the fort of Múltán, and had urged on the Government that if a body of Sepoy troops were sent to his support the fort might be taken quickly, as it was still in an unfinished state and had not yet attained its subsequent strength. On hearing of Edwardes' victories, Sir Frederick Currie decided to comply with his proposals, and on his own authority ordered off a Sepoy force, partly from Lahore and partly from Firozpur, to proceed to Múltán and support Edwardes; but meanwhile the Darbár troops had joined Edwardes, and he, though gravely distrusting the Sikhs in their ranks, had perforce to carry on the siege in conjunction with them.
Lord Gough, on hearing of Sir Frederick Currie's independent action, and not thinking it desirable to oppose him, accepted the measure; and further, being of opinion that the strength which Currie had arranged for the force was inadequate, he increased it by two British regiments and other additions. Hence, early in September, the combined force, consisting of Edwardes' original party, the Beháwalpur men, the Lahore Durbar troops, and Whish's newly arrived British division, were operating against Múltán. On the 14th, however, Sher Singh and the Sikh Darbár troops threw off the mask and deserted to Mulráj; leaving the attack so weak comparatively that the siege had to be suspended. But a second division of British troops was ordered up from Bombay, and on its arrival in November the siege was recommenced, and ended with the capture of the fortress,
