1 54 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 heavy guns had, also, come up, as well as the 11th
3 and 41st regiments of Native infantry. With this
4 increased force the Commander-in-chief resolved
5 on the following morning to attack the Sikhs, who
6 were entrenched at a place named Feerozshuhur,
7 or, as written in the despatches, Feerozshah. It
8 may be said there is little in a name, but, in the
9 present instance, it would be well if the point were
10 settled regarding the name of a place where the
11 hardest fought battle ever witnessed in Indian
12 warfare took place.*
13 In every warfare, there are a number of personal
14 adventures which occur, interesting to the indivi-
15 duals concerned, and one happened previous to the
16 battle of Moodkee which may be mentioned. An
17 officer was on his way to join a new appointment
18 at Ferozpore, and had reached Moodkee, where,
19 he fell into the hands of the Sikhs. Various reports
20 were, as usual, circulated regarding the treatment
21 he was likely to receive or had received. He could
22 not have less than his ears and nose cut off by a
23 savage and cruel people like the Sikhs!! Torture
24 and death were, in the opinion of others, to be his
25 fate!! As to his ever being sent back, none dreamt
26 of such an occurrence. All pitied his unfortunate
27 situation, and all rejoiced when Lieutenant Biddulph
28 reached Moodkee safe and sound. He afterwards,
29 * In the Ferozpore district, the addition of “ Wala” is a common term in
30 naming villages, such as Sultan Khan Wala, Bootawala, Akberwala; and
31 probably the name of the place in question may have been Feerozshahwala,
32 and from the length of the word, the latter part may have been dropped or
33 Shuhur (a City) substituted. We are therefore inclined to use the word
34 Feerozshuhur in speaking of it.