Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/169

Rh attended the movement. In an incredibly short space of time the 32d had lost nearly half its numbers, and it became clear that the English force would be destroyed unless it could reach the bridge over the Kukrail before the enemy could get there. The retreat was at once ordered, and the British force, though pounded with grape and harassed by cavalry all the way, pushed on vigorously. Just, however, as the retreating troops approached the bridge they noticed that bodies of the enemy's cavalry had worked round and were heading them in that direction. The commander of the thirty-six volunteers observing the movement, and realising on the instant its importance, dashed, at the head of his men, against the rebel cavalry. The latter did not wait to receive the impetuous onslaught, but giving way at the sight of the English, sought safety in flight. Still the rebel infantry pressed on, and what was worse, the gun ammunition of the British was exhausted. In this crisis Sir Henry had recourse to one of those heroic remedies of which only men are capable who have the faculty of maintaining undaunted presence of mind in dangerous circumstances. He pushed his men across the bridge; then placed the guns on it, and ordered the gunners to stand beside them with the port-fires lighted. The ruse produced the desired effect. The rebels shrunk back from attacking a narrow bridge defended, as they supposed, by loaded guns. The British force then succeeded in gaining the shelter of the city, and in retiring in some sort of order on the Machchí Bhawan and the Residency. But their losses had been severe, and they had left behind them the howitzer and two field-pieces.

Sir Henry Lawrence, crossing the Kukrail bridge, and disposing his guns in the manner related, had galloped off, leaving Colonel Inglis to bring home the force, unattended by anyone save his assistant