mentioned salute was our first, and last one during the campaign, for not a grain of powder could be spared subsequently.
And here I subjoin a short extract from Brigadier Rowcroft’s despatch No. 168, and dated March 6th, 1858 (as published in the Government Gazettes), relating to the service rendered by the Corps in the above briefly described action.
“I saw there was no time to be lost, and that a rapid and decisive blow must be struck,” writes the Brigadier in his official despatch. “I rode on to the cavalry, and ordered it to advance rapidly inclining to the right, and to charge the enemy’s sowars [1] and infantry, hoping it would shake their centre. The result of this movement was soon apparent. I saw the left of the enemy hesitate, and the sowars in rapid retreat. Down came the Yeomanry at a charging pace, well and steadily together, on the moving masses of infantry, cutting down and killing great numbers, over a hundred reported. The whole left of the enemy soon gave way. I galloped up to the Yeomanry cavalry, and thanked them for their good, gallant movement and charge; and ordered them to move towards the left to threaten the enemy's centre. When ordering the Yeomanry to advance, I detached a party of troopers to the rear of the naval guns to cover and protect them; and this party, by their gallant and excellent service, aided in capturing some of the guns.”
This extract speaks for itself, and I need not add a single word of comment.
A remorseless action of some eight hours’ duration, deserves more recognition in descriptive detail, than a brief notice of it in the form of a mere epitome, such as that above recorded. But as I was only a volunteer
- ↑ Cavalry.
