such a signal victory so soon won. On no occasion, not even excepting
Aliwal, did the Company's troops fight better: the testimony of Sir
Hugh Gough was very much to their honour in this respect. He especially
selected for encomium the Ghoorkhas, as bravest where all were brave.
"I must," wrote the general in his despatch, "pause in this narrative
to notice the determined hardihood and bravery with which our two
battalions of Ghoorkhas met the Sikhs wherever they were opposed to
them. Soldiers of small stature, but indomitable spirit, they vied in
ardent courage in the charge with the grenadiers of our own nation, and,
armed with the short weapon of their mountains, were a terror to the
Sikhs throughout this great combat."

The battle of Sobraon destroyed the Khalsa army, and humbled the
military power of the nation. The spoils of war were sixty-seven pieces
of cannon, more than two hundred camel swivels, numerous standards,
ammunition, small-arms, side-arms, accoutrements, tools, and every
appendage of a fortified place. The loss of the British army was very
serious in effecting such important achievements.

Major-general Dick, one of the heroes of Waterloo, was killed; also
Brigadier-general Taylor; and Major-general McLaren was mortally
wounded. In all, thirteen European, and three native officers, were
killed; one hundred and one European, and thirty-nine native officers,
were wounded. The total of men killed was only three hundred and twenty,
but more than two thousand were wounded, many of them mortally. The loss
on the part of the Khalsa army was enormous; notwithstanding that they
fought behind works, a larger number were slain than at Aliwal.

Sir Hugh Gough lost no time in utilising his victory, for the same day
he passed a division of native infantry over a bridge of boats across
the Sutlej, the bridge of Sobraon having been broken and burnt at the
close of the action, and the ford at Hurrakee being impassable, the
river having risen some seven inches in a short time. The destruction of
the bridge of Sobraon does not appear to have been a politic measure;
it was not necessary as a precaution, because the enemy was so totally
defeated as not to be able to make use of it any longer.

On the 14th of February, the whole of the British army of the Sutlej
bivouaced at Kussoor, within thirty-two miles of Lahore, the Sikh
capital. The governor-general there issued a proclamation, announcing
his determination to p