1 76 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 doubt that the Sikhs directed their fire against the
3 mounted officers, and those with cocked hats and
4 staff uniform were their particular marks.
5 Regret of Many who were within hearing of the guns, on
6 the battle, but he evening of the 18th, deeply regretted that they
7 wnete""S were not sharing in the struggle which might be
8 the last, but after forced marches in the hope of
9 reaching head quarters in time, were doomed to
10 Rosny to arrive a day too late! This disappointment was
11 ti in future. vividly felt and deplored by the European regi-
12 ments which reached Moodkee on the evening of
13 the 19th December; but the determination on the
14 part of the Sikhs to fight to the last, restored their
15 hopes, that they might yet share in the dangers
16 and glory of the coming battles; and they were
17 soon destined to see their most sanguine wishes
18 The Lee realized on the fieldof Feerozshuhur. At Moodkee,
19 at Meodkee, the Sikhs had fought on the open plain, and were
20 fhe. cate youted after a desperate fight; but though thus
21 discomfited their spirit was in no way broken;
22 and though they lost the victory, in the common
23 acceptation of the term, yet it was a very dearly
24 bought one on the part of the victors; and such as
25 crippled the British Commander-in-chief’s means
26 much more than those of the Sikh leader. The latter
27 was so perfectly satisfied with the result of the ex-
28 periment he had made, that he saw with pleasure the
29 British troops fronting the strongest position of his
30 entrenched camp on the evening of the 21st of
31 December, and even sent out his horsemen, to point
32 out as it were the way to his stronghold.