they attempted to shew their heads
above the parapet, were obliged to confine themselves to the loop-holes,
the range from which is very uncertain and limited against men moving
about. A high loop-holed wall, although imposing in appearance, is a
profile but ill adapted to resist attacks of this nature.

The enemy were perfectly aware that we were in the gateway, but appeared
to have no idea of the nature of our operations. Had they been so they
might easily have rendered it impossible to place the powder bags, by
throwing over blue lights, of which they had a large quantity in store.
The powder pots and other fire works so much used by the natives of
Hindoostan would certainly have rendered the confined space leading to
the gate much too hot for such an operation; but the ignorance of the
besieged was known and calculated upon, the result shows how justly.

Their attempts at resistance were confined to the fire from the
loopholes and throwing over large pieces of earth, some of which
appeared to be intended to knock off the port fire.

I on this occasion received an excellent lesson on the necessity of not
allowing preconceived opinions to lead to any carelessness, in
accurately ascertaining the result of any operation of this nature. The
gateway appeared, from what I had seen from the hills to the north, to
lead straight into the town, and on running in to examine it after the
explosion I was so much impressed with this idea and so much convinced
of the probability of the gateway having been blocked up during the day,
that I was led to believe that it had actually been done, from seeing,
in front of the gate that had been destroyed, the outline of an arch
filled up with brick masonry. The true entrance turned to the right and
would have been discovered by advancing a few paces, and that in perfect
safety, for the interior was secure from all fire. Lieutenant Durand on
first going up saw from through the chinks of the gate that there was a
light and a guard immediately behind it, and from that circumstance was
convinced that no interior obstacles of importance existed.

My mistake therefore was luckily immediately corrected without any bad
consequence resulting.

A party of sappers with felling axes, and commanded by Lieutenant
Wemyss, and two scaling ladders in charge of Lieutenant Pigan,
accompanied the assaulting column.

Of ten Engineer Officers engaged in this attack, only one, Lieutenant
Marriot, was sligh