Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/113

Rh of Badhowál. Sir Harry Smith chose the road along which the Ludhiána force was advancing to join him; upon which Ranjúr Singh, bending round one wing of his army, completely enveloped his flank. As Sir Harry Smith wrote in his despatch, 'The enemy thus outflanked me and my whole force. I therefore gradually withdrew my troops in échelon of battalions, the cavalry in échelon of squadrons, in the direction of Ludhiána, momentarily expecting to see the approach of the Ludhiána force. The line was thrown back, and the movements of the cavalry under Brigadier Cureton were the most perfect I ever saw.'

On the 19th, the Governor-General wrote to Sir Harry Smith to lose no time in marching on Ludhiána by Jagráon, where he was to pick up the 53rd Queen's. So anxious was he on this point, that in the middle of the night he rode down to the Commander-in-Chief's camp to request him to reinforce Smith at once. Wheeler's brigade was ordered to march for that purpose during the night, as no risk was too great to ensure an ample force for driving the Sikhs across the Sutlej.

The ensuing operations are thus commented upon by the Governor-General: — 'Wheeler made a mistake by marching on the 22nd to Sidham instead of Jagráon. He first heard that Smith had attacked the Sikhs and beaten them on the 21st, and therefore took the direct road. This movement threatened the enemy's rear, who retired from Badhowál in a fright; so did Wheeler when he found him so close. On the 21st Smith, having been joined by H.M.'s 53rd, marched