The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military eventsBorthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
History
The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military events
Borthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
Battles; Military history
time, the corps managed to get under cover, in a walled garden,
about a mile from the fort, and kept them off in fine style; the
Colonel, finding the enemy so numerous, feared a serious result, as
the chances were, the General could not send him a re-inforcement
before the whole of his ammunition would be expended, and a
soldier without ammunition is not in the most enviable situation.
The Quarter Master General’s party was attacked, but effected a
complete mastery over them, and drove them back. The General,
perceiving the situation of McLaren, dispatched the 3rd Regiment
Light Cavalry, and two of Anderson’s guns, who got up just in
time to save them, as they were getting short of shot; at length
came up the General with the main body; the cavalry made a grand
charge after those outside the town, and we lost a great number
of our men, but not before leaving a greater number of the enemy
lying on the field; during all this time those in possession of
the citadel were not idle, but made some excellent play with their
guns from the square I named, as being situated on the lower part
of the citadel; but fortunately for us their knowledge of the art
of gunnery was so shallow that they did little or no damage with
their guns. One of the hills mentioned as adjacent to the fortress,
was called Balloon Hill, from its peculiar form, and difficulty
of ascent; this hill was literally crowded with rebels, and their
colours were planted in every direction; they now began to emerge
from the gates in great numbers, and finding, after the charge of
the cavalry, that they had no chance of overpowering the front,
Shooms-ood-Dien dispatched a large force round, to attack the rear
of our columns. The General had, however, taken the necessary
precaution, and reinforced the rear guard to 3000 men, with six
guns, including the heavy battery. Perceiving the object the enemy
had in view, he let fly a volley of grape to meet them, which had
the desired effect, and left numbers of them dead on the ground,
and the rest immediately made off; the next thing to be done was to
got possession of Balloon Hill. This hill was so situated that it
commanded all around it, and more particularly the square in the
citadel, as it immediately covered it. The General directed the
40th and 16th to proceed at once and take the hill. The order was
in itself easily given; my readers may imagine the position.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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