The history of the Sikhs. 2

M'Gregor, William Lewis · 1846 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

1HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 59

2‚and on we went. Many were the stoppages and

3much demur at the last outpost, five miles from

4their camp, but my friend satisfied them all.

5Merrily we trudged the ten miles to Moodkee, and

6the reception I met from all was grateful indeed,

7and never to be forgotten. My companion received

8from the Governor-general 1000 rupees, and offers

9of service if he chose to stay with us; but he re-

10turned, however, after the battles, to his own people

11or home. The 21st and 22nd saw the Sikhs routed

12after a desperate resistance, but the Governor-

13‚general would not allow me to mingle in the fray,

14as he said I owed that at least to the enemy who

15released me; although I refused to give any pledge

16wi to fight.”

17At a later period of the campaign, a medical Treatment of

18a was carried prisoner to Lahore, along with sone by "he

19several European soldiers who were taken when ua

20Sir Harry Smith’s baggage was attacked at Bud-

21deewal, near Loodianah ; they were all restored to

22their freedom, and sent to the British camp by

23Goolab; Singh after the army had crossed the Sut-

24lej; They were tolerably well treated, while prison-

25ers; but had they fallen into the hands of the van-

26quished Sikhs after the battle of Alleewal, their fate

27might have been different. The release and escape

28of Lieutenant Biddulph was a most providential

29one, and well might the fate of poor Loveday pre-

30sent itself to his mind. He appears to have owed

31his safety to the generous feelings of the artillery-

32men, who afterwards proved themselves the bravest

33soldiers among the Sikh troops, and served their