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62
CLYDE AND STRATHNAIRN

guard, and swept the ramparts as far as the Mori Bastion. The second column also made good its hold of the Water Bastion, and proceeded to give a hand to the others; the third column likewise entered the city through the Kashmír Gate. The blowing open of that gate was the most perilous exploit of the day. The explosion party, under Lieutenants Home and Salkeld, R.E., was composed of Sergeant John Smith, Sergeant A. B. Carmichael, and Corporal F. Burgess, all of the Sappers and Miners; Bugler Hawthorne, of the 52nd Foot, and twenty-four Native Sappers and Miners. As the foremost hastily advanced with the powder bags, the rebels partially opened the wicket, and fired at them from under secure shelter. The bags, nevertheless, were attached to the iron spikes with which the gate was studded. Sergeant Carmichael was the first slain, as he laid the train: Lieutenant Salkeld then stepped forward to fire it, but was shot in the arm and leg, and fell into the ditch. As he was falling, he threw the match to Corporal Burgess, who was mortally wounded after he had accomplished the dangerous feat. One of the natives also was killed, and two were wounded. Home then made the bugle sound the advance three times. The column obeyed the call, and, springing forward with a British cheer, rushed through the ruined gateway, over the rebels who had been killed by the explosion. The first spectacle that met their eyes was said to be the dead body of a European chained to a stake, at which he had apparently been