resumed on both sides. The infantry
under Major-generals Sir Harry Smith, Gilbert, and Sir John M'Caskill,
attacked in echellon of lines the enemy's infantry, almost invisible
amongst wood and the approaching darkness of the night. The position
of the enemy was such as might have been expected from troops who had
everything at stake, and who had long vaunted of being irresistible.
Their ample and extended line, from the great superiority of numbers,
far outflanked ours; but this was counteracted by the flank movements of
our cavalry. The attack of the infantry now commenced, and the roll of
fire from this powerful arm soon convinced the Sikh army that they had
met with a foe they little expected; and their whole force was driven
from position after position, with great slaughter, and the loss of
seventeen pieces of artillery, some of them of heavy calibre; our
infantry using that never-failing weapon, the bayonet, whenever the
enemy stood. Night only saved them from worse disaster; for this stout
conflict was maintained during an hour and a half ot dim starlight,
amidst a cloud of dust from the sandy plain, which yet more obscured
every object." This victory, however, was dearly purchased: amongst
those who fell was Sir Robert Sale, the hero of Jellalabad, and Sir
John M'Caskill. After remaining encamped for two days, Sir Hugh Gough
moved with his whole force towards Ferozeshah, where the Sikh army was
posted in a strongly entrenched camp, defended by a formidable park of
artillery. Here a junction was formed between the troops under Sir John
Littler and those of Sir Hugh Gough. About four o'clock on the afternoon
of the 21st, the united forces advanced to attack the entrenched camp of
the Sikhs. At this time Sir Henry Hardinge himself had joined Sir Hugh
Gough; and he took an active part in the events of the day, as second
in command. The camp of the enemy was in the form of a parallelogram, of
about a mile in length, and half a mile in breadth, including within its
area the strong village of Ferozeshah: the shorter sides looking towards
the Sutlej and Moodkee, and the longer towards Ferozepore and the open
country. The British troops moved against the last-named place, and
their operations were thus detailed by Sir Hugh Gough:--"The divisions
of Major-general Sir John Littler, Brigadier Wallace, and Major-general
Gilbert, deployed into line, having in the centre our whole force
of artillery, with the exception of one on