1st Sikh War

1st Sikh War
1845-46
Chronological list of Wars and Campaigns
Location: Punjab
Combatants:
East India Company	Sikh Empire
Result: British victory
Medals: Sutlej Medal Clasps: Moodkee, Ferozeshuhur, Aliwal, Sobraon
Links:
Category: 1st Sikh War

	See our interactive map of 1st Sikh War locations and routes on Google Maps

The 1st Sikh War, also called the First Anglo-Sikh War or the Sutlej Campaign.

Summary

After the death of Ranjit Singh in 1839, there was a period of internal strife as the succession to Sikh leadership was contested. Sikh forces were increased as were those of the British in the newly acquired territory adjoining the Punjab. Tension built up with demand and counter-demand until the British moved forces toward Firozpur and the Sikh Khalsa crossed the Sutlej. Four major actions were fought and all were won by the British. Large areas of territory were ceded to the British and a British Resident placed in Lahore effectively controlled the Sikh government.

Actions

See Category:1st Sikh War for an alphabetical list.

The Army of the Sutlej

Units at the first engagement at Moodkee. See other actions for forces on those occasions.
Commanding in Chief: Maj-Gen Sir Hugh Gough
Second in Command: Maj-Gen Sir Henry Hardinge, Governor General of Bengal

Cavalry Division
Major General Sir Joseph Thackwell

• Brigadier Mactier’s Brigade

• 9th Bengal Irregular Horse
• One wing of 4th Bengal Light Cavalry

• Brigadier Gough’s Brigade

• 5th Bengal Light Cavalry
• The Governor General's Bodyguard

• Brigadier White’s Brigade

• HM 3rd King’s Own Light Dragoons
• One wing of 4th Bengal Light Cavalry

1st Infantry Division
Maj-Gen Sir Harry Smith

• 1st Brigade: Brigadier Bolton

• HM 31st Foot
• 24th Bengal Native Infantry
• 47th Bengal Native Infantry

• 2nd Brigade: Colonel Wheeler

• HM 50th Foot
• 42nd Bengal Native Infantry
• 48th Bengal Native Infantry

2nd Infantry Division
Major General Gilbert

• 1st Brigade

• 2nd Bengal Native Infantry
• 45th Bengal Native Infantry

• 2nd Brigade

• 16th Bengal Native Infantry

3rd Infantry Division
Major General McCaskill

• 1st Brigade

• HM 9th Foot
• 26th Bengal Native Infantry
• 73rd Bengal Native Infantry

Artillery

• 5 troops of Horse Artillery
• 2 batteries of light Field Artillery

External Links

	The FIBIS Google Books Library has books tagged: 1st Sikh War Sikhs

1st Sikh War 1845-46 Wikipedia
1st Anglo-Sikh War Sikhiwiki
Journal of the Sutlej Campaign Google Books
Despatches of the Generals Google Books
Map of the Punjab Wikipedia

Historical books online

• The history of the Sikhs: containing the lives of the Gooroos; the history of the independent Sirdars, or Missuls, and the life of the great founder of the Sikh monarchy, Maharajah Runjeet Singh by William Lewis M’Gregor MD Surgeon 1st European Light Infantry 1846 Google Books Volume 1; Volume 2 contains details of the battles.
• Ten years in India, in the 16th Queen's Lancers by WJD Gould (1880) [Archive.org]