dar
Shere Singh, against the refractory city. There happened to be upon the
Indus, at the head of a small force, a young and gallant officer who
had served with distinction upon the staff of Lord Gough, and who was
favourably known by his clever contributions to the India press on the
state of the Company's territory, civil and military: this officer was
Lieutenant Edwardes. He was engaged in settling a disturbed district of
country, and in collecting the land tax due to Moolraj, as Sikh governor
of Mooltan. At the same time, Colonel Van Courtlandt, a native of India,
and a distinguished officer in the service of the Company, occupied
Dherra Ismael Khan, also in the neighbourhood. Lieutenant Edwardes
crossed the river into the Deerajat, whence he wrote to the Khan of
Bhawulpore, requesting him to make such a movement of troops as would
prevent Moolraj from falling upon either of their forces. The khan's
territories were so situated as to enable him to effect a military
disposition to accomplish this object. The khan made the required
demonstration. When Edwardes crossed the Indus, he left a detachment of
three hundred horse to protect the collection at Serat, where, on the
18th of May, they were attacked by a body of cavalry exceeding their
own in number, sent against them from Mooltan, with ten light field-guns
(zumbooruks). The British force so manoeuvred as to attain a good
position, although under the fire of the zumbooruks, and then charged
brilliantly, dispersing the Mooltanese, and capturing their guns.

Colonel Courtlandt was as prompt as Edwardes in the measures taken by
him. He left the port of Dherra Ismael Khan, and proceeded by the base
of the hills southward. On his route he was joined by a Beloochee chief,
with one hundred of his wild followers. Courtlandt detached these, with
a portion of his own troops, against the fortress of Sunghur, westward
of the Indus. The commander of the fort refused the summons of
surrender, and for six hours maintained a gallant resistance; he then
brought off the garrison by a skilful manoeuvre, reaching Mooltan in
safety.

Lieutenant Edwardes and Colonel Courtlandt effected a Junction of their
small forces, and on the 20th of May were attacked by a division of
the Mooltan army. The united forces of Courtlandt and Edwardes were
so disposed that not more than one thousand five hundred men could
be brought into action, while the enemy numbered three thousand. The
artillery fo