Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/335

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Is Mortally Wounded.
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did they dash at the second. Never has there been a greater display of heroism, of contempt for death. The leader of the assault, Jacobs, of the 1st Fusiliers, was mortally wounded. Wemyss, Greville, Caulfield, Speke (the brother of the African traveller). Woodcock, Butler, all attached to the same regiment, were in turn struck down. The men, greatly discouraged by the fall of their officers, were falling back a second time, when an inspiring voice called upon them to follow where their general led. It was the clear-sounding voice of Nicholson. But the broken order could not be restored in a moment, and before a sufficient number of men could respond to the inspiring cry, a bullet pierced the body of the illustrious leader.

The wound was mortal, and Nicholson knew it to be so. But neither the pain he suffered, nor the consciousness of approaching death, could quench the ardour of his gallant spirit. He still called upon his men to go on. But he was asking that which had now become impossible. He had no guns, and already eight officers and fifty men had fallen in the attempt. There was nothing for it but to retire on the Kábul gate. This was done, and Jones assumed the command of the two columns.

We have left the third column in front of the Jamí Masjíd, without artillery to beat down its defences. Campbell maintained this position for an hour and a half, exposed to a heavy fire of grape, musketry, and canister. The failure of the attack of the fourth column was fatal to a longer maintenance of that position. The Láhor gate being in the hands of the rebels, he was liable to be cut off. He fell back, then, in a soldierly manner, on the Begam Bágh, resolved to hold it till he could communicate with headquarters. An hour and a half later, however learning that the fourth column had failed, and that