Page:Notes on the Anti-Corn Law Struggle.djvu/55

 advanced to the attack, sword in hand. What followed is best described in Captain Thompson's own words, written in a private letter the next day:—

"'The Arabs made the guns the point of attack, and advanced npon them. The instant I heard a shot from the light troops, which showed the Arabs to be in motion, I ordered the Sepoys to charge with the bayonet. Not a man moved forward. I then ordered them to fire. They began a straggling and ineffectual fire, aided by the Artillery, the Arabs all the while advancing brandishing their swords. The Sepoys stood till the Arabs were within fifteen yards, when they turned and ran. I immediately galloped to the point where the Sepoys were least confused, and endeavoured to make them stand; but they fired their muskets in the air and went off. The Imâm's army began a fire of matchlocks, and went off as soon as the Arabs approached. I rode to the Imâm and found him wounded. The people just ran like sheep. I saw some of the European Artillerymen and ran to endeavour to make them stand; but they were too few to do anything.'"

In the mélée Captain Thompson was struck on the shoulder by a matchlock ball, which passed through coat and shirt, grazing the skin, as he used to say, "like the cut of a whip." The remnants of the force were rallied at the town of Beni Bou Hassan, about three miles from the scene of action, and after repulsing a night attack, were led