Richard Bond, the Messman--Sikh Grass-cutters--Choice of Camps--General Lloyd's Opinions--Lieut.-Colonel Irvine and Sir H. Maddock--Position at Sobraon--Brigadier E. Smith's Plan--Colonel Irvine's Plan--Goolab Singh's Policy--Sir Robert Dick's Division--Major-General Gilbert's Division--Sir Harry Smith's Division--Brigadier A. Campbell--Sir Joseph Thackwell--Brigadier Scott--British Batteries--Rockets--Sikh Batteries--Assault on the Sikh Entrenchments--Brigadier Stacey--Captain Cunningham's Account--The 10th Foot--Lieut.-Colonel Franks--Sikh Entrenchments stormed--Sirdar Sham Singh destroys the Pontoon--Sikh Retreat cut off--Great Loss of the Sikhs--Peace Principles inapplicable to India--Sikhs driven across the Sutlej--Tej Singh. ON the 30th of January, 1846, about noon, we moved out and proceeded a distance of two miles, expecting to meet the Sikh cavalry, who were encamped by the bridge of boats, but after having waited for two or three hours we were doomed to be again disappointed. On the 1st of February, our mess-waiter, Richard Bond, died, he had been for some weeks past in bad health, yet, being anxious not to be separated from his regiment, in which he had served for many years, the poor man accompanied us from Cawnpore, and though apparently of an Herculean frame, an insidious malady gained upon him; and on the 1st of February poor Bond was numbered among those who have been. _Mors sola fatetur quantula sint hominum corpuscula._ He was an old and meritorious servant: and as a member of the Mess Committee at this period, I feel happy in paying this passing tribute to his memory. Whilst on an out-line picquet on the 2nd, I heard most distinctly the Sikh drums from the camp in our right front, about six o'clock in the afternoon. During the day also my patrols brought in five grass-cutters in the employ of the enemy. After having questioned them I released them with a warning not to appear near our camp again. This was by no means an uncommon ruse de guerre, while pretending to cut grass they were in fact spying out the land. On the 7th of February, our regiment again changed ground, from the right to the extreme left. The whole army was encamped in a line nearly parallel to the river Sutlej, from which it was distant not more than a mile and a quarter, and in some parts even less. It is a rule in forming a camp, not to make it within reach of the fire of the enemy's guns; and at the same time to shew as extended a front as possible, both for the purpose of overawing the adversary, and of watching his movements. The same rule applies on having crossed a river, to avoid exposure to the fire of the enemy who occupies the bank which you have quitted. In reference to the choice of camps, I may perhaps be excused if I again refer to the able and very scarce work on the Art of war by the well known author of the "Seven Years' War in Germany."