1 SINDE. 235
2 the Ameer of Meerpoor,* and the result was the complete subju-
3 gation of Sinde, and its annexation, with the exception of the
4 her Majesty’s 22nd regiment in line, formed the leading echelon, the 25th.
5 native infantry the second, the 12th native infantry the third, and the lst
6 grenadier native infantry the fourth.
7 ‘« The enemy was a thousand yards from our line, which soon traversed the
8 intervening space. Our fire of musketry opened at about a hundred yards from
9 the bank, in reply to that of the enemy, and in a few minutes the engagement
10 became general along the bank of the river, on which the combatants fought,
11 for about three hours or more, with great fury, man to man. Then, my lord,
12 was seen the superiority of the musket and bayonet over the sword and shield
13 and matchlock. The brave Beloochees, first discharging their matchlocks and
14 pistols, dashed over the bank with desperate resolution, but down went these
15 bold and skilful swordsmen under the superior power of the musket and
16 bayonet. At one time, my lord, the courage and numbers of the encmy
17 against the 22nd, the 25th, and the 12th regiments, bore heavily in that part
18 of the battle. There was no time to be lost, and I sent orders to the cavalry
19 to force the right of the enemy’sline. This order was very gallantly executed
20 by the 9th Bengal cavalry and the Sinde horse, the details of which shall be
21 afterwards stated to your lordship, for the struggle on our right and centre
22 was, at that moment, so fierce, that I could not go to the left. In this charge
23 the 9th light cavalry took a standard and several pieces of artillery, and the
24 Sinde horse took the enemy’s camp, from which a vast body of their cavalry
25 slowly retired fighting. Lieutenant Fitzgerald gallantly pursued them for
26 two miles, and, I understand, slew three of the enemy in single combat. The
27 brilliant conduct of these two cavalry regiments decided, in my opinion, the
28 crisis of the action, for, from the moment the cavalry were seen in the rear of
29 their right flank, the resistance of our opponents slackened; the 22nd regi-
30 ment forced the bank, the 25th and 12th did the same, the latter regiment
31 capturing several guns, and the victory was decided. The artillery made great
32 havoc among the dense masses of the enemy, and dismounted several of their
33 guns. The whole of the enemy’s artillery, ammunition, standards, and camp,
34 with considerable stores and some treasure, were taken.”’
35 * The following is an extract from Sir C. Napier’s report of the battle :
36 —‘' The forces under my command marched from Hyderabad this morn-
37 ing at daybreak. About half-past 8 o’clock we discovered and attacked the
38 army under the personal command of the Meer Shere Mahomed, consisting of
39 20,000 men of all arms, strongly posted behind one of those large nullahs by
40 which this country ig intersected in all directions. After a combat of about
41 three hours, the enemy was wholly defeated with considerable slaughter, and
42 the loss of all his standards and cannon.
43 ‘* His position was nearly a straight line; the nullalh was formed by two
44 deep parallel ditches, one 20 feet wide and 8 feet deep, the other 42 feet wide
45 aud 17 deep, which had been for a long distance freshly scarped, and a ban-
46 quette made behind the bank cxpressly for the occasion.
47 ‘© To ascertain the extent of his line was extremely difficult, as his left did