1 THE WAR WITH THE BRITISH. 171
2 then about twenty-two thousand in number, with three or
3 four camps of artillery, which were well inclined towards him.
4 The rest of the army, about forty-two thousand infantry, with
5 about ten regiments of regular cavalry and great part of the
6 artillery, was to march in divisions towards Ferozepore. Lall
7 Sing would follow in a few days, and Teja Sing would remain to
8 complete the necessary preparations, the troops under his com-
9 mand being conducted on the march by their respective
10 officers.
11 The preliminary arrangements completed, the meeting broke
12 up, and the sirdars, officers, and deputies returned to their
13 several corps to communicate the result.
14 The troops, allured by the hope of the expected booty, exhi-
15 bited much eagerness for the order to set forward towards
16 and across the Sutlej; every one seemed full of confidence
17 and high spirits, and the preparations for the march were
18 carried on with the utmost vigour and despatch. Many of the
19 soldiers sent word to their relatives to join and accompany
20 them in their advance across the river, in order to be ready
21 for the purpose of assisting them in carrying home the property
22 of which they were to become masters in Hindostan.
23 On the 23rd November, Rajah Lall Sing left Lahore and en-
24 camped with his twenty-two thousand Gorechars and about forty
25 guns a little beyond Shalimar. Thence he marched to about ten
26 coss from the city, and halted for five or six days. The Rajah
27 was a bad soldier, and personally not very eager for the fray,
28 but he affected a great confidence in the invincibility of the
29 Khalsa, and seemed very eager for their advance across the river.
30 About the 23rd of November, the infantry made its first move
31 towards Ferozepore on various lines of march, under the orders
32 of Sirdar Teja Sing, who still remained at Lahore, or rather
33 those of the Ranee herself, of which that chief was merely the
34 channel of communication. When the entire army had reached
35 the right banks of the Sutlej, Teja Sing was written to by