1 82 HISTORY OF THE. SIKHS.
2 and had he scattered his troops about the country,
3 thus allowing them to be beaten in succession, the
4 war would be much longer delayed than suited his
5 views or assorted with his wishes.
6 It was calculated that when once the Comman-
7 der-in-chief should reach Moodkee, Feerozpore
8 would be comparatively safe; for the 19th December
9 would have seen the army of the Sutlej encamped
10 at the place, or at least in a position, where the
11 Feerozpore force could easily and safely join it.
12 The result of the battle at Moodkee, and the
13 entrenchment at Feerozshuhur, rendered a march
14 to Feerozpore uncalled for; but it formed an
15 Probable issue admirable place to fall back on should any reverse
16 of the ap- :
17 prouching — take place; which no one, however, dreamt of,
18 battle, :
19 except a few who considered that the force at
20 the Commander-in-chief’s disposal could not do
21 more than it achieved at Moodkee, and that the
22 Sikhs in full force, and with an immense artil-
23 lery, were fearful odds against the British army,
24 possessing so few guns of any large size.
25 The hour, however, was approaching which
26 would decide the point whether the Sikhs were to
27 beat their enemy, and force their way to Delhi,
28 Benares, and Calcutta; in other words, to become
29 masters of India, or be again forced to fall back on
30 the Sutlej, and recross the river which they had now
31 Feeling of the traversed with such buoyant hopes and insolent
32 want arrogance. Before leaving Lahore, the Khalsas
33 ee had taken care to impress the Mussulman por-
34 tion of the inhabitants with their objects; and