5th and final part of letter sent by Shere SIngh and his officers to the Lahore Resident, Frederick Currie 24/11/1848 In Peshawur Major George Lawrence through enmity and opposition to the Sikhs removed the guns from the Khalsa troops and collected 4000 or 5000 of the Moolkias to attack them at night whereas the Sikhs had never disobeyed or acted contrary to his orders. When Raja Shere Sing with the Sirdars and the troops were deputed to Mooltan to assist Major Edwardes they implicitly followed the directions of that officer in no way deviating from his orders. In fact Major Edwardes in writing to the Resident expressed his approval of their behaviour In accordance with Major Edwardes orders. Soojan Sing Alloowalla who was a Sirdar was blown away from a gun notwithstanding that such condign punishment is opposed to the customs of the Khalsa. By this conduct they hoped to have obtained credit for themselves but instead they became objects of suspicion and want of confidence which was shown by Major Edwardes directing the Sirdars to remove their troops to a distance from the British camp. Consequently all the troops became dispirited and grieved and at length resolved to join Dewan Moolraj. Had Major Edwardes not shown this want of confidence the Sikhs would never have gone over. Major Edwardes wrote to all the Puthan zemindars on the other side of the Indus directing them to join him to oppose the Sikhs and promising to remit to them seven years revenue and also made over to the people of Bahawul Khan the districts that he obtained possession of in the Mooltan territory. This conduct has greatly irritated the Khalsa. When the insurrection took place among the troops at Mooltan Sirdar Shumshere Sing Sindanwalla and Sirdar Ootar Sing Kaleewala in company with the other Sirdars came to an agreement in Raja Shere Sings tent to go over to Moolraj but after having joined the Dewan they seized an opportunity of escaping and instilled into Major Edwardes the confidence that he formerly had in them. Much might be said as regards Futteh Khan Towanah having by the instigation of Major Edwardes imprisoned Ram Sing Chappeewalah and planned the murder of the officers of the Bunnoo troops but there is not room to dilate on this subject. Should you have any wish to examine more fully into the points above mentioned in which the grievances of the servants of Government and of the Sirdars of the State are set forth further particulars shall be given and it is to be hoped that after a careful consideration as to which side is in the right you will be enabled to come to such a decision as may extinguish the torch of dissension which is now lighted and make arrangements which will secure the stability of the Maharajahs kingdom and redound to the credit of the British Government.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 22:26:34 +0000
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