1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 105
2 knocked over even when their masters were hold-
3 ing the rein while lying on the ground. On an-
4 other occasion, while the 50th and other European
5 soldiers and officers were lying on a tent and on
6 the ground, a battalion of Sikhs passed and de-
7 liberately fired into the midst of them! but strange
8 to say, with little or no effect! This was a fearful
9 position to be in, and from the intervals between
10 the European infantry regiments and the Native
11 brigades with them, being left vacant, there was no
12 possibility of forming a line, or acting in concert ; Unable to
13 portions of one regiment got mixed up with more sei pio
14 of another in the entrenchment, and in the dark-
15 ness of night, could not regain their respective
16 positions. If a regiment had attempted to move
17 right or left in search of another, the Sikh guns
18 were sure to be directed to the spot ; and where
19 the 50th bivouacked, Sir Harry Smith, with admir- qe pritish
20 able prudence, forbade a shot to be fired in return infenty did
21 for any that might be directed against his position. **
22 The white covers were taken off the caps, which
23 served as marks for. the enemy, and every means
24 adopted for keeping the men out of the hostile
25 fire. The gallant soldiers who had, at the point of
26 bayonet, captured the batteries of the Sikhs, were
27 thus glad to actually conceal themselves under the
28 darkness of night. It was not flight, but as near gyision peal
29 an approach to it as can be well conceived ; and tion ofthe
30 no wonder if, at this time, the Governor-general of @"v-
31 India felt the precarious position of the troops.
32 Never in the annals of warfare in India had