Major-general Dick, one of the heroes of Waterloo, was killed; also Brigadier-general Taylor; and Major-general McLaren was mortally wounded. In all, thirteen European, and three native officers, were killed; one hundred and one European, and thirty-nine native officers, were wounded. The total of men killed was only three hundred and twenty, but more than two thousand were wounded, many of them mortally. The loss on the part of the Khalsa army was enormous; notwithstanding that they fought behind works, a larger number were slain than at Aliwal.
Sir Hugh Gough lost no time in utilising his victory, for the same day he passed a division of native infantry over a bridge of boats across the Sutlej, the bridge of Sobraon having been broken and burnt at the close of the action, and the ford at Hurrakee being impassable, the river having risen some seven inches in a short time. The destruction of the bridge of Sobraon does not appear to have been a politic measure; it was not necessary as a precaution, because the enemy was so totally defeated as not to be able to make use of it any longer.
On the 14th of February, the whole of the British army of the Sutlej bivouaced at Kussoor, within thirty-two miles of Lahore, the Sikh capital. The governor-general there issued a proclamation, announcing his determination to prosecute the war until the complete submission of the Lahore government was obtained; at the same time, his excellency declared that he had no wish to subvert the Sikh government, but only desired to obtain security for the future good faith of the maharajah’s ministers, and the peace of the bordering possessions of British India. The Lahore government was terror-struck at the rapid approach of the British army, and at the moral effect which the proclamations of the governor-general were likely to have upon the Sikh population. Gholab Singh, the wuzeer, represented to the ranee, or queen-mother, that the Khalsa army had lost twenty thousand men in the last two battles, and that unless terms were made with the governor-general, the dominions of her son would be soon forfeited. The ranee called a council, and it was then agreed that Gholab should repair to the British camp and sue for peace. The wuzeer undertook the task, on the condition that the ranee, the durbar, and the chief officers of the army, as well as the members of the punchayete, should sign a solemn declaration that they would abide by the terms he might accept, and do all in their power to enforce their observance by the Sikh soldiery and population. This was acceded to; and on the 15th the wuzeer, accompanied by Dewan Deena Nath, and Fakeer Kboroodeen, proceeded to the British camp. These three persons were conjointly empowered to negotiate, and they were attended by many influential Sikhs, anxious for peace; among them was the Banuhzie chief, Sultan Mohammed Khan, and several sirdars of great eminence. Thus a strong moral guarantee was given to the British that the negotiations were sincerely opened by the Lahore government. Sir Henry Hardinge admitted the deputation coldly, refusing to receive the muzzars offered and accepted on all occasions of important negotiations in the East. The terms demanded by Sir Henry were the surrender of the territories east of the Beas, in addition to the province which had in December been declared confiscated; the surrender of every gun which had been pointed at the British; the disbanding of the Khalsa army, and its reorganisation on the principles observed by the Maharajah Bunjeet Singh; the entire regulation and control of both banks of the Sutlej; a reorganisation of the Lahore administration, and the payment of one million and a half sterling as indemnification for the expenses of the war. It was also demanded that the young Maharajah Dhuleep Singh should meet the governor-general eleven miles from Lahore. Sir Henry refused to discuss these points in person with the Rajah Gholab Singh, but referred him to his secretary, Mr. Currie, and to Major Lawrence. The rajah remained until midnight discussing the terms with these officers, and finally accepted them. On the 17th Gholab again renewed his interview with Mr. Currie and Major Lawrence, when various details were settled. On the 18th the young maharajah, attended by a magnificent suite, presented himself, at Lulleeanee, to Sir Henry, who received him without a royal salute, or any other mark of royal distinction. The maharajah, an amiable and gentle prince, submitted to the governor, expressing his contrition for the outrage which had been inflicted upon British territory. Of course this was a mere formal ceremony, as the prince was too young to take any share in the responsibility of these occurrences. When submission was made in due form, a royal salute thundered from the British camp, and all the etiquette due to an eastern prince was observed towards the young maharajah.
The relics of the Sikh army were at this time drawn up about eighteen miles from Lahore, at a place called Raebaun, under the command of the two notorious leaders, Sirdar Fej Singh, and Rajah Sail Singh. The soldiery of this force had the hardihood to request that they should be led against the British, and their murmurs and threats of revenge did not cease during the proceedings which were taking place, and which ended in the establishment of peace. Indications were already given that neither the Khalsa army nor its chiefs felt even yet vanquished. Immediately after the maharajah made submission, the governor-general put forth the following proclamation:—“The chiefs, merchants, traders, ryots, and other inhabitants of Lahore and Umritsir, are hereby informed that his highness Maharajah Dhuleep Singh has this day waited upon the right honourable the governor-general, and expressed the contrition of himself and the Sikh government for their late hostile proceedings.
“The maharajah and durbar having acquiesced in all the terms and conditions imposed by the British government, the governor-general has every hope that the relations of friendship will speedily be re-established between the two governments. The inhabitants of Lahore and Umritsir have nothing to fear from the British army. The governor-general and the British troops, if the conditions above adverted to are fulfilled, and no further hostile opposition is offered by the Khalsa army, will use their endeavours for the re-establishment of the government of the descendant of Maharajah Runjeet Singh, and for the protection of its subjects. The inhabitants of the cities in the Punjaub will, in that case, be perfectly safe in person and property from any molestation by the British troops, and they are hereby called upon to dismiss apprehension, and to follow their respective callings with all confidence.”
On the morning of the 20th the British army were under the walls of Lahore, where not a cannon appeared in the embrasures. The governor-general thought it politic to send Dhuleep Singh, the young king, with some ceremonial to his palace, he accordingly issued the following general order, which made a favourable impression on the inhabitants of Lahore, as well as on the chiefs of the Sikh nation:—
“The right honourable the governor-general requests that the commander-in-chief will cause the following arrangements to be made for escorting his highness the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh to his palace, in the citadel of Lahore, this afternoon. The escort will consist of two regiments of European cavalry, two regiments of native cavalry—the body-guard to be one—one regiment of irregular horse, two troops of horse artillery, one European and one native. The secretary to the government of India, F. Currie, Esq., will take charge of his highness and his suite, and will be accompanied by the political agent, Major Lawrence; the governor-general’s private secretary, Charles Hardinge, Esq.; the aides-de-camp of the governor-general; two aides-de-camp of the commander-in-chief, one aide-de-camp from each general officer of division, in uniform. The escort will be formed at the nearest convenient spot to the governor-general’s camp at two o’clock, and proceed to his highness’s camp, and thence to his palace. On alighting from his elephant a salute of twenty-one guns will be fired by the horse artillery.
“His highness the maharajah of the Sikh nation, selected by the chiefs as their sovereign, having on the 18th instant intimated his intention to proceed to the governor-general’s camp at Lulleeanee, attended by his highness’s wuzeer, the Rajah Gholab Singh, and other chiefs, was received in durbar on the afternoon of that day by the governor-general, the commander-in-chief and the staff being present. His highness’s ministers and chiefs there tendered his submission, and solicited the clemency of the British government.
“The governor-general extended the clemency of the British government to a prince the descendant of the maharajah, the late Runjeet Singh, for so many years the faithful ally and friend of the British government, as the representative of the Sikh nation, selected by the chiefs and the people to be their ruler, on the condition that all the terms imposed by the British government and previously explained to his highness’s ministers and chiefs should be faithfully executed.
“On withdrawing from the durbar, the maharajah received the usual salutes due to his highness’s exalted rank. His highness has since remained near the governor-general’s camp; and, as it will be conducive to his highness’s comfort that he should rejoin his family, the governor-general desires that he may, with all honour and in safety, be conducted by the British troops to the gates of his palace this day.