eral others, probed our way with our bayonets, when
a tremendous fat zemindar (an officer) roared out most lustily, and
began to show fight. He fired a matchlock at me, which went through the
wing of my coat, but did not touch my person. Before I could retaliate,
my comrades had finished him, and we then commenced at the column; but I
took from the palanquin the gun which had nearly robbed me of life. It
was like the barrel of a gun, about two feet long, with a round handle;
at the handle end was a sharp hatchet; at the other extremity a sharp hook.
This extraordinary instrument I presented to the commander-in-chief; but
he refused the present, saying it was my trophy. His lordship was
afterwards prevailed on to purchase it, at the price of two hundred
rupees. We at this time got information that the five companies which
had deserted from the Honourable Colonel Monson, in his masterly retreat
from Jeypore, were standing, dressed in the full uniform they deserted
in, outside the principal gate of the fort, with their arms ordered,
without apparently making any resistance, and frequently crying out,
"Englishmen, Englishmen, pray do not kill us; for God's sake, do not
kill us." As these supplications proceeded rather from fear than from
penitence for the crime they had been guilty of--that of deserting to an
enemy--these men could expect no mercy. We had positive orders to give
them no quarter, and they were most of them shot.

About three o'clock, when I was completely tired and done up, I took my
station under the gable end of a brick building, and began to examine
the extent of my wounds. The one on the head was a bad one, having
touched the skull; it was about two inches long, and one broad, and I
was a little alarmed for the consequences. The wound which I supposed I
had received in the side, was nothing more than the wind of a
cannon-ball, which it was thought must have passed between my arm and
side. It was quite black, and much swollen, and on its margin there
appeared red streaks, which convinced the doctors that it was caused as
before stated. I felt it for months afterwards. The wound in my head had
been so long exposed to the night air, that, on examination by the
medical gentlemen, it was pronounced to be a dangerous one; but, with an
excellent constitution, and youth on my side, I soon recovered.

The killed found next morning exceeded the number of our storming party.
We had but few killed, but a great numbe