1 294 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 of Moodkee and Feerozshuhur had been fought and
3 won. In the month of October, the Governor-
4 general in his letter, dated, 24th October, 1845, to
5 His Excellency the Commander-in-chief, says,
6 Ene tie the “Tn the present state of our relations with the
7 British army | Lahore government, your Excellency is aware that
8 in the field. ~T do not anticipate the probability of any emergen-
9 cies arising, which can require the army under your
10 Excellency’s orders to take the field this autumn.”
11 If by the word ‘autumn,’ the Governor-general
12 meant the months of August, September, and
13 October, he was certainly correct in the opinion he
14 here expresses; but there is every reason to con-
15 clude, that the word is to be understood in a more
16 extended sense, comprehending the cold season to
17 which the term winter is seldom or ever applied, in
18 the plains of India at least. ‘“ Nevertheless,” the
19 Governor-general continues, “ having to deal with
20 a mutinous Sikh army, which has usurped the
21 functions of the government, and whose caprice
22 may at any time force on a rupture with our forces
23 Ie neverthe. On the frontier, I have deemed it advisable to be
24 peel prepared with the means of movement to the ex-
25 menton the tent noted in the margin: viz., seven troops of
26 horse artillery, six companies of foot artillery, four
27 light field batteries, two regiments of dragoons,
28 three regiments of light cavalry, five regiments of
29 European infantry, thirteen regiments of Native
30 infantry, six companies of sappers and miners, and
31 two regiments of irregular cavalry; and as it is desira-
32 ble, that the arrangements should be made on the