Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/433

Rh troopers of the Madras body-guard, he dashed across a nullah, and over the bridge, charged an immense body of the enemy's best horse, scattered them like a whirlwind, and, having taken their guns and turned them against their late possessors, stood master of the plain, which was covered in every direction with the flying foe. The troops on the hills, animated by this glorious example, hailed it with a shout of mingled rage and triumph, threw in a volley on the assailants, and then rushed on the Arabs, who kept their ground bravely for a time, but could not stand before the bayonet: they were driven from the position, the guns they had captured were recovered, and two of their own were taken. In heading this desperate charge, Captain Lloyd and Lieutenant Grant particularly distinguished themselves: Grant was wounded three times, and his third wound proved mortal. The Arabs lay thick around the guns among the British and Sepoys they had butchered.

This charge was no sooner crowned with success than Appa Sahib's troops gave way on every side, and about the hour of noon they fled from the field in panic and disorder, leaving all their artillery to the conquerors. Thus ended a conflict more desperate than any that had taken place in India since the early days of Clive. "Courage and military conduct," says Thornton, "like other meritorious qualities, are not always appreciated according to their deserts. The magnitude of the stake contended for, the proximity or distance of the scene of action, the numbers engaged, and various other accidents, influence the judgment of mankind with regard to them. Little is recollected of the heroic band who, on this occasion, illustrated the triumphant supremacy of living burning courage over the dead force of mere numbers. Yet the prodigies of valour which they performed have rarely been equalled either in ancient or modern times. If glory were to be proportioned to difficulty and danger, the memory of such men would be imperishable."