238 MAJOR W. HODSON. 



reinforcements were continually reaching the rebels 

 resisted all our efforts for its destruction. " Our 

 engineers," says Hodson, " have tried their worst, 

 and failed. I have tried all that money could 

 do, to the extent of 6000 rupees, but equally in 

 vain. So there it remains for the benefit of the 

 enemy." 



Before dawn of August 12 a column of all arms, 

 led by the gallant Brigadier Showers, completely 

 surprised the enemy's pickets about Ludlow Castle 

 and the Kudsia Bagh. The rebels fought hard but 

 vainly, and in less than half an hour Ludlow Castle 

 was cleared of every living sepoy. Hodson himself 

 came upon the scene before the fight was over, and 

 carried a message from Coke to the brigadier. " I 

 found Showers himself wounded, and then had to 

 find a field ofiicer to take command, after which I 

 assisted generally in drawing off" the men — the with- 

 drawal or retirement being the most difficult matter 

 always, and requiring as much steadiness as an 

 attack." 



Four of the enemy's guns were brought into camp 

 as trophies of a success somewhat dearly earned by 

 the loss of more than a hundred slain or wounded. 

 " The return to camp," says Hodson, " was a scene 

 worth witnessing, the soldiers bringing home in 

 triumph the guns they had captured, a soldier with 

 musket and bayonet fixed riding each horse, and 

 brave young Owen astride one gun, and dozens 

 clinging to and pushing it, or rather them, along 

 with might and main, and cheering like mad 

 things." 



On the morning of the 14th the Punjab column, 

 3000 strong, headed by its glorious leader, John 



