312 MAJOR W. HODSON. 



held the ford across the Ganges at Suraj Ghat. 

 A sharp fight on the 27th ended in the capture 

 of all the enemy's guns, four in number, and the 

 slaughter of 300 of their men. 



Hodson himself, writing with a pencil in his 

 left hand, thus describes his share in that day's 

 fisfhtina: : — 



"My usual fortune deserted me on the 27th at 

 Shamsabad, for I got two sabre -cuts on my right 

 arm, which have reduced me to this very sinister 

 style of writing. We had a very stiff fight of it, 

 as we were far in advance of the rest of the 

 troops, and had to charge a very superior body 

 of the mutineer cavalry ; but there was nothing 

 for it but fighting, as, had we not attacked 

 them, they would have got in amongst our guns. 

 We were only three officers and about 180 horse- 

 men — my jDoor friend and second in command, 

 M'Dowell, having received a mortal wound a few 

 minutes before we charged. It was a terrible 

 m^Zee for some time, and we were most wonder- 

 fully preserved. However, we gave them a very 

 proper thrashing, and killed their leaders. Two 

 out of the three of us were wounded, and five of 

 my men killed and eleven wounded, besides eleven 

 horses. My horse had three sabre-cuts, and I got 

 two, which I consider a rather unfair share. The 

 commander-in-chief is very well satisfied, I hear, 

 with the day's work, and is profusely civil and 

 kind to me. . . . 



" I hope to return to Umbala when this war is 

 over, to be refitted and get my men trained and 

 drilled, which is very necessary. I do hope to be 

 able to get home and see your dear faces once 



