of a village which protected the enemy's right. The artillery and her Majesty's 22nd formed the leading échélon, the 25th Native Infantry the second, the 12th Native Infantry the third, and the 1st Grenadier Native Infantry the fourth.
The British fire of musketry opened at about a hundred yards from the bank of the river, and in a few minutes the engagement became general along the whole line. The dead level of the plain was swept by the Beloochees' cannon and matchlocks; and when our troops got close up, after the ravine was crossed, our men had to ascend a high sloping bank. "The Beloochees," says the historian of the Peninsular War,[1] "having their matchlocks laid ready in rest along the summit, waited until the assailants were within fifteen yards ere their volley was discharged; but the rapid pace of the British and the steepness of the slope deceived their aim, and the result was not considerable: the next moment the 22nd were on the top of the bank, thinking to bear down all before them, but they staggered back in amazement at the forest of swords waving in their front. Thick as standing corn, and gorgeous as a field of flowers, stood the Beloochees in their many-coloured garments and turbans; they filled the broad deep bed of the ravine, they clustered on both banks, and covered the plain beyond. Guarding their heads with their large dark shields, they shook their sharp swords, beaming in the sun, their shouts rolling like a peal of thunder, as with frantic gestures they dashed forward, with demoniac strength and ferocity, full against the front of the 22nd. But with shouts as loud, and shrieks as wild and fierce as theirs, and hearts as big and arms as strong, the Irish soldiers met them with the queen of weapons – the musket – and sent their foremost masses rolling back in blood. ... Now the Beloochees closed their dense masses, and again the shouts, and the rolling fire of musketry, and the dreadful rush of their swordsmen, were heard and seen along the whole line;
- ↑ Major-General W. F. P. Napier. "Conquest of Sinde."
