Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/99

Rh From about 8 to 11 a.m. and at 3 p.m. the enemy came towards us with immense bodies of cavalry and infantry. The latter showed the same spirit as before; but whenever our jaded men advanced the Sikhs retired. The 3rd Light Dragoons had in all these affairs behaved admirably. The Governor-General's body-guard [a Native cavalry corps] behaved beautifully at Múdkí as well as at Firozsháh.'

I would now quote another report of the action in a letter to Lord Ripon, dated December 27th. After describing the character of the advance, Sir H. Hardinge continues: 'Our artillery, with the exception of two 8-inch howitzers, was unequal to contend against theirs, many of which were 12-pounders. Our artillery endeavoured to shake them before the infantry advanced; but firing from the jungle I believe no officer could distinctly aim at any object, so that after a large consumption of ammunition the line advanced, with Sir Harry Smith's Division of two brigades in reserve. The men advanced well, considering the difficulties opposed to them. I led the left centre, and when we came opposite the Sikh batteries the fire was very heavy with grape and musketry. The infantry pressed on; and we gained that portion of the camp opposed to us, as did the right under Sir Hugh Gough. Sir J. Littler's brigades had inclined too much to their left, and the gap between his right and my left was considerable.