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CHAPTER XI.
THE FIRST SIKH WAR—continued.
The British troops now concentrated for the decisive struggle at Sobraon. On the 10th February 1846 the Sikh position there was attacked by a force of 15,000 men and 60 guns. They took up their station for close action during a dense fog which clung over the ground; when it rolled away under the rising sun the guns opened fire on the enemy's long line of strong intrenchments held by 85,000 men and 70 guns, mostly heavy, with a reserve in a strong position on the opposite bank of the Sutlej; the Sikhs, on the alert, returned the fire steadily. After three hours' cannonading the order was given for the infantry to storm the works. On this, as a regimental
