# The Indian Mutiny of 1857/Chapter 20

CHAPTER XX.
FROM DEHLÍ TO AGRA AND KÁNHPUR — SIR COLIN CAMPBELL AT KÁNHPUR.
No sooner had the capture of Dehlí been thoroughly assured than Wilson despatched a corps of 2790 men, under the command of Colonel Edward Greathed of the 8th Foot, to open the country between Dehlí and Agra, and to join Sir Colin Campbell at Kánhpur or its vicinity.
Greathed set out on the morning of the 24th of September, crossed the Hindan, and marched, by way of Dadri and Sikandarábád, on Bulandshahr, punishing on his way the inhabitants proved to have committed atrocities, reassuring those who had remained loyal. He arrived before Bulandshahr on the 28th, attacked and completely defeated a rebel force which attempted to cover that town, then pushing on, occupied it and Málagarh. In destroying the fortifications of the latter he had the misfortune to lose, by an accident, Lieutenant Home of the Engineers, one of the survivors of the gallant men who had blown up the Kashmír gate on the 14th. Thence, still pushing on, Greathed reached Khúrjá, a considerable town. Here the passions of the troops were roused to extreme fury by the sight of the skeleton, pronounced by the medical officers to be the skeleton of a European female, stuck up on the roadside exposed to public gaze, the head severed from the body. They were for taking instant vengeance ​on the inhabitants. But, in deference to the remonstrances of the civil officer accompanying the force, who represented the impolicy of destroying a place of considerable importance, and which paid a large revenue to the State, Greathed spared Khúrjá.
From Khúrjá Greathed marched on Álígarh, defeated there a body of the rebels who had so long dominated the district, and marching in the direction of Agra, reached Bijaigarh on the 9th of October. There he received the most pressing solicitations from the authorities at Agra to hasten to their relief. A formidable body of rebels, he was told, was threatening the sandstone fort, 'and his credit would be at stake if Agra were attacked and he so near.' Greathed was but forty-eight miles from Agra. He accordingly despatched that night the cavalry and horse-artillery, with instructions to hurry on by forced marches. Four hours later he followed with the infantry, mounting his men on elephants, carts, and camels to get over the ground the more quickly. Whilst he is thus hurrying on I propose to ask the reader to take a bird's-eye glance at Agra.
Of the condition of Agra after the defeat of Polwhele and the death of Mr Colvin I have written in a previous chapter. Ever since that time, whilst the life within the fort had been dull and monotonous, the country around had been occupied and reoccupied by roving bands of rebels. The mutineers from Máu and other parts of Central India, though detained for a time at Gwáliár, thanks to the loyalty of Máhárájá Sindhiá, had broken loose from his hold early in September, and marched on to Dholpur. Thence they had gradually spread detachments over the districts of Khairágarh, Fathpur-Síkrí, Írádatnagar, and Fathábad. The news of the doubtful ​success, as it seemed, of the British in the storming of Dehlí, on the 14th, had not discouraged them. The success of the British on the following days had even had the effect of releasing from Dehlí a considerable body of men who hoped to renew their tactics elsewhere. A number of these had reached Mathurá, on the 26th, and joined there by a large body of mutinied sipáhís, effected a day or two later a junction with the rebels from Central India. These were the men whose threatening attitude was now causing consternation in Agra, though so indifferently was the Intelligence department managed that no one within the fort knew exactly where they were.
Meanwhile, Greathed, pushing on with speed, crossed the bridge of boats under the walls of the fort at sunrise on the morning of the 10th. Inquiring as to the position of the rebels, he was told by the authorities within the fort that 'the insurgent force from Dholpur was beyond the Kárí Nadí, ten miles from cantonments, across which they would find difficulty in passing.' The same authorities wished Greathed to encamp in a 'series of gardens overgrown by brushwood, where their guns would not have had a range of fifty yards, and where the cavalry could not possibly act.' But Greathed was too good a soldier to accede to such a proposition. He insisted on encamping on the parade ground, a magnificent grassy plain, with not an obstacle within three or four hundred yards of it, and at that distance only some high crops. There the camp was pitched, the horses were picketed, and the men proceeded to divest themselves of their accoutrements, preparatory to taking their well-earned breakfasts. Between the camp ​and the fort a lively communication was opened, and conscious of security, the authorities took few if any precautions regarding the characters they admitted.
But the rebels, instead of being, as the Agra authorities believed, 'beyond the Kárí Nadí, ten miles from cantonments,' were in the cantonment itself, hidden from the sight of the troops by the long crops which bounded the view of Greathed's force. Taking advantage of the security into which the men of that force had been lulled, and of the facilities permitted to strangers of every degree to go in and out of the camp, four of them, dressed as conjurors, came strolling up to the advanced guard of the 9th Lancers. The sergeant in charge of the post ordered them off, whereupon one of them drew his talwár and cut him down, and another who rushed to his rescue. Eventually these four men were despatched by the troopers, but before the occurrence had become known to everyone in the camp round-shot, from the leafy screen in its front, came pouring in. The alarm sounded, but there was scarcely need for it. The soldiers of Dehlí, accustomed to sudden attacks, turned out with all possible speed. But though they used every despatch, before they were ready, the rebel cavalry, springing from no one knew where, appeared as if by magic on the scene. They had charged the still motionless artillery, and had sabred the gunners of one gun, when a squadron of the 9th Lancers, which had formed up very rapidly, dashed on them and drove them back in disorder. The charge cost the squadron dear, for French, who led it, was killed, Jones, his subaltern, was dangerously wounded, and several men were killed or wounded. But it gave the respite that was wanted, and allowed Greathed, who had hurried from the ​fort, to deploy his line and to despatch Watson, with a portion of his cavalry, to turn the left flank of the rebels, whilst he should advance from the centre. He was joined, as he advanced, by a battery of artillery, which Pearson had manned, experimentally, with men of Eurasian extraction, and which on this occasion rendered excellent service. The prompt advance of the force, the celerity with which it had been transformed from a heterogeneous mass of individuals sleeping or lounging into a living machine, upset the calculations of the rebels, and the British cavalry, gallantly led by Ouvry, Probyn, Watson, and the guns, splendidly managed by Bourchier, Turner, and Pearson, completed the confusion which this celerity had produced. They fell back in disorder, pursued in front by the infantry, which had been joined by the 3d Europeans from the fort — under Colonel Cotton, who, by virtue of his seniority to Greathed, took the command — and on the flanks by the cavalry and artillery. The infantry followed them as far as their camp, which was found standing midway between Agra and the Kárí Nadí, and there halted, dead tired; but the pursuit was continued as far as that stream by the two other arms. Only once did the rebels attempt to make a stand, but then a few rounds of grape sent them flying. They were unable to carry a single gun across the stream. For seven miles the road was one continued line of carts, guns, ammunition waggons, camels, and baggage of every description. The whole of this fell into the hands of the victors. Much that was useless they destroyed; but they brought back into camp thirteen pieces of ordnance and vast quantities of ammunition. No victory could have been more rapid or decisive. It was a splendid performance, especially if one takes into consideration the circumstances under which the battle was engaged. Bourchier's ​nine-pounder battery had marched thirty miles without a halt before the action began. From first to last Greathed's cavalry and artillery had marched over sixty-four miles, the infantry fifty-four, in less than thirty-six hours, to be then surprised in camp, to beat off the surprisers, and to follow them up ten miles. It was a great performance — well marched, well fought, and well followed up. The force did not return to its encamping ground till seven o'clock in the evening.
The victory secured the restoration round Agra of law and order. The return of law and order, again, was illustrated by a change in the command, contrived and carried out in a very mysterious manner. Greathed had not given satisfaction either to the Agra authorities or to the representative of a very powerful military clique in his camp. Under their joint influence the Secretary to the Agra Government wrote to Dehlí to request that Hope Grant of the 9th Lancers might be sent down to assume command. Hope Grant was sent, and travelling rapidly, joined the column at Firuzábád, the third march from Agra on the Kánhpur road, and with it reached Kánhpur on the 26th October. At Kánhpur Grant found that Sir Colin Campbell had made arrangements to increase the column to the divisional strength of about 5000 men. On the 30th Hope Grant crossed the Ganges into Oudh, and in consequence of orders received from Sir Colin, encamped his force in a plain beyond the Banní bridge, within a few miles of the Álambágh, to await there further instructions.
Whilst Hope Grant was marching into Oudh, other columns, despatched from Dehlí, were doing excellent work in the districts contiguous to that city. In all of these the authority of the Mughal had been recognised, and sharp actions were requisite to prove to the revolted ​populations that the power of that family had ceased for ever. Whilst Van Cortlandt, an excellent officer, with native levies, cleared the ground to the north-west of the city, Showers, with a mixed column, marched to the west and south-west, forced the chief of Ballabgarh to submit, and took in succession Ríwárí, Jajhar, and Kanáurí. He returned to Dehlí, on the 19th of October, with three rebel chiefs as prisoners, and much booty, specie of the value of £80,000, seventy guns, and a large quantity of ammunition.
Scarcely had Showers returned when the mutinied troops of the Jodhpur legion, fresh from a victory over the soldiers of the loyal Rájá of Jaipur, invaded the territories he had but just overrun, and occupied Ríwárí. Against them Gerrard, an officer of conspicuous merit, was despatched with a strong column. Gerrard, marching from Dehlí, the 10th of November, reoccupied Ríwárí on the 13th, and pushed on to Narnúl, which the rebels had occupied in considerable force. So strong, indeed, was their position there that, had they had the patience to await attack, Gerrard would have found that all his work had been cut out for him. But, either from sheer incapacity or from utter recklessness, no sooner had it been reported to him that the British were in sight than the rebel leader advanced to meet him in the plain. The cavalry fight which followed was most desperately contested; the Guides, led by Kennedy, and the Carabineers by Wardlaw, fighting splendidly against considerable odds. The rebels, too, fought well, but eventually they gave way. On the left the Multání horse, new levies, had at first displayed considerable reluctance to join in the fray. Roused ​at length by the example of their officers, and by the success achieved by the Carabineers and the Guides, they joined in the combat, and took their proper place in the front. Meanwhile, the infantry and the artillery had been following up the advantage gained by the defeat of the rebel horse. The enemy was now in full flight. At this crisis Gerrard, riding in front, conspicuous on his white Arab charger, was mortally wounded by a musket-ball. In the momentary confusion which followed, the rebels, rallying, made a desperate effort to restore the fortunes of the day. In vain, however. The Fusiliers charged and drove them into flight, and completed their expulsion from the fort of Narnúl. Caulfield, who had succeeded to the command, followed up his advantage. He, however, a few days later, was relieved by Seaton, and, under orders from headquarters, that officer led back the force to Dehlí, preparatory to taking part in the measures which Sir Colin Campbell was devising for the recovery of Oudh, Fathgarh, and Rohilkhand.
Sir Colin Campbell had arrived in Calcutta on the 13th of August. Already at that period, although Dehlí had not fallen, the position for an advance from Kánhpur, though far from perfect, had, thanks to the splendid efforts of Neill, Frederick Gubbins, William Taylor, Vincent Eyre, Havelock, and Outram, materially improved. There was, however, still much to be accomplished. The line of 600 miles, the security of which had been prominently put forward by Mr Secretary Beadon in the early days of the Mutiny, was not only insecure, but was being daily broken. The evil had been intensified for a time by the refusal of the Government to disarm the native regiments at Dánápur, and by the consequences of that refusal. Then, too, the division of Chutiá Nagpur, a mountainous territory lying between Southern Bihár, ​Western Bengal, Orísá, and the Central Provinces was surging with revolters, and these were constantly traversing the grand trunk road, impeding communications, and rendering travelling dangerous. However, none of these difficulties daunted Sir Colin. His aim was to despatch troops, and to proceed himself, to Kánhpur, thence to march to relieve Outram and Havelock. Under the pressure of his requisitions the Government organised a bullock-train for the despatch of troops to Allahábád, whilst he sent out strong parties to patrol the road. The opportune arrival of the British troops intended for China, but which the patriotism of Lord Elgin had placed at the disposal of the Government of India, enabled Sir Colin to utilise the means thus prepared for their despatch. Then the Shannon and the Pearl arrived, and Captain William Peel, of glorious memory, proceeded to organise his famous brigade from the crew of the former, whilst Captain Sotheby did the same from the crew of the Pearl. Troops arrived from England in October. On the 27th of that month Sir Colin, having completed all his arrangements for the prompt despatch of regiments as they might arrive, set out for Allahábád. Narrowly escaping capture on his way from a body of rebels who had broken the famous line, he arrived there the evening of the 1st of November.
He found matters in good progress. The Naval brigade had left Allahábád for Kánhpur in two detachments, on the 23d and 28th October. The 53d and drafts for other regiments had accompanied the second detachment, the whole commanded by Colonel Powell of the 53d. Sir Colin, having organised a party, under Longden of the 10th, for the clearing of the Ázamgarh district, set out for Kánhpur on the 2d, and arrived there on the 3d. He found the position there, in a military point of view, dangerous. Oudh was still teeming with rebels, whilst ​to the south-west of him, within a distance of forty-five miles, the trained soldiers of the Gwáliár contingent were threatening his communications. The road which he had but just traversed, between Allahábád and Kánhpur, was liable to invasion from Oudh, and was far from safe. Only two days before he had proceeded along it Powell and Peel had a very sharp encounter with the rebels at Kajwá, twenty-four miles from Fathpur, in which, though it terminated in a victory, Powell had been killed, and ninety-five men killed and wounded. The problem Sir Colin had to consider was whether, with the road communicating with Allahábád liable to invasion, and his left rear seriously threatened, he could venture to engage in an operation which would occupy many days, and the duration of which any untoward accident might prolong. The rebels were well served by spies, and Sir Colin well knew the opportunities which his invasion of Oudh with the bulk of his force would open to men possessing soldierly instincts. In war, however, it is always necessary to risk something. The rescue of the garrison of the Residency seemed to Sir Colin's mind the most pressing necessity. He resolved, then, to attempt it with as little delay as possible.
We have seen how he had ordered Hope Grant, with a portion of the Dehlí force, to await further instructions in the plain beyond the Banní bridge. There he formed the point d'appui of the invading army, upon which all carts and supplies were to concentrate. Thither, too, he had despatched all his available troops. Arranging to leave behind him at Kánhpur about 500 European troops, under Windham of Crimean fame, and some Sikhs, and giving authority to Windham to detain a brigade of Madras sipáhís, under Carthew, expected the next day, Sir Colin and his staff quitted Kánhpur on the 9th, and joined Hope Grant beyond the Banní bridge the same afternoon.
* ↑ Chapter xvii., page 252.
* ↑ Major Norman, who adds: 'This information was given in positive terms.'
* ↑ Bourchier's Eight Months' Campaign, a book which everyone should read.
* ↑ For a lifelike description of this surprise, and the events connected with it, everyone should read Bourchier's Eight Months' Campaign.
* ↑ The 1st Fusiliers, the 7th Panjáb Infantry, Cookworthy's troop of horse-artillery, Gillespie's heavy battery, the Carabineers, the cavalry of the Guides, the Multání horse.