me much. The general orders of the
day following were highly flattering to us all, placing the blame, if
any, where it ought to be. Our engineer, finding the spot we had
attempted strong and impracticable, changed his position more to the
eastward, where the difficulties were not so formidable. During these
new operations, our breaching-guns, four in number, were sent to the
park to be re-bushed, their bushes having been injured from the constant
firing and heat.

Thus ended our first attempt to take the strong fortress of Bhurtpore by
storm.

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[9] Runjeet Singh, rajah of Bhurtpore, in Rajpootana--not the famous
Sikh adventurer and ruler of the same name--had concluded a treaty with
the British in 1803, and a contingent of his cavalry fought bravely
under Lake, at the battle of Laswarree against the Mahrattas. But, on
the approach of Holkar, Runjeet Singh wanted to evade his engagements
with the British, whereupon Lake attacked and captured Deig and laid
siege to Bhurtpore. The total loss in Lake's army at Bhurtpore is given
by the historian Mill as 388 killed and 1,894 wounded. The causes of
failure were, undoubtedly, those suggested by Shipp, p. 125. When
disputes as to the Bhurtpore succession led the British to attack the
fortress again in 1825, Lord Combermere had 25,000 men, and a strong
battering-train, but had to resort to mining to render the breaches
practicable.--ED.

CHAPTER VIII.

Having abundance of spare time while preparations were making for a
second attack on the fort, Lord Lake determined to disturb Holkar in his
hiding-place; for which purpose a party of infantry was dispatched with
about four six-pounders. We soon came within sight of him, sheltered a
good deal from his view by high trees and jungle. The fort, observing
our manoeuvres, commenced a heavy cannonade. Holkar, alarmed, got on the
move and made towards Futtypore Seccrah, one of his old haunts. Once
from under the walls of the fort, our cavalry soon put his troops to
flight; immense numbers were killed, and elephants, horses, camels,
spears, matchlocks, colours, &c., were brought into camp. Holkar's best
elephant was that day taken, and some little treasure was found on
camels. Notwithstanding this routing, however, they took up their old
ground, and we returned to camp, with some few men killed and wounded.
This skirmish, instead of decreasing their impudence, seemed only to
increase it; for the