Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/89

Rh out of chaos. The brigades were then formed into column, and ere long a round-shot or two told us the battle had began.

Sir Hugh Gough, with the Cavalry Division, had moved to the right, and soon engaged the enemy's horse. Then ensued a sort of Balaclava mêlée, except that the Sikhs made a more determined stand than did the Russians against Scarlett's Heavy Brigade. In his official despatch, the Commander-in-Chief states that, 'whilst our twelve battalions formed from échelon of brigades into line, a heavy cannonade was opened on our advancing troops. Then the British cavalry turned the left of the Sikh army. The enemy's ample and extended line, from their superiority of numbers, far outflanked ours, but was counteracted by the flank movements of the cavalry; so that when the attack of the infantry commenced, the whole Sikh force was driven from position after position with great slaughter. Night only saved them from worse disaster, for this stout conflict was maintained during an hour and a-half of dim starlight, amidst a cloud of dust from the sandy plain, which yet more obscured every object,'

I can attest the accuracy of this description. The scene of the action was enveloped in a sort of November fog, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe. The Governor-General, with true instinct, had been bringing into action the several infantry brigades. All his aides-de-camp had been told off to head-quarters, including Captain Arthur