[Illustration:  MAJOR-GENERAL SIR HARRY TOMBS, V.C., G.C.B.

From a photograph by Messrs. Grillet and Co.]

The mutineers had selected an admirable position on both sides of the main road.  To their right was a serai and a walled village capable of holding large numbers of Infantry, and protected by an impassable swamp.  To their left, on some rising ground, a sand-bag battery for four heavy guns and an 8-inch mortar had been constructed.  On both sides the ground was swampy and intersected by water-cuts, and about a mile to the enemy’s left, and nearly parallel to the road, ran the Western Jumna Canal.

At the hour named, Brigadier Hope Grant,[5] commanding the Cavalry, started with ten Horse Artillery guns, three squadrons of the 9th Lancers, and fifty Jhind horsemen under Lieutenant Hodson, with the object of turning the enemy’s left flank.  Shortly afterwards the main body marched along the road until the lights in the enemy’s camp became visible.  Colonel Showers, who had succeeded Hallifax in the command of the 1st Brigade,[6] moved off to the right of the road, and Colonel Graves, who had taken Jones’s place with the 2nd Brigade,[7] to the left.  The heavy guns remained on the road with a battery of Field Artillery on either flank.  Just as day broke our guns advanced, but before they were in position the fight began by a cannonade from the rebel Artillery, which caused us severe loss.  To this destructive fire no adequate reply could be made; our guns were too few and of too small calibre.  To add to our difficulties, the Native bullock-drivers of our heavy guns went off with their cattle, and one of the waggons blew up.  At this critical moment Barnard ordered Showers to charge the enemy’s guns, a service which was performed with heroic gallantry by Her Majesty’s 75th Foot, who carried the position at the point of the bayonet, with a loss of 19 officers and men killed and 43 wounded.  Then, supported by the 1st Fusiliers, the same regiment dashed across the road and burst open the gates of the serai.  A desperate fight ensued, but the sepoys were no match for British bayonets, and they now learnt that their misdeeds were not to be allowed to go unpunished.  Graves’s brigade, having passed round the jhil,[8] appeared on the enemy’s right rear, while Grant with his Cavalry and Horse Artillery threatened their left.  The defeat was complete, and the rebels retreated hastily towards Delhi, leaving their guns on the ground.

Although the men were much exhausted, Barnard determined to push on, for he feared that if he delayed the rebels might rally, and occupy another strong position.