Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/329

Rh titude and vigour, indeed, but, from their inferiority in numbers and weight of metal, with very inferior effect.

His Majesty's 76th regiment was at the head of the advancing column, and so dreadful were the ravages made in its ranks by the storm of fire to which it was exposed that, on its arriving at the point from which the charge was to be made, Lord Lake resolved rather to proceed to the attack with that regiment and some native infantry who had closed to the front than to wait for the remainder of the column, whose advance, from some cause or other, had been delayed. The conduct of the men nobly justified the confidence reposed in them by their commander. They advanced with as much regularity as was practicable under a tremendous shower of canister-shot, which further thinned their already weakened ranks. This was immediately succeeded by a charge from the enemy's cavalry; but they were received in a manner that sent them back in confusion. They rallied, however, at a short distance, when his Majesty's 29th Dragoons were ordered to attack them. These formed on the outer flank of the 76th, by whom they were received with cheers, which were echoed back by the cavalry with equal vigour.

A general charge of horse and foot was now made by the British, in which the desperate valour of the assailants set at nought every obstacle and defied every danger. At the moment when the Commander-in-Chief was about to place himself at the head of the infantry, his horse was shot under him; and while in the act of mounting that of his son. Major Lake, that officer was wounded by his side. But this was no time for the indulgence, of even the deepest sympathies of nature; the cavalry trumpets sounded the charge, and the troops rushed forward on the foe. The enemy fought with a determination far exceeding all that had been expected