hábád on the 2d. Neill disbelieved them. Even Havelock doubted. But not many hours elapsed after he set out ere the state of the districts gave to his mind the fullest confirmation of the worst reports.
The force led by Havelock from Allahábád, on the afternoon of the 7th of July, consisted of seventy-six artillerymen, 979 English infantry, taken from the 64th, the 78th, and the 84th Foot, eighteen volunteer cavalry, Englishmen, 150 Sikhs, and thirty irregular cavalry. He was preceded by Renaud's small detachment, already noted, and by Spurgin's 100 men on board the steamer. He left behind him Neill and the remainder of the 1st Madras Fusiliers, with instructions to follow as soon as another column should be organised and he should be able to consign the fort to proper hands.
In the selection of his staff Havelock had been particularly happy. From the 10th Foot he had taken his son, a daring soldier, full of resources, and eager for opportunities, as his Aide-de-Camp. Stuart Beatson, a man instructed, able, and devoted was his assistant Adjutant-General. Fraser Tytler, an excellent cavalry officer, was his assistant Quartermaster-General.
Assured that Kánhpur had fallen, and advised that the station of Fathpur, seventy-one miles from Allahábád and forty-nine from Kánhpur, had fallen into the hands of the rebels, Havelock transmitted orders to Renaud to halt where he was, fourteen miles to the east of Fathpur. Pushing on as rapidly as possible, Havelock reached Khágah, nineteen miles from that place, on the 11th. There he received information from Renaud, then only five miles in advance of him, to the effect that the mutinied regiments of Kánhpur, reinforced by other rebels, were marching on Fathpur, with the apparent intention of holding that place against the advancing
