Ground was broken that evening.  Unfortunately Baird-Smith was not able to personally superintend the construction of the breaching batteries, but he had in his second-in-command, Alex.  Taylor, a thoroughly practical Engineer, who not only knew how to work himself, but how to get work out of others.  Ever alert and cheerful, he was trusted and looked up to by all his subordinates, and was of all others the very man to be placed in charge of such a difficult and dangerous duty.

The first battery, known as No. 1, was traced out in two parts, about 700 yards from the Mori bastion, which the right half, with its five 18-pounders and one 8-inch howitzer, was intended to silence; while the left half, with its four 24-pounders, was to hold the Kashmir bastion in check.

All night the Engineers worked at the battery, but although before day broke it was nearly finished and armed, it was not ready to open fire until close on sunrise.  The enemy did not fail to take advantage of this chance.  They poured in round after round of shot and grape, causing many casualties.  Their fire slackened as our guns were gradually able to make themselves felt, and by the afternoon it was silenced.  Nothing remained of the Mori bastion but a heap of ruins.  No. 1 battery was commanded by Major James Brind,[4] the bravest of the brave.  It was said of him that he ‘never slept’; and Reid (of ‘Hindu Rao’ fame) wrote of him:  ’On all occasions the exertions of this noble officer were indefatigable.  He was always to be found where his presence was most required; and the example he set to officers and men was beyond all praise.’

No. 2 battery was next taken in hand.  This was erected in front of Ludlow Castle, and about 500 yards from the Kashmir gate.  Like No. 1, it was formed in two parts, the right half being intended for seven heavy howitzers and two 18-pounders, and the left for nine 24-pounders, commanded respectively by Majors Kaye and Campbell.  All these guns were intended to breach the Kashmir bastion, where the main assault was to be made.

Up till this time the enemy had imagined that the attack would be delivered from our right, and they were quite taken by surprise when, on the evening of the 8th September, we occupied Ludlow Castle.

Baird-Smith showed his grasp of the situation in attacking from our left, notwithstanding the greater distance of this part of our position from the city wall.  No counter-attack could be made on that flank, and the comparatively open ground between the Kashmir and Mori bastions would assist us in protecting the assaulting columns.