the free navigation of the Ganges. These places secured, he could hear with comparative indifference of the rising of the 5th Irregulars, on the 14th of August, more especially as the men of that regiment failed to induce either of the two native regiments in his division to join them. His position, however, was full of peril, for those regiments were not to be depended upon,[1] and he was exposed to the inroad of mutineers from Chutiá Nágpur on the one side and from Eastern Bengal on the other.
Chutiá Nágpur, a m'ountainous district lying between Southern Bihár, Western Bengal, Orísa, and the Central Provinces, and inhabited by aboriginal tribes, possessed four principal military stations, Hazáríbágh, Ránchí, Chaibásá, and Parúliá. The troops stationed there were a detachment of the 8th N. I. and the local Rámgarh battalion, composed of horse, foot, and artillery. The Commissioner was Captain Dalton, a man of energy and ability.
Regarding this district it is merely necessary to record that its difficulties commenced when the native troops of Dánápur were allowed to rise in revolt. From that time to the very close of the rebellion it remained a festering sore in the heart of the country, the mutineers harassing the neighbouring district, and interrupting communications along the grand trunk road. Major English of the 53d, despatched by Sir Colin Campbell to deal with them, inflicted a great defeat on their main body at Chatrá, on the 2d of October, and thus temporarily relieved the grand trunk road. When English was compelled to march north-westwards, Rattray, with his Sikhs, replaced him, and maintained in the most salient posts a rough kind of order. But the danger was not wholly averted until
- ↑ Two companies of the 32d mutinied a fortnight later, and all but captured Sir Colin Campbell as he was journeying up country.
