In the confusion that reigned among the troops, some of the officers had lost their way, and there was no one to assume the command or to give orders; and Lieutenant Manser, finding that he was unsupported, and could not with a handful of men attempt to attack either of the bastions, from which a terrible fire was being maintained, made the men sit down and shelter themselves as well as they could, in the debris of the breach; while he himself recrossed the ditch to summon up the support.

In this he failed.

All order was lost, and the men who formed the forlorn hope were at last called back, and the whole force retired, suffering heavily from the terrible fire to which they were exposed.

Eighty-five were killed and three hundred and seventy-one wounded.
A more deplorable and ill-managed assault was never made by British troops.

As Harry had thought possible, Lord Lake had treated the capture of Bhurtpoor as if it had been but a little hill fort.