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Rh fallen into the enemy's possession. Colonel Wallace from the Deccan had reduced Chandore, and the other strongholds in that quarter; while Colonel Murray from Guzerat, having overrun nearly the whole of Malwa, and entered Indore, the capital, was already preparing to intercept his retreat. The only point of resistance was Bhurtpore, the Rajah of which still adhered to his alliance; and the reduction of that city was therefore considered necessary to complete the triumph over this turbulent chieftain.

On the 1st of January, 1805, the Anglo-Indian Army, under the personal command of Lord Lake, moved towards Bhurtpore, which, at first sight, did not present a very formidable aspect to an army before which many of the mightiest bulwarks of India had fallen. It was encircled by none of those rugged steeps which guarded the approach to Gwalior and Gawilghur. The only works were a lofty mud-wall and a broad ditch, not easily fordable; and the very extent of its walls, which embraced a circumference of six or eight miles, increased the difficulty of protecting them. But the Rajah applied himself to its defence with the utmost skill and resolution: the kingdom of the Mahrattas, he observed, was in their saddle; his was within his ramparts. Hitherto, in general, the reduction even of the strongest forts had proceeded in a sure and regular course; the trenches were opened, a storming-party was selected, who forced their way with greater or smaller loss, and were masters of the place. But the defenders of Bhurtpore not only fought with the most daring valour, but called into action means of defence and annoyance which our people had never elsewhere encountered, and for which they were wholly unprepared.

On the 2nd of January the army took up its position before the place; and on the 3rd preparations for the siege were commenced. A grove, or garden, considerably in advance of the camp, was occupied. On the 5th a breaching-battery for six eighteen-pounders was com-