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Writer's pictureGeorge Castrioti

February 10th, 1846 - The Battle of Sobroan

Conflict: The First Sikh War

Combatants: British vs. Sikhs

Location: India

Outcome: British victory


After suffering multiple defeats at the hands of the British, the Sikhs had pulled back across the Sutlej River. They now entrenched along a bend in the river to await the oncoming British. Their forces numbered at least 20,000 men.


The Battle of Sobraon 10 February 1846 by J. Harris after H. Martens

The Anglo-British force under command of General Sir Hugh Gough numbered 15,000 - 20,000. Gough ordered a feint on the Sikh right and directed heavy assaults on the left. This tactic successfully forced the Sikhs out of their defenses with many plunging into the river and drowning. The Sikhs were estimated to have lost 8,000 - 10,000 men killed. Gough suffered 2,300 casualties.


The Charge of the 3rd Kings Own Light Dragoons at the Battle of Sobraon by an unknown artist

Points of Interest:

  • Sobroan was the last battle of the First Sikh War; the Punjab became a British protectorate the following month.

  • Gough returned to defeat the Sikhs again in the Second Sikh War (1848-1849). He was made a Viscount afterwards.


Viscount Gough by Francis Grant

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Sources:


Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).


Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.


Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

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