Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/151

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Battle of Badlí-kí-Sarái.
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sent to the front. The British gunners began to drop, and it seemed doubtful whether they would be able to hold their own. There was but one remedy for this — a remedy which has never failed against Asiatics. Barnard tried it. He sent the 75th deployed, and supported by the 2d Europeans, to charge the rebels' guns. The charge was splendid, but the rebels displayed a stern resolution, clinging to their guns and giving back thrust for thrust There was no flinching, and there was no cry for quarter.

Whilst the 75th and the 2d Europeans were struggling bravely for the guns, the second brigade, led by Brigadier Graves, attacked the enemy's left, whilst, a minute later, Hope Grant, with the cavalry and the horse-artillery, appeared on their rear. The movement of Hope Grant was decisive. The front defence collapsed almost immediately, and the rebels fell back. At first it seemed as though their retreat would be orderly, but the lancers and the horse-artillery took care that this should not be so. Making charge after charge, despite of water-courses and other obstacles, and firing round after round, they compelled the beaten enemy to loose his hold on his guns and his camp equipage, and to retire, baffled and humiliated, within the walls of the city. Barnard, with consummate judgment, pushed on; then having completed the rout of the enemy, he turned to the ridge overlooking Dehlí, drove thence the rebels posted there, and encamped in the position whence he could best direct his attacks on the proud city, which, in spite of his appearance before it, still defied his arms. He and his men had done good work on that eventful day. He had driven the enemy within the walls, with a loss to them of about 350 men, twenty-six guns, and some serviceable ammunition. He had gained and firmly occupied the finest base of opera-