1 360 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 ,
3 at the same village, and the presence of the Ist
4 division with Sir Harry Smith, could not have been
5 overlooked or mistaken by the artillery officers who
6 mentioned the fact. That Sir Harry Smith wished
7 to join the advanced division in the entrenchment,
8 there is no doubt, from the marked ‘displeasure
9 evinced by him towards the late Colonel Ryan, who
10 advised him to remain in the position until day-
11 light. It is, notwithstanding, difficult to conceive
12 how Sir Harry Smith, when once in the entrench-
13 ment, could have withdrawn to the village of
14 Missreewallah, as is so confidently asserted by a
15 writer in the Delhi Gazette, under the signature of
16 “Benoa Fuser.” “Bengal Fusilier” also alludes
17 to the spiking of the “grape-belching gun:” that
18 feat was performed by Her Majesty's 80th foot,
19 though he is perfectly correct in associating his
20 own regiment with the event, as it was formed
21 up for that purpose by the Governor-general
22 himself; and the gallant charge only proved, that
23 however formidable the gun might have been, it
24 needed not for its capture two regiments of
25 Europeans ; and the light infantry had no wish to
26 rob the 80th of the exclusive glory. But as
27 regards the advance of Gilbert’s division without
28 a check, and its first entrance into the Sikh
29 entrenchment, the writer and every one connected
30 with the division are fully satisfied; and it is a
31 pity that the conduct of this gallant division was
32 not placed in a clearer light in the despatches.
33 Had the Sikhs been completely dislodged, and put