Ranjur Singh Majithia, was the son of Desa Singh Majithia, one of the most able ministers under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Ranjodh Singh commanded a large army, (ten thousand infantry and some regular cavalry with sixty guns) and crossed the Sutlej in force and was joined by Ajit Singh, of Ladva. They marched towards Ludhiana and burnt a portion of the British cantonment. Harry Smith (afterwards Governor of Cape Colony), who was sent to relieve Ludhiana, marched eastwards from Ferozepur, keeping a few miles away from the Sutlej.