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58 safety of the camp and ordinary military considerations. I have so little reliable information on the nature of the position, the feeling in the town and the state of health of the troops, that I dare not venture an opinion as to what is, or is not, in the power of Wilson. But I hope to have a good report, and that the last success we have accounts of, since the arrival of his reinforcements under Brigadier General Nicholson, has been followed by increased confidence on our side and an early prospect of decided results. More we cannot hope for, and we must make every allowance for the difficulties of the General.' But encouraged by the arrival of the heroic Nicholson, General Wilson was now about to begin the siege in real earnest. What happened may best be re-told almost in the words of a narrative written at the time.

On the morning of the 25th of August, 1857, a strong body of the enemy was observed to issue from the Ajmere Gate and take the road to Rohtak. Lieutenant Hodson, formerly of the Guides (better known afterwards as Hodson, of Hodson's Horse), was despatched with 300 irregular horsemen to watch their movements. Pushing forward a little too incautiously, he was surrounded by a superior force, but was speedily rescued from this critical position by a body of the Jind Rájá's levies, with whose aid he attacked and routed the enemy. A far more serious contest came off on the same date at Na-