Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/386

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Lord Canning at Allahábád.

comrades, however, displayed a skill and energy not to be surpassed in the carrying out of their duties. Captain Sotheby, on the 18th February, captured the strong fort of Chándípur. On the 28th Rowcroft defeated the rebels at Gorákhpur. The force then crossed the Oudh frontier and occupied Amorhá. There it repulsed with great loss an attack made upon it by a greatly superior body of rebels. In this battle the Yeomanry Cavalry greatly distinguished themselves. There I must leave Rowcroft, waiting for reinforcements which had been promised, whilst I record the movements of the Governor-General, and the final clearing of the districts round Allahábád, Fathpur, and Kánhpur, which preceded the advance of Sir Colin Campbell into Oudh.

In the third week of January 1858 Lord Canning quitted Calcutta for Allahábád, to assume there the administration of the Central Provinces. Freed from the pernicious influence of his Calcutta councillors, Lord Canning displayed at Allahábád a vigour, a wisdom, and an energy in marked contrast to the narrow policy which had characterised his action when he had deferred to advice thrust upon him by the councillors he had inherited from his predecessor. He reached Allahábád the 9th of February, and at once made his presence felt. The districts to the west and south of that place and Kánhpur had been to a great extent cleared of the rebel bands which had infested them by the united efforts of Carthew, of Barker, and of Campbell. Early in March moveable patrols were appointed, under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Christie, still more completely to clear the district. By degrees the country to the west and north-west of Allahábád was quieted. But the districts to the east of it, the turbulent districts of Ázamgarh and Juánpur, remained a danger to Lord Canning for some time after he