1 Proclamation of 13th
2 December, 1845,
3 Complaints against
4 the Sikh Court.
5 The Sikh territories
6 on the left bank of the
7 Sufle) confiscated,
8 The intrigues of the
9 Sikhs,
10 The British army
11 advances,
12 540 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
13 of native infantry, one regiment of native cavalry, and two troops of horse
14 artillery. Up to the 8th no forward movement was made by the British
15 troops, and the pacific policy of the British Government was manifest from
16 the fact that, when the Sikhs marched towards the Sutlej, Sir Henry
17 declared that that would in no way justify hostilities on its part, “ unless
18 the frontier should be actually violated.” “The Léhore Government,”
19 observed the British statesman, “had as good a right to reinforce their bank
20 of the Sutlej as we to reinforce our posts on that river.” As soon, however,
21 as he heard, on Sth December, that the Sikhs were bent on hostilities, he
22 ordered prompt measures to be taken to oppose the invading army, and
23 he was indefatigable in his exertions. A proclamation was issued on the
24 18th, declaring the policy of the British Government and setting forth
25 its objects and views. The manifesto declared that the British Govern-
26 ment had ever been on terms of friendship with that of the Panjab,
27 and had faithfully observed the conditions of the treaty concluded with
28 Mahardjé Ranjit Singh in 1809; that the same friendly relations had been
29 maintained by the British Government with the successors of Mahardja
30 Ranjit Singh; that, since the death of Mahardjdé Sher Singh, it had become
31 incumbent on the Governor-General to adopt precautionary measures for
32 the protection of the British frontier, in view of the disorganised state of
33 the Léhore Government; that, notwithstanding many most unfriendly
34 proceedings on the part of the Lahore darbdr during the last two years,
35 the Governor-General had shown, on every occasion, the utmost forbearance,
36 and sincerely desired to see a strong Government re-established in the
37 Panjéb; that the Sikh army had recently marched from Lahore by the
38 orders of the darbdr, for the purpose of invading British territory, and no
39 reply had been given to the repeated demands for an explanation ; that the
40 Sikh army had now invaded British territory without any shadow of provo-
41 cation ; and that the Governor-General must, therefore, take measures for
42 effectually protecting the British Provinces, for vindicating the authority
43 of the British Government, and for punishing the violators of treaties and
44 the disturbers of the public peace. The document then declared the pos-
45 sessions of Mahardjé Dulip Singh, on the left bank of the Sutlej, confis-
46 cated and annexed to the British territories,
47 It was now ascertained that the aim of the Sikhs was to cause a
48 general rising against the British Government. They had endeavoured
49 systematically to tamper with the native army in the employ of that
50 Government, and appealed to their religious prejudices. Intrigues had also
51 been going on for some time with the object of inducing the chiefs of the
52 protected Sikh States to join the Khdlsdé as soon as the Lahore army should
53 cross the Sutlej.
54 The whole of the Ludhidnd force, numbering 5,000 men and 12 guns,
55 and the Ambdlé force of 7,500 men, and 386 guns, made a forward
56 movement, under the command of Brigadier Wheeler, and by arapid march,
57 reached Basian, at the junction of the Ambdl& and Karnal roads, where
58 Major Broadfoot had collected provisions and stores. Lal Singh, passing
59 Sir John Littler near Ferozepur, had taken up an entrenched position at the
60 village of Ferozshahr, about ten miles to the south-east, while a portion of
61 his army had pushed on to Mudki, the whole exceeding 50,000 men, with
62 108 guns. Hearing that the British force advancing was small compared
63 with his own, he advanced to meet it. The British troops had marched 150
64 miles in six days, and had had but little food or rest, for the intelligence of the
65 passage of the Sutlej] by the Sikhs had reached Ambdld only on 11th
66 D : Re a Cht
67 Sri Satgun sae cing a arand Peles Nash ices mmander Beenie