1 Grand review of the
2 Sikh army,
3 Review of British
4 troops,
5 A fi
6 eat of military
7 dexterity,
8 AS
9 pract
10 how of artillery
11 ice.
12 480 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
13 flenry Fane’s waist, to atent close by, in which were laid out the presents
14 intended for him. These consisted of an elephant, eight horses, a double-
15 barrelled gun, a rifle, a brace of pistols and 51 pieces of different kinds of
16 stuffs. After these ceremonies, the Mahardjd proceeded on his elephant
17 towards the British Artillery, and again renewed his questions regarding
18 their formation, and looked minutely at the harness and equipment, so that
19 the smallest matter did not escape his eye.
20 On the 16th there was a grand review of the Sikh army assembled
21 at Léhore, in all about 18,000 men. They are described as having been all
22 exceedingly well clothed and armed after the Huropean fashion. The follow-
23 ing morning there was a review of the British troops which formed the
24 escort of the British General. These consisted of squadrons of the 16th
25 Lancers and 4th Cavalry, one troop of Horse Artillery, 200 men of the 13th
26 Light Infantry, and eight companies from the 18th, 20th and 17th
27 Regiments of Native Infantry. “ The extreme delight of the old man at
28 the discipline of the men and the explanation the General gave him
29 of the movements, and how they would act with a large body, surpasses
30 belief. He rode through and looked at every gun, examined the appoint-
31 ments of the men, counted the number in each square, and quite gained
32 all our hearts by the interest he took and the acuteness which he
33 showed by his questions.” Such is the description of the review given
34 by an eye-witness, and it bears testimony to the great discernment of
35 Ranjit Singh and his hearty appreciation of all that was really excellent from
36 a military point of view. Speaking of the quality of the British troops,
37 he said to the Commander-in-Chief, “I see what liars my French officers
38 and others are who tell me that English discipline was nothing ; and that,
39 though so much was talked about it, still it was only outward show, and that,
40 were they to come before an enemy, the thing would beara different as-
41 pect. But now,” said he, “I see what liars they are ; you have shown me
42 not only how troops can be moved, but also how these movements can
43 be brought to bear upon a hostile foree, It is now no matter of wonder to
44 me that the English have always been victorious in the east.” One feat,
45 displaying the dexterity of the artillerymen, particularly astonished Ranjit
46 Singh. A six-pounder from one of the batteries of Horse Artillery was dis-
47 mounted from its carriage, thrown on the ground, taken to pieces and
48 then quickly put together, remounted and placed in perfect working order,
49 with the men on the horses and in full gallop, all within the short space_
50 of five minutes. Ranjit could not, in the first instance, be induced to be-
51 lieve that the gun had really been taken to pieces, and ascribed the inter-
52 ruption caused to some portion of the harness having broken, but a repeti-~
53 tion of the same performance convinced him of what had really taken place.
54 His delight at the sight of the men was immense; he obtained the Com-
55 mander-in-Chief’s permission to send a present in money for the soldiers,
56 as a mark of his appreciation of their skill; and directly he got to his
57 palace, he sent a purse of eleven thousand rupees to be divided among the
58 soldiers.
59 On the morning of the 18th there was a show of artillery practice with
60 grape, round shot and shrapnel. The canvas targets erected were brought
61 down many times with rounds of grape, to the great delight of the Maha-
62 rdjd. Having been put up again, they were pierced through with marked
63 success. Prince Sher Singh, who was a good sportsman, and many other
64 sardars, were present, and, dismounting from their horses, watched the
65 pointing of the guns. An umbrella planted by Sher Singh was torn into
66 Sri Satgbhopagiit Hogh jeekliotrythe 5th andNamdharklibrim@iamakwtas much