five o'clock before
Some of the artillery officers despaired of getting their guns through , but when they saw Nicholson 's great form riding steadily on as if nothing was the matter , they took courage , feeling sure that all was right . A short halt was made at the village of Nanghir , and while the troops were resting , two officers rode forward to reconnoitre a nullah that crossed the road about five miles away . They found that a crossing was practicable , and from its bank they descried the enemy 's outposts . It was five o'clock before the column had forded the nullah , under fire of the rebels . Darkness would soon fall , and if the enemy was to be routed no time could be lost . Nicholson himself rode forward to reconnoitre their position . It extended for two miles , from the town of Najafgarh on the left to the bridge over the Najafgarh canal on the right .