The following account of the action is given in Captain Longworth’s despatch, dated 11th of February, 1846:—
“Camp, Attia, 11th February, 1846.
“Sir,
“I have the honor to state for the information of the Brigadier, that H. M.’s THIRTY-FIRST regiment, under my command, marched from Camp Tulwondee yesterday morning at four A.M., in quarter-distance column, right in front, being the leading regiment of the first brigade, first division. We advanced in this order till within about two miles of the enemy’s position, and then halted, formed line, and waited till daybreak, when we advanced some distance and halted till sunrise, and again advancing halted with our right resting on the Sutlej within range of the enemy’s guns; here we remained about two hours, when we were ordered to advance. This was no sooner discovered by the enemy than they opened upon us a most tremendous fire of round shot from the whole of the guns upon the left flank of their intrenched camp; shell, grape, canister, and a very heavy fire of musketry were showered upon us as we neared the fortifications: but in spite of this, I am proud to say, the regiment advanced steadily and in the best order till within thirty paces of the intrenched camp, when a most destructive fire from overpowering numbers forced us to retire to a short distance, for the purpose of re-forming, as we left a full third of the regiment upon the ground; and I feel convinced that had the regiment remained for five minutes longer in its exposed situation it must have been annihilated, as our fire was totally ineffectual against the enemy’s strongly fortified position, which completely protected them, until by a desperate charge, in conjunction with H. M.’s Fiftieth Regiment, we succeeded in penetrating the extremity of their works extending to the river, and thereby were enabled to bring our fire to bear upon their gunners, who with the most desperate courage turned their guns upon the portion of their own camp in our possession, and fought till bayoneted where they stood. Their infantry in masses now retiring, we followed them up, and, in concert with the other branches of the army, shot and bayoneted them into the river, where immense numbers were brought down by our fire. Shortly after the battle was over the regiment was ordered into camp.
“I beg to bring to your notice the gallant conduct of Serjeant M‘Cabe of the light company, who planted the regimental colour on the highest point of the enemy’s fortifications, and maintained his position under a most tremendous fire, the colour being completely riddled by the enemy’s shot;—he did this after the officer carrying the colour was shot.[34] I beg further to bring to your notice Private Williams of No. 7 company, and Private Biffin of the light company, who each took a colour from the enemy, one of which is supposed to have belonged to their artillery. I have much pleasure in expressing my high approbation of both officers and men under my command for their gallant conduct throughout the day. I regret to add that Lieutenant Law, my second in command, and Lieutenant and Adjutant Bolton, were both severely wounded.
| “List of Officers who were present at the Battle of Sobraon. | |||
| Lieut.-Colonel Spence. | Lieutenant | Gabbett. | |
| Captain Garvock. | ” | Timbrell. | |
| ” Longworth. | ” | Noel. | |
| ” Lugard. | ” | Paul. | |
| Lieutenant | Atty. | ” | Hutton. |
| ” | Law. | ” | Tritton. |
| ” | Robertson. | ||
| ” | Bolton (Adjutant). | Ensign Jones. | |
| ” | Elmslie. | Quarter-Master Benison.” | |
On the 14th of February, 1846, the Governor-General published a General Order, dated from his camp at Kussoor, from which the following extracts are taken:—
“The Governor-General, having received from his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief the despatch annexed, announces to the army and to the people of India, for the fourth time during this campaign, a most important and memorable victory obtained by the army of the Sutlej over the Sikh forces at Sobraon, on the 10th instant.
“On that day the enemy’s strongly intrenched camp, defended by 35,000 men and 67 pieces of artillery, exclusive of heavy guns on the opposite bank of the river, was stormed by the British Army under the immediate command of His Excellency Sir Hugh Gough, and in two hours the Sikh forces were driven into the river with immense loss, 67 guns being captured by the victors.