Note 124 — THE PUNJAB CAMPAIGN. SIEGE OF MOOLTAN.

Brevet-Major Edwardes, C.B., in his despatch to Major-General Whish giving such details of the action of the 7th. of November as concerned the Irregular Auxiliary Force under his command, and Lieutenant Lake, stated:—“I regret to say that the head of the British line reached the east side of the nullah as our Irregulars arrived at the passage in the canal, which connected the entrenchments on the east and west, and a party of Sheikh Emamoodeen’s Rohillas, disregarding the heat of the action the orders they had received to keep on their own side of the nullah, crossed over and had captured a gun on the eastern bank, when they were mistaken by the Sepoys for Moolraj’s troops, and two were shot down before the error could be explained.

“I deem it my duty to bring to your notice the noble conduct of a private of Her Majesty’s 32nd. Foot, who at this juncture, perceiving what was going on, leaped down the canal, and putting himself in front of my Pathans, faced the British troops, and waved his shako on the end of his bayonet as the signal to cease firing. Thus many friendly lives were saved. The name of this brave man is Howell.”