A History of the Mahrattas v2.c52.51

v2.c52.51

On the morning of the 13th the British troops, in two lines, moved on to the attack; the gallant 76th first carried the fortified village with their bayonets, and finding a range of guns immediately under it, charged on through a tremendous fire of round, grape, and chain shot: the 1st Bengal European regiment rushed on to support the 76th, followed by the Sepoys. Holkar’s infantry abandoned the first range of guns, and retired to the next; but this was as instantly charged by General Frazer, who fell mortally wounded in the operation, deeply regretted by his troops. The command devolved on Colonel Monson, under whom the victory was completed; the enemy being compelled to abandon battery after battery, until they were forced into the fort of Deeg, the garrison of which immediately fired upon the British troops. During the battle the Mahratta horse retook the first range, and for a short time turned the guns on the rear of the British line, but they were again retaken by twenty-eight men of the 76th regiment, headed by Captain Norford, who lost his life in the performance of this remarkable exploit. The loss of the British was severe; no less than six hundred and forty-three were killed and wounded, and of these twenty-two were European officers. The loss of the enemy was estimated at about two thousand. Eighty-seven pieces of ordnance were taken, and among them Colonel Monson had the satisfaction of finding fourteen of those lost during his retreat.