1 ‘The Governor-
2 general's des-
3 patch regard-
4 ing the Battle
5 of Moodkee.
6 70 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
7 army. In the despatch alluded to, his Excellency
8 continues :—
9 * Soon after mid-day, the division under Major-
10 general Sir Harry Smith, a brigade of that under -
11 Major-general Sir John M‘Caskill, and another of
12 that under Major-general Gilbert, with five troops
13 of horse artillery, and two light field batteries
14 under Lieutenant-colonel Brooke of the horse
15 artillery (brigadier in command of the artillery
16 force), and the cavalry division, consisting of Her
17 Majesty’s 3rd light dragoons, the body guard,
18 4th and 5th light cavalry, and the 9th irregular
19 cavalry, took up their encamping ground in front
20 of Moodkee.
21 “ The troops were in a state of great exhaustion
22 principally from the want of water, which was not
23 procurable on the road, when about 3 p.m. informa-
24 tion was received that the Sikh army was advanc-
25 ing, and the troops had scarcely time to get under
26 arms and move to their positions, when the fact
27 was ascertained.
28 “ T immediately pushed forward the horse
29 artillery and cavalry, directing the infantry, ac-
30 companied by the field batteries, to move onward
31 in support. We had not proceeded beyond two
32 miles, when we found the enemy in position. They
33 were said to consist of from fifteen to twenty thou-
34 sand infantry, about the same force of cavalry,
35 and forty guns. They had evidently either taken
36 up their position, or were advancing in order of