Their usefulness was proved that same afternoon, when, in support of the piquets, they engaged the enemy in a hand-to-hand contest, and drove them back to the city.
It was close up to the walls that Quintin Battye, the dashing Commander of the Guides Cavalry, received his mortal wound.

He was the brightest and cheeriest of companions, and although only a subaltern of eight years' service, he was a great loss.

I spent a few hours with him on my way to Delhi, and I remember how his handsome face glowed when he talked of the opportunities for distinguishing themselves in store for the Guides.

Proud of his regiment, and beloved by his men, who, grand fellows themselves, were captivated by his many soldierly qualities, he had every prospect before him of a splendid career, but he was destined to fall in his first fight.

He was curiously fond of quotations, and the last words he uttered were '_Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori_.' While our Infantry and Field Artillery were busily engaged with the enemy, the few heavy guns we had were put in position on the Ridge.
Great things were hoped from them, but it was soon found that they were not powerful enough to silence the enemy's fire, and that our small supply of ammunition was being rapidly expended.[12] The rebels' guns were superior in number and some in calibre to ours, and were well served by the Native Artillerymen whom we had been at such pains to teach.