1 Counter
2 orders,
3 An anomaly,
4 The move-
5 ments delayed.
6 All idea of a
7 campaign
8 given up.
9 298 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
10 The European regiments in the hills were ordered
11 to hold themselves in readiness, and the Meerut
12 force had ‘actually marched; when, after some
13 days, and probably subsequent to the meeting
14 between the Governor-general and Commander-in-
15 chief, the urgency of the preparations seemed less,
16 and the Meerut force moved back, while the hill
17 corps were countermanded.
18 Though the Governor-general states distinctly,
19 that he concurred in the arrangements adopted by
20 the Commander-in-chief, and which are detailed in
21 his letter, he evidently did not see the necessity of
22 putting them into immediate execution.
23 This is a form of etiquette, we suppose, in con-
24 ducting great political and military arrangements,
25 but to plain-thinking people, there appears to be a
26 want of concurrence, where an object to be ob-
27 tained by the arrangement of one authority, is
28 delayed by the advice, order, or suggestion of
29 another.
30 The 9th lancers did not move on Umballah, and
31 the 16th lancers remained with the 3rd light
32 cavalry, horse artillery, Her Majesty’s 10th, and
33 Native infantry regiments at Meerut. Instead of
34 the hill regiments leaving their cantonments at
35 Kussowlee and Subathoo, and encamping at the
36 foot of the hills, both gave up all idea of their
37 services being required ; and just before the express
38 reached Subathoo, on the evening of the 10th
39 December, bets were offered that there would be
40 no movement downwards! It was thought that
41 ,