The Seven Cities of Delhi
practicable; the engineers, after an examination on the night of the 13th, were able to report them to be so, although another twenty-four hours would make them still better. But this was quite enough, and the assault was ordered for the following morning.
Long before dawn the columns began to form up, each about a thousand strong: No.1, under Nicholson, to storm the breach near the Cashmere Bastion, and to escalade the left face of the bastion No. 2 to storm the Water Bastion breach, advancing from behind the "Custom-house" battery; No. 3 to advance down the road and enter the Cashmere Gate, after it had been blown in by the party under Home and Salkeld. Behind these three was a reserve column over twelve hundred strong, which the Rifles were to join after skirmishing in front of the storming columns. To the cavalry, about six hundred sabres, was given the task of guarding the batteries from a sortie, and away on the right the Intrepid defender of Hindu Rao's house, Major Reid, was to attack Kishanganj with No. 4 column — a scratch force drawn from the piquets and the Jammu contingent, which did not count for much, being badly disciplined and worse armed.
The main assault succeeded, although it had290
