aon had been repeatedly reconnoitred by the
Commander-in-Chief, who satisfied himself that not fewer than thirty
thousand men, the best of the Khalsa troops, were covered by these
formidable intrenchments, guarded by seventy pieces of cannon, and
united by a good bridge to a reserve on the opposite bank, where the
enemy had a considerable camp and some artillery, commanding and
flanking his fieldworks on the British bank. On the 8th of February, Sir
Harry Smith's triumphant division having rejoined headquarters, it was
resolved to attack, on the morning of the 10th, the Sikh intrenchments.

"The battering and disposed field artillery was then put in
position in an extended semicircle, embracing within its fire the
works of the Sikhs. It had been intended that the cannonade should
have commenced at daybreak; but so heavy a mist hung over the plain
and river, that it became necessary to wait until the rays of the
sun had penetrated it and cleared the atmosphere. Meanwhile, on the
margin of the Sutlej on our left, two brigades of Major-General Sir
R. Dick's division, under his personal command, stood ready to
commence the assault against the enemy's extreme right. His 7th
brigade, in which was the 10th foot, reinforced by the 53d foot,
and led by Brigadier Stacey, was to head the attack, supported, at
two hundred yards' distance, by the 6th brigade, under Brigadier
Wilkinson. In reserve was the 5th brigade, under Brigadier the Hon.
T. Ashburnham, which was to move forward from the intrenched
village of Kodeewalla, leaving, if necessary, a regiment for its
defence. In the centre, Major-General Gilbert's division was
deployed for support or attack, its right resting on and in the
village of the little Sobraon. Major-General Sir Harry Smith's was
formed near the village of Guttah, with its right thrown up towards
the Sutlej. Brigadier Cureton's cavalry threatened, by feigned
attacks, the ford at Hurreekee and the enemy's horse, under Lall
Singh Misr, on the opposite bank. Brigadier Campbell, taking an
intermediate position in the rear, between Major-General Gilbert's
right and Major-General Sir Harry Smith's left, protected both.
Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell, under whom was Brigadier Scott,
held in reserve on our left, ready to act as circumstances might
demand, the rest of the cavalry.