Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/350

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
318
The Force enters Oudh.

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