The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-27

~
any OF the three bastions that were iercely as
sailed they yet stuck to their guns in the open,
which partially enfladed our position; they got
gun to bear from hole broken open in the long
curtain wall; they sent rockets from of their
martello towers, and they maintained perfect storm
OF musketry from their advanced trench and from
the city walls.
THE sroRMING PARTY AND ASSAULT.
On the night of the 18th the engineers stole down
and examined the two breaches near the Cashmere
and Water bastions and both being reported practi-
cable, orders for the assault were at once issued to
take place at daybreak the following morning.
The arrangements for the storming were as fol-
lows:-
First column-Brigadier General Nicholson.
Her Majestys 18TH regiment 1st Bengal usleers and
I'd Punab nfantIy-To storm the breach the Cash
mere baston, and escalade the face of the bastons
Engineer officers observation-disclosures Medley, Lang
and Bingham.
Second columu-Brigadier Jones, c. b.
Her Majesys sth regiment, her Majestys 81st regi-
ment and 4th Sikh inian.ryTo storm the breach the
Water bastion.
Engineer officers Observation-Disclosures Greathed
venden and Pcmberton.
Third column-Colonel Campbell.
H. MS SID Regiment I'd Fusilers, and ls Punjab In.
fantry-To assault by the Cashmere gate after should
be blown open.
Engineer officers Observation-Disclosures Home salkeld
and Tandy.
Fourth column-Major Reid
Detachment of European Regiments Sirmoor Battalion,
Guide Infantry and detachment of Dogrehs-To attack the
suburb Kssengunj and enter the Lahore gate.
Engineer officers aitached-Lieutenants Maunsel and
Tenant
Fifth column-Brgadier Longfield
H. NJ IS Goth Rifles, kumaon Battalion and 4th Punab
Infantry the reserve.
At A. NJ. the different columns fell in and were
marched to their respective places, the heads of
Nos. l. and 3 columns being kent concealed until
the moment for the actual assault should arrive. The
signal was to be the advance of the Rides TO the
front to cover the heads of the columns by skrmsh
ing;
excellent arrangements elected the admiration of
all, gave the signal, and the Rifles dashed to the
front with a cheer, extending along and skirmish-
ing the low jungle, which at this point ex-
tends to within fifty yards of the ditch At the same
moment the heads of No. and 2 columns emerged
from the Kodsee Bagh, and advanced steadily
towards the breach. Our batteries had maintained
"a tremendous fire up to the moment of the advance
of the troops and not gun could the enemy bring
to bear on the storming columns; but sooner did
these emerge into the open than perfect hail
storm of bullets met them from the front and both
anks and officers and fell fast on the crest of
the glacis. For ten minutes it impossible to get
the ladders down into the ditch to ascend the scarp
but the determination of the British soldier carried
all before it, and Pandy declined to meet the charge
of the British bayonet With shout and rush
the breaches were both won and the enemy fled in
confusion.
BRILLIANT CONDUCT OF THE EXPLOSION PARTY
Meanwhile the explosion party advanced in front
of the column straight upon the Cashmere gate.
This little band Of heroes had TO adcance in broad
daylight TO The gate,cay, IN The re,y teeth Of hot fire
and on both ianks The po,cder bags ,rere coouy laid
and adjusted, but Lieutenant SaikeLd 6y this
time hors de combat tcih t,co bullets ia him. Ser
geant Carmichael then attempted TO fire the train but
trds shot dead. Sergeant Burgess then tried and
succeeded, but paid for the daring act with his life.
Sergeant Smith, thinking that Burgess toohad Jriied,
ran to'tcard tm seeing ae train aight had just time
10 hror himself into The ditch and escape the effects
| Of the explosion. U'h loud crash the gaie,eay
,ras bo,cn in and through IL the third column rushed
10 the assault and entered the torn just as the other
columns had IRON the breaches Gen. Uason has
since besto,csd The Victoria Cross on Lieufenants
Home and Sditeld, ON Sergeant Smith. and a
brdre man Of H. NJ Fiftesecond tcho stood bg
Lieutenant Saikeid TO the last, and bound up his
rounds.
Another account gives the following version of
this brilliant affair:-The signal given for the rush
at the walls was the blowing open Of the Cashmere
gate, which most dangerous duty devolyed on Lieu.
tenant Salkeld, Of the Engineers.
The whole was done by escalade, "a the breach
was not complete enough to enter without ladders
Lieutenant Salked approached with three sergeants
under tremendous fire of musketry. He was first
shot through the arm notwithstanding that. he went
on To the gate with the bags Of powder; they APP
preached one sergeant was killed; the second ser
geant took up the bags assisting Lietenant Salked,
knocked them on TO the spikes Of the gate not being
able to put them underneath, the wicket gate
opened, and about 20 muskets pointed up well as
through many holes in the gateway firing from both
iianks from the wall. As Lieutenant Sakcld put on
the bags he shot through the leg, aud fell; the
second sergeant lit the match but after lighting 10
he said TO Lieutenant Salkeld on the ground :" 1
fear the match has not taken light, sir;" at the
word =" sir" he fell dead, rddled with balls; the
match did ignite, blew open the gate; the third ser
geant escaped unhurt. At the signal the troops
rushed on-every one who carried the scaling lad
ders of the I'd Fusileers was knocked over; how
ever, they rushed on, put up the ladders, tmany Of
which were found To be too short,) changing their
positions, got on the walls. cheered. and rushed
down upon the enemy and carried the place. On
they went along the walls taking the Morcc bastion
mg cutp hp of rnium taxi tha Chureh
battery, Water battery, Treasury Compound, and
SINNERS house.
General Nicholson then formed the troops in the
main guard inside, and with his column proceeded
To clear the rampsrts far as the Moree bastion.
II was in advancing beyond this, towards the
Lahore gate, that he met the wound which has
since caused his lamented DEATH death which IL il
not too much 10 say has dimmed the ustrc Of
this victory IL has deprived the country Of of
tho ablcst men and the most gallant soldiers that
England anywhere numbers among her ranks.
The 4th column. | regret TO say, failed, but as IL
was too far for me to know anything Of ts real pro-
gress prefer leaving its story TO be told by another
instead OF sending you vague and imperfect ac-
count. Had this column succeeded its possession Of
Lahore gate would have saved us much subsequent
trouble.
QUEEN VICTORIA TOASTED IN THE ROYAL PALACE.
On the night a the 2lst OF September, the con-
queror, General Wilson, proposed the health Of
Queen Victoria in the khas, the beautiful
white marble durbar hall Of the palace, where once
stood the famed peacock throne, and which bears
the well known inscription, meant TO apply 70 the
palace and It's gardens generally and which now
reads like mocery--
"Oh " there's Eden earth n is this
Here In the palace Of the great Moguls, the health
Of our Queen was drunk by her victorious soldiers
with enthusiastic cheers which taken up by the
gallant Ghoorkhas who formed the personal guard
of the General.
THE CAPTURE OF THE KING.
On the 21st the old King surrendered TO Captain
Hodson and his cavalry near the Kootub Minar,
which IL about fifteen miles south Of Delhi He
accompanied in his captivity as in his flight by his
chief wife, the Begun Zeenut Mahal +" the Orna-
ment Of the Palace The King IL said to be nearly
30 years Of age and II s probable that he s scarcely
in any way responsible for what has been done In his
name, SO that as at present informed, we cannot
condemn the cemency which has spared his life. He
is now prisoner In what was once his own palace.
Two Of his sons and grandson. however. who were
captured also by Captain Hodson AZ the tomb of
Humayoon, about five miles from Delhi. and who are