Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/107

Rh of the enemy. The postponement of the battle was nearly impossible. Water was not to be had. All the difficulties of the approach to the Sikh camp would have been the same as they were on the 21st. Littler joined at one o'clock; and although time was lost, the want of daylight, while it rendered our decided success less secure, caused the enemy to abandon that portion of the position which had not been attacked, and was as detrimental to him as it was hazardous to us.

'I deplore the derangement of mind which caused the unfortunate order to be given to the cavalry. If advantage be taken of this grave error, it will lead to useful results. I know I am not responsible for military misconceptions, nor will I say one word on the extraordinary position in which I am placed. I have never desponded; and now I can sincerely assure you that, as far as the results of these difficult operations are concerned, I am perfectly satisfied. No impression has been made on the loyalty of the Sepoys. Victory has re-assured the wavering. Everything is in a state of security, which will be materially increased in four or five days, when the Meerut force arrives.'

I have been induced to insert copious extracts from the Governor-General's correspondence with the authorities at home and others, because such letters speak for themselves. The formal despatches, recording these eventful and sanguinary actions, necessarily omit much that should now be made known after the lapse of nearly fifty years. They were at the time merely