A history of the reigning family of Lahore, with some account of the Jummoo rajahs, the Seik soldiers and their sirdars; with notes on Malcolm, Prinsep, Lawrence, Steinbach, McGregor, and the Calcutta Review

Smyth, George Carmichael · 1847 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

1THE WAR WITH THE BRITISH. 183

2cision laid down the plan, of what, after some trouble he con-

3vinced the Sirdar, would be quite as secure a retreat as any

4the stars could devise. So effectually indeed did he at

5length instil into the mind of the gallant Sirdar a persuasion,

6that in his advice alone was security to be found, that thence-

7forward scarcely an hour passed in which he was not summoned

8into the presence of the Commander-in-chief to advise and

9report upon the construction of this castle.

10It is asserted also, that on the first intimation of the attack

11by the British, Teja Sing sent about fifty of his most attached

12and trusty followers to secure the ghat and the approach to

13the bridge of boats connecting the camp with the right bank

14of the Sutlej, thus providing as far as possible for his safe

15retreat in case of need. While the battle was raging, the

16Commander-in-chief was, it is said, securely ensconced in his

17own peculiar fortress, watching only for an opportunity of

18making good his retreat unobserved across the bridge. While

19he tarried for this purpose, some horsemen gallopped up to

20his castle, and demanded that he should come forth and

21repair to the spot where the troops under Sham Sing

22Attareewallah were beginning to waver, that he might

23rally and strengthen them by his presence and commands.

24— He thereupon dismissed the messengers with his com-

25pliments to the gallant chief Sham Sing, desiring him to hold

26his ground as long as possible, and assuring him that after he

27had secured the bridge he would hasten to his assistance and

28support. Soon after this he found his way down to and

29across the bridge, attended by fifteen or twenty horsemen

30in waiting upon him, and was thus, if report does him no

31injustice, the first to quit the bloody field of Subraon. It

32is said, moreover, that having got safely across the bridge,

33he ordered up eight or ten guns, and had them pointed on

34the bridge as if ready to beat it to pieces or to oppose