Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/88

80 of the river Rapti, and having established a depôt, Ochterlony came up with the enemy at Magwampar, about 20 miles from Khátmándu, and seized a village on the right of their position. The Gúrkhas observing their danger in this quarter, attempted to retake the village, and according to their usual practice in such an emergency, charged it furiously with 2000 men, the bulk of their forces; but in vain, for supports were moved forward, and they were repulsed and driven back within their stockades, leaving some guns and more than 800 men on the field, (28th). Next day the left brigade, which had advanced by Rámnagar, joined the main body, having reached the valley of the Rapti almost without opposition and having secured its rear. The right brigade had been slightly delayed in its advance on Hariharpur, by the difficulties of the ground, but on the 1st March this position was successfully turned and an attack of the Gúrkhas was defeated with great loss; the same night Hariharpur was evacuated and the next day it was converted into a depôt; the brigade was about to advance, when the commander received an intimation that the war was over.

The success and the rapidity of General Ochterlony's operations had at last entirely removed the delusion under which the court of Nepál had laboured. The mountain passes had been proved to be useless, they were turned with ease by British valour, the capital lay open to assault, and dismay reigned supreme at the unexpected result. The official Red Seal of the