omed to meet a rough check. Wheeler
having joined Sir Harry by long marches on the 26th of January, the
troops required one day's rest. And now we have our hand upon the most
delightful official despatch, and the most admirable picture of a
battle, which has stirred our blood for many a day. Not a sentence of
explanation do the words of Sir Harry Smith need, nor with a syllable of
observation shall we rashly dare to gild his gold. Let us hear Caesar
dictating his commentary.

"At daylight on the 28th, my order of advance was, the cavalry in
front, in contiguous columns of squadrons of regiments; two troops
of horse artillery in the interval of brigades; the infantry in
contiguous columns of brigades at intervals of deploying distance;
artillery in the intervals, followed by two eight-inch howitzers,
on travelling carriages, brought into the field from the fort of
Loodianah by the indefatigable exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel
Lane, horse artillery. Brigadier Godby's brigade, which I had
marched out from Loodianah the previous evening, on the right, the
Shekawattee infantry on the left, the 4th irregular cavalry and the
Shekawattee cavalry considerably to the right, for the purpose of
sweeping the banks of the wet mullah on my right, and preventing
any of the enemy's horse attempting an inroad towards Loodianah, or
any attempt upon the baggage assembled round the fort of Budhowal.

"In this order the troops moved forward towards the enemy, a
distance of six miles, the advance conducted by Captain Waugh, 16th
lancers, the Deputy-assistant Quartermaster of cavalry; Major
Bradford of the 1st cavalry, and Lieutenant Strachey of the
engineers--who had been jointly employed in the conduct of patrols
up to the enemy's position, and for the purpose of reporting upon
the facility and points of approach. Previously to the march of the
troops, it had been intimated to me by Major Mackeson, that the
information by spies led to the belief the enemy would move,
somewhere at daylight, either on Jugraon, my position of Budhowal,
or Loodianah. On a near approach to his outposts, this rumour was
confirmed by a spy, who had just left his camp, saying the Sikh
army was actually in march towards Jugraon. My advance was steady,
my troops well in hand; and if he had anticipated me on the Jugraon
road,