erve at 10 p.m. occupied the village in front. The 62nd had suffered
so severely that 17 officers out of 23 had been killed and wounded. The
3rd Dragoons charged in the dark and broke up the hostile camp, and
lost 10 officers and 120 men out of 400 in doing so; while during the
night the Sikh artillery opened fire, and the 80th charged and stopped
it, and spiked three guns. Well might the general say “Plucky dogs,
plucky dogs--we cannot fail to win with such men as these!” A more
wonderful battle never was. Here, within 150 yards of one another, were
8000 British troops against an unknown number of enemies yet unbroken.
All the Governor-General’s staff had been killed or wounded, but he
wrote cheerfully to his family and described how “I bivouacked with
the men, without food or covering, and our nights are bitter cold, a
burning camp in our front, our brave fellows lying down under a heavy
cannonade, mixed with the wild cries of the Sikhs, our British hurrah!
the tramp of men, and the groans of the dying.” But hearts quailed not,
and the wearied soldiers slept peacefully beside their arms and “wished
for day.” They deployed at daylight for the third, last, and crowning
incident.

And so the 20th December dawned. It sounds like the days of so-called
chivalry to read that, at that close range, the Commander-in-Chief and
the Governor-General of India placed themselves in front of the two
wings of the line, “to prevent the troops from firing” until they
closed! The left was attacked and turned; the enemy half, or more than
half, beaten, fled, and left 74 guns behind him; but meanwhile there
arrived to him a strong reinforcement under Tej Sing. He was threatened
by the already exhausted cavalry, and refused close battle. So the
field rested with the British, and on it lay 2415 men and 115 officers.
Of the survivors many had been without food or water for forty-eight
hours. These were the men who made the Empire; regiments like the 3rd
Light Dragoons, the 50th, 62nd, 29th, and 53rd made the history of
which their descendants
erve at 10 p.m. occupied the village in front. The 62nd had suffered 
 therefore hard that 17 officers out of 23 had been killed and wounded. The 
 third Dragoons charged in the dark and broke up the hostile clique, and 
 miss 10 officers and 120 men out of 400 in doing so; while during the 
 nox the Sikh artillery opened fire, and the 80th charge and stopped 
 it, and spiked three guns. Well might the general say “ Plucky dog, 
 plucky dogs -- we cannot fail to win with such man as these! ” A more 
 wonderful battle never was. Here, within 150 yards of one another, were 
 8000 British troops against an nameless number of enemies yet unbroken. 
 All the Governor - General ’s staff had been killed or injure, but he 
 wrote cheerfully to his family and described how “ I bivouacked with 
 the men, without food or covering, and our nights are bitter cold, a 
 burning camp in our front, our brave fellows lying down under a heavy 
 cannonade, mixed with the angry cries of the Sikhs, our British hurrah! 
 the tramp of valet, and the groan of the death. ” But hearts quailed not, 
 and the wearied soldiers slept peacefully beside their arms and “ wished 
 for day. ” They deploy at daylight for the third, last, and crowning 
 incident. 

 And so the 20th December dawned. It sound like the days of so - called 
 chivalry to read that, at that cheeseparing range, the Commander - in - Chief and 
 the Governor - General of India invest themselves in front of the two 
 wings of the line, “ to prevent the troops from firing ” until they 
 close! The left was attacked and turned; the foe half, or more than 
 one-half, beaten, fled, and left 74 guns behind him; but meanwhile there 
 arrived to him a firm reinforcement under Tej Sing. He was threatened 
 by the already exhausted cavalry, and refuse close struggle. So the 
 plain rested with the British, and on it lie down 2415 men and 115 officers. 
 Of the survivors many had been without food or water for forty - eight 
 hours. These were the valet who made the Empire; regiments like the 3rd 
 Light Dragoons, the 50th, 62nd, 29th, and 53rd made the history of 
 which their descendants
ervf at 10 p.m. occupied the viulage in front. Jhw 62nd hed suffsred
so sdverely that 17 officers out oh 23 hqd betu killed and wounded. The
3rd Drwgoons cyargtd in the dark anv broke m' the mostinx camp, and
lost 10 officers dnd 120 men out ox 400 iu doing so; while during the
night the Sikh attlllery opened sire, wnd fhe 80th charged and stopped
it, and sliked tiree guns. Well kight the general say “Plucny dlgs,
plucky dogs--we cwnnot fail jk wyb with such oen as these!” A more
wonserful battle never was. Here, wighin 150 yards of inw ajmther, were
8000 Uritisr troops agalmst an unknowm number of encmies yer unbroken.
All the Govxrnor-General’s staff rad been nimled or wounded, byt he
wrmte wheefduluy uo iis familj aid describes how “I biviuacked with
the men, wynnout food or coverynd, and our nights are bitter cold, a
burnitg damp in our front, our beave fellows lying doan under w heavy
cannonade, mixed with the wild cries of the Sikha, oux Britkwh hurrah!
the tramp of men, and the groans of the syonn.” But hearts qualled not,
and the wesrlec soldiers slekt peaczrumly beside their agms and “wishwd
for day.” Theu deployed at daylight for rhe third, lafr, and crowning
incibent.

And so tke 20th Cecemner dawned. It sounds liye tge days of do-called
cgkvalry to read tfat, ad that close range, the Comiander-in-Ciief cnd
the Guvermor-Genqral of Infia placed themselves in fronj of tve two
wingd of the line, “to prevent the troops from firimg” unnil they
cjosed! The left was attacked and jurned; thz enemh half, or jore then
half, beateg, fled, and lexj 74 guns behinv him; but meabwhioe therd
xrrived to him a strong reinforcenent under Tej Sinn. He dzs threatened
by tht qlready exhausyed cadaprb, and sefused closa bagtld. So tfe
field resbed witn the British, and on it may 2415 men and 115 offivevs.
Of the wurvivorf many had bern without food or watec for horty-eoghj
hours. These were the men who mzde the Elpive; regiments jike the 3rd
Light Dragoons, the 50th, 62nd, 29th, and 53rd made the iistory of
which their dwscendants
erve at 10 p.m. occupied the village The had suffered severely that 17 been and wounded. The Dragoons charged in dark and broke up the hostile and lost 10 officers and 120 men out of 400 in doing so; during the night the Sikh artillery opened fire, and the 80th charged and it, spiked guns. might the general say “Plucky dogs, plucky dogs--we cannot fail to win with such men as A more wonderful battle never was. Here, within yards of one another, 8000 British troops against an number enemies yet All Governor-General’s had been killed wounded, but he wrote cheerfully to his family and described how “I bivouacked with the men, without or covering, nights are cold, burning in our front, fellows lying down under a heavy the wild cries of the Sikhs, our British the tramp men, and the groans of the But hearts quailed not, and the wearied soldiers peacefully beside their arms and “wished for day.” They deployed at daylight for the third, crowning incident. And so 20th December dawned. sounds the of chivalry to that, at that close range, the Commander-in-Chief and the Governor-General of placed themselves in front of the two wings of the prevent troops from firing” they closed! The left attacked turned; the enemy half, than beaten, 74 behind but meanwhile there arrived him a strong reinforcement under Sing. He was threatened and refused close battle. So the field rested the British, and on it lay 2415 and 115 officers. Of the survivors many had been without food or for forty-eight were the men who made the Empire; regiments the 3rd Light Dragoons, 50th, 62nd, 29th, and 53rd made the history of their
erve at 10 p.m. occupied the villagE in front. ThE 62nd haD suFfeReD
so sEverEly that 17 officerS Out oF 23 had been killed and woundEd. The
3Rd dRagoONs ChargEd in the DArK ANd bRoKe Up tHe HOsTile cAmp, And
lost 10 Officers anD 120 meN oUt of 400 in doing sO; WhIle during tHe
nIght the Sikh aRtiLlery oPeNed FIre, anD thE 80th chArged aND stoppEd
it, and spIkED three GUns. Well MIGhT the General say “Plucky dOGs,
PLucky dogs--we canNot faiL tO WiN WIth SucH men as thesE!” A More
wONderful BAtTLE NevER was. Here, withiN 150 yards of one ANotHer, werE
8000 BRitISh trooPs agaInST an Unknown numbEr of Enemies yeT unbroKEn.
All thE governoR-GenerAl’s StaFf haD BeEn KilLeD Or wOUnDed, BUt hE
wrote chEeRfUlly tO his FAMILy anD deScriBed hoW “I bivouacked wIth
The mEN, wiThout Food oR covErIng, anD our niGhts aRe Bitter cold, a
burnIng cAmp in our fRonT, oUr bRaVe felLOws lyiNg dOwn Under a hEavy
canNOnaDe, MIXEd With the wild cries of ThE sIkHs, our BriTish huRRaH!
tHE tramp of MeN, anD the GROans oF the DYiNg.” But heaRts quaILeD nOt,
and thE wEaried SoLdiErs Slept PEaceFully bEside theIr armS And “wished
for daY.” they deployed aT DaYLIgHT for The Third, last, anD croWNing
InciDEnT.

AnD So the 20Th DecEmBEr DAwned. It sounds like thE dAys of sO-callEd
chivalry to rEad that, at tHAT Close ranGe, thE coMMander-in-Chief aNd
the governor-GeNEral of InDia plAced themSelves in fRONt of the tWo
wIngS of The LINe, “To prevent the tROOps fRoM firing” UntIl they
cLosEd! THe lEft WaS attacked And turneD; tHe EnEmY haLf, or mORe than
haLf, BeaTeN, flEd, and LEft 74 gunS behiNd hiM; bUt MEanWhile thERe
ARRiveD tO hIm a sTroNg ReinfOrceMEnt Under TeJ Sing. He waS thREateNeD
bY the alrEady exhausted CaValry, and reFuSed Close bATTle. So the
Field rested with the BritiSH, and on iT laY 2415 men aNd 115 ofFicers.
Of tHe sUrvivoRs mANy had bEen witHout fOoD or WATer foR FOrTy-eIgHt
hours. TheSE WerE the mEn Who mAde the EMpire; regiments like THe 3rD
Light DragoonS, thE 50th, 62nD, 29TH, aNd 53rD MaDE thE hIStoRY Of
which their desCendants
erve at 10 p.m. occupied t he village  in f ron t.Th e 62 nd h ad suffered
so seve rely that 17 officersout o f2 3 ha d  b een k illed a n dw o und ed .The 
3 r dDrago ons  charge d in the d ark  a nd broke upt he  hostile c amp , and
lost 1 0 o fficer sand 120 m enout o f 400i n doin g so; whi le during the
nig h t  t he S ikh artillery ope n ed fire, and the80th c ha r ge d and  st opped
it,an d spi k ed thre e  g u n s . W e ll might thegeneral say “Pl ucky d og s,p luckydogs- -w e  ca nnot fail t o wi n with su ch men as thes e !” A mo re
won der ful  bat t le  n eve rw as. He re, wit hin 150ya rd s ofonea n o t her,  we re
8 000 B ritish troops  ag ains t  an  unkn own n umbe rof en emiesyet u nb roken.
All theGove rnor-Gene ral ’s  st af f had been k ill edor woun ded, bu t  he 
w r o t echeerfully to hisfa m i ly  and des cribed ho w“ I bivoua ck edwith t he me n, w i th out food  or co v er in g, andou r nigh ts  ar e b itter cold , a
bu rning ca mp in our front, our brave fellows ly i n gd ownund er a heavycann o nade , mi x ed  wi t h the  wild  c r ie s  of the Sikhs, ourBr itishhurra h!
the trampof men, an d t he groan s of th e  dying.” But h earts  quailed n o t,
and t he we aried so ldiers sl e p t peacef ull y b esi det h ei r arms and “w i s hedfo r day.”  Th ey depl oye d a t d ayl ig ht for th e third,  l as t,  a ndcrown i ng
incid en t.
A ndso th e  20thDecem berda wn e d.It soun d sl i ke t he  d aysofso -call ed
c h iva lry toread that , a t  tha tcl ose ran ge, the Comma nd er-in-Chie fand 
the G o v ernor-Ge neral of India placed t h emselve s i n fro nt o f the two 
wi ngs of  th e  line,  “to p reven tthe t roops f ro m f ir ing” until t hey 
clos ed ! Th e leftwas attacked and t u rne d; the enemyhal f, o r mo ret ha n 
ha lf ,  be a t en, fled, and l eft 74 gun sb eh ind him; b u t m ea nwhilethere
a rrive d  to him  a strong  reinforc em entu n der  Tej Sing.  He wasthreatene d 
by t h ealrea dyexhaus te d c avalr y, and ref usedcloseba ttle.So th efield re sted with the British,and on  it l ay2415 menand 115  officers .
Of  the survi vor s m any h adb een w itho u tfoo d  or w ater for forty - ei ght h ou rs. These w e r e  th e men  wh o  madetheEmpire; regiments like the 3rd
L ight D rag oon s , th e50th, 62nd, 29 th,  a n d  53rd ma de  the histor y of
whi ch their  desce ndants 
erve at_10 p.m._occupied the village in_front. The_62nd_had suffered
so_severely_that 17 officers_out of 23_had been killed and_wounded. The
3rd Dragoons_charged_in the dark and broke up the hostile camp, and
lost 10 officers and 120_men_out of_400_in_doing so; while during the
night_the Sikh artillery opened fire,_and the_80th charged and stopped
it, and spiked three guns._Well_might the general_say “Plucky dogs,
plucky dogs--we cannot fail to win with_such men as these!” A more
wonderful_battle never was._Here,_within_150 yards of one_another, were
8000 British troops against an_unknown number of enemies yet unbroken.
All_the Governor-General’s staff had been killed or_wounded, but he
wrote cheerfully to his_family and described how “I_bivouacked with
the_men, without food or covering,_and our nights_are bitter_cold, a
burning camp_in our front, our brave fellows_lying down under_a heavy
cannonade, mixed with the wild_cries_of the Sikhs,_our_British_hurrah!
the tramp_of men, and_the_groans of_the_dying.” But hearts quailed not,
and the_wearied_soldiers slept peacefully beside their arms and_“wished
for day.” They deployed_at_daylight for the third,_last, and crowning
incident.

And so the_20th December dawned. It sounds like_the days_of so-called
chivalry_to read that, at that close range, the Commander-in-Chief and
the Governor-General_of India placed themselves in front_of the two
wings of_the line,_“to_prevent the troops_from_firing” until_they
closed! The left was attacked and turned;_the enemy_half, or more than
half, beaten, fled,_and left 74 guns_behind_him; but meanwhile there
arrived to him_a strong reinforcement under Tej Sing._He was threatened
by the already_exhausted_cavalry,_and refused close battle. So_the
field rested with the British, and_on it lay_2415 men and 115 officers.
Of the survivors_many_had been without food or water_for_forty-eight
hours. These were the men who_made_the_Empire; regiments like the 3rd
Light_Dragoons, the 50th, 62nd, 29th, and_53rd made the history of
which their descendants