The battle of Baddowal was an engagement between the Sikh Khalsa Army and British forces which occurred on 21 January 1846 during the First Anglo-Sikh war.

On 11 December 1845, the First Anglo-Sikh war erupted between the Sikh Empire and the British, whose East India Company had seized control over large parts of the Indian subcontinent.

[1][2][3] Joined by Ajit Singh of Ladwa, Majithia's army entered Ludhiana and burnt part of the British cantonment in the city.

In response, British commander Harry Smith was ordered by his superior Sir Hugh Gough to march a column of troops from Dharamkot to Ludhiana and intercept Majithia's forces.

A fellow British commander, Brigadier Godby, subsequently informed Smith that Majithia's army, numbering 10,000 men, had already reached Baddowal.

Smith later attempted to justify his decision to leave behind such a small detachment of troops to guard the baggage train by claiming that Ludhiana would have been captured otherwise.