Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/121

Rh It was decided, however, that the attack should proceed. On the right, Sir R. Dick's leading brigade advanced with great steadiness and carried the entrenchments. I was close to the Governor-General at that moment, when we saw our second line giving way; but it soon re-formed outside the breastwork and again advanced. The Governor-General writes: 'The moment was critical, and I ordered General Gilbert's Division, which was a mile to the right, to move forward. The Commander-in-Chief had given a similar order on the right flank.'

Gilbert's movement had been originally intended only as a feint; but the check which the second line had met with made it absolutely necessary that the feint should be turned into a real attack. Being now face to face with the strongest part of the Sikh entrenchments, the line, which had hitherto advanced with great steadiness, suddenly began to waver under the murderous fire of grape and canister. 'Rally those men,' the Governor-General shouted. No sooner were the words out of his mouth than Colonel Wood, his aide-de-camp, galloped to the centre of the line, and seizing the colours from the hands of the ensign carried them to the front. In a moment they had rallied and stormed the breastworks simultaneously with the brigades of Dick's Division, who, having experienced a similar check, had also recovered their lost ground and were now engaged in what may be called a hand-to-hand encounter with the Sikh infantry.