The army of the Sikhs amounted, it is said, to upwards of 32,000 men of all arms. The British force did not amount to more than one-third of that number. Thus terminated the battle of _Moodkee_, the first action in which the Sikhs measured their strength with British troops in the field. The following extracts are taken from an account of the battle of Moodkee:-- “Between the 11th and 18th the army had marched over a distance of 160 miles, along roads of heavy sand; the incessant toil scarcely leaving them leisure to cook their food. Hardly an hour of repose was allowed them when they were summoned to renewed exertion. On the 18th the army took up their encamping ground in front of Moodkee. Our troops had scarcely time to prepare their food, when intelligence was brought that the enemy, 30,000 strong, was close at hand. It was about three o’clock P.M.; the men were tired with incessant work, suffering from scarcity of water, and exhausted for want of nourishment and rest. The instant the order was given, however, they turned out with the utmost alacrity, as if fresh from their lines.” After describing the preliminary movements of the cavalry and artillery, the narrator proceeds:-- “The afternoon was by this time far spent, and the evening at hand. The infantry, under Generals Smith, Gilbert, and McCaskill, pushed on in echellon right for the enemy’s line, now nearly invisible from the wood and approaching darkness. We were out-flanked and fearfully out-numbered. The struggle was tremendous. The Sikhs fought with the fury of desperate men. Nothing could resist the dauntless courage of our troops, and fearful was the storm of musketry poured forth by them as they rushed. The bayonet,--the never-failing resource of British soldiers,--completed the confusion and havoc the musketry had begun. Every position was forced; the enemy driven from the ground they had so well selected, and for a time so obstinately maintained; and night found eighteen pieces of artillery in our possession. Darkness only saved them from extreme disaster; and so fierce and unrelenting had been the fray, that it was maintained through an hour of dim starlight, while the dust of the sandy plain added to the obscurity of the advancing night. Pursuit was impossible, and the troops bivouacked on the field.” The following officers were present with the regiment at the battle of Moodkee on the 18th of December:-- Colonel S. Bolton, C.B. (_Commanding the first brigade_). Lt.-Col. John Byrne (_commanding the regiment_). Major James Spence. ” G. Baldwin. Capt. W. G. Willes. ” T. Bulkeley. ” G. D. Young. ” G. F. White (_Acting Paymaster_). ” J. Garvock. ” D. F. Longworth. ” E. Lugard.