1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 47
2 never-failing, though desperate mode, of charging raise sa
3 them with his infantry, and seizing the guns at the at the point of
4 point of the bayonet. aaiae
5 The shortness of time prevented any guns of a Th aay
6 large size from being brought into action, and the guns present.
7 only ones of sieging calibre were in the rear with
8 Colonel Dennis, escorted by the two European
9 regiments from Kussowlee and Subathoo.
10 The available force in European infantry was The Purepean
11 small, consisting merely of Her Majesty's 9th, 31st,
12 50th and 80th regiments, while the only European
13 cavalry -present was Her Majesty's 3rd light
14 dragoons. But the Commander-in-chief knew
15 the brave troops he had to trust to, and the
16 gallant deeds of the European infantry on the
17 fields of Maharapoor and Punnecar, where the
18 Mahratta gins were captured at the point of the
19 bayonet, and two glorious victories obtained in one
20 day, were fresh in his recollection. He calculated
21 correctly; and the British infantry charged amidst
22 a murderous fire of cannon and musketry, for in
23 this action, as well as all the others, the Sikh
24 infantry fired admirably. The dust and darkness
25 added to the confusion of the scene, but nothing
26 could withstand the British; the Sikh columns The sikn
27 were broken and dispersed, but, not before they columns
28 had made a desperate stand and committed great
29 slaughter among the European officers and men. yany puro.
30 Sir Robert Sale, the gallant defender of Jellalabad, Pca" officers
31 7 and men
32 ired i e rg, killed at
33 fell mortally wounded, and expired in a few days. Wed at
34 Sir John Mc Caskill, the victor of Istalif, was also
35 shot dead while gallantly leading his division.