1 156 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS,
2 pointed hour, and marched in silence to their
3 destination. “ The battering and disposable field-
4 artillery was then put in position in an extended.
5 semicircle, embracing within its fire the work of
6 The attack the Sikhs. It had been intended, that the cannon-
7 day- break of ade should have commenced at day-break, but so
8 heavy a mist hung over the plain and river, that it
9 became necessary to wait until the rays of the sun
10 had penetrated it, and cleared the atmosphere.’*
11 On the evening of the 9th, some Sikh guns were
12 heard in the direction of the river, and it was sup-
13 posed that they were signal ones, announcing the
14 approaching event. But it appeared that this was
15 not the case; for on Captain Grant's battery of
16 horse artillery guns beginning at day-break to play
17 Bikts cuken on the entrenchment from Little Sobraon, the
18 Sikh drums were heard distinctly beating to arms.
19 When the sun rose and dispelled the fog, a magni-
20 Brilliant ap- ficent sight presented itself on all sides. In front
21 Tearance of were the gun and mortar batteries forming a
22 semicircle, while Rhodawald was seen in the rear,
23 filled with armed men. Masses of European
24 infantry covered the plain, and every thing por-
25 tended deadly strife. The disposition of the
26 British force, is thus described by the Commander-
27 Disposition of it-chief. “On the margin of the Sutle] on our
28 the British left, two brigades of Major-general Sir Robert
29 Dick’s division, under his personal command, stood
30 ready to commence the assault against the enemy’s
31 * The Commandcr-in-chief 's despatch.