242 MAJOR W. HODSON. 



his little force. About 7 a.m. of the 18th he learned 

 that Babar Khan had brought into Rohtak a body 

 of 300 Rangar horsemen, who a few minutes later 

 were seen dashing out from the town towards Hod- 

 son's camp, followed by some 900 footmen, armed 

 with swords and matchlocks. A small party of 

 Jhind horsemen coming up at that moment to 

 reinforce Hodson were in time to receive and check 

 the brunt of the rebel onset. 



Meanwhile Hodson, who had kept his horses ready 

 saddled, lost no time in turning out his men. With 

 twenty of these he charged the assailants, and 

 drove them back in disorder towards the town. 

 " Directly the whole detachment," to quote from 

 his own despatch, " was ready and formed up, 

 I sent what little baggage and followers we had 

 to the rear under a sufficient escort, and prepared 

 for a further attack. I formed the main body on 

 the road in three lines, the Guides in front, send- 

 ing a troop out to the right front under Lieutenant 

 Wise, and one to the left under Lieutenant 

 M'Dowell, ready to take the enemy in flank, 

 should they again charge up the roads (of which 

 there are three leading from the town to our 

 position). These movements were covered by skir- 

 mishers, and by the excellent fire of the Jhind 

 horsemen armed with matchlocks, whom I desired 

 to dismount and drive back by their fire any part 

 of the enemy who might come from under shelter 

 of the buildings. This service they performed 

 exceedingly well and most cheerfully." 



Finding that his ammunition was nearly ex- 

 hausted, and seeing that nothing could be gained 

 by fighting against walls lined with matchlockmen, 



