But they reached the Resident with this message, only ten minutes before the Begum's troops were thundering for admittance at the gate.

The Resident gave the chobdar a note for the officer in command of the five companies, supposed to be in advance on their way down from cantonments; but before he could get with this note five hundred yards from the palace, he met the Begum and her disorderly band filling the road and pressing on as fast as they could.

Unable to proceed, he returned to the palace with all haste, and gave the Resident the first notice of their near approach.
Captain Magness had placed two of his six guns at each of the three entrances to the south and west, but was now ordered to collect all, and proceed to the north-western entrance, towards which the Begum was advancing.

Before he could get to that entrance she had passed in, and he returned to the south-western entrance for further orders.
On passing the mausoleum of Asuf-od Dowlah, where the Kotwal or head police officer of the city resided, she summoned him, with all his available police, to attend his sovereign to the throne of his ancestors.

He promised obedience, but, with all his police, stood aloof, thinking that her side might not be the safe one to take in such an emergency.