This they did with great steadiness; and he was able to rally them, without difficulty, at a small hamlet, where he found Mr.Robertson encouraging the men he had brought out.

A message was sent to the fort for reinforcements, and Lieutenant Harley led out fifty of the Sikhs, and covered the retreat to the fort.
In the meantime Gurdon, with his detachment and Captain Baird, were still far away on the steep side of the ravine.

Dr.Whitchurch, who had dressed Baird's wound, was sent to take him to the rear; and it was then that Townshend's party began to retreat and, after fierce fighting, arrived at the fort, where they found that Whitchurch had not arrived.
The doctor had with him a handful of sepoys and Kashmir Rifles, and some stretcher bearers, under the command of a native officer.
Matters had developed so rapidly that, in a very short time, they were behind Townshend's retreating parties, round which the enemy were swarming; and when the retirement became a rapid retreat, they dropped farther behind.

Small detached parties soon became aware of their position, and attacked them.

Three men, who were carrying the stretcher, were killed by successive shots and, when the fourth was hit, the stretcher could be no longer carried; so Captain Baird was partly carried, and partly dragged along the ground.
The enemy's fire became so hot that the party were compelled to make for the river bank.