walls, held by the rebels, called Kissengunge, and to enter the city by
the Lahore gate. In addition to the four storming columns was the reserve,
fifteen hundred strong, under Brigadier Longfield. It consisted of two
hundred and fifty men of the Sixty-first Regiment, three hundred of the
Beloochee battalion, four hundred and fifty of the Fourth Punjab Infantry,
three hundred of the Jhind Auxiliary Force, and two hundred of the
Sixtieth Rifles, who were to cover with their fire the advance of the
storming column, and then to take their places with the reserves. This
body was to await the success of the storming column, and then follow them
into the city, and assist them as required. The cavalry and the rest of
the force were to cover the flank and defend the Ridge, should the enemy
attempt a counter attack.

Precisely at four o'clock on the morning of the 14th, the Sixtieth Rifles
dashed forward in skirmishing order toward the walls, and the heads of the
assaulting columns moved out of the batteries, which had until this moment
kept up their fire without intermission.

The Warreners were on duty by the side of General Nicholson; and
accustomed as they were to danger, their hearts beat fast as they awaited
the signal. It was to be a tremendous enterprise--an enterprise absolutely
unrivaled in history--for five thousand men to assault a city garrisoned
by some thirty thousand trained troops, and a fanatical and turbulent
population of five hundred thousand, all, it may be said, fighting with
ropes round their necks.

As the Rifles dashed forward in front, and the head of the column
advanced, a terrific fire of musketry broke out from wall and bastion,
which the British, all necessity for concealment being over, answered with
a tremendous cheer as they swept forward. Arrived at the ditch there was a