CHAPTER XXII.
SIR COLIN CAMPBELL RECOVERS THE DUÁB.
As soon as Sir Colin Campbell had mastered the extent of Windham's disaster he recrossed the Ganges to Mangalwár, then pushing forward with his convoy of women and children, well covered by his troops, baffled an attempt of the rebels to destroy the bridge of boats, and re-entered Kánhpur. His convoy he encamped, on November 30, on the further side of the canal, near the mouldering remains and riddled walls of the position Wheeler had held so long, and then turned to look at the position occupied by the rebels.
It was a strong one. Numbering 25,000 men, of whom rather less than one-half were trained sipáhís, they rested their centre on the town, separated from the British force by the Ganges canal, and interspersed with bungalows, high walls, and cover of various kinds. Their right stretched out behind the canal into the plain, and was covered in front by lime-kilns and mounds of brick. Over the canal they had thrown a bridge, but the extreme right flank was uncovered. Their left rested on the Ganges. They were very resolute, and very confident.
Before attacking them Sir Colin spent two days in making preparations for the despatch of his large convoy of women and children, of sick and wounded, to Allahábád. He sent them off on the night of the 3d, then, waiting until they had placed some miles between themselves and
