Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/349

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Splendid Victory of the British.
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fort, to deploy his line and to despatch Watson, with a portion of his cavalry, to turn the left flank of the rebels, whilst he should advance from the centre. He was joined, as he advanced, by a battery of artillery, which Pearson had manned, experimentally, with men of Eurasian extraction, and which on this occasion rendered excellent service. The prompt advance of the force, the celerity with which it had been transformed from a heterogeneous mass of individuals sleeping or lounging into a living machine, upset the calculations of the rebels, and the British cavalry, gallantly led by Ouvry, Probyn, Watson, and the guns, splendidly managed by Bourchier, Turner, and Pearson, completed the confusion which this celerity had produced. They fell back in disorder, pursued in front by the infantry, which had been joined by the 3d Europeans from the fort — under Colonel Cotton, who, by virtue of his seniority to Greathed, took the command — and on the flanks by the cavalry and artillery. The infantry followed them as far as their camp, which was found standing midway between Agra and the Kárí Nadí, and there halted, dead tired; but the pursuit was continued as far as that stream by the two other arms. Only once did the rebels attempt to make a stand, but then a few rounds of grape sent them flying. They were unable to carry a single gun across the stream. For seven miles the road was one continued line of carts, guns, ammunition waggons, camels, and baggage of every description. The whole of this fell into the hands of the victors. Much that was useless they destroyed; but they brought back into camp thirteen pieces of ordnance and vast quantities of ammunition. No victory could have been more rapid or decisive. It was a splendid performance, especially if one takes into consideration the circumstances under which the battle was engaged. Bourchier's