Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-10-17


sne,asq, the sxersions Of colonel Dsa were
nerforious anI gallant lnthe extreme, and
I fesl under initiate Obligations 10 this Of
hcer<
Ehaye the hon or to be, nv lord, your
Lordship's nos, faithful humble servant.
s fS5ened1 G.LAKEs.
Head qua, tiers, camp before Blur
pore, February Fl, 1905.
Fo-h;;s excelencg the mast nobs Marquis
Wrliesleu, ggavernor general SC.
MY LORD,
Ny dispatch of yesterday date
will have con .eyed toyour Lordship intel-
ligence Of cur want Of success in fourth
attempt made to carry this place By as
sauli.
AS il appeared that our. failure on the
2olh was TO be accounted for, in great
measure, by the occurrence OF unexpected
accidents and delays, as part OF the corps
who formed the storming party had sur
mounted the principal difficulty, and had
nearly gained the summit OF the bas-1
ton, where was informed a few more
hours batterine would render the accent
perfectly easy, determined to make ano
-sher attempt gesterday.
The patty Tor this service consisted OF the
whole Europesn1otce, and two battahous
of native infantry of the Bengal army. and
the gseater part of his majesty's 65th and
a6th regiments, and the granadier battalion
and flank companies of the 6rst battalion
third regiment from the Bombay division.
Fhe whole moved TO the attack about three
o'clock in the afternoon, under the CON
mand of the honorable brigadier Monsoon.
The troops, most confident OF success,
commenced the attack, and persevered IN
! it tor a considerable length of time, with
the most determined bravery; but their
utmost exertl0ns were not sufficient TO ena-
bic them to gain the top of the branch
The Baston which was the point of attack
was extremely steep, the resistance oPpo-
-srd TO them was VIGOROUS, and as our men
could only mount by small parties at time,
the advantage was very great on the aide OF
the enemy. Discharge of grape, laSs OF
wood, aud pots filed with combustible ma.
gierias Immediately knocked down those
who were ascending, and the whole party,
after being engaged in an obstinate con-
test for two hours, and suffering very sc
we're loss, were obliged to reluquish the
attempt, and retire to our trenches.
4 have to lament the loss of very many
gallant officers and men, as will appear to
yourlordship by the accompanying return OF
k;l!A -, 4 nv y.el ~, S,se
IL is with sincere grief inform your
Lordship, that among the killed., my aid
ee-eamp, major Menzies, of his majestles
0Oth regiment, who proceeded with the
s'orm!ng parry, and fell whilst an ng e
foremost, he was makiqg the most herolc
exersiops 10 ascend the branch. | feei
sincere sorrow fer his los-, no less on
account OF the great regard entertained
for his private worth, than for the high es.
tiiaationin which held his merits "a an {.
6cer.
Ehe honorable colonel Monson, to
whom the conduct of'she attack was en-
trusted, made every possible exertiop, and
has received my best thanks for his uacom- 1
mon eallantry and perseverance on that oc-
casion.
Though the troops were unable to efeci
their object, i AN happy to assure your
lordship, that they have on no occasion dis
played greater steadiness. Those Of the
Bengal army supported their former cha
racter, and the Bombay division displayed
2 degree ofresolution and discipline, which
entities them to my highest praise apd-ap-
probation.
i have the honor TO be my Lord, your
,Lotdship'S mostfathful humble servant,
(Signed) 6. LAKE. /
Ecad /. suarters, Carp 5ef9re, Blur
pare, February 20, 1905
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