THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
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5|-inch mortars, making a total of 700 men. The path leading round this 
flank had been reconnoitred by an Engineer party, and also by Lieutenant 
Cameron, Boyal Artillery, and although rugged and bad, it was deemed 
practicable. The heavy beds supplied according to the regulations, with the 
5|-inch mortars, were found to be quite beyond the weight possible to be 
easily moved over bad mountainous ground, and Lieut. Pratt, Eoyal Artillery, 
had two others made, which, not half the weight, were proved by experiment 
to be amply strong for all practicable purposes. 
To screen this flank movement by the above column, a direct attack was 
to be made by the remainder of the force consisting of the 30th, and a detach¬ 
ment of the 11th Eegiment Native Infantry, two guns of the Armstrong 
battery, and two 8-inch mortars. 
At 4 a.m., on the 15th, the force in camp at the Bala Pass got under 
arms, they were preceded by a party of 100 men, who were to seize the 
bridges over the Toolsa, if still intact and undefended by the enemy; if held 
in force, the party was to occupy the adjoining heights and prevent the 
destruction of the bridge by a close fire. The bridge was not held nor was 
an enemy to be seen. On the General's arrival, this party, under Lieutenant 
Webster, was sent up the direct path towards Tassagong, to reconnoitre and 
make a false attack, so as to draw attention from the flank to be attacked by 
the other column, and whose arrival on the heights above was anticipated at 
about half-past 9 a.m. 
This party, under Lieutenant Webster, nearly succeeded in surprising the 
enemy in Tassagong, they approached by the path to within 50 yards, and 
the place appeared deserted, until two Bhooteas came out and leisurely 
walked up the ravine unnoticing our proximity. The steep and wearisome 
ascent had caused the party to straggle slightly, and it being decided to 
make a rush with the bayonet, a pause was made to collect as many of the 
men as possible and to take breadth. The word had just been given to fix 
bayonet, when the Armstrong guns in the valley below opened fire, and the 
works of Tassagong instantly buzzed with life. The first shell passed close 
over the heads of the reconnoitring party and burst inside the stockade, and 
with it arose the hum of many voices, shouting and calling to arms. This 
took far less time than writing it, and the possibility of a surprise being now 
out of the question, the party was withdrawn, but the Bhooteas had rushed 
to their works and opened fire on our men, who were, however, soon out of 
range beneath the brow of the hill and hidden in the brushwood, retiring 
with the coolness and quietness of veteran soldiers, only firing occasionally 
when an enemy exposed himself above the works. Captain MacGregor, the 
Brigade-Major of the force, and three Sepoys, were wounded ; and the object 
of drawing the enemy's attention to this attack was eminently successful, as 
numbers were seen to leave the upper works and enter Tassagong. But for 
the unexpected shot fired by the Armstrong battery there can be little doubt 
but that the enemy would have been surprised in their sleep by this party, 
and great slaughter have been made among them. 
As soon as the guns and mortars were in position in the valley, they 
opened fire upon Tassagong, and the accuracy of the fire was beautiful. Every 
one of the 8-inch shell from the mortars^ell inside the work, and the seg¬ 
ment shells were seen to burst just within the stockading, but the Bhooteas 
held stoutly to the place, and they could be seen moving about unconcernedly, 
though, as we afterwards discovered, suffering from a heavy loss. 
