A History of Assam c14.53

c14.53

News of these events reached Captain Welsh on the 23rd February. He at once set out with all his troops, except one company which was left at Koliābar to guard the stores, and reached Debargāon on the 8th March. From this place another letter was addressed to the Moāmariā leaders, but it, like the former one, was never delivered. When the advance was resumed, Lieutenant Irwin was sent ahead with two companies. He had reached a place about twelve miles from Rangpur when he was furiously attacked by a large number of men armed with matchlocks, spears and bows. He drove off his assailants and, pushing on, took up a strong position on a brick bridge over the Nāmdāng river, four or five miles from Rangpur. In this engagement he had two men killed and thirty-five wounded. The Moāmariās lost far more heavily, and their leader himself was seriously wounded.