Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/220

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192
He finds the Rebels at Aoung.

never be reckoned as complete. Havelock had no cavalry to follow up his victory. Eighteen volunteers — and he could then trust only Englishmen — were all insufficient to pursue thousands.

On the 13th Havelock gave his men a rest. The day following he resumed his advance, and as he marched received abundant ocular demonstrations of the precipitancy of the rebels' flight. The road was strewed with properties hurriedly cast away. The only event of importance which marked the day was the disarming of the native irregular cavalry. To mark his sense of the behaviour of these men in the Fathpur fight, Havelock had placed them on duty as baggage guards. It happened that as the force was marching, on the 14th, a report was made that the enemy were occupying a village in front. The guns were therefore brought up, and opened fire. The report turned out to be unfounded, but the native troopers took advantage of the firing of the guns to plunder the baggage. They were caught in the act, and promptly disarmed and dismounted. Havelock utilised their horses for the public service.

As the force was encamping that evening, information was brought to its leader that the rebels were in force at Aoung, a village some six miles distant. He marched, then, early the following morning, confident that he would have to fight them. The volunteers commanded by Captain Barrow, who formed the advance, descried them about daybreak, their position covered by an intrenchment thrown up across the road, and ready for the contest. Barrow galloped back with the information, followed by round-shot and by a body of 700 sipáhís, who promptly took possession of a hamlet, several hundred yards in front of their position, and opened from it a smart musketry fire. Havelock at once made his dispositions. Remaining with the rear-