The force under Havelock being so weak in cavalry--for the native
irregulars had been disarmed and dismounted for their bad conduct--there
remained only Warrener's Horse, who were known in the force as the
"volunteers." These covered the baggage, and executed several brilliant
charges on parties of the enemy's cavalry who came too boldly forward; but
the artillery had to be brought from the front, and to open upon the heavy
masses of the enemy's cavalry, before they would fall back. Then the
column pressed forward again, captured Dong, with two guns placed there,
and drove the enemy out in headlong flight.

Then the force moved forward to the capture of the Pandoo bridge. As the
artillery, who were at the head of the column, debouched from a wood into
the straight bit of road leading to the bridge two puffs of smoke burst
from a low ridge ahead, followed by the boom of heavy guns, and the
twenty-four pound shot, splendidly aimed, crashed in among the guns,
bullocks, and men. Again and again the enemy's guns were fired with equal
accuracy. Our light guns were at the distance no match for these twenty-
four pounders, and Captain Maude ordered two guns to advance straight
along the road until within easy practice distance, and two others to go
across the country to the right and left, so as to take the bridge, which
stood at the extremity of a projecting bend of the river, or, as it is
called in military parlance, a salient angle, in flank.

The Madras Fusiliers, in skirmishing line, preceded the guns, and their
Enfield fire, as soon as they were within range, astonished the enemy.
Then the artillery opened with shrapnel, and nearly at the first round
silenced the enemy's guns by killing the majority of the gunners and
smashing the sponging rods. Then the infantry advanced at a charge, and
the enemy, who were massed to defend the bridge, at once lost heart and
fled. They tried to blow up the bridge, but in their haste they blundered