Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/398

374 been within, their flight being intercepted by detachments of the British force, and the greater part of the fugitives either killed, wounded, or made prisoners.

The fall of Kalunga was followed by some other advantages, necessary to the success of the general plan of operations. The strong fort of Baraut, situated in the mountains forming the north-eastern boundary of the valley of Deyra, was evacuated by the garrison and forthwith occupied by the British; and the post of Luckergaut, on the Ganges, where it forms the eastern limit of the Dhoon, also fell into the possession of a British detachment, thus completing the occupation of the valley, and of the principal passes leading to it.

A force under Colonel Carpenter having been left for the occupation of the Dhoon, the rest of the division marched for Nahun, under Major-General Martindell, who had succeeded General Gillespie in the command. Nahun fell without an effort, the enemy withdrawing to Jyetuck, a fort erected on the summit of a mountain, where a force was concentrated, to the number of two thousand two hundred men, commanded by Runjore Sing.

To dispossess the enemy of this strong position, a combined attack was put into execution on the morning of the 27th of December, by two columns under Major Ludlow and Major Richards, which it was calculated would reach the respective points of attack before daybreak. A delay unfortunately occurred, which deprived Major Ludlow's division of the advantage of approaching the enemy under cover of darkness; but still the enemy was driven from his advanced position, and compelled to retire into his stockade. Here, however, the tide of success turned: a gallant but inconsiderate charge made by a part of his Majesty's 53rd was repulsed, and the assailants were driven back in confusion. The ground thus rashly lost might, perhaps, have been yet recovered, had the rest of the detachment performed its duty; but the native infantry seemed panic-struck, and all efforts to rally them proved ineffectual.