"Our battery of nine-pounders, enlarged into twelves, opened near
the little Sobraon with a brigade of howitzers formed from the
light field-batteries and troops of horse artillery, shortly after
daybreak. But it was half-past six before the whole of our
artillery fire was developed. It was most spirited and
well-directed. I cannot speak in terms too high of the judicious
disposition of the guns, their admirable practice, or the activity
with which the cannonade was sustained; but notwithstanding the
formidable calibre of our iron guns, mortars, and howitzers, and
the admirable way in which they were served, and aided by a rocket
battery, it would have been visionary to expect that they could,
within any limited time, silence the fire of seventy pieces behind
well-constructed batteries of earth, plank, and fascines, or
dislodge troops covered either by redoubts or epaulements, or
within a treble line of trenches. The effect of the cannonade was,
as has since been proved by an inspection of the camp, most
severely felt by the enemy; but it soon became evident that the
issue of this struggle must be brought to the arbitrament of
musketry and the bayonet.

"At nine o'clock Brigadier Stacey's brigade, supported on either
flank by Captains Horsford's and Fordyce's batteries, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Lane's troop of horse artillery, moved to the
attack in admirable order. The infantry and guns aided each other
correlatively. The former marched steadily on in line, which they
halted only to correct when necessary. The latter took up
successive positions at the gallop, until at length they were
within three hundred yards of the heavy batteries of the Sikhs;
but, notwithstanding the regularity, and coolness, and scientific
character of this assault, which Brigadier Wilkinson well
supported, so hot was the fire of cannon, musketry, and zumboorucks
kept up by the Khalsa troops, that it seemed for some moments
impossible that the intrenchments could be won under it; but soon
persevering gallantry triumphed, and the whole army had the
satisfaction to see the gallant Brigadier Stacey's soldiers driving
the Sikhs in confusion before them within the area of their
encampment. The 10th foot, under Lieutenant-Colonel Franks, now for
the first time brought i