hold of Múltan. The east and south faces were almost perpendicular, the rock being scarped and strengthened by a deep, rapid river, running close beneath the walls from east to west[1]. Here for four days, without a relief of guards, the British troops defended their camp against a numerous enemy on their flanks and rear; while they attacked the fortress in their front. On the night before the projected assault, the rebel garrison, dispirited by the loss of Muhammad Fazl Khán and other leaders of note, evacuated the place by an ancient sally-port. They were hotly pursued, and a considerable number were taken prisoners.
About 15 miles or so from Rathgarh was Barodia, a strong village surrounded by dense jungle. Here the rebels concentrated under the Rájá of Banpur, one of the most determined leaders of the Mutiny. It was necessary to attack him at once, and this operation was successfully carried out on January 30th after a forced march. The enemy made a determined resistance and lost some 500 men. The loss on the British side included both officers and men killed and wounded. Among the officers killed was Captain Neville[2], R.E., who was hit by a round shot as he was speaking to the General.
- ↑ In 1810, the Maharájá Sindhia, with a force at least four times as strong as that under Sir Hugh Rose, only took Rathgarh after a siege of seven months.
- ↑ This officer had been seventy times in the trenches before Sebastopol without being touched. He had passed the previous night in writing a letter to his mother expressing the certainty he
