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The battle of Ferozeshah was the second battle of the 1st Anglo-Sikh war where the British and EIC army commanded by Hugh Gough, faced off against the Khalsa led by Lal and Taj Singh
The battle was a British assault on a fortified Sikh camp on the, both sides were matched for manpower as the Sikhs had 17,000 infantry while the British had a mixed force of around 18,000 cavalry and Infantry
The battle would be decided at the point of the bayonet as the Sikh cannon was far better than the British and was described by Governor Hardinge, a veteran of the Napoleonic wars, as being the heaviest cannonade he had experienced since fighting the French at Albuera
The attack on the British left wing was repulsed before the men even reached the Sikh lines. The right wing had more successful attack reaching the forward defences of the camp and were able to spike numerous cannon
The 3rd light dragoons were also able to force their way into the camp, but they became entangled in the network of tents and ropes and were picked off by Sikh infantry. The centre of the British army then advanced to aid the right, but it was too late
as despite Harry Smith forcing his way into the camp he did not have enough men to drive the Sikhs from the field. Additionally, the camp was on fire which caused Sikh ammunition stockpiles too exploded lowering the morale of the British. As night fell they retreated
In the face of a counter-attack. The army tried to find what they cover they could from the winter night but most of the supplies had been left at Mudki and the men had not eaten or drunk in 18 hours. Sikh snipers also continued to harass them
But when the sun rose on the 23rd it appeared the British had been delivered from destruction as the bulk of the Sikh army led by Lal Singh had withdrawn from the camp, allowing it to be captured fairly quickly.
The victorious mood of the camp quickly turned when Tej Singh arrived with a fresh army at 12 on the 23rd announcing his presence with a heavy artillery barrage that forced the British to pull back into the camp. However, as with Lal Singh, Tej also retreated from the field
