consisted of a heavy line of redans connected by powerful rifle trenches, and were of such extent as to require a garrison of 25,000 men. In the opinion of
General Beauregard, this line was in many places faultily located, and especially vulnerable in the quarter of batteries 5, 6 and 7.
Reckoning his heavy gunners and the local militia,
Beauregard had for the defence of this extended line, on the morning of the 15th, but 2,200 men of all arms, while
Smith confronted him with above 20,000 troops.
At 7.30 P. M. the enemy, warned by their heavy losses of the morning against assaulting in column in face of artillery served with such rapidity and precision, advanced at a charging pace in line, and after a spirited contest carried with a rush the whole line of redans from 5 to 9 inclusive.
Scarcely had the assault ended, when
Hancock came up with the Second corps, and though the ranking officer, with rare generosity, which recalls the chivalric conduct of
Sir James Outram to
Havelock
[
268]
in front of
Lucknow,
1 at once offered his troops to
Smith, and stood ready to receive the orders of his subordinate.
