an Hara, the British
were also engaged in active operations. Lord Gough had sent a detachment
from the division of Sir Hairy Smith against Dhurrumkote. The town was
defended by a fort, and it was reported that the garrison would make
a desperate resistance. Sir Harry Smith in person commanded the troops
sent against the place, and proceeded with such celerity, that the town
and fort became an easy conquest. The garrison proved to be entirely
composed of irregular auxiliaries to the Khalsa, and they made no show
of determination. The movements of the sirdar, already described, became
so threatening to Loodiana, that Sir Harry Smith was ordered, upon the
reduction of that place and the security of the stores of grain which it
contained, to manouvre for the defence of the menaced British garrison;
and Brigadier-general Wheeler was ordered, with the second brigade
of Sir Harry's division, to follow in support. General Smith marched
rapidly from Dhurrumkote to Jugroon, and then, to use the language
of General Gough, "breaking down" from Jugroon, he marched towards
Loodiana. This movement was extremely hazardous, for the sirdar's
forces were by far the more numerous, and his infantry, active and well
disciplined, burned to avenge the previous disasters. Runjoor marched
his forces parallel to those of the British general, opening upon him,
as occasion allowed, a heavy cannonade; for the Sikh forces were well
supplied with cannon, and their gunners were capable of maintaining,
with coolness and skill, a well-directed fire. Both parties showed great
skill in manoeuvring, and the major-general required all the ability
which he displayed to extricate himself from the superior force, which
pursued his march and harassed all his movements. On several occasions,
the whole force of Major-general Smith was in imminent peril, but its
gallant commander never quailed, was never thrown off his guard, and
was not in a single instance out-generalled. On one occasion the enemy
obtained, by his superior numbers, a most advantageous position, which
placed the small British force in great peril, for, bending round one
wing of his army, the sirdar enveloped the flank of the British.
The English general with admirable coolness, extricated his brigade,
retiring by _echelons_ of battalions, suffering heavily, but maintaining
the order and steadiness of his troops until the imminency of the peril
was over, when he opened his communications with Loodian