Battle: Chillianwallah

W.G.Ewald

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Battle of Chillianwallah - The Sikh Wars



The Battle of Ramnagar and General Thackwell's inconclusive expedition across the Chenab River had the effect of driving Shere Singh's Sikh army north from the Chenab to take up a position against the River Jhelum. On 10th January 1849 the news came in to the British commander, Major General Gough, that Chattar Singh had finally captured the fortress of Attock in the extreme north west corner of the Punjab. It was now a matter of time before Chattar Singh's force with its Afghan allies joined Shere Singh on the Jhelum to create an overwhelming Sikh army.
 

W.G.Ewald

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Regimental anecdotes and traditions:

The cause of the collapse of Pope's cavalry brigade was attributed to Pope's age and inexperience. He was elderly and so ill that he had to be helped to mount and had never commanded more than a squadron in the field.
An extraordinary incident took place in 1850 when Sir Charles Napier reviewed the 3rd and 14th Light Dragoons and congratulated them on their performance in the Sikh Wars. A trumpeter of the 14th rode forward and announced to Napier "Our colonel is a coward," referring to the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel King. Soon afterwards King shot himself. At the point during the Battle of Chilllianwalah when Pope's cavalry brigade began to disintegrate King was attempting to persuade Pope to charge the Sikh cavalry
.
 

sob

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Many thanks for introducing me to this fascinating period.

I really am amazed by this One of the casualties was the Subadar-Major of the 8th Bengal Light Cavalry, a man aged 78 with over 60 years service in the Bengal Army.
 

W.G.Ewald

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Pay in the Khalsa was good, twice the rate for sepoys in the Bengal Army, but it was haphazard, particularly after the death of Ranjit Singh. Khalsa administration was conducted by clerks writing in the Persian language. In one notorious mutiny over pay Sikh soldiers ran riot looking for anyone who could, or looked as if they could, speak Persian and putting them to the sword.
Not a good idea to short-change a Sikh, apparently.
 

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