First Anglo-Sikh War

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The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought between the Sikh kingdom of the Punjab and the British East India Company between 1845 and 1846. It resulted in partial subjugation of the Sikh kingdom.

Contents 1 Background 2 Outbreak and course of the war 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 Sources 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Background

Ranjit Singh, the strong ruler of the Punjab, died in 1839. Almost immediately, the kingdom fell into disorder. Ranjit's unpopular legitimate son, Kharak Singh, was removed from power within a few months. After a succession of illegitimate sons died or were also deposed, Jind Kaur, Ranjit Singh's youngest widow, became Regent for her infant son Duleep Singh (whose paternity was disputed). Lal Singh became Vizier, and Tej Singh became commander of the army. Sikh historians have stressed that neither Lal Singh nor Tej Singh were Sikhs, being high caste Hindus (Dogras) from outside the Punjab.

An alternate power source lay in the regimental panchayats (committees) within the army of the Punjab, which now claimed itself to be the Khalsa, or embodiment of the Sikh nation. British representatives in the Punjab described the regiments as preserving "puritanical" order internally, but also as being in a perpetual state of mutiny or rebellion against the central Darbar (Court).

Meanwhile, immediately on the death of Ranjit Singh, the East India Company had begun increasing its military strength on the borders of the Punjab. Outwardly, they were merely taking precautionary measures against disorder in the Punjab spilling into British possessions, but it cannot be denied that there was a desire to expand British influence and control into the Punjab. The unconcealed British military build-up had the effect of increasing tension within the Punjab and the Khalsa.

[edit] Outbreak and course of the war

After mutual demands and accusations between the Sikh Darbar and the East India Company, diplomatic relations were broken. An East India Company army began marching towards Ferozepur, where a division was already stationed. This army was commanded by Sir Hugh Gough, the commander in chief of the Bengal Army, and was accompanied by Sir Henry Hardinge, the British Governor General of Bengal, who placed himself beneath Gough in the military chain of command. The "British" army consisted of formations of the Bengal Army, with usually one British unit to every three or four Bengal infantry or cavalry units. Most of the British artillery consisted of light guns from the elite Bengal Horse Artillery.

In response to the British move, the Sikh army began crossing the Sutlej River on December 11, 1845. Although the leaders and principal units of the army were Sikhs, there were also Punjabi, Pakhtun and Kashmiri infantry units. The artillery consisted mainly of units of heavy guns, which had been organised and trained by European mercenaries.

The Sikh army made no effort to surround or attack the exposed division at Ferozepur. A force under Lal Singh clashed with Gough's and Hardinge's advancing forces at the Battle of Mudki on December 18. The British won an untidy encounter battle. Lal Singh was alleged to have fled the battlefield early.

On the next day, the British came in sight of the large Sikh entrenchment at Ferozeshah. Gough wished to attack at once, but Hardinge used his position as Governor General to overrule him and order him to wait for the division from Ferozepur. When they appeared late on December 21, Gough attacked in the few hours of daylight left. The well served Sikh artillery caused heavy casualties among the British, and their infantry fought desperately. On the other hand, the elite of the Sikh army, the irregular cavalry or Gorchurras, were comparatively ineffective against Gough's infantry and cavalry.

By nightfall, some of Gough's army had fought their way into the Sikh positions, but other units had been driven back in disorder. Hardinge expected a defeat on the following day and ordered the state papers at Mudki to be burned in this event. However, on the following morning, the British and Bengal Army units rallied and drove Lal Singh's troops from the rest of their fortifications. At this point, Tej Singh's army appeared. Once again, Gough's exhausted army faced defeat and disaster, but Tej Singh inexplicably withdrew.

Operations temporarily halted, mainly because Gough's army was exhausted and required rest and reinforcements. Although the Sikhs did not themselves attack, they remained on the British side of the Sutlej.

When hostilities resumed, a Sikh detachment crossed the Sutlej near Aliwal, threatening Gough's lines of supply and communications. A division under Sir Harry Smith was sent to deal with them. Sikh cavalry attacked Smith continually on his march and captured his baggage, but at the Battle of Aliwal on January 28, 1846, Smith won a model victory, eliminating the Sikh bridgehead.

Gough's main army had now been reinforced, and rejoined by Smith's division, they attacked the main Sikh bridgehead at Sobraon on February 10. Tej Singh deserted the Sikh army early in the battle. Although the Sikh army resisted as stubbornly as at Ferozeshah, Gough's troops eventually broke into their position. The bridges behind the Sikhs broke under British artillery fire, or were ordered to be destroyed by Tej Singh (ostensibly to prevent British pursuit). The Sikh army was trapped. None of them surrendered, and the British troops showed little mercy. This victory effectively broke the Sikh army.

[edit] Aftermath

In the Treaty of Lahore in 1846 the Sikhs were made to give up Kashmir and had to accept a British resident in Lahore. This effectively gave the East India Company control of the region's government. The Treaty also gave the Koh-i-Noor diamond to Queen Victoria.

Sikh historians have always maintained that, in order to retain their hold on power and maintain the figurehead rule of Duleep Singh, Lal Singh and Tej Singh embarked on the war with the deliberate intent of breaking their own army. In particular, Lal Singh was corresponding with a British political officer and betraying state and military secrets throughout the war. Lal Singh's and Tej Singh's desertion of their armies and refusal to attack when opportunity offered seem inexplicable otherwise.

[edit] See also

• Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–1849)
• 29th Regiment of Foot

[edit] Sources

• Byron Farwell, "Queen Victoria's little wars", Wordsworth Editions, ISBN 1-84022-216-6
• A highly fictionalized (and scurrilous) description of the origins and course of the First Anglo-Sikh War can be found in the comedy/adventure novel Flashman and the Mountain of Light by George MacDonald Fraser (1990). However, the book's well-researched footnotes are a source for serious historical information and further reading, such as the memoirs of some of the principals involved.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• First Anglo-Sikh War
• Sikhs in British Empire
• The Anglo Sikh Wars