Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/332

300 gate bazaar, reached the gate opening on the Chandni Chauk, forced it, and pressed on till a sudden turn brought him within sight of the great mosque, the Jamí Masjíd, its arches and gates bricked up, and impossible to be forced without powder bags or guns He waited in front of it for half-an-hour, in the expectation of the successful advance of the other columns. But as there were no signs of such approach, he fell back on the Begam Bágh, a large enclosure. There I must leave him to relate the progress of the fourth column.

An unfortunate incident, a failure on the part of the department concerned to carry out the General's instructions, interfered greatly with the success of the fourth column. It was formed up, composed as already detailed, at 4.30 A.M., in front of the Sabzímandí picket. But the four H. A. guns which had been ordered to accompany it had not arrived. When at last they did come they brought with them only sufficient gunners to man one gun. Reid was waiting until gunners could be procured when he heard the explosion at the Kashmír gate. He discovered immediately afterwards that 500 of the Jammú troops, despatched two hours earlier for the purpose of effecting a diversion by occupying the Idgar, had become engaged. No time was to be lost, so he pushed on without any guns at all.

On this point it must suffice to state that the assault failed. Reid, who was greatly embarrassed by the want of guns, facing, as he had to face, the unbroken wall of Kishanganj, eighteen feet high, lined with guns and marksmen, had gained the canal bridge with the head of his column, and. was meditating a diversion to draw off the attention of the rebels from the main attack when a musket ball, coming from a slanting direction, struck him on the head, and knocked him into the ditch, insensible.