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Metcalfe, who has tasted blood and has gone mad, is now residing in the Zinat Mahal’s old quarters, called Rang Mahal.
It seems that he is just killing any able bodied Indian he sees. It is not uncommon to hear that he went on a “shooting spree”!
We have to regroup and take the country back!
This episode during the battle of Hindu Rao’s House is so vivid:
Gurkha battalion was guarding the Hindu Rao’s house and as they approached us, we called out to the them. “We expect the Gurkhas to join us, we won’t fire.”
“Oh yes, we’re coming to join you now.” shouted one of the the Gurkhas. They approached, smiling, to within 20 paces and opened fire, killing 20-30 of the fellow sepoys!
I will never forget that devilish smile.
Here are the Gurkhas posing in front of the Hindu Rao’s house, where we lost 1000 men!
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The centenary of the Battle of Plassey!
Excitement has reached a high pitch because The Maulavis and Pandits have been predicting that the British rule would come to an end exactly a hundred days after the Battle of Plassey which took place on June 23, 1757.
Everyone believes the prediction and preparations for the battle have already been on for quite sometime now. The nationalist forces have been beefed up with the arrival of fresh troops from Jalandhar and Phillaur. The day began early with a furious cannonade being opened on the British position from the city walls by the sepoys. And throughout the day, a heavy enfilading fire was kept up on Hindu Rao’s House which is under the occupation of the Sirmur battalion of Gurkha’s commanded by Major Reid. With his few guns, Maj Reid is finding it difficult to stop the onslaught.
The nationalist forces have succeeded in occupying Kishangunj and Subzi Mandi. Our spies brought us information that the enemy is full of admiration for valiant action of our forces. In fact when at about 12 O’Clock, our forces made a desperate attack on the enemy position, Major Reid was actually heard saying that “No man could have fought better. The mutineers charged the Rifles, the Gurkhas and my own men again and again and at one time I thought I must have lost the day.”
The heat has become terrible and many British soldiers have fallen from the effects of the sun. The battle continued the whole day. The British losses have been heavy. 38 men killed and 118 wounded! We kept up the attack for eleven hours our casualties are mounting. 499 have been killed and 300 wounded. We have no choice now but to retreat within the walls of the city.
Alas! We had started off with so much enthusiasm and fought so valiantly, yet nationalist forces lost! If only we had been better organized and had a strong leader who could inspire us; who know? The outcome might have been very different!