1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHs. 169
2 tended its organization. The drunkard found in
3 Colonel Taylor, an officer who could never forgive
4 the vice of which he was guilty, while the sober
5 soldier looked up to him as his firm friend and is high:
6 gallant commander.
7 Fortunately for his country, Major-general mie.
8 Gilbert was only slightly wounded: any eulogistic ly wounied.
9 remark regarding him from our pen is uncalled for ;
10 but the battles of Feerozshuhur and Sobraon will
11 for ever be associated with his name, and the
12 centre division of the army of the Sutlej will be
13 fondly recollected by all men who served in it
14 under Major-general Gilbert. The gallant veteran,
15 Colonel Ryan of the 50th, was also wounded
16 severely. For upwards of forty years had he served
17 his country in all quarters of the globe; and though
18 his state of health might well have excused his
19 absence from any of the engagements, he could not
20 yield to any one else the high honour of leading
21 his fine regiment, where danger was to be met with,
22 and glory won. It is’ needless to allude to the Colonel Ryan
23 Colonel’s gallant conduct at Maharajpore, where he “*""***
24 joined Her Majesty’s 39th, having hurried down
25 from the hills, even in infirm health, and mixed in
26 the conflict before he could reach his own regiment
27 in the field.
28 But while thus noticing officers of rank, let us
29 not forget the young and brave, who had for the
30 first time entered the battle field. Poor Hamilton*®
31 * OF the riffes.