Chilianwala.—After the fall of Mooltan, Major-General Whish, with the 10th, 32nd, and the 60th Rifles, proceeded to join Gough's army, and was in time to take part in the final battle of Goojerat. The sanguinary battle of Chilianwala was fought on January 13th, 1849, and although described by Sir Henry Havelock as "the most sanguinary, and the nearest approximation to a defeat," it was not at first decided to issue a bar for the engagement. It was not an officers' battle; all the more reason, therefore, that the bar should be given to the soldiers "whose dauntless valour rectifies the errors of its commanders," for, as the Calcutta Review rightly affirmed, the soldiery "redeemed their errors with its blood," the unfortunate 24th, which advanced on the Sikh guns with unloaded muskets, losing no less than 14 officers and 241 men killed in the action, and 10 officers and 253 men wounded, besides losing one of their colours which was left on the field, but four others shared the same fate when after this confused battle Lord Gough drew his men off a mile in order to find water. The total loss of the British was 38 officers and 564 men killed, 94 officers and 1,557 men wounded, and 104 missing. The Sikhs, who "fought like devils," lost about 3,000 killed and 4,000 wounded.
The following British regiments took part: 24th, 29th (whose "undaunted bravery" was placed on record), 61st Foot; 3rd, 9th, and 14th Light Dragoons; Bengal Horse and Foot Artillery; the 2nd Bengal Fusiliers; 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 31st, 36th, 45th, 46th, 56th, and 69th Bengal Native Infantry; 1st, 5th, 6th, and 8th Bengal Light Cavalry; 3rd and 9th Irregular Cavalry and Bengal Pioneers.
Goojerat.—The last battle of the campaign was fought at Goojerat (Gujerat) on February 21st, 1849. Hitherto the Sikhs had proudly attacked; in this instance they acted upon the defensive under Sheer Singh, who commanded a force of 34,000 Sikhs, with 59 guns, and about 1,500 Afghans under the command of a son of the Ameer. In this battle the British General was superior in artillery, having 97 guns, but only 24,000 men. In advancing upon the Sikh position, Gough, as usual, intended sending his infantry forward before the artillery had done its work. Colonel Robertson alleges that, "Sir Hugh Gough's simple strategy was to put the strongest regiment into the hottest place, and no attempt was made to outflank or turn a position, which must account for the heavy list of casualties." However, on this occasion, Malleson states his staff induced the veteran to mount the top story of an isolated building which commanded a complete view of the battlefield, and then quietly removed the ladder, and only replaced it when the artillery had done its work. Then this indomitable army went for the well-served Sikh guns, and put the enemy to rout, leaving the cavalry to pursue them for twelve miles. The power of the Sikhs was broken, the Punjab became a possession of the British Crown, and the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh granted a pension. The Sikh losses were terrific, but only 29 officers and 671 men of the British force were placed hors de combat.
The following regiments were represented at Goojerat: 10th, 24th, 29th, 32nd, 53rd (which arrived in the evening), 60th, and 1st Batt. 61st Foot; 3rd Light Dragoons, 9th Lancers, and 14th Light Dragoons; 1st Bombay Europeans; 1st and 2nd Bengal Europeans; 3rd, 8th, 13th, 15th, 19th, 20th, 25th, 31st, 36th, 45th, 46th, 51st, 52nd, 56th, 69th, 70th, 72nd Bengal Native Infantry; 19th Bombay Infantry; 1st, 5th, 6th, and 8th Bengal Light Cavalry; 3rd, 9th, 11th, and 14th Irregular Cavalry, and Scinde Horse; 4 field batteries of Bombay Artillery, and 9 troops of Horse Artillery; 2 companies of Bengal Sappers and Miners, 6 companies of Bengal Pioneers, and 1st Company of Bombay Pioneers. A Brigade of Seamen from the Indian Navy which accompanied the Bombay column were awarded the medal.
The Punjab Medal.—The obverse bears the diademed head of Queen Victoria by Wyon, and the legend VICTORIA REGINA, and the reverse Sikh chiefs laying down their arms before a victorious British General seated on horseback in the front of his troops, who are drawn up in line with colours flying. In the background are palm trees, and above TO THE ARMY OF THE PUNJAB. In the exergue is the date MDCCCXLIX. The medal is 1⅖ in. in diameter, and has the names of the recipients impressed on the edge in Roman capital letters. The clasps for suspension, and the bars, are similar to those on the Sutlej medal; the ribbon is 1¾ in. wide, and of dark blue with bright-yellow stripes at the side.
FIRST NEW ZEALAND WAR
During this time trouble had arisen in the distant colony of New Zealand, the sovereignty of which had been ceded to Britain in 1840, a year after the first settlers had established themselves. The trouble arose mainly owing to the occupation of tribal land, although other causes were alleged. The first outbreak took place in July 1844, when a police magistrate and a number of settlers were killed, and a powerful chief, Hone Heke, tore down the British flag at Kororareka—in the north islands—took possession of the township and plundered it. H.M.S. "Hazard," with a detachment of the 95th, was sent to quell the disturbance and guard the place, but so persistent and successful was Heke in his attacks that it was deemed advisable, in March 1845, to abandon the settlement and embark the inhabitants for Auckland. On the arrival of reinforcements from Sydney, the Union Jack was again hoisted, and martial law proclaimed. A force consisting of the 58th Regiment, a detachment of the 96th, Seamen and Marines from the "Hazard" and "North Star," and a number of natives under Colonel Hulme of the 96th Regiment, then proceeded to Okaihau, where Heke had built a Pah or fortification. Although only 18 miles inland, the troops were four days in reaching their goal, and then the place was found impregnable, and as no artillery accompanied the expedition, it was forced to return, having lost 14 killed and 39 wounded. The expedition being strengthened by reinforcements, another attempt was made to try conclusions with Heke, who had entrenched himself at Oheawai. The 58th Regiment, with detachments of the 96th and 99th, a number of volunteers from Auckland, and 30 men from the "Hazard," in all 630 men with 250 natives and 4 guns, under the command of Colonel Despard, appeared before Oheawai on June 23rd; the guns, however, proved useless for the work, but breaches were made with a 32-pounder brought up by the commander of the "Hazard." On July 1st an assault was made by 200 soldiers and seamen, but half the stormers were killed or wounded, and they were compelled to retire. They consequently sat down in front of the stockades, and when preparing to make another assault, on July 10th, they discovered that the enemy had evacuated their Pah. In November 1845 more active measures were taken by the newly appointed Governor, Captain (afterwards Sir George) Grey. A force of about 1,170 soldiers, volunteers, and seamen, with 450 natives, 4 guns, and rocket tubes, were sent against the chiefs Heke and Kawiti. While a friendly Maori chief, Macquarrie, kept Heke engaged at Ikorangi, the main force attacked the Pah at Ruapekapeka held by Kawiti, which after withstanding a siege from December 31st until January 10th, 1846, was practically abandoned by the Maoris, and then taken with a loss of 13 men killed and 30 wounded. The chiefs were pardoned, and the war in the North Island ended. Meanwhile trouble had been brewing in the South Island, which was brought to a head by an attack in May 1847 on a party of the 58th Regiment. A reprisal was made by the British attacking the stockade of Rangihaeata, and dispersing the natives, 600 of whom, however, on May 19th made an attack on the Wanganui settlement, and maintained it for several hours until night fell, when they retired. The place was held by 170 of the 58th, assisted by a gunboat. Early in June an attack was made on a detachment of the 65th; but following a sortie from the block-houses, held by the 58th, the Maori chiefs sued for peace.
The regiments engaged were the 58th, 65th, 96th, 99th; Royal Artillery; Royal Engineers; H.E.I. Co.'s Artillery; Royal Marines, and the crews of nine of Her Majesty's ships, the names of which are recorded in the naval section. The medal for the war was not authorised until March 1869.