To return to my story.  The cannonade from within and without the city continued unceasing, and the enemy had again to be driven out of the near suburbs.  This duty was entrusted to General Chamberlain, whom I accompanied as one of his staff officers.  His column consisted of about 800 Infantry and six guns, a few more men joining us as we passed the Ridge.  This was the first occasion on which I had witnessed fighting in gardens and walled enclosures, and I realized how difficult it was to dislodge men who knew how to take advantage of the cover thus afforded.  Our soldiers, as usual, fought well against very heavy odds, and before we were able to force the enemy back into the city we had lost 1 officer and 40 men killed, and 8 officers and 163 men wounded, besides 11 poor fellows missing:  every one of whom must have been murdered.  The enemy had nearly 500 men killed, and considerably more than that number wounded.

The result of the day’s experience was so far satisfactory that it determined General Reed to get rid of all the Hindustani soldiers still remaining in camp.  It was clear that the Native officers’ party near the Mound piquet had been treacherous; none of them were ever seen again, and it was generally believed that they had joined the enemy in their dash through the camp.  The other Native soldiers did not hesitate to denounce their Hindustani comrades as traitors; the latter were consequently all sent away, except a few men of the 4th Irregular Cavalry who were deprived of their horses and employed solely as orderlies.  It was also thought advisable to take the guns from the Native troop of Horse Artillery.  A few of the younger men belonging to it deserted, but the older soldiers continued faithful, and did good work in the breaching batteries.

There was a short lull after our fight on the 9th—­a sure sign that the enemy’s loss was heavier than they had calculated upon.  When the mutineers received reinforcements we were certain to be attacked within a few hours, but if no fresh troops arrived on the scene we could generally depend upon a day or two’s respite.

Our next fight was on the 14th July.  The rebels came out on that morning in great numbers, attacking Hindu Rao’s house and the Sabzi Mandi piquets, and supported by a continuous fire of Artillery from the walls.  For some hours we remained on the defensive, but as the enemy’s numbers increased, and we were greatly harassed by their fire, a column was formed to dislodge them.  It was of about the usual strength, viz., 800 Infantry and six Horse Artillery guns, with the addition of a few of the Guides Cavalry and of Hodson’s newly-raised Horse.  The command was given to Brigadier Showers, and I was sent as his staff officer; Reid joined in at the foot of the Ridge with all the men that could be spared, and Brigadier-General Chamberlain also accompanied the column.

We moved on under a very heavy fire until we reached an enclosure the wall of which was lined with the enemy.  The troops stopped short, when Chamberlain, seeing that they hesitated, called upon them to follow him, and gave them a splendid example by jumping his horse over the wall.  The men did follow him, and Chamberlain got a ball in his shoulder.