DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25988#0129
1803.
Gawilghur.
105
eighteen miles. Johnson, who is a very hnmane man, tried to
get them to do something in earnest, but they said if we would
stop they would; if not, they were prepared to fight. We who
saw a practicable breach could not account for their obstinacy,
but expected a most resolute defence. I went to breakfast
and returned.’
Here follows a description of the advance of the storming
party, which is more fully told in the preceding extract from
his journal. The narrative proceeds :—
‘ We huzzaed and dashed up the second breach, and leaped
down into the place. Such of the enemy as stood were put to
the bayonet; but most of them ran off to the right, and down
a narrow valley which led to a gate. Here they met Colonel
Chalmers’s coming on with half the 78th (he had been sent
round by the Gfeneral to attack this gate). The 94th pressed
behind, firing from above, and a terribie slaughter took place.
After this we endeavoured to push on, when to our astonish-
ment we discovered that we had only gained a separate hill,
and that the fort lay behind a deep valley, beyond which
appeared a double wall and strong gates. “ Ibi omnis effusus
labor; ” the troops halted, and the officers endeavoured to
form them. I was at this time with Johnson and Lutwidge,
having lost Colonel Kenny in the confusion, after getting over
the second breach. I thought we should have to entrench
ourselves, and wait till guns would be brought up to breacli
the inner walls. But Colonel Kenny, almost alone, had run
straight on to the gate, where he was now perceived. Tlie
Europeans found the road down, and crowded after him. The
first wall joined to a steep hill, and the Europeans began slowly
and with difficulty to climb up one by one. Beyond the first
wall was a narrow, rocky road, overtopped by a steep rock,
and another wall and gate, over which those who climbed the
first wall would have to go, which the steepness and height of
the wall made impossible. While the Europeans were clamber-
ing over, the enemy kept up a fire from their works; in the
meantime our people poured in at the breach, and covered the
hill opposite to the enemy. They fired on the enemy, and
Gawilghur.
105
eighteen miles. Johnson, who is a very hnmane man, tried to
get them to do something in earnest, but they said if we would
stop they would; if not, they were prepared to fight. We who
saw a practicable breach could not account for their obstinacy,
but expected a most resolute defence. I went to breakfast
and returned.’
Here follows a description of the advance of the storming
party, which is more fully told in the preceding extract from
his journal. The narrative proceeds :—
‘ We huzzaed and dashed up the second breach, and leaped
down into the place. Such of the enemy as stood were put to
the bayonet; but most of them ran off to the right, and down
a narrow valley which led to a gate. Here they met Colonel
Chalmers’s coming on with half the 78th (he had been sent
round by the Gfeneral to attack this gate). The 94th pressed
behind, firing from above, and a terribie slaughter took place.
After this we endeavoured to push on, when to our astonish-
ment we discovered that we had only gained a separate hill,
and that the fort lay behind a deep valley, beyond which
appeared a double wall and strong gates. “ Ibi omnis effusus
labor; ” the troops halted, and the officers endeavoured to
form them. I was at this time with Johnson and Lutwidge,
having lost Colonel Kenny in the confusion, after getting over
the second breach. I thought we should have to entrench
ourselves, and wait till guns would be brought up to breacli
the inner walls. But Colonel Kenny, almost alone, had run
straight on to the gate, where he was now perceived. Tlie
Europeans found the road down, and crowded after him. The
first wall joined to a steep hill, and the Europeans began slowly
and with difficulty to climb up one by one. Beyond the first
wall was a narrow, rocky road, overtopped by a steep rock,
and another wall and gate, over which those who climbed the
first wall would have to go, which the steepness and height of
the wall made impossible. While the Europeans were clamber-
ing over, the enemy kept up a fire from their works; in the
meantime our people poured in at the breach, and covered the
hill opposite to the enemy. They fired on the enemy, and