1 THE FIRST SIKH WAR, 541
2 The first battle was fought at Mudki, twenty miles to the south-east of
3 Ferozepur, on 18th December 1845, between the united Ambdld and Ludhidng,
4 divisions, numbering about 11,000 fighting men, and the Sikh army under
5 Lal Singh, estimated at 30,000 men, with 40 guns. According to an eye-
6 witness, all was quiet in the British camp on that date, and nothing. wag
7 heard of the enemy except the report that they were close upon the British,
8 when suddenly, at about 4 o’clock p.wr., the sounds of a heavy cannonade were
9 heard. The Governor-General, an old and tried soldier,* instantly galloped into
10 the field on horseback. The British soldiers, who were in a state of great
11 exhaustion, were engaged at the time in preparations for dimner. The troops
12 were immediately drawn up in order of battle. The Commander-in-Chief, Sir
13 Hugh Gough, pushed forward at the head of cavalry and horse artillery, the
14 infantry and field batteries being ordered to follow, The position of the
15 enemy was two miles from the British camp, behind jungle, bushes and
16 sandy hillocks, among which they had screened theirartillery. Immediately
17 on the British force coming in sight, the Sikh artillery opened a heavy
18 cannonade, which checked the British advance in this direction, but a flank
19 movement of the British cavalry turned the left of the Sikhs and swept
20 along the rear of their infantry and guns, while the artillery silenced the
21 enemy’s guns. The Sikh infantry was then attacked by the British infantry
22 under Sir John M‘Caskill and Major-Generals Sir H. Smith and Gilbert.
23 While the fight was going on with great fierceness on both sides, Lal Singh,
24 in accordance with his original design, suddenly abandoned the field, leaving
25 the Sikhs to fight as their valour might prompt. The hardy Sikhs, not dis-
26 couraged by the treachery of their commander, continued the conflict with
27 undiminished energy and devotion. Some of their cavalry men, dismount-
28 ing from their horses, grasped their swords with both hands and rushed
29 furiously on the British lines, but were repulsed with great slaughter. Sir
30 Henry directed the movements of a part of the British force himself. Mr.
31 Currie remonstrated with His Excellency for thus exposing himself; but Sir
32 Henry disregarded his advice, as the great Macedonian monarch had done
33 before him, on the same soil, when remonstrated with by his advisers, more
34 than two thousand years previously. The Governor-General’s presence
35 inspired the troops with confidence, and the British soldiers fought with
36 great courage. The Sikhs at last gave way before the determined valour
37 of the British, and were driven from post to post at the point of the
38 bayonet. The approaching darkness and the dust prevented the British
39 force from pursuing them in the direction of the river, whither they had
40 retreated, but before night, seventeen of their guns, some of them of heavy
41 calibre, had been captured. The battle lasted until an hour and a half of dim
42 starlight, amidst clouds of dust from the sandy plains. The victory was
43 dearly purchased, and by it the British learnt the true character of their foe.
44 The battle-field, after the fight was over, presented a terrible spectacle. An
45 officer who was in the fight, has thus painted the scene:—‘It was now
46 growing dusk and the enemy appeared to be retreating. Underneath our feet,
47 as we rode along, were scattered the bodies of men, horses and camels, some
48 gasping and others dead, while the wounded were groaning piteously and call-
49 ing out for help, which we could not give.” The loss on the side of the British
50 was 215 killed and 657 wounded. Amongst those killed were Major-
51 General Sir Robert Sale, famous for his gallant defence of Jalldldbdd, and
52 Major-General Sir John M‘Caskill.
53 * During his campaigns in the Panjab, Lord Hardinge was often seen sitting undera tree at
54 a table, official papers and boxes before him, issuing orders and giving instructions. He disre-
55 garded ceremony, and did not so much as wait for his tents to arrive to dispose of business when
56 The battle of Mudki,
57 18th December, 1845.
58 Sir Hugh Gough
59 mects the enemy.
60 Defeat of the Sikhs,
61 The scene described
62 by an eye-witness,
63 The British loss.
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