The hill of Sitabaldi, standing close over the Residency, consists of two eminences, joined by a narrow neck of ground, about 300 yards in length, of considerably lesser elevation than either of the two hills. The whole surface is rock, so that it was impossible in a short time to throw up any entrenchment of the two eminences, that to the north is the lesser, but being within musket range of the principal summit, its possession was of vital importance, particularly as on that side the suburbs of the city came close up to its base, and gave cover to the enemy, who throughout the 26th were seen collecting. Three hundred men of the 24the Regiment, under Captain Sadler, were posted on the smaller hill with one gun. The cavalry occupied the enclosures about the Residency just below the lower hill on the west; the remainder of the force, scarcely 800 men, were posted on the large hill. On the evening of the 26th battle began by the Arabs, from the village already mentioned, opening fire on the position. The engagement lasted till about 2 o’clock in the morning, when it slackened somewhat on the side of the Marathas. Several times during the night the Arabs had come on, sword in hand, and tried hard to carry the smaller hill, but were repulsed every time, though at the cost of many lives to the defenders. Time after time as the ranks of the 24th Regiment were thinned, help was sent down from the 20th which was posted on the larger hill. Dawn of the morning on the 27th November saw the English troops holding an isolated position. Eighteen thousand men, of whom nearly one-quarter were Arabs, were drawn u against them, with thirty-six guns, all brought into position during the last night. The total force of the British at the commencement of the action had been 1800. At 5 o’ clock in the morning the few remaining men of the 24th, being utterly exhausted, were withdrawn, their place being taken by the Resident’s escort, with orders to confine their defense to the summit of the smaller hill, which had by this time been somewhat strengthened by a breastwork of bags of grain. Thus they continued to fight till 9 o’clock when the Arabs again charged home. Just as they gained the crest, the accidental explosion of a tumbrel caused some confusion among the defender.