1 158 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 Grand effect of of the batteries when they opened, as the cannon-
3 batteries. ade passed along from the Sutlej to Little Sobraon,
4 in one continued roar of guns and mortars ; while,
5 ever and anon, the rocket, like a spirit of fire,
6 winged its rapid flight high above the batteries in
7 its progress towards the Sikh entrenchment. Well
8 might the Commander-in-chief call the opening of
9 the cannonade “ most spirited and well directed.”
10 Little effect of The Sikh guns responded with shot and shells,
11 teries. but neither appeared to do much execution; the
12 latter were seen bursting in mid-air long ere they
13 reached the British batteries; while some of the
14 shot passed over Rhodawala and struck the ground
15 in front of General Gilbert’s division. It now
16 became a grand artillery concert, and the infantry
17 divisions and brigades looked on with a certain
18 degree of interest, somewhat allied: however to vex-
19 ation, lest the artillery should have the whole work
20 to themselves! The Commander-in-chief, however,
21 was determined to give full play to an arm which
22 he did not possess to an efficient extent in other
23 hard-fought battles. It was reported, that the guns
24 were to play for four hours at least ; but there is
25 some reason to believe, that the rapid firing had
26 nearly exhausted the ammunition before half that
27 time had elapsed; and it was once more to be
28 proved, that the British infantry were not to remain
29 mute spectators of a battle. “ Notwithstanding,”
30 wrote the Commander-in-chief, “ the formidable
31 calibre of our guns, mortars, and howitzers, and
32 the admirable way in which they were served and