to go before they could hope for rest, while not a drop of water was procurable, or likely to be had till their arrival.
At two miles from Jugduluk the descent into the valley commences. The hills on each side of the road were occupied by the enemy, who kept firing from their long juzails; and again the road was covered with dead and dying, as they were in such a mass that every shot told. On arriving in the valley, a position was taken up on the first height near some ruined walls. As scarcely any Europeans of the advance now remained, and the enemy were increasing, the General called all the officers, about twenty in number, to form line, and show a front to the enemy: they had scarcely done so when Captain Grant, Assistant Adjutant-General, received a ball through the cheek, which broke his jaw. On the arrival of the rear-guard, followed up by the enemy, the latter took possession of two heights close to our position; on which our force went for security within the ruined walls. The men were maddened with hunger and thirst; but though a stream of pure water ran within a hundred and fifty yards of the position, no man could venture to go for it without the certainty of being massacred.
Here our worn-out fugitives lay down upon the ground, in the hope of getting, at least, a little rest; but they had scarcely done so, when volley after volley was poured into the inclosure. All was instant confusion, and a general rush took place outside the walls, men and cattle all huddled together, each striving to hide himself from the murderous fire of the enemy. And although Captain Bygrove, at the head of fifteen brave fellows of the 44th, charged up the hill, and drove the enemy before him like a flock of sheep, yet when he returned, they resumed their former position, and murderous sharp-shooting. Our unfortunate force at Jugduluk this day consisted of 150 men of the 44th, sixteen dismounted horse artillerymen, twenty-five of the 5th Cavalry, but not a single Sepoy with arms.[1]
- ↑ Lady Sale's Journal.
