some 10,000 men, were seen drawn up on the parade square, with numerous cavalry and two 18-pounders, besides other guns.
Brigadier Smith having come up in the meantime and turned the enemy's left, Sir Hugh Rose sent Cornet (now Major-General) Goldsworthy, 8th Hussars, a 'gallant and intelligent officer,' for the Field Battery and Horse Artillery. The gunners soon opened a successful fire, which killed and disabled a large number of the enemy and put the rest to flight.
The troops now entered the town without difficulty; and, marching up the main street, took possession of Sindhia's palace[1], with the intention of capturing the fort in the morning. Brigadier Smith co-operated with good effect on the left near the palace of Phúl Bágh, which he took, killing numbers of the enemy and capturing several guns.
- ↑ This was effected without bloodshed through the useful interposition of Captain (now Sir Richard) Meade. He happened to be well known to the Gwalior men, and gallantly volunteered to go forward alone to the palace court-yard, which was full of armed and excited soldiery, to persuade them to submit peaceably, and to give up the palace. They fortunately recognised him, and after some delay, acted on his advice. Captain Meade came back unhurt to the General and reported that the force could move forward. The next day Sindhia returned, overjoyed and overcome, to his capital, and insisted upon giving Sir Hugh Rose a dinner in his palace, attended by his old servants, who seemed overwhelmed with pleasure. He was afterwards anxious to present a medal with his device, a serpent, to all the officers and men of the Central India Field Force, together with six months' batta. Lord Canning approved the presentation of the medal, but permission was refused by the Home Government.
