Memoir of the Services of the Bengal Artillery: From the Formation of the Corps to the Present Time, with Some Account of Its Internal Organization

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W.H. Allen, 1852 - India - 592 pages
 

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Page 515 - Hundreds fell under this cannonade; hundreds upon hundreds were drowned in attempting the perilous passage. Their awful slaughter, confusion, and dismay were such as would have excited compassion in the hearts of their generous conquerors, if the Khalsa troops had not, in the earlier part of the action, sullied their gallantry by slaughtering and barbarously mangling every wounded soldier whom, in the vicissitudes of attack, the fortune of war left at their mercy.
Page 504 - Lawrenson, dashed among the flying infantry, committing great havoc, until about 800 or 1,000 men rallied under the high bank of a nullah, and opened a heavy but ineffectual fire from below the bank. I immediately directed the 30th Native Infantry to charge them, which they were able to do upon their left flank, while in a line in rear of the village. This, native corps nobly obeyed my orders, and rushed among the Avitabile troops, driving them from under the bank, and exposing them once more to...
Page 565 - At half-past seven o'clock the army advanced in the order described with the precision of a parade movement. The enemy opened their fire at a very long distance, which exposed to my Artillery both the position and range of their guns. I halted the Infantry just out of fire, and advanced the whole of my Artillery, covered by skirmishers. The cannonade now opened upon the enemy was the most magnificent I ever witnessed, and as terrible in its effects.
Page 504 - Majesty's 53rd moved forward in support of the 30th native infantry, by the right of the village. The battle was won ; our troops advancing with the most perfect order to the common focus, the passage of the river. The enemy, completely hemmed in, were flying from our fire, and precipitating themselves in disordered masses into the ford and boats, in the utmost confusion and consternation. Our 8-inch howitzers soon began to play upon their boats, when the
Page 505 - Irregular Cavalry, and Gunner Scott, of the 1st troop 2nd brigade horse artillery, who rode into the stream, and crossed for the purpose, covered by our guns and light infantry.
Page 300 - I have the satisfaction to assure you, that both the artillery and engineers were actuated by the same zeal, in performing their respective duties, that has been so conspicuous in. all ranks and departments, though from the deficiency of the means at their disposal, their operations were unavoidably embarrassed with uncommon difficulties.
Page 543 - Pennycuick, and the three other field officers of the 24th, and nearly half the regiment, before it gave way ; the Native regiment, when it came up, also suffering severely. In justice to this brigade, I must be allowed to state that they behaved heroically, and but for their too hasty, and consequently disorderly advance, would have emulated the conduct of their left brigade, which, left unsupported for a time, had to charge to their front and right wherever an enemy appeared. The brigade of Horse...
Page 416 - Forster and Cowper, respectively in charge of the Bombay and Shah's Artillery, I feel greatly indebted for the steady and scientific manner in which the service of dislodging the enemy from the heights, and afterwards effecting an entrance into the fort, was performed.
Page 505 - It appears as if they had been unlimbered to cover the ford. These, being loaded, were fired once upon our advance. Two others were sticking in the river ; one of them we got out. Two were seen to sink in the quicksands ; two were dragged to the opposite bank and abandoned. These, and the one in the middle of the river, were gallantly spiked by...
Page 216 - ... their unremitting exertions in conducting the duties of that very important department; and his best acknowledgments are due to Major Beatson, for the essential assistance given to this branch of the service by the constant exertion of his ability and zeal.

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