Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/270

240 in column of sections, right in front. Soon the rebel fire opened upon them. Maude, however, quickly cleared the way with his guns, and the men pushing on, forced their way to a point near the bridge. There they were halted whilst Outram, with the 5th Fusiliers, should make a detour to the right to clear the Chárbágh garden, with the view of bringing a flanking fire to bear on the strong defences of the bridge.

The position of the rebels, indeed, could scarcely have been stronger. The Chárbágh bridge was defended on its farther side by an earthen rampart about seven feet high, stretching completely across it, but having in the centre an opening through which only one man at a time could pass on foot. On this parapet were mounted six guns, two of them twenty-four-pounders. To the right of the bridge, on the side of the canal by which the British were advancing, were some enclosures occupied by the rebels.

Such was the position. The men behind it were numerous, their guns were loaded, and there was every appearance that it would be desperately defended. On the British side were Maude's two guns in front; to their left, thrown forward, twenty-five men of the Madras Fusiliers, under Lieutenant Arnold, endeavouring to beat down the musketry fire from the tall houses on the other side; behind Maude's guns, close by, covered by a bend of the road and a wall, were the remainder of the Madras Fusiliers, lying down and waiting till Maude's guns should have done their work; to the right, Outram had led the 5th Fusiliers, for the purpose already indicated. These, I need hardly add, were not in sight. In a bay of the wall of the Chárbágh garden stood Neill and his Aide-de-Camp, waiting until Outram's flank movement should make itself felt. On the other side of the road, mounted, was young Havelock.