The fact is, too much had been attempted on that eventful morning.

We should have been satisfied with gaining possession of the Kashmir and Water bastions, and getting a lodgment within the city walls.

This was as much as three such weak columns should have tried, or been asked to accomplish.

No one who was present on that occasion, and experienced the difficulty, indeed impossibility, of keeping soldiers in hand while engaged in fighting along narrow streets and tortuous lanes, would ever again attempt what was expected of the assaulting columns.
While engaged in this duty we (Norman, Johnson and I) were attacked by a party of the enemy who had been hiding in considerable numbers in a side-lane watching for a chance.

A fight ensued; we had only a small guard with us, but, fortunately, the firing was heard by the men of a near piquet, some of whom came to our help.