1 The Sikh position at
2 Sebraon.
3 The battle of
4 Sobraon, February
5 10th, 1846,
6 The declaration of
7 old Shim Singh, the
8 Attari chief,
9 Description of
10 battlefield, me
11 546 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
12 renewing the contest. They continued to hold their position on the right bank
13 of the Sutlej, while on the left they constructed formidable entrenchments in
14 front of the main army of the British. A skilful Spanish officer, Huerba, had
15 been employed by the Sikhs in constructing these works, together with a
16 remarkably powerful téte-de-pont at the village of Sobrdéon, about twenty
17 miles from Ferozepur. Below the fords of Hariki, they threw a spacious bridge
18 across the Sutlej, the flanks of which rested on the river and which was covered
19 by a ditch in front. These great works had been repeatedly reconnoitred
20 by a party of observation, and were found to extend over two-and-a-half
21 miles, protected by powerful batteries, so as to command the passage of the
22 river. The strength of the Sikhs was estimated at 35,000 fighting men,
23 with 67 heavy pieces of artillery, united by the bridge to a reserve on the
24 opposite bank. This reserve consisted of a considerable camp and some
25 artillery, flanking the field-works on the British side. It was resolved by
26 the British to delay the attack on the Sikhs’ entrenched position until the
27 arrival of a formidable siege train and ammunition from Delhi. These
28 reached the camp on the 7th and 8th of February, and on the latter date
29 the brigades which had been detached for the relief of Ludhidnd, rejoined
30 the main army. The total strength of the British army now was 15,000
31 men, of whom 5,000 were Europeans.
32 The Sikhs were much depressed in spirit by the British victory at Aliw4l.
33 The British troops were full of confidence and exulted in anticipations of
34 triumph. There was a sad want of unity among the Sikh commanders, and
35 it was rightly said, that, while the soldiers did everything, the leaders did
36 nothing. “Hearts to dare and hands to execute,” observes Captain Cun-
37 ningham, “ were’numerous, but there was no mind to guide and animate the
38 whole.” There was a flush of joy onthe faces of the British soldiers and
39 sepoys as they beheld, in stately array, the huge elephants dragging the
40 heavy ordnance, and the Transport Department bringing abundant ammuni-
41 tions and war stores from Delhi. There was now nothing to hinder an advance,
42 and the 10th of February, or only twelve days after the victory of Aliwal, was
43 fixed for storming the strong works of the Sikhs, Early in the morning of
44 that day, under cover of a thick fog, the dispositions of the army were effected
45 unnoticed by the enemy. The English heavy ordnance was planted in
46 masses opposite the most commanding points of the Sikh entrenchments com-
47 manded by Téj Singh. Ldl Singh with his cavalry lay higher up the stream.
48 The sinking spirits of the Sikhs were revived by the capture of a British
49 post of observation, which had been left unprotected at night. That
50 experienced old man, Shdm Singh, of Attari, lamented the choice of the Sikhs
51 in daring to wage war with their colossal neighbour, but the admonitions of
52 the hoary-headed chief were not heeded. The brave old soldier thereupon
53 announced to the desponding Khdlsé his resolution to die in the first combat
54 with the enemy, asa sacrifice to the spirit of their martial Guru and the
55 sacred commonwealth.
56 About seven o'clock in the morning, the gloomy foe that had loomed over
57 the scene rolled away. The English batteries opened fire on the enemy’s
58 entrenchments, and, for upwards of three hours, a tremendous storm of iron.
59 hail poured incessantly upon the general mass of the enemy, spreading death
60 and destruction on every side ; but the Sikhs returned the fire steadily from
61 behind their huge batteries of earth, planks and fascines. Clouds of sul-
62 phurous smoke hung over the battlefield, presenting a strange contrast to
63 the bright steel of the arms and the polished brass accoutrements. The
64 sri SaagRe Rag ang eh ita netish, sous. ene Ataprsiid by the