Page:Clyde and Strathnairn.djvu/139

Rh after daybreak arrived opposite the west side of Kúnch, in rear of the fort and town; thus turning the strong defences of the Jhánsí gate. After the troops had rested, the artillery opened fire, and the infantry prepared to storm the fort. A wing of the 86th Regiment and the 25th Bombay Native Infantry were thrown into skirmishing order, supported on the flank by detachments of artillery and cavalry; the remainder of the attacking force being formed into a second line. The skirmishers of the Native Infantry, under cover of the guns, cleared the woods, temples, and walled gardens; whilst the British regiment, led by Major Stuart, made a circuit to the left, taking all the obstacles in their front, and cutting the enemy's line in two; thereby, Sir Hugh Rose wrote in his despatch, adding 'another claim to the obligations I owe this regiment for their very distinguished conduct at all times in the field.'

The enemy, seeing their defence thus broken down, and their right completely turned, retired in masses from Kúnch to the extensive plains stretching towards Kálpi, forming a long, irregular line, covered by skirmishers at close intervals. So keen, however, was the pursuit, that they soon became a helpless mob of runaways, losing in the retreat some 600 men besides 15 guns.

During the operations before Kúnch the men of the 71st Highlanders (who had recently joined the force by bullock-train from Bombay) and of the 3rd Europeans dropped down in numbers on the