political centre of the rebellion. On our part everything depended on energy and resolution. 'Where have we failed,' wrote John Lawrence to the Commander-in-Chief, 'when we have acted vigorously? Where have we succeeded when guided by timid counsels? Clive with his 1200 men fought at Plassey in opposition to the advice of his leading officers, beat 40,000 men and conquered Bengal. Monson retreated from the Chambal, and before he gained Agra, his army was disorganised and partially annihilated.' A picked force from Meerut and Ambála, acting with vigour and operating from both sides of the Jumna, would in all probability have recovered the possession of the city by a coup de main. But it was not so to be. A few days of inactivity allowed the flame to blaze up beyond possibility of immediate extinction. The unchallenged occupation of the Mughal capital by rebel sepoys and badmashes was followed by risings and massacres in almost every station within range of the example; and from Firozpur, Bareilly, Moradábád, Sháhjahánpur, Cawnpur, and numerous other places came harrowing tales of massacre, suffering, and heroism.
When this terrible news reached army headquarters, it was received with a perhaps natural incredulity. Nevertheless, a force was hastily assembled at Ambála; and with the troops thus mobilised, General Anson, then Commander-in-Chief, made preparations to march against the renowned city of the Mughal. The little force had hardly started, however,
