Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/641

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OUR ANGLO-INDIAN ARMY.
617

The noble Governor-General said that this action of Goojerat "must ever be regarded as one of the most memorable in the annals of British warfare in India – memorable alike from the greatness of the occasion, and from the brilliant and decisive issue of the encounter."

The victory of Goojerat was complete and decisive, and its fruits were the entire surrender of the Sikh army, including their commander Rajah Shere Singh, his father Chuttur Singh, his brothers, and most of the principal Sikh Sirdars and chiefs. Forty-one pieces of artillery, the whole that remained uncaptured by the British, were at the same time unconditionally surrendered; and the remains of the conquered army, to the number of 16,000 Sikh soldiers, laid down their arms in the presence of the British troops. The principal scene of this act of surrender by the vanquished was a place called Hoormuk, at one of the principal fords of the river, across which their broken ranks had fled in dismay before the final charge of the victors of Goojerat. At this spot the Sikh soldiers crossed and delivered up their arms, passing through the ranks of two native infantry regiments appointed for this duty. Each of the Sikhs received a rupee to subsist him on his return home, in addition to which they were permitted to retain their horses.

The Affghans fled in dismay for their own country, and were hotly pursued by Sir Walter Gilbert, who recovered Attock, crossed the Indus, and drove the enemy towards the Khyber Pass and Cabul.

The immediate consequence of this glorious victory was the annexation of the entire country to the British empire in India; the insurrection of the Sikh army being quashed effectually and for ever, and a second Punjaub war brought to a glorious termination by Lord Gough, who, like another Clive, saved our Indian empire from the greatest danger with which it has been threatened in modern times. Pseudo critics have endeavoured by contemptible cavilling to detract from his well-earned fame; but his lordship, secure in the approbation of all who can