86 MAJOR W. HODSON. 



On the mornino; of the 22nd Hodson resumed his 

 march, sending a messenger back to the brigadier 

 begging him to come on with all possible speed to 

 his help. The brigadier, he writes, " was dreadfully 

 angry, but came on like a good boy ! When within 

 a mile or so of the fort I halted my party to allow 

 his column to get up nearer, and as soon as I could see 

 it, moved on quietly. The ruse told to perfection : 

 thinking they had only 100 men and myself to deal 

 with, the Sikhs advanced in strength, thirty to one, 

 to meet me, with colours flying and drums beating. 

 Just then a breeze sprang up, the dust blew aside, 

 and the long line of horsemen coming on rapidly 

 behind my party burst upon their senses. They 

 turned instantly and made for the fort, so leaving 

 my men to advance quietly after them, I galloped 

 up to the brigadier, pointed out the flying Sikhs, 

 explained their position, and begged him to charge 

 them." 



The brigadier "melted from his wrath and told 

 two regiments of Irregulars to follow my guidance. 

 On we went at the gallojJ, cut in amongst the 

 fugitives, and punished them fearfully. The un- 

 fortunate wretches had cause to rue the day they 

 turned rebels, for we left them thickly on the 

 ground as we swept along. I have never charged 

 with cavalry before, or come so directly into hand- 

 to-hand conflict with the Sikh, save of course in 

 the trenches at Sobraon. About 300 to 400 escaped 

 into the fort, while the remainder threw down their 

 arms and dispersed over the country." 



The remnant of the garrison fled in the night, 

 their loss in slain alone during the attack and the 

 subsequent pursuit amounting to 300. From the 



