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about his business.' I remonstrated, and repeated to him the instructions I had received; but his answer was, 'I don't care; if you don't obey my orders, I will send you to the rear.'* I did obey, and on we moved to the attack. Immediately behind me were pioneers, carrying gabions and fascines to fill up any cavities we might meet with. The enemy did not discover our approach till within fifty paces of the ditch, when a tremendous cannonade and peals of musketry commenced; rockets were flying in all directions, blue lights were hoisted, and the fort seemed convulsed to its very foundation. Its ramparts seemed like some great volcano vomiting tremendous volumes of fiery matter; the roaring of the great guns shook the earth beneath our feet; their small arms seemed like the rolling of ten thousand drums; and their war-trumpets rent the air asunder. Men were seen skipping along the lighted ramparts, as busy as emmets collecting stores for the dreary days of winter. The scene was awfully grand, and must have been sublimely beautiful to the distant spectator.

"We pushed on at speed; but were soon obliged to halt. A ditch, about twenty yards wide, and four or five deep, branched off from the main trench. This ditch formed a small island, on which were posted a strong party of the enemy, with two guns. Their fire was well directed, and the front of our column suffered severely. The fascines and gabions were thrown in; but they were as a drop of water in the mighty deep: the fire became hotter, and my little band of heroes plunged into the water, followed by our two companies and part of the 75th Regiment. The middle of the column broke off, and got too far down to the left; but we soon cleared the little island. At this time Colonel Maitland and Major Campbell joined me, with our brave officers of the two companies and many of the other corps. I proposed following the fugitives; but our duty was to gain the breach, our orders being confined to that object. We did gain it; but imagine our surprise and consternation when we found a perpendicular curtain going down to the water's edge, and no footing, except on pieces of trees and stones that had fallen from above. This could not bear more than three men abreast, and if they slipped (which many did), a watery grave awaited them, for the water was extremely deep It is stated that this want of trust in the guide was among the main causes of the ensuing failure.

here. Close on our right was a large bastion, which the enemy had judiciously hung with dead underwood. This was fired, and it threw such a light upon the breach, that it was as clear as noonday. They soon got guns to bear on us, and the first shot (which was grape) shot Colonel Maitland dead, wounded Major Campbell in the hip or leg, me in the right shoulder, and completely cleared the remaining few of my little party. We had at that moment reached the top of the breach, not more (as I before stated) than three abreast, when we found that the enemy had completely repaired that part by driving in large pieces of wood, stakes, stones, bushes, and pointed bamboos, through the crevices of which was a mass of spears jobbing diagonally, which seemed to move by mechanism. Such was the footing we had, that it was utterly impossible to approach these formidable weapons; meantime, small spears or darts were hurled at us; and stones, lumps of wood, stink-pots, and bundles of lighted straw, thrown upon us. In the midst of this tumult, I got one of my legs through a hole, so that I could see into the interior of the fort. The people were like a swarm of bees. In a moment I felt something seize my foot; I pulled with all my might, and at last succeeded in disengaging my leg, but leaving my boot behind me.

"Our establishing ourselves on this breach in sufficient force to dislodge this mass of spearsmen, was physically impossible. Our poor fellows were mowed down like corn-fields, without the slightest hope of success. The rear of the column suffered much, as they were within range of the enemy's shot. A retreat was ordered, and we were again obliged to take to the water, and many a poor wounded soldier lost his life in this attempt. Not one of our officers escaped without being wounded, and Lieutenant Creswell was almost cut to pieces. We, as may be supposed, returned almost broken-hearted at this our first failure in India. Our loss was a melancholy one, and the conviction that the poor wounded fellows we were compelled to leave behind would be barbarously massacred, incited our brave boys to beg a second attempt. This was denied: had it been granted, it must infallibly have proved abortive; for there was, literally, no breach. The disastrous issue of our attack caused the enemy to exult exceedingly; and the shouting and roaring that followed our retreat were daggers in the souls of our wounded and disappointed soldiers, who were with difficulty

FAILURE AND SUCCESS.

restrained from again rushing to the breach.

119

I found that I

had received a spear-wound in the right finger, and several little scratches from the combustibles they fired at us. Pieces of copper coin, as well as of iron, stone, and glass, were extracted from the wounds of those who were fortunate enough to escape. We were, in the course of the night, relieved, and went to our lines to brood over our misfortunes."

Thus ended the first attempt to storm Bhurtpore. The only consolation of the soldiers was the flattering manner in which daring was duly recognised by the orders of the day. The chief engineer, finding this spot impracticable, decided on shifting the attack further eastwards, where the difficulties to be encountered seemed less formidable. Fresh batteries had to be thrown up, and the heavy guns, injured by constant firing, were sent to the artillery park to be set right. In the meanwhile, Lord Lake turned this period of enforced leisure to account by disturbing Holkar in his position under the walls. Creeping through the high trees and jungle-not without drawing upon themselves a heavy fire from the fortifications-a body of infantry, so to speak, stalked and started the game; then our cavalry soon scattered the Pindarees with great loss. Holkar's best elephant was taken, along with some camels charged with treasure, and there was a good booty of spears, matchlocks, colours, and so forth. After this routing, however, part of the Pindarees soon returned to their old ground, showing themselves, indeed, more impudent than ever in hovering round the English piquets to draw off attention from the movements of their main body, which had gone to intercept a small detachment on the march from Muttra. Lord Lake being informed of this through his spies, three regiments of dragoons were sent off in haste, and once more gave Holkar a good beating. It was reported that the great Mahratta chief had been killed in this action, and several heads were brought into camp by natives, seeking the reward that had been offered for his; but none of them succeeded in imposing upon the English general, though some had taken the trouble of producing heads without an eye, to answer the description of the one-eyed Holkar.

The breaching guns were soon in position again, and preparations on foot for another assault. We might suppose that John Shipp had had enough of such work. His hurt finger