Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/82

74 By the end of March, all the forts that were besieged in the rear of General Ochterlony's advance to Biláspur were reduced and occupied, and his communications being now clear, he was prepared to take another step forward. Amar Singh stood in the way and occupied a strong fortified position in the mountains near where Simla is now situated, and there Ochterlony determined to attack him, on 14th April. This position having been carefully reconnoitred, it was found that there were two important points in it which were left unfortified and insufficiently held by the enemy. A night attack was undertaken, and while the Gúrkhas were amused by feints, the two points were quickly seized and strengthened. It was now, though too late, apparent to the Gúrkhas that they had been outmanœuvred, and that they must either endeavour to recover these places, or submit to have their whole defensive line broken and rendered useless. Adopting the former course they hurled themselves, 2000 strong, desperately and with their wonted valour and fury, against the British troops who had surprised them, and on the 16th fought one of the most severely contested battles of the whole war: but the struggle did not last long; soon their ardour began to slacken, and then, a counter-attack being made, they were put to flight with a loss of 500 men. The English general immediately pressed forward, and brought up the remainder of his men to close upon Maláun, the principal work of the enemy's position; early in May a battery was raised against it, and about the