[20] The few men incapable of severe duty were left in the fort of Loodiana. The cantonments were unoccupied.
[21] Some petty chiefs manifested their hostility by shutting their gates and refusing supplies, but were speedily brought to submission.
[22] Captain Biddulph, who was taken prisoner at Moodkee, was restored, two days after the battle, having undergone great hardships.
[23] Sikh irregular horse.
[24] I was informed, at Lahore, that their whole force at Moodkee was under twenty thousand men; but it was only the bare assertion of a Sikh officer, and may be taken at its value.
THE ARMY ADVANCE TO ATTACK THE SIKHS IN THEIR ENTRENCHED CAMP AT FEROZESHUHUR—THE ACTIONS OF THE 21ST AND 22ND OF DECEMBER—SIKHS RETREAT BEHIND THE SUTLEJ—OBSERVATIONS.
On the morning of the 19th, intelligence was brought by the spies that the whole forces of the Sikhs had resolved upon advancing to attack the British army at Moodkee. Preparations were made to receive them, and a more advantageous post than that of the former day was taken up, to act on the defensive, as reinforcements were hourly expected.