1 138 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 The battle of individuals are sure to vary, unless they both
3 happen to be in the same position during the
4 engagement. Hence the conflicting, and often.
5 contradictory accounts obtained. The battle of
6 Alleewal was no exception to the rule. Some stated
7 that the Sikh infantry, after receiving the cavalry
8 charge, threw down their arms and betook them-
9 selves, in confusion, towards the river. Others
10 said that the Khalsa troops did throw down their
11 muskets, but on doing so, drew their swords and
12 Different Cut manfully at the British cavalry, wounding and
13 ae killing many of the latter, and after the repeated
14 charges made by the cavalry, the Sikhs merely
15 walked off or retreated sulkily towards the river.
16 Runjoor Singh had entrenched himself atAlleewal,
17 and entreated his soldiers not to leave their position ;
18 but the circumstance of Sir Harry Smith having
19 allowed himself to be fired upon at Buddeewal
20 without returning a shot, impressed the Sikhs with
21 the idea that he was afraid of them, and they
22 insisted on leaving their camp and going out to
23 meet him in the open field. “The enemy had, up
24 to the evening of the 26th (January) fifty-six
25 Strength of guns, and 20,000 men. On that evening he
26 Taneckging Fecelved a reinforcement of twelve guns and
27 4,000 men, regular or Aeen troops. Our force
28 consisted of thirty-two guns, and not half the
29 ‘That ofthe umber of those men. Yet, so ably were the
30 Bate orders of attack conducted, with the regularities
31 of a field day, each column and line arriving at
32 its point of attack to a moment, that the enemy