"Like so many Alexanders"

The darkness which ended the struggle at Chillianwallah was followed by heavy rain that probably caused more than the usual post battle confusion.  One group which didn't lack for employment were the surgeons, who reportedly had a night of "incessant labor."  While William Winder spent the night in the hospital (probably a tent), the treatment of his wound was most likely not too difficult.  As noted previously the greatest risk was not from the wound, but from infection either from the wound itself or germs in a hospital which violated every modern concept of sterilization and hygiene.

City of Goojerat about the time of the battle 

Fortunately the rain continued for three more days preventing any resumption of the hostilities.  At some point during this respite, Gough, the British commander, decided not to seek battle again until reinforcements arrived from the successfully concluded siege at Multan.  Gough was also, no doubt, more cautious because of the heavy losses incurred at Chillianwallah.  Shere Singh even sent forays out of the Sikh lines in an attempt to draw the British out into the open, but though he may have been tempted, Gough did not bite.

Map of the Battle of Goojerat - 29th is once again part of Mountain's Brigade

Although the Sikhs were in a strong defensive position, supply problems made it impossible for them to remain there for too long.  Finally almost a month after Chillianwallah, the Sikhs withdrew about 30 miles to a more fertile, but also more open area near the city of Goojerat.  Having received word that the reinforcements from Multan were on their way, Gough ordered the resumption of the pursuit at 4:00 a.m. on February 15th.  By this point William Winder had apparently recovered sufficiently to rejoin his unit.  While William and his mates were undoubtedly not anxious to repeat the experience of Chillianwallah, the British soldiers were reportedly "impatient with the delay."  By now there was probably a universal desire in the ranks to end this campaign and get back to garrison life

Sikh Army at Goojerat

Three days after leaving Chillianwallah, Gough's army met up with the British force from Multan and over the next two days received further reinforcements.  The British army advancing on Goojerat had 24,000 men, twice their strength at Chillianwallah and, more importantly, 96 cannon, 30 more than in the earlier battle.  The awaiting Sikhs, in positions two miles in front of Goojerat, still had far greater manpower with 60,000 troops, but this time had fewer artillery pieces.

Battle of Goojerat

On February 21, 1849, the Army of the Punjab neared Goojerat under a "brilliant blue sky" with the snow capped Himalayas clearly visible behind the Sikh lines.  There was little natural cover for the advancing British army, but for some reason, the Sikh artillery opened fire when the British were four miles away and well out of range.  Apparently having learned from Chillianwallah, Gough ordered a halt at 9:00 a.m. and called for an artillery bombardment, while William Winder and the rest of the infantry lay down to offer the smallest targets possible.  The premature and ineffective Sikh fire helped the British artillery to more easily identify their own targets and after a 2 1/2 hour British bombardment, the Sikh fire began to fade away.

Sikh order captured at Goojerat

As a result when the British army resumed the advance at 11:30 with bayonets and sabres, there was little of the artillery fire which could wreak havoc with a 19th century assault.  Although there was sharp fighting at some points, within an hour the Sikhs had had more than enough and were withdrawing.  Total British casualties were 96 killed and 750 wounded with the 29th's entire brigade suffering only two dead and 10 wounded.  On the 29th's portion of the field, the Sikhs withdrew so quickly that the regiment couldn't even get close enough for bayonet fighting which  was probably a huge relief to William and the others.  By sunset the British were in full possession of the battlefield as regimental bands played "Rule Britannia."

The 29th at Goojerat - the scene is probably exaggerated for effect as the Sikhs retreated before fighting like this could have developed.

The following day a portion of Gough's army (not including the 29th) set off in pursuit of the Sikhs.  Finally on March 14th, the Sikhs surrendered and, taking no chances, the British took over direct rule of the Punjab.  Interestingly the Sikhs then became Britain's "most loyal" Indian subjects even during the 1857 mutiny and remained so through the end of British rule on the subcontinent.

29th's Colors from the 2nd Sikh War

For his service in the 2nd Sikh War, William Winder and his mates were awarded the Punjab Campaign Medal with clasps for Chillianwallah and Goojerat.  They also received the more tangible benefit of six months of "batta" or supplementary pay although they had to wait a year to get it.  No prize money was paid for Goojerat although there were reports of looting at the abandoned Sikh camps so William and his mates may have supplemented their pay "unofficially."

Punjab Campaign Medal with clasps for Chillianwallah and Goojerat - no one knows what happened to William's medal, but there is one on sale on the Internet for about $1500. 

Through his service at Chillianwallah and Goojerat, William  had been part of the final defeat of Britain's most formidable foe on the sub continent, in a part of India where Alexander the Great's army had also fought battles.  The more literary minded in the Army of the Punjab may have felt themselves best described in Shakespeare's words as soldiers who, 

"Like so many Alexanders, have in these parts from morn till even fought,

And sheath'd their swords for lack of argument."