In the meantime the wounded officers and soldiers had been removed to the hospital at Ferozepore.
Lieut.-Colonel Byrne being prevented from resuming the command of the regiment by the severe wound he received at Moodkee, Major Spence continued to exercise the command during the arduous conflict of the 21st and 22nd of December at Ferozeshah, where he showed an example of bravery to his distinguished regiment. He was ably supported by every Officer and Man under his command. All nobly performed their duty on this well-contested field.
Colonel Bolton, being mortally wounded at Moodkee, died on the 4th January, 1846;[30] and the Commander-in-Chief promoted Major Spence, the senior major, to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the regiment.
Major Baldwin also died of the wounds received at Ferozeshah.[31] Captains Bulkeley and Young were promoted to the vacant majorities, a promotion which they justly merited for their gallant conduct at Moodkee, where both these officers were severely wounded.
Captain Willes, a meritorious and deserving officer, also died of the wounds received at Moodkee. The THIRTY-FIRST regiment, now greatly reduced in numbers from the heavy loss, both of officers and men, sustained in the late arduous conflicts, still preserved its spirit and energy, and was ready at a moment’s notice to be led on to future victories.
On the 30th of December, the Governor-General published a General Order, congratulating the Army on the recent victories, from which the following are extracts:
“The Governor-General again cordially congratulates His Excellency Sir Hugh Gough, G.C.B., on the great and important victories obtained by the army under his command.
“The Governor-General, in the name of the government and of the people of India, gratefully acknowledges the noble services rendered to the public by His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, by all the General and other Officers, and by the Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers of the brave Indian army.
“The Governor-General’s thanks are due to all the infantry regiments of Her Majesty, and to the first European Light Infantry of the East India Company’s Service, all of which regiments distinguished themselves by the most devoted courage in braving the destructive fire of the enemy’s batteries, and valiantly capturing their guns.”