Page:Clyde and Strathnairn.djvu/126

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114
CLYDE AND STRATHNAIRN

'White Turret,' had been raised in height by the rebels, and was armed with heavy ordnance for the defence.

The fort was surrounded by the city on all sides, except on the west and part of the south faces. The precipitous steepness of the rock protected the west side of the fort; while to the south, the city wall, with bastions springing from the centre, ended in a high mound or mamelon, which protected by a flanking fire the south face of the fort. This mamelon was fortified by a strong circular bastion for five guns, round part of which was a ditch, 12 feet deep and 15 feet broad, of solid masonry. Swarms of men were always at work on the mamelon. The city itself, 4½ miles in circumference, was surrounded by a fortified and massive wall, from 6 to 12 feet thick, and from 18 to 30 feet in height, with numerous flanking bastions, armed as batteries, and with loopholes in the banquette for infantry. Outside the wall to the east was a picturesque lake and the palace of the former rájás. On the south side of the wall, and outside it, were the ruined cantonments and residences of the English officials and troops, burnt by the rebels in June, 1857. There were also, on this side, temples and gardens.

The First Brigade under Brigadier Stuart having now joined Sir Hugh Rose, the force was much strengthened in all arms, although still only an incomplete division seemingly inadequate for the task before it. Here again, as on other occasions, Sir