along its front, with a gratifying cheer, and displaying the captured standards of the Khalsa army. We had taken upwards of seventy-three pieces of cannon, and were masters of the whole field. For twenty-four hours not a Sikh has appeared in our front. The remains of the Khalsa army are said to be in full retreat across the Sutledge, or marching up its left bank towards Hurreekeeputhur, in the greatest confusion and dismay. Their camp is the scene of the most awful carnage, and they have abandoned large stores of grain, camp-equipage, and ammunition."
Soon after the battle Tej Singh appeared in view with his army of reserve, but retired in dismay at the destruction which had fallen upon the army of his colleague; while our scanty cavalry, having been nearly forty-eight hours without food or water, were too exhausted to pursue the fugitives.
Such hard contested fields cannot be gained without loss: ours amongst the Europeans was severe, having 488 killed and 1103 wounded. The total loss was 694 killed, and 1721 wounded, of whom 595 died subsequently, or were disabled. Every exertion was now made to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded, and by noon on the 23rd they were all in quarters at Ferozepoor, receiving every attention, and supplied with all necessary comforts.
The Sikhs imagined that our army would follow up its advantages, by crossing the river immediately and marching on the capital; but this was a movement not to be thought of without a powerful battering-train, more European troops, and especially more cavalry. It was, therefore, wisely resolved to wait for the battering-train moving upwards with the 16th Lancers and her Majesty's 10th and 53rd regiments of Foot, which, with the 43rd and 59th regiments of Native Infantry, had composed the Meerut force under Sir John Grey. Emboldened by this seeming indecision of the British, the Sikhs constructed a new bridge of boats with a tête-du-pont at
