1 A. D. 1814. RUNJEET's DEFEAT AND RETREAT 107
2 MoHUMMUD UzEEM Khan seeing matters in this
3 critical position, tliought the time favorable for oflensive
4 operations against the main army, which had already
5 suffered much from sickness, and more from desertion.
6 On the 29th July, Roohoollaii KriA\, the Poonch
7 chief, approached, and commenced a desultory fire on
8 the Sikh position. On the following morning he renewed
9 his attack with more vigour, and Run J BET SiNGii was
10 compelled to fall back on Mundee. Being pursued thither,
11 he fired the town, and directing his disciplined batta-
12 uns to cover the retreat, continued his retrograde
13 march to Poonch, which he reached on the 31st July,
14 with the loss of many men, and his principal officer
15 MiT-SiNGH BuHRANEEA, and stripped of nearly all his
16 baggage. The army was now no longer in a state of
17 organization or discipline, and setting fire to Poonch,
18 Rlnjeet Singh quitted the camp and continued his
19 flight to Bhoohee, whence he with a few attendants took
20 the nearest route to Labor, which he reached on the 12th
21 August.
22 Ram Dyal and the Jageerdars serving with him in
23 the detachment which had penetrated into the valley,
24 were surrounded, and their supplies were cut off, but
25 the detachment was allowed by UzEEM Khan to re-
26 tire, and was furnished with a safe conduct to the Sikh
27 frontier, in consideration of the friendship professed
28 by this Governor for Dewan Mohklm Chlnd, its
29 commandant's grandfather. That distinguished officer
30 of Rlnjeet Singh had himself been prevented by
31 indisposition from taking part in the expedition. He
32 warned his master however of the difficulties he must
33 expect if he allowed himself to be overtaken in the
34 o 2