|
Second Anglo Sikh
War - View of the Town of Guzerat, in the Punjab
The Illustrated London
News - "The Guzerat district is distinguished as being
the battle-field of British conquest in the Punjaub. Here
took place the engagement at Sudoolapore, in December, 1848,
followed by the sangulnary battle of Chillianwallah, and
ending the fighting at Guzerat, where the Sikhs lost there
kingdom they won and consolidated eighty-five ears before."
27/8/1864
The fight at Gujrat was a disaster though, the coup de grace
was, however, delivered again by the Arch Traitor, Gulab
Singh Dogra. He helped Abbott to cut off Sher Singh Attariwala's
retreat towards the frontier. The prospect of continuing
the fight with Afghan help was thus obviated. He also arranged
for the supply of boats for the British army to cross the
Jhelum. Thus driven by adverse circumstances, the Attareewalas,
both father and son, came to the British Camp with their
faces covered under their shawals and formally surrendered
their swords to General Gilbert at Hurmuck on March 11,
1849. Three days later the whole Sikh army laid down their
arms. General Thackwell has again vividly described the
scene, "The reluctance of some of the old Khalsa veterans
to surrender their arms was evident. Some could not restrain
their tears; while on the faces of others, rage and hatered
were visibly depicted." The remark of one veteran grey
beared as he put down his gun summed up the history of the
Punjab: "Aj Ranjit Singh mar gaya" today Ranjit
Singh has died. -
Sir Winston Churchill's accounts of Anglo-Sikh Wars, Karnail
Singh
|
INDEXES