A staff officer was sent at once to Rhai to hurry on the force and tell them how urgently their assistance was required in camp; this appeal was responded to with the utmost alacrity, and early the next evening the welcome reinforcement made its appearance.

It had scarcely arrived before the Artillery on the city walls opened fire, while guns, which had been brought into the suburbs, enfiladed our right and concentrated a heavy fire on Hindu Rao’s house which the few guns we had in position were quite unable to silence.  The rebel Infantry occupied Kishenganj and Sabzi Mandi in force, and threatened to advance on the Mound battery, while a constant musketry fire was maintained upon the Ridge.  Reid reported that the mutineers made a desperate attack at about twelve o’clock, and that no men could have fought better; they charged the Rifles, the Guides, and the Gurkhas again and again.  The cannonade raged fast and furious, and at one time it seemed as though the day must be lost.  Thousands were brought against a mere handful of men; but Reid knew the importance of his position, and was determined at all hazards to hold it until reinforcements arrived.[18]

The mutineers were checked, but not driven off.  The first attempt from the Mound battery failed to repulse them, and Colonel Welchman, who was in command, was dangerously wounded.  Every available man in camp had been engaged, and as a last resource the 2nd Fusiliers and the 4th Sikhs, who had just arrived from Rhai, were sent to the front.  Showers was placed in command, and shortly before the day closed he succeeded in forcing the enemy to retire.  So the anniversary of Plassy saw us, though hardly pressed, undefeated, and the enemy’s hopes unfulfilled.  They lost over 1,000 men.  Our casualties were 1 officer and 38 men killed, and 3 officers and 118 men wounded.  The heat all the while was terrific, and several of our men were knocked over by the sun.

The lesson taught us by this severe fighting was the importance of occupying the Sabzi Mandi, and thus preventing the enemy from approaching too close to the camp and enfilading the Ridge.  This entailed more constant duty upon our already overworked soldiers, but Barnard felt that it would not do to run the risk of another such struggle.

A piquet of 180 Europeans was accordingly placed in the Sabzi Mandi, part in a serai on one side of the Grand Trunk Road, and the rest in a Hindu temple on the opposite side.  These posts were connected by a line of breastworks with the Hindu Rao piquets, and added considerably to the strength of our position.

After the 23rd there were real or threatened attacks daily; but we were left fairly undisturbed until the 27th June, when the Metcalfe and Sabzi Mandi piquets were assaulted, and also the batteries on the Ridge.  These attempts were defeated without any very great loss, only 13 of our men being killed, and 1 officer and 48 men wounded.