A history of the Sikhs, from the origin of the nation to the battles of the Sutlej.

CHAPTER IX
THE WAR WITH THE ENGLISH
1845-6
Causes leading to a war between the Sikhs and English-The English,
being apprehensive of frontier disturbances, adopt defensive
measures on a scale opposed to the spirit of the policy of 1809 -The Sikhs, being prone to suspicion, consider themselves in
danger of invasion-And are further moved by their want of
confidence in the English representative-The Sikhs resolve to
anticipate the English, and wage war by crossing the Sutlej-The
tactics of the Sikhs-The views of the Sikh leaders-Ferozepore
purposely spared-The Battle of Mudki-The Battle of P'heerooshuhur, and retreat of the Sikhs-The effect of these barren victories upon the Indians and the English themselves-The Sikhs
again cross the Sutlej-The Skirmish of Badowal-The Battle of
Aliwal-Negotiations through Raja Gulab Singh-The Battle of
Sobraon-The submission of the Sikh Chiefs, and the occupation of Lahore-The partition of the Punjab-The Treaty with
Dalip Singh-The Treaty with Gulab Singh-Conclusion,
relative to the position of the English in India.
1845-6. THE English Government had long expected that it would
Th Idi be forced into a war with the overbearing soldiery of the
publicpre- Punjab: the Indian public, which considered only the fact
pared for of the progressive aggrandizement of the strangers, was
between prepared to hear of the annexation of another kingdom
the Sikhs without minutely inquiring or caring about the causes
and
English. which led to it; and the more selfish chiefs of the Sikhs
had always desired that such a degree of interference should
be exercised in the affairs of their country as would guarantee to them the easy enjoyment of their possessions. These
wealthy and incapable men stood rebuked before the
superior genius of Ranjit Singh, and before the mysterious
spirit which animated the people arrayed in arms, and they
thus fondly hoped that a change would give them all they
could desire; but it is doubtful whether the Sikh soldiery
ever seriously thought, although they often vauntingly
boasted, of fighting with the paramount power of Hindu