Cite
MLA
“Battle of Baddowal.” Hindu History, 2026, https://www.hinduhistory.in/battles/battle-of-baddowal-1846/. Accessed .
APA
Hindu History. (2026). Battle of Baddowal. Retrieved , from https://www.hinduhistory.in/battles/battle-of-baddowal-1846/
Smith got through to Ludhiana, but the Sikhs cut up his rearguard and took much of his baggage; a week later he beat Ranjodh Singh at Aliwal.
01The threat to Ludhiana
After Mudki and Ferozeshah in December 1845 the Khalsa army fell back across the Sutlej but kept a bridgehead at Sobraon. In January 1846 Ranjodh Singh Majithia crossed upstream with a strong force, burned part of the Ludhiana cantonment and sat across the Company’s road. Gough sent Harry Smith with a division to clear the way, relieve Ludhiana and protect the siege train coming up from Delhi. The heavy guns were needed for the attack on Sobraon, and they could not be risked.
02The march past Baddowal
On 21 January Smith found the Sikhs drawn up at Baddowal across his line of march. Rather than attack he edged round them across the fields towards Ludhiana. Sikh artillery played on his column all the way and their cavalry fell on the rear, killing stragglers and carrying off camels, stores and baggage. Smith reached Ludhiana that evening. The Sikhs counted it a victory; Smith had his answer a week later at Aliwal, on 28 January.
Baddowal was a Sikh success in the First Anglo-Sikh War and set up the battle of Aliwal.