A curious fatality seemed to accompany this night firing.

Out of the many thousands in camp, four officers only had been hit.

Captain Sullivan, of the 36th Sikhs, was shot ten minutes after he had arrived in camp, having travelled post haste from England.
On the 9th a reconnaissance was ordered to Saransur, a lofty peak to the east of the Maidan valley.

Across this is a pass, on one of the roads to Peshawar.

General Westmacott, who was in command, took with him four regiments--two British and two Sikhs--two batteries, and a company of Madras Sappers.