The Battle of Sobraon, on the February 10th, 1846

1 January, 1848

Original hand-coloured aquatint on paper

20.25 x 26.25 in   |  51.3 x 66.5 cm

From the series of ten 'Celebrated Engagements of the British Army during the Sikh Wars', depicting a battle during Sikh War between the East India Company and the Sikh Khalsa Army.

The Anglo-Sikh wars were a series of conflicts between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company during the 1840s, that resulted in the fall of the Sikh Empire and conquest of the Punjab. The Battles of Moodkee (18th December 1845), Ferozshah (21-22nd December 1845) and Aliwal (28th January 1846) formed part of the First Anglo-Sikh War, whilst the Battles of Ramnuggur (22nd November 1848), Chillienwallah (13th January 1849) and Googerat (21st February 1849) formed part of the Second Anglo-Sikh War.

"An etching with aquatint showing the Battle of Sobraon between British East India Company forces and the Sikh Khalsa army, which took place on 10th February 1846 during the First Anglo-Sikh war. The 31st Regiment of Foot and the 50th Regiment of Foot advance past the Sikh earthworks, thrown up to protect their artillery. Sergeant Bernard McCabe, having mounted the nearest earthwork, holds the regimental colour. Fierce close combat ensued as the Khalsa bravely endeavoured to repel the British advance. Lettered below.

The Maharaja Ranjit Singh had held sway over the Sikh Empire of the Punjab, in north west India, since 1799. He had upheld cordial relations with the East India Company, who held territories adjoining the Punjab, while maintaining the fearsome professionally trained Khalsa army of around 60,000 men. When he died in 1839, no statesman or military figure emerged to take his place and the Sikh empire became increasingly disordered. In September 1845 Sir Henry Hardinge, Governor-General of the Bengal Presidency, received reports that the Khalsa were preparing to invade British territory. He despatched 5,000 extra troops to the region south of the Sutlej river, the border between the Sikh and British territories. It was believed that the future of British India depended on the defeat of Raja Lal Singh's Khalsa army, the equal of the British in training, discipline and weaponry.

Hard-fought battles claimed as victories by the British against the Khalsa army in December 1845 and January 1846 had forced the Sikh army to retreat. In the last major battle of the First Anglo-Sikh War, Lieutenant-General Sir Hugh Gough engaged the main Sikh force at Sobraon on the banks of the Sutlej river. After an intense bombardment the entrenched Sikh position was stormed, and the bridge- their only means of secure retreat- collapsed. The Sikh army suffered around 10,000 casualties, with the British and Bengal Regiments also suffering heavily. After this defeat the Treaty of Lahore, signed in March 1846, ceded much of the Sikh territory in north west India to British control.

This etching was produced after a watercolour by Henry Martens, which was in turn based upon drawings by Major George Francis White. White served in India between 1825 and 1846, with the 31st Regiment of Foot which is represented in action in this print. He was an amateur artist as well as author and illustrator of 'Views in India Chiefly among the Himalyas', 1886-7. The Tate Gallery hold some of his drawings." (Source: Royal Collection Trust)

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