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JUNE, 1891.]
NOTICE OF THE GULABNAMA.
217
Commissioner at Jalandhar, did good service, as did the forces of Nur Muhammad, commanded by Major Harrison. Orders were also issued to hold the families of all those responsible who might loave Jammun and enrol themselves among the Sikhs, or make common cause with the rebels. For this reason the houses of certain persons in the 'ilaqa of Jasrota were burnt down. This example was so effective, that henceforth none of the subjects of the Jammum government joined the Khalsa forces. On that occasion the English troops, commanded by General Nicholson, were encamped at Ramnagar, whilst the Sikh troops, who crossed the Chinab had taken up a position near Wazirabad. Some palgans of them, however, who were stationed at Jamman, desired to join their comrades there, but the government deprived them, by a stratagem, of their arms and accoutrements, and when they wanted to recover them by force, the palgan of Brajråj succeeded in foiling their intention. Dharm Singh was, for his bravery in this affair promoted to the rank of colonel.
Whilst the Mahârâjâ Gulab Singh was at Srinagar, Ranbir Singa governed the district of Jammun with ability ; but the whole of the Pañjab was disturbed. The Amir Dost Muḥammad Khan joined the Sikh army, while Major Abbot evacuated the Hazara district and retired to the mus'a of Bharkot, where Gulab Singh loyally sent him in leather bags a large sum of money by trustworthy merchants, as well as gunpowder and small pieces of artillery. Qazi Nadir 'Ali Khan was also sent, and remained in constant attendance upon him. In the same way the author's father attended upon Sir Frederick Currie at La hôr, in order to be of service whenever an opportunity presented itself.
The Sardar Sher Singh marched from Multan to avoid the British troops, which were besieging it, by order of his father Chhatar Singh, and after joining the rebels encountered the forces commanded by General Nicholson at Ramnagar, which crossed the Chinab and surprised him early in the morning. His troops fought bravely, but they had to yield at last. The next action took place at Chilianwala in which Lord Gough, the Commander-in-Chief, was present, and used his artillery with terrible effect, but the Sikhs, undaunted by it, followed the heroic example of Shêr Singh who led them, and the contest ceased only when darkness set in. The English remained on the battlefield, and the Khalşa army marched on about two kôs and encamped at the mús'a of Rasul, where, however, difficulties arose, provisions being scarce, whereas they were plentiful in Gujrat. Accordingly it marched there. Colonel Lawrence now informed the author's father that the English meant to strike a final blow at the Sikhs, and that therefore it would be proper to guard all the roads and passes leading to the country of Jamman and Kasmir, and to disarm any Sikhs who might attempt to enter, and to station detachments of troops at Manâwar, Bhimbar, Mirpur, and other localities near the mountains. Tahir Khân, agent for the Mahârâjâ Gulab Singh in attendance on Major Mackison, always communicated the orders of the English officers to the Diwan Hari Chand, who was stationed with the troops at Mîrpûr, from which 'iláqa also the commissariat of the British troops was supplied. At last the great battle at Gujrat took place. The English began the action with artillery, and the Sardar Chhatar Singh attacked one flank with Afghan Cavalry, whilst Shér Singh rushed upon the other. Here Ram Singh Chh&pawala, who firmly and valiantly stood his ground, lost his life. After the Sikhs had been defeated and dispersed, many of them purchased their safety from the officials of Gulab Singh in various localities, but were disarmed and deprived of their horses and elephants. A number of them were captured near the fort of Mangala, and rendered harmless by being deprived of their weapons. The Khålşa troops, who had intended to march to Peshawar, and were now encamped under the command of Chhatar Singh and Sher Singh, unanimously laid down their arms and sued for quarter. The disturbances in the whole of the Pañjab having thus been brought to a conclusion, Mr. (Sir Henry) Elliot, the Chief Secretary to the government in the Foreign Department, held with the consent of Colonel Sir Henry Lawrence a general darbár in the fort of Lahôr, where the Maharaja Dalip Singh was living with all the notables. The annexation of the Pañjab to the British dominions was published, and Dalip Singh deposed.
