needed rest and food. The sun had come out, and was blazing fiercely; and
it was of great importance that the troops should eat before undertaking
what could not but be a heavy morning's work; but the enemy, who believed
that they had only Major Renaud's weak force before them, pressed forward
so boldly that there was no refusing the challenge so offered. The order
was given to advance, and the men, with a hearty cheer, moved forward
against the enemy, whose force consisted of fifteen hundred Sepoys,
fifteen hundred Oude tribesmen, and five hundred rebel cavalry, with
twelve guns. Their position was a strong one, for on each side of the road
the plain was a swamp, and in many places was two and even more feet under
water. In front, on a rising ground, were some villages with gardens and
mango-groves, and behind this Futtehpore itself, with gardens with high
walls, and many houses of solid masonry.

It may, however, be said that the fight was decided as soon as begun. The
British artillery silenced that of the enemy; the British rifles drove
their infantry before them. Warrener's Horse and the irregular cavalry
moved on the flank, the infantry marched straight the swamps, and while
some of the guns kept on the solid road, others had to be dragged and
pushed with immense labor through the morass. As the British advanced the
enemy fell back, abandoning gun after gun. The general of the Sepoy force
was on an elephant, on rising ground in the rear of his troops, and
Captain Maude, who commanded the artillery, by a well-aimed shot knocked
the elephant over, to the great delight of the gunners. After that the
rebels attempted no further resistance, and fled to Futtehpore. There they
prepared to make a stand in the houses and gardens; but our men, whose
blood was now thoroughly up, and who were disgusted at their failure to
get at their foe, went forward with a rush, and the enemy fled without
hesitation.