom 147 belonged to the 22nd Queen's-so that the chief

A.D. 1843.]

DESTRUCTION OF THE AMEER FORCE.

glory of that day was due to the Irish. Seventeen standards and fifteen guns were among the trophies won by the victors. Although the heat was then 110° in the shade, Sir Charles Napier rapidly pursued the enemy, so that his cavalry arrived at Meerpoor, a distance of forty miles, before Shere Mahommed could reach it. It was his capital-strongly fortified, filled with stores of all kinds-and it fell without resistance into the hands of the British general. Shere Mahommed had retreated to the stronghold of Omercote, in the desert. Thither he was pursued by Captain Whitlie, at the head of the Light Horse. In consequence of the flooding of

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Ameer fled with some horsemen into the desert. The garrison that remained, after a few shots, pulled down their colours, and, on the 4th of April, the British standard waved on the towers of Omercote.

The remnant of the Beloochee forces were hunted for some weeks by flying columns. At length, Captain Roberts, at the head of one of them, captured the brother of Shere Mahommed and 1,000 of his followers. Another of them was attacked by the Ameer himself; but his followers, after the first round of fire, dispersed. The whole military force of the Ameers was now annihilated, and the conquest of Scinde was

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the Indus at this time, by the melting of the snow in the mountains, Sir Charles sent an order to stop the march. This order reached Whitlie when he was only twenty miles from the place, having received intelligence that it was abandoned. He resolved, therefore, to halt and send for fresh instructions. Then was performed a feat of horsemanship, perhaps unparalleled in the annals of war. Lieutenant Browne rode back to Meerpore, a distance of forty miles, without stopping, and having got his orders, after an hour's rest, returned upon the same horse, the thermometer standing 130° in the shade. The army then moved forward. The VOL. VIII.-No. 373.

complete. "I think," said Sir Charles Napier. "I may venture to say that Scinde is now subdued, The Scindian population everywhere express their satisfaction at the change of masters." No doubt the change from Mahommedan to British rule was an advantage to the poor Hindoos; and if it be allowable to do evil that good may come, Lord Ellenborough was justified in the means he had adopted for supplanting the Ameers. At all events, he was highly delighted with the result, was enthusiastic in his praise of the troops and their commander, and profuse in the bestowment of honours and rewards upon the officers of all

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He issued a proclamation in the Napoleonic water-carriers, and tore the full skins out of their style, in which he said:-"The army of Scinde has hands, crying, "Water! water!" Just then some twice beaten the bravest enemy in Asia, under circum- straggling soldiers of the 22nd came up and begged a stances which would equally have obtained for it the drink. Immediately the Hindoos relinquished their victory over the best troops in Europe. The Governor- hold upon the bags, till the fainting Irish had quenched General regards with delight the new proofs which the their thirst, and then they kindly carried their muskets, army has given of its pre-eminent qualities in the and, patting them on the shoulder, encouraged them field, and of its desire to mitigate the necessary to hold out. But these noble fellows soon after fell on calamities of war, by mercy to the vanquished. The the march, and then it was discovered how intense was ordinary expressions of thanks would ill convey the their passion for military glory, and their devotion to extent of the debt of gratitude which the Governor- their general. They had been all wounded; but they General feels to be due to his Excellency Major- concealed their sufferings and the loss of blood which General Sir Charles Napier on the part of the Govern- caused their exhaustion, in order that their last hour ment, the army, and the people of Hindostan. To might be given to their country on another field of have punished the treachery of protected princes; to battle. Sir Charles Napier gratefully records the names have liberated a nation from its oppressors; to have of those heroes in the ranks. They were John Drew, added a province, fertile as Egypt, to the British John Macdowney, Robert Young, Henry Sims, Patrick empire; and to have effected these objects by actions Gill, James Andrews, Sergeant Honey, Thomas Middlein war unsurpassed in brilliancy, whereof a grateful ton, James Malony, and Silvester Day, the last of whom army assigns the success to the ability and valour of its carried a ball in his foot. "Here," says Alison, "is general, are deeds to which the ordinary language of self-denial rivalling that of Alexander on the same praise cannot convey their deserved reward." deserts two thousand years before, and heroism equal to any recorded of the Spartan youths, occurring in a lonely desert of Scinde, on the part of the common Sepoy and Irish soldiers!"*

The British public, thrilled by the news of his heroic achievements, fully sympathised with the victorious general. The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were voted to him and the army, and the Duke of Wellington expressed in the House of Lords the highest admiration of his generalship. Sir Charles Napier became the civil governor of the province which his sword had won for his Sovereign; and he showed by the Another War of Aggression-Invasion of Gwalior by the Governor

excellence of his administration, that his capacity as a statesman was equal to his genius as a general. History records that "he raised up the sinking Scindian labourer, and abated the pride and violence of the fierce Beloochee, by the force of order and wholesome control." He encouraged trade and commerce; he commenced and carried on extensive public works; he erected a pier at Kurrachee, extending two miles into the water, and forming a secure harbour; he organised a most efficient police; he raised a revenue sufficient to pay the whole expenses of the administration, giving a surplus of £90,000, which, added to the prize money, brought half a million sterling into the Company's treasury in one year. The cultivators of the soil were protected in the enjoyment of the fruits of their industry; artisans, no longer liable to be mutilated for demanding their wages, came back from the countries to which they had fled; beautiful girls were no longer torn from their families to fill the zenanas of Mahommedan lords, or to be sold into slavery. The Hindoo merchant and the Parsee trader

pursued their business with confidence, and commerce

added to the wealth of the new province. The effect of these reforms was conspicuous in the loyalty of the Scindians during the revolt of 1857. In contrast with the atrocities which stained the Indian character at that time, it is gratifying to record some touching traits of humanity displayed during the war in Scinde. In a long march over burning sands, the 25th Sepoys,

overpowered with heat, and nearly maddened with thirst, on one occasion rushed forward to meet the

CHAPTER VIII.

General in person-Sir Hugh Gough Commander-in-Chief-Resistance of the Mahrattas-Battle of Maharajpore-Defeat of the Enemy-Heavy loss of the British-Battle of Mangore-Submission of the MahrattasBritish Occupation of Gwalior-The Government abolished and the Army disbanded-The Administration placed under the control of the British Resident-Warlike Policy of Lord Ellenborough-His RecallSucceeded by Sir Henry Hardinge-He is instructed to maintain a Pacifie Policy-The Sikh War-Character of the People-Runjeet Singh-The Sikhs cross the Sutlej-The Battles of Moodkee, Ferozeshab, and Aliwa! -The Battle of Sobraon-Defeat and Submission of the Sikhs-The Treaty of Peace-Military occupation of Lahore-Honours and Rewards of the Victors-Sir Henry Hardinge succeeded by Lord DalhousieFresh insurrection of the Sikhs in the Punjanb-Battle of Chillianwallah-Sir Charles Napier sent out to supersede Lord Gough-The Battle of Goojerat-Surrender of Mooltan-End of the Sikh Wa:Annexation of the Punjaub.

No sooner was the conquest of Scinde completed, than the Governor-General began to discern another cloud looming in the distance. In the Punjaub, Runjeet Singh had organised a regular and well-disciplined army 73,000 men.

of

He died in 1839. His heir died the next year, it was supposed of poison. The next heir was killed a few days after by accident. The third, who succeeded, was an effeminate prince, who left the wicked man, who, conspiring with others, caused to be government entirely in the hands of his Minister, a murdered several members of the Royal family. They were, in their turn, punished by having their heads cut off, and the only surviving son of Runjeet Singh, a boy only ten years of age, was proclaimed Maharajah. This was the work of the Sikh army, now virtually masters of the country. Lord Ellenborough and his council suspected

Vol. viii., p. 128.

A.D. 1843.]

BATTLE OF MAHARAJPORE.

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The

their cavalry which covered the extreme right. General
Vaillant then led on the 40th Queen's, and successively
gained three strong positions, which the enemy defended
with the utmost firmness and courage, not quitting their
guns till they were cut down by their fierce assailants. In
this attack they lost six regimental standards.
2nd Native Infantry also acted bravely on this occasion.
The 39th Queen's also made an impetuous attack, and the
result was that the enemy were driven from all their
intrenchments in utter confusion, with the loss of nine
standards and sixty-four guns. The officers that dis-
tinguished themselves most in this battle were Major
Hoppard, Captain Codrington, Colonel Hamilton,
Captain Grant, Major Bray, Major Dick, Major Philips,
and Captain Campbell. Seven of our officers were
killed on the spot or wounded mortally. Our total loss
was 106 killed, and 684 wounded. The Commander-in-
Chief wrote in his despatch: *-"I regret to say that
our loss has been very severe-infinitely beyond what
I calculated upon. Indeed, I did not do justice to the
gallantry of my opponents." It was a loss certainly
almost unprecedented in Indian warfare, and it is re-

that this army, still 40,000 strong, and very brave, was unfriendly to the British, and might some day give trouble to the Indian Government-possibly invade its territories and cut off its communications. In order to guard against such contingencies, it was necessary, they thought, to take possession of Gwalior, a powerful Mahratta state in Central India. This country lay on the flank of our line of communications with Allahabad, Benares, and Calcutta. In this country also there were, fortunately for the British, a disputed succession, royal murders, civil dissensions, and military disorganisation. A boy, adopted by the Queen, was proclaimed Sovereign by the chiefs, with a regency, over which the British Government extended its protecting wing. The young Sovereign died in 1843, having no child; but his widow, then thirteen years of age, adopted a boy of eight, who became King under another regency. The regent Nama Sahib was deposed, notwithstanding the support of the British Government. This was an offence which Lord Ellenborough would not allow to go unpunished; and besides, the disorganised army of Gwalior were said to be committing depredations along the British frontier. Here, then, in the estimation of the Governor-markable that this misfortune repeatedly occurred while General, was a clear case for military intervention, to put down disorder, and secure a good position for future defence against the possible aggressions of the warlike Sikhs of the Punjaub. Lord Ellenborough explained his policy to the Company, stating that the Indian Government could not descend from its high position as the paramount authority in India. The withdrawal of its restraining hand would let loose all the elements of confusion. Redress for the daily occurring grievances of the several states against each other would again be sought not from the superintending justice of the British Government, but from the armed reprisals of the injured; and bad ambition, availing itself of the love of plunder and of war, which pervades so large a portion of the population of India, would again expose to devastation countries which, under our protection, have enjoyed many of the advantages of peace. To maintain, therefore, unimpaired the position we now hold, is a duty not to ourselves alone but to humanity.

These arguments seemed to satisfy the Home Government, and a large force was sent from Agra to Gwalior, under Sir Hugh Gough, then Commander-in-Chief of India, as successor of Sir Jasper Nicholls. So much interest did Lord Ellenborough feel in this invading expedition that it was accompanied by him in person. The Mahrattas of course prepared to defend themselves. They were met at Maharajpore. After a severe struggle, in which the enemy were bayoneted at their guns, and a series of bloody conflicts had taken place in the streets, the British were victorious, and got possession of twentyeight guns, with the key of the enemy's position. The battle, however, was not over when this vantage ground was gained; for though the enemy had fallen back, they were prepared for a desperate resistance in other less favourable positions. A general attack was then ordered. Brigadier Scott, at the head of the 10th Light Horse, and Captain Grant, with his Horse Artillery, had scattered

Lord Gough was commander-in-chief. Lord Ellenborough, with his suite, was rash enough to be under fire during part of the engagement. The loss of the enemy was estimated at 3,000. Major-General Gray, with only 2,000 men, on the same day won a victory over 12,000 of the Mahrattas, in the fortified village of Mangore, about twelve miles from Gwalior. Here, too, the loss of the victors was very heavy, more than a tenth of the little army having fallen.

After these victories, an armistice was agreed upon, as a preliminary to negotiations. The result was submission on the part of the Mahrattas, and the occupation of Gwalior by our troops. The Governor-General then imposed the terms of peace, which did not include the seizure of any territory, but consisted solely in the usurpation of sovereignty. The Mahrattas were compelled to disband their army and abolish their Government. The supreme authority was lodged in a council of men devoted to the East India Company, whose President was to receive his instructions from the British resident. A new army was organised as a contingent, which was to be at the service of the Indian Government when required. Until the majority of the reigning prince, the administrators of the Government were to act on the British resident's advice, not only generally or in important points, but in all matters wherein such advice shall be offered. † This conquest, with its humiliating consequences, was terribly avenged in 1857.

The career of Lord Ellenborough as Governor-General of India was one of the most remarkable in its annals. He went out for the purpose of inaugurating a policy of peace, conciliation, and non-intervention. His course from that day was one of constant aggression and war. The conquests of Scinde and Gwalior were planned and

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of war. Notwithstanding the stringent injunctions he had received to cultivate the most amicable spirit with the Sikhs, he was obliged to tax the resources of the empire in maintaining with them one of the most desperate conflicts recorded in Indian history. The Sikhs were a warlike race, distinguished not less by fanaticism than bravery. They were bound together and inspired by the most powerful religious convictionsa tall, muscular, and athletic race of men, full of

prepared for deliberately and in good time; and when the Governments to be subdued were goaded into hostilities, he was ready to pounce upon them with overwhelming force. The consequence was brilliant success, and what the world calls glory, with splendid fortunes for a number of British officers and agents. His friends defended this policy, on the ground that, though it was aggressive it was self-defensive; to guard against a possible, but very remote contingency -an invasion of the Sikhs to drive the British out of patriotic ardour, elevated by an ancient faith. They India. The Governor-General, however, had become entirely too warlike; and since. he had smelled powder and tasted blood at Gwalior, the Board of Control became so alarmed at his martial propensities, that they determined on his immediate recall, and sent out Sir Henry Hardinge to rule in his stead. That they were right about his propensities, appears from the language he used in a farewell speech at Calcutta, in which he said:"The only regret I feel on leaving India is that of being separated from the army. The most agreeable, the most interesting period of my life has been that which I have passed here in cantonments and camps.'

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were confederated in various provinces, to the number of about 7,000,000. They were accustomed to ride upon fleet horses, and had organised an effective cavalry, while their infantry had been disciplined by French and Italian officers. They could, if necessary, bring inte the field 260,000 fighting men; but their regular army now consisted of 73,000 men, with 200 pieces of artillery. Settled chiefly in the Punjaub, a country of extraordinary fertility, they also abounded in Mooltan, Afghanistan, and Cashmere, celebrated from the most ancient times as the favoured abode of manufacturing industry, social order, wealth, and happiness. This warlike race had been governed by Runjeet Singh, a Sir Henry Hardinge, the new Governor-General of chief of extraordinary ability, energy, and determinaIndia, whom Sir Robert Peel recommended to the Board tion. He had but one eye; he was deeply marked with of Control, had been in the army since he was thirteen the small-pox; his aspect was repulsive, and his manner years of age. He had followed Wellington through all rude; yet was he looked up to by this great people with the battles of the Peninsular war, and had won all the respectful homage, and obeyed with implicit trust. military glory that could be desired, so that he was not While he lived he maintained an alliance with the Eng. likely to follow the example of Lord Ellenborough in lish Government; but after his death the Sikhs were opening fresh fields for the gathering of laurels in India. divided into two factions-one headed by Gholab Singh, "The man who stood beside the dying Moore at and professing to be favourable to the British; the other Corunna, who had turned disaster into victory at by the Ranee, who yielded to the clamours of the unpaid Albuera, and lost an arm beside Blucher at Ligny, was soldiers to be led against the English. Accordingly the not likely to be seduced by the phantom of Oriental military forces of the Sikhs were ordered to march down glory into schemes of doubtful expediency, or hazardous to the Sutlej. But their intended attack was prevented result." The Chairman of the East India Company, by the astrologers, who declared that the auspicious day giving him instructions on his departure, cautioned him for marching had not yet arrived. Sir Henry Hardinge, against following the example of Lord Ellenborough, however, in common with the most experienced officers in appointing military officers as administrators, in pre- of the Indian Government, did not think the Sikh army ference to the civil servants of the Crown. He reminded would cross the Sutlej with its infantry and artillery, him that the members of the Civil Service were educated or that they would have recourse to offensive operations with a special view to the important duties of civil ad-on a large scale. Up to this period it had committed ministration, upon the upright and intelligent performance of which so much of the happiness of the people depended. He expressed a hope that he would appreciate justly the eminent qualities of the civil servants of India; and that he would act towards the Sepoys with every degree of consideration and indulgence, compatible with the maintenance of order and obedience. He urged that his policy should be essentially pacific, and should tend to the development of the internal resources of the country, while endeavouring to improve the con

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no act of aggression. In 1843 and 1844 it had moved down the river from Lahore, and after remaining there encamped a few weeks, had returned to the capital. These reasons, and, above all, his extreme anxiety to avoid hostilities, induced him not to make any hasty movement with his army, which, when the two armies came into each other's presence, might bring about a collision. This moderation, however, was misconstrued by the Sikhs. They supposed that the British were afraid to encounter them. Accordingly, on the night of the 9th December, 1845, a portion of the Sikh army appeared within three miles of the Sutlej; and information was received by our garrison at Ferozepore, that preparations were making on a large scale for the movement of infantry, artillery, and stores, from the Sikh capital, Lahore. On the 12th of December, the Sikh army crossed the Sutlej, and concentrated in great force

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