Wednesday, March 03, 2021

Sikh War Campaign: Battle of Ferozepore

We have just commenced a Sikh War campaign.  The battlefield commanders are in Hobart with senior commanders mainly in Canberra.   In the first battle at Ferozepore, a British force is being attacked by much larger Sikh army.  The British force of about 7,000 men is almost entirely Sepoys with only one British unit.  The Sikh force comprises 2 divisions of 10,000 men each.  We lack figures specific to the Sikh War so the figures are a mix of substitutes from various periods.  

The British force is deployed about cannon range back from a broad ford over the Sutlej River, their line supported by an entrenchment & a small fort.   A wadi on the British right is the only other terrain feature of note.  The 2 Sikh divisions are advancing over the river in parallel columns. 
The Sikhs deploy their artillery to their front & turn their cavalry columns to the left & the right.
The British advance infantry on their right & cavalry on their left.
The ford, the wadi & poor command is causing delays in the Sikh advance.  On the right, the Sikh cavalry advance is held up by the British Sepoy cavalry, but their foot is advancing past their guns.  On the left, some Sikh cavalry has galloped on past the advancing British Sepoys.  
On the right, the British Sepoy cavalry has been broken by the leading Sikh cavalry brigade which has advanced out of the picture frame as the rest of the cavalry of that division is still deploying. after crossing the Sutlej. 
In the centre, the Sikh infantry of both divisions is advancing on the forts.
On the left, half the Sikh cavalry has run the gauntlet past the British Sepoys but is now dithering as the rest of the cavalry are still slowly getting across the river & wadi.
On the right, the Sikh cavalry is advancing around the British left.
In the centre, the Sikh foot are firing at the entrenchment & by-passing the fort. 
On the left, the British are now withdrawing.
The British are now in full retreat leaving only a garrison in fort.

With the British force being almost entirely Sepoys who are no better in quality than much of the Sikh force, & outnumbered 3 to1, the result of the battle was never in doubt.  But the British Sepoys put up a bit of a show & got away in pretty good order.  The Sikh plan of using their cavalry to outflank & surround the enemy was compromised by the British counterattacks, the wadi & poor command ratings.

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