210 MAJOR W. HODSON. 



" That this assault would have been successful," says 

 Sir T. Seaton, " there can be no doubt whatever, and 

 it can as little be doubted that the rebels would 

 have fled before us out of the city. But what if 

 they rallied or offered any considerable resistance ? 

 The utmost number of troops we could have thrown 

 into the city would have been 3000 men, who would 

 have been swallowed up in its immensity, and a 

 check anywhere would have been destruction, for we 

 should have had no reserves to fall back on." 



Meanwhile about daybreak of June 12 our troops 

 were turning out to repel a sortie from the rebels all 

 along their front. " A sharp fight ensued," says 

 Hodson, " which lasted some four hours. The 

 enemy came on very boldly, and had got close to us, 

 under cover of the trees and gardens, before they 

 were seen. However, the troops turned out sharp, 

 and drove them back quickly from our immediate 

 vicinity : they were then followed up, and got most 

 heartily thrashed. They have never yet been so 

 punished as to-day. I estimate their loss in killed 

 alone at 400, while our loss was comparatively 

 trifling. The Guides behaved admirably ; so did the 

 Fusiliers, as usual. Jacob's wing was the admiration 

 of all : one officer (Captain Knox, 75th) was killed 

 and one or two wounded. I do not know how many 

 European soldiers ; but, on the whole, the afiair was 

 a very creditable one. I am safe and sound still." 



In the dark hours of next morning our troops were 

 silently mustering for the assault, which was to be 

 heralded by an explosion of powder-bags at two of 

 the city gates. In another hour some 1800 men 

 might have won their way inside the rebel strong- 

 hold ; but, by some unaccountable mischance, the 



