He was truly 'a tower of strength.' Any feeling of reluctance to serve under a Captain of the Company's army, which had at first been felt by some, had been completely overcome by his wonderful personality.

Each man in the force, from the General in command to the last-joined private soldier, recognized that the man whom the wild people on the frontier had deified--the man of whom a little time before Edwardes had said to Lord Canning, 'You may rely upon this, that if ever there is a desperate deed to be done in India, John Nicholson is the man to do it'-- was one who had proved himself beyond all doubt capable of grappling with the crisis through which we were passing--one to follow to the death.

Faith in the Commander who had claimed and been given the post of honour was unbounded, and every man was prepared 'to do or die' for him.
The sun had risen high in the heavens, when the breaching guns suddenly ceased, and each soldier felt he had but a brief moment in which to brace himself for the coming conflict.

Nicholson gave the signal.

The 60th Rifles with a loud cheer dashed to the front in skirmishing order, while at the same moment the heads of the first and second columns appeared from the Kudsiabagh and moved steadily towards the breaches.
No sooner were the front ranks seen by the rebels than a storm of bullets met them from every side, and officers and men fell thick on the crest of the glacis.