1 HISTORY OF THE SIKUS. 55
2 wrote an interesting account of his capture, treat-
3 ment, and release, and we cannot do better than
4 give the statement in his own words. His letter,
5 which was published in the Delhi Gazette, is dated
6 “Army of the Sutlej near Ferozpore, January 19th
7 1846.” .
8 Lieutenant Biddulph says :-—“ I left Umballa on Lieutenant
9 iddulph’s
10 the 5th of December to join my corps. I reached account of his
11 capture, im-
12 within four stages of Ferozpore, when alarming re- prisonment,
13 ports prevailed of a Sikh invasion, and the villagers
14 told me I must be on my guard; parties of plun-
15 dering -horsemen scoured the country, and I had
16 several serious alarms, but considered that to turn
17 round and run would only insure instant destruc-
18 tion. I put a bold face upon it therefore, and con-
19 tinued to advance. At Moodkee, sixteen miles
20 from Ferozpore, on my arrival, I saw we should
21 probably be attacked, and made preparations ac-
22 cordingly : horsemen left the village at dusk and
23 proceeded on different roads, as it seemed to me to
24 bring up more during the night; three men came
25 singly to me after dusk, saying I should be attacked,
26 and advising me to ride for my life, but these men
27 I treated as spies, and told them I feared nothing,
28 and would abide with my people and baggage.
29 During the night we kept anxious watch, and ob-
30 served fifteen horsemen enter the village; at day-
31 light the attack commenced. __I was surrounded by
32 matchlock men, spearmen, and swordsmen, and told
33 tosurrender. I said ‘Never.’ Twice we drove them
34 back, but at length more and more men came on;