1 106 A DETACHMENT REACHES THE VALLEY. A. D. 1814.
2 RuNJEET Singh reached Toshu Mydan on the 18lb,
3 where he found Mohummud Uzeem Khan with the
4 forces of Kashmeer, drawn up to oppose his progress.
5 The Sikh army took up its position in face of the
6 enemy, and remained for some days inactive. Here
7 RuNJEET Singh received intelligence from the detach-
8 ment at BuhramguUa. On the 19th July, Ram Dyai
9 and the Jageerdars ascended the Peer-Punjal moun-
10 tains, by the Suraee and Mudpoor pass, driving before
11 them the Kashmeer troops left to defend it. Runjeet
12 Singh was uneasy at this precipitancy, thinking his
13 detachment out of reach of support, and liable to be
14 overpowered ; he sent off immediately therefore a rein-
15 forcement under Bhya Ram Singh. The Rajaoree
16 chief recommended an attack of Uzeem Khan, as the
17 best means of preventing his undertaking any thing
18 against the detachment, but Runjeet Singh having
19 reconnoitered the position, deemed the attack too hazard-
20 ous. It is probably the only thing that would have
21 prevented the disasters which followed.
22 In the mean time Ram Dyal having passed the
23 mountain barrier, and debouched upon the valley at
24 Heerapoor, was attacked on the 22d July, by a party sent
25 against him by Uzeem Khan. The Kashmeerian,
26 were defeated, and followed to Soopyn. On the 24ths
27 Ram Dyal assaulted the town : but it was well defended
28 by Shookoor Khan, and the assailants were repulsed,
29 whereupon the Sikhs retired again to the Peer-Punjal
30 mountains to wait reinforcements. Bhya Ram Singh,
31 hearing of this discomfiture, deemed it necessary to halt
32 at Buhramgullee, with the support he was bringing up,
33 in order to secure the pass.