Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/217

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The Rising at Fathpur.
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British. Havelock then broke up his camp at midnight, joined Renaud an hour and a half later, and pushed on to Balindah, four miles to the east of Fathpur.

The story of the mutiny at Fathpur may be told in a few words. The native troops stationed there, consisting of fifty men of the 6th N. I., had, after a show of loyalty, joined other rebels and mutineers in a general outbreak on the 9th of June. The Europeans, who for more than a fortnight had been daily expecting a rising, escaped, with one exception, to Bandah. That exception was Mr Robert Tucker, the Judge. He, after defending himself with great gallantry, and, if the testimony of a native Christian is to be believed, slaying sixteen men with his own hand, was captured, subjected to the forms of trial, and executed on the spot. The natives of Fathpur and of the districts around it, under the guidance of one Hikmat-ullah, a Deputy Magistrate under British rule, rose in revolt, and declared their readiness to submit to the authority then paramount at Kánhpur. It was to secure this place that Náná Sáhib now despatched a force composed of 1400 trained sipáhís, 1500 local levies, 500 trained cavalry, and 100 artillerymen, with twelve guns, to bar the road to the English. It was commanded by Tíká Singh, a Subáhdár of the 2d L. C, who had taken a prominent part in the leaguer of Kánhpur.

On reaching Balindah Havelock sent Tytler to the front to reconnoitre. Tytler came upon the rebels as they were marching, having passed through Fathpur, towards the British position. Their infantry, in column of route, held the high road, with three guns in front of the column, the remainder in the rear, and the cavalry on both flanks. These latter, noticing Tytler almost as soon as he saw them, dashed at him. Tytler had to ride hard to give timely information to Havelock. The latter, who