d 982 wounded. One of the
last acts of the victors was to disinter the bodies of Agnew and
Anderson, and to carry them to an honoured resting-place on the summit
of Moolraj's citadel, through the broad and sloping breach which had
been made by the British guns in the walls of the rebellious fortress of
Mooltan.
AFFAIR AT RAMNUGGUR--22ND NOVEMBER.
The Sikhs and Afghans having formed a combination against the British
power, a large force was quickly assembled at Ferozepore, under the
immediate orders of Lord Gough, the Commander-in-Chief, in the autumn of
1848.
Sher Singh and Chuttur Singh having effected a junction on the 21st of
October, their forces amounted to 30,000. On the 21st of November, Lord
Gough joined the British army assembled at Saharum. The Sikh forces
were found posted at Ramnuggur. In front of this place flows the Chenab
River, which has in mid-channel a small island, on which, protected by a
grove of trees, was placed a battery of six guns, with some 400 men.
The enemy also having boats on the river, and command of the fort, had
pushed across a considerable number of infantry and cavalry. The
British army having arrived in front of this strong position, a
reconnaissance was made in force with cavalry and horse artillery. The
Sikhs, confident in their numbers and the strength of their position,
sent across their cavalry, who rode as if in defiance before the British
army. A charge of the 3rd Light Dragoons, aided by light cavalry, had
chastised on one point the presumption of the Sikhs. William Havelock,
the colonel of the 14th, entreated to be allowed to attack another body
of the enemy; and to this Colonel Cureton consented. The
Commander-in-Chief also riding up, said, "If you see a favourable
opportunity of charging--charge." The gallant old colonel soon made the
opportunity. "Now, my lads," he exclaimed, boldly leading his dragoons
to the onset, "we shall soon see whether we can clear our front of those
fellows or not." The Sikhs made a show of standing the charge, and some
of them stood well. Captain Gall, while grasping a standard, had his
right hand cut through by the stroke of a Sikh sword, and Lieutenant
Fitzgerald's head was cleft in two by a blow from one of the enemy's
weapons; but the mass of the Sikhs, opening out right and left, gave way
before their victors. Colonel Cureton, however, on seeing the 14th
charge, exclaimed, "That is not the body of horse I meant to have b
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