1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 101
2 and batteries mentioned in a former chapter, was
3 under the command of Brigadier Brooke.
4 The principal objects of the army on leaving Attack first
5 Moodkee were to effect a junction with Sir John anita neater
6 Littler, and make an attack on the weakest part of cerckeknene:
7 the Sikh entrenchment; and for this latter pur-
8 pose, a long detour of about sixteen miles was
9 made; but, instead of gaining the object in view,
10 the British, when preparing for battle, did actually
11 front the longest and strongest side of the entrench- ‘i
12 ature of the
13 ment, which was in the form of a parallelogram of latter.
14 about a mile in length, and half a mile in breadth,
15 including within its area; the strong village of Fee-
16 rozshah, the shorter sides looking towards the
17 Sutlej and Moodkee, and the longer towards Feeroz-
18 pore and the open country.* The side on which Attack acti
19 : ally made on
20 the British advanced was the longer one, looking the strongest
21 ee
22 towards Feerozpore, instead of the shorter, from .
23 which the Sikhs had no doubt advanced on the
24 18th when attacked by the British. It is curious
25 how such a mistake could have been made ; for it
26 is said that the position of the entrenchment had
27 been accurately described. The side of the paral-
28 lelogram looking towards Moodkee was the shorter,
29 but perhaps the Sikhs imagined it might be more
30 easily defended ; and they were, no doubt, prepared
31 to place their guns in position on whatever side the
32 attack should be made. Their scouts could efsily
33 * The Commander-in-chief’s despatch.