Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/635

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OUR ANGLO-INDIAN ARMY.
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the neighbourhood of Wuzeerabad. Between them the two chiefs had very soon 30,000 men in hand; and they were evidently determined to try the issue of another great struggle for supremacy in the Punjaub.

In the meantime a large force had assembled at Ferozepoor, under the immediate orders of Lord Gough, the Commander-in-Chief, who lost no time in advancing into the Punjaub to put an effectual stop to the insurrection. Shere Singh and the united armies of the revolted Sirdars had taken post at Ramnuggur, on the river Chenab; but were obliged to abandon that position towards the end of November, by the advance of Lord Gough, and to retire behind the Jhelum.

During these manœuvres General Whish had renewed the siege of Mooltan. Having been joined by a strong body of Bombay troops, our force before that place now amounted to 32,000 men, of whom 15,000 were British, with 150 pieces of artillery. By the 27th of December the enemy were driven out of the suburbs, and we were enabled to take up a position within 400 yards of the walls. By the 29th the besiegers had arrived so close to the city walls that their heavy guns were breaching them at a distance of no more than eighty yards. On the morning of the 30th the principal magazine in the fort blew up with a terrific explosion, for it contained nearly a million pounds of powder, which Moolraj had been five years in collecting. All his principal houses, temples, &c., as well as about 800 men, were blown up with it; yet the walls and battlements of the fort were not much injured, and the chieftain did not appear to be disheartened by the catastrophe.

During the night of the 30th a breach was effected near the Delhi gate of the city, and another next day at the Bohur gate. Our cannonade was sustained without intermission. On the 31st the Sikhs made a sortie, and fell upon the division under Major Edwardes and Lieutenant Lake, but they were driven back with great loss. On the 2nd of January, 1849, the town was stormed and