On the 27th there was a false alarm at six in the morning; but later it was found that the Gwalior contingent, with a strength of about 25,000 men and forty guns, had commenced a most determined attack on General Windham’s position, both in front and on his right flank. The three companies of Riflemen, Nixon’s, Dillon’s and Earle’s, were moved out about noon, and posted on the right of the road to Calpee at its junction with the Grand Trunk road to Delhi, and were immediately under fire. ‘The heavy fighting in front, at the point of junction of the Calpee and Delhi roads, fell more especially upon the Rifle Brigade, ably commanded by Colonel Walpole.’[270] However the enemy were too strong for them, and they were obliged to retire. Some officers and men occupied a small tope of trees, but they were soon out of ammunition, and Lieutenants George Curzon and Dugdale went back across the open, exposed to the fire of two guns which plied them with grape. However they succeeded in bringing up a camel with a supply. A second, third and fourth time Curzon passed the same ordeal in search of further ammunition or caps; and after some unsuccessful ventures obtained a supply from Captain Atherley of the 3rd Battalion, who with his company after a forced march from Futtehpore (to be presently more particularly mentioned) had arrived at Cawnpore. This retreat was covered in a most masterly manner by the three companies under Woodford, who were extended in a line of skirmishers over a space of nearly a mile, and for a long time held back an enormous force of the enemy of all arms. And had it not been for the stand made by this detachment, it was generally supposed that the two guns of the Naval Brigade, which had been left unprotected, would have fallen into the enemy’s hands.[271] It was first observed by Corporal Suddlers of the 2nd Battalion that these guns were deserted; and they were with difficulty brought back by some Riflemen of Captain Nixon’s company, under Lieutenant-Colonel Woodford, who took the slings off their rifles for that purpose.[272] [Illustration: PLAN OF CAWNPORE in 1857. _Compiled & Drawn by Capt^n H. M. Moorsom, Rifle Brigade._ E. Weller, _Litho._ _London, Chatto & Windus._ ]