The Sabre's Edge by Allan Mallinson

lost his footing as he made for a down-ladder.
    Wainwright was first to the ground, sabre up challenging any who would contest his entry. But there were none that would. Those who could get away from the parapet were making for the back of the stockade, some of them crawling with fearful wounds and a trail of blood. The grenadiers pouring over the wall were looking for retribution, and these men now obliged them. With each point driven into Burman flesh they avenged their comrades - a very personal slaughter, this. Hervey was only glad of the anger that could whip men up to escalade high walls with no other wherewithal than the determination to do so. Ferocious, savage; not a pretty sight, but the proper way, no question. And then get the men back in hand so that blind rage did not lead them to their own destruction. Where was Captain Birch?
    Hervey soon learned. The serjeant-major was a colossus even among the giants of the grenadier company, and Captain Birch lay across his shoulder like a rag doll. 'Have you seen Mr Napier, sir?' he asked, coolly, seeing the fight was all but over.
    'No, Sar'nt-major, I haven't,' replied Hervey, dismayed at the lifeless form of the company commander. 'Is the captain dead?'
    'Sir. He took a ball in the throat just as he was broaching the wall.'
    'Very well, Sar'nt-major. Will you have his orderly attend him, and come with me if you please. We must put the stockade in a state of defence at once.' Hervey did not imagine a counter-attack was likely, but that did not remove his obligation to take measures to repel one.
    'Ay, sir. But let me just lay the captain aside decently first.'
    Hervey hurried to the back of the stockade. 'Close the gates!' he shouted to two grenadiers.
    They seemed uncomprehending.
    He cursed, saw a corporal, gave him the same instruction, and at once the gates were pushed shut.
    Up came the serjeant-major again. 'Set them shakos straight!' he bellowed at two men on the parapet.
    Hervey could hear Armstrong in that command. It was remarkable how quickly a wound began healing in a regiment: that need to carry on, the notion of next-for-duty, and all. Where was the lieutenant?
    Lieutenant Napier had given chase. He now returned with a look of thunder. He saw Hervey and shook his head. 'They've bolted, damn them. They beat us to the jungle by a minute, no more, but it's so thick—'
    'I'm afraid Captain Birch is killed,' said Hervey.
    Napier's thunder was stilled. He had already seen the ensign's death with his own eyes. He looked about the stockade and saw redcoats lying wounded; he knew there were more outside. 'How many, Sar'nt-major?'
    'We can muster fifty sir, thereabout.'
    That was a lot for the surgeon, or for the chaplain to say words over; a heavy butcher's bill indeed. The lieutenant set his teeth. 'See if we can torch this place, Sar'nt-major. Then we get our wounded back to the boats, and the dead too, and then press on for Kemmendine.' He checked himself, turning to Hervey. 'If you approve, sir.'
    'Carry on, Mr Napier,' said Hervey grimly. The lieutenant nodded.
    The serjeant-major saluted. 'Serjeant Craggs, bearers! Serjeant Walker, find everything you can that will light - Burmans included!'
    Hervey took the lieutenant to one side. 'Do you judge that you will be in a position to take Kemmendine?' he asked, the doubt more than apparent in his voice.
    The lieutenant looked as if the question had never crossed his mind. 'Those are our orders, sir.'
    'But I asked you if you considered that you had the strength to execute them.'
    Still the lieutenant was incomprehending. 'The Thirty-eighth do not balk at trials, sir, however great.'
    Hervey was becoming irritated. 'I do not doubt it. But to expend more life in a hopeless venture is base. More than that, however, it would be hazardous for the expedition as a whole. If you fail to take Kemmendine then the enemy will be emboldened. The essential thing while we stand on the defensive at Rangoon is not to have a setback