1 The victory decisive.
2 Losses on the side of
3 the victors
4 And on that of the
5 vanquished,
6 Comparison of events
7 that occurred at the
8 same spot more than
9 two thousand years
10 before,
11 548 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
12 of attack, the fortunes of war left at their mercy.” Sir Hugh Gough was
13 himself heard to say that he was sure the bodies of the enemy lay so thick,
14 that he “ could have walked over to the other bank of the river by stepping
15 from one to the other.”
16 Sixty-seven pieces of cannon, upwards of 200 camel-swivels (zemburuks)
17 numerous standards and vast munitions of war, seized by the troops, were
18 the trophies of the British victory. By order of the Commander-in-Chief
19 a part of the vaunted bridge constructed by the Khdlsé was burnt. The
20 victory was decisive ; but it was not purchased without severe loss to the
21 victors: 320 British soldiers were slain in the battle-field, including Major-
22 General Sir Robert Dick, who was mortally wounded close to the trenches,
23 while cheering on his brave men. He had served with distinction in the
24 Peninsular War and was present on the field of Waterloo.* The number of
25 wounded on the side of the British was, 2,088. The loss of the Sikhs was
26 immense, no less than 8,000 being killed, wounded or drowned. Amongst
27 those wounded was Téj Singh, the Commander-in-Chief. By this victory
28 the Sikh army was irretrievably broken and scattered, with no hopes of being
29 again able to take up arms. It is remarkable that, in the neighbourhood
30 of Sobraon, the scene of the great English victory, a bloodly battle was fought
31 by Alexander the Great upwards of two thousand years before. Little did the
32 . British heroes, who were engaged in that campaign, dream, in their school-
33 The British cross the
34 Ruitlej.
35 Thecaptureof KRasiv
36 11th February, 1816,
37 Sri Sat
38 boy days, in a country so remotely situated from India, that they would ever
39 tread ground so famous in the history of the Macedonian conqueror! Nor
40 is is less interesting to reflect on the motives which guided the Macedonian
41 monarch and the British Governor-General, each in his turn, to invade the
42 famous country of the five rivers, The one was influenced mainly by an
43 unconquerable lust for conquest, while the other drew his sword in the cause
44 of humanity, in self-defence against an aggressive foe! The one invaded,
45 half conquered, the country and hastily departed, leaving it in a state of
46 perplexity and confusion, The other came as a deliverer from violence
47 and rapine, completely conquered the country and retained the conquest,
48 giving the conquered inhabitants the blessings of peace, civilization and
49 freedom, the greatest and most valued gifts that nations have ever enjoyed
50 under an enlightened and beneficent Government, ;
51 On the very night of victory, the advanced brigades of the British
52 army were pushed across the Sutlej opposite Ferozepur; no enemy was Visi-
53 ble to check their progress. By the 12th, a bridge-of-boats had been
54 thrown across the Sutle} by Major Abbot with the materials furnished by
55 Lord Ellenborough from Sindh a year before, and on the 18th, the whole of
56 the British force, excepting the heavy train, crossed the river. Kastir, 32
57 miles from Léhore and 16 miles from the river, was occupied by the van
58 of the British force, on the 11th, on which day also envoys arrived from
59 Léhore. The fort of Kasur was occupied the following day without opposition.
60 The Governor-General joined the Commander-in-Chief’s camp on the morning
61 ofthe 14th. It was ascertained that the Sikhs had re-assembled, to the number
62 *The monument of this brave soldier is situated in the Ferozepur churchyard, and ig covered
63 with sandstone slabs. The marble tablet has the following piseription — cia wiles
64 _‘* Here lies in the hope of ajoyfulresurrection, Sir Robert Henry Dick, of Tully Mett, Perth-
65 shire, N. G., Major-General, Knight Commander of the order of the Bath and of Hanover;
66 Knight of the Austrian Military order of Maria Theresa, and of the Russian order of Vladimir;
67 Peleus a nee ee ae din®
68 for his country he fought and bled in nt, at Maida, throughout the Peninsula, at Water-
69 Joo and in India. For his valour and shill at Fuentes d’Honor, Busaco, Salamanca and
70 Waterloo, he received two medals and two honorary clasps. Born on 29th July 1787 A.D.
71 He fell in the moment of victory on the lOth of February 1816 a.., while cheering on H. MM.’
72 th Reiman in js division. in the ‘ . M.'s
73 GURL pSGII Siig Rea ataloved ea Then papal AREA Mranenelieih taeesrret the Sikhs