Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/606

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582
OUR ANGLO-INDIAN ARMY.

arduous a struggle. The British general having been reinforced on the 22nd of that month by Major Stack with the 3rd Cavalry, the 8th Native Infantry, and Major Leslie's troop of Horse Artillery, resolved to go in pursuit of the enemy, and attack them wherever they might be found.

The Sindeans had again posted themselves in a strong and well-selected position at Dubba, on the banks of the Fulailee, whose dry channel had afforded them such valuable protection in the previous engagement. But they had improved not only on the experience acquired in the former defeat, but strengthened their position with a degree of skill hitherto unknown to them, and which indicated the presence of European tacticians in their army.

Early in the morning of the 24th of March, Sir Charles put his forces in motion; and by the time they had marched about two miles, they descried the enemy about a mile and a half in advance. Approaching within twelve hundred yards of their position, the troops were drawn up in order of battle, and moved forward en échélon of regiments to the attack. About nine o'clock the British guns opened their fire on the enemy's position, producing great confusion in their centre, where considerable bodies were observed to move to the left, apparently unable to sustain the cross-fire of the artillery.

The position of the enemy was nearly a straight line. The nullah which formed its front consisted of two deep parallel ditches – one twenty feet wide and eight feet deep, the other forty-two feet wide and seventeen feet deep – further strengthened by banks and escarpments of the most formidable character. These skilful preparations, however, proved altogether ineffectual in arresting the victorious career of the British army, though manned by such brave and such numerous defenders. When the centre of the enemy was seen to give way under the severe fire of the British artillery, Major Stack, at the head of the 3rd Cavalry, under Captain Delamain, supported by a body of Sinde horse, under Captain Jacob,