"At nine o'clock, Brigadier Stacy's brigade, supported on either flank by Captains Horseford's and Fordyce's batteries, and Lieut.-Colonel Lane's troop of horse artillery, moved to the attack in admirable order. The infantry and guns aided each other correlatively. The former marched steadily on in line, which they halted only to correct when necessary. The latter took up successive positions at the gallop, until at length they were within three hundred yards of the heavy batteries of the Sikhs; but notwithstanding the regularity and coolness, and scientific character of this assault, which Brigadier Wilkinson well supported, so hot was the fire of cannon, musketry, and zumboorucks kept up by the Khalsa troops, that it seemed for some moments impossible that the entrenchments could be won under it; but soon persevering gallantry triumphed, and the whole army had the satisfaction to see the gallant Brigadier Stacy's soldiers driving the Sikhs in confusion before them within the area of their encampment. The tenth foot, under Lieut.-Colonel Franks, now for the first time brought into serious contact with the enemy, greatly distinguished themselves. This regiment never fired a shot until it had got within the works of the enemy. The onset of Her Majesty's FIFTY-THIRD was as gallant and effective. The forty-third and fifty-ninth native infantry, brigaded with them, emulated both in cool determination."
Allusion was also made to the FIFTY-THIRD in the General Order of the 14th of February, by the Right Honorable the Governor-General of India, in which it was stated:—
"Her Majesty's tenth, FIFTY-THIRD, and eightieth regiments, with the thirty-third, forty-third, fifty-ninth, and sixty-third native infantry, moving at a firm and steady pace, never fired a shot till they had passed the barriers opposed to them, a forbearance much to be commended, and most worthy of constant imitation, to which may be attributed the success of their effort, and the small loss they sustained."
The first success was gallantly seconded by the remainder of the army, and by eleven o'clock, after a severe hand-to-hand conflict, the Battle of Sobraon was gained. A sudden rise of the Sutlej rendered the river hardly fordable, and added to the loss of the Sikhs' numbers of whom were drowned in attempting the passage. Sixty-seven pieces of cannon, upwards of two hundred camel-swivels (zumboorucks), numerous standards, and vast munitions of war were the trophies of the victory.
Captain Charles Edward Dawson Warren, and eight rank and file of the FIFTY-THIRD regiment, were killed. Lieutenant-Colonel William George Gold, Captain Thomas Smart, Lieutenants John Chester, Anthony B. O. Stokes, Robert Nathaniel Clarke, and John Breton, Ensigns Henry Lucas and William Dunning (Adjutant) were wounded. Captain Smart and Lieutenant Clarke died in a few days of their wounds. Lieutenant Dunning, who was promoted after the battle, also died of his wound on the 6th of April following. One serjeant and one hundred and four rank and file were wounded.
Medals were struck for the victories of Aliwal and Sobraon, and were presented by the Government of India to the regiments present in those battles.
Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to authorize the FIFTY-THIRD regiment to bear on its colours and appointments the words "Aliwal" and "Sobraon," to commemorate its gallantry in those victories.
The Battle of Sobraon concluded a campaign of unexampled rapidity, and the youthful Sovereign of Lahore, Maha Rajah Dhuleep Singh, was compelled to wait upon the Right Honorable the Governor-General, Sir Henry Hardinge, and express contrition for the offences of his army for the unjust and unprovoked invasion of the British territories. The Maha Rajah was afterwards conducted to his capital by the British troops, who formally took possession of the citadel of Lahore. In less than two months, four important victories had been gained on a line of country about sixty miles in length, under most trying circumstances, over a great and warlike people, possessed of military skill of no common order, with all the appliances of war, which will ever render the campaign one of the most remarkable in the History of India, a campaign in which the Governor-General, Sir Henry (now Viscount) Hardinge, was present in the several actions, volunteering to act as second in command, that he might aid the admirable strategy of the Commander-in-chief General Sir Hugh (now Lord) Gough, by his presence and military experience.
The regiment marched from Sobraon on the 11th of February, forming part of the advance guard of the army proceeding to Lahore, where it arrived on the 13th of that month, and encamped outside its walls until the 22nd of March, when the regiment received orders to march for Umballa, which it commenced on the following day, arriving there and entering the cantonments on the 8th of April, 1846.
On the 15th of October, 1846, the regiment proceeded to Ferozepore, and arrived there on the 28th of that month.