Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/396

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Outram's Turning Movement.

of Bibiápur, then, intersecting the Dilkushá, stopped at a point nearly two miles from Jalálábád. The interval was occupied by Hodson's Horse, 1600 strong. Outram still continued to occupy his former position. On the 5th Franks and the Nipálese arrived.

During the night of the 4th Sir Colin had directed the throwing of two bridges over the Gúmtí near Bibiápur. One of these was completed by the morning of the 5th, and across it a picket had been sent to cover the completion of the remaining works. These were finished by midnight on the 5th. Sir Colin then sent Outram and his division across the river. He was very anxious for the success of the movement he had consigned to that officer, for he had resolved not to stir a step until Outram, charged to turn the rebels' position and to take them in reverse, should have marched beyond, and thus have turned the first line of defence.

Outram crossed and marched up the Gúmtí for about a mile. The river makes a sharp bend at that point; so Outram left the sinuosities of the river, and marched straight on in the direction of the city. He encamped that evening about four miles from it, facing it, his left resting on the Faizábád road, about half a mile in advance of the village of Chinhat.

The following day and the 8th were spent in skirmishing, but on the 9th Outram. made his spring. Preluding it with a heavy fire from the batteries he had constructed, he sent Walpole to attack the rebels' left, whilst he led his own left column across the Kokrail stream. Waiting there till Walpole had completed the task allotted to him, he then stormed the Chakar Kóthí, the key of the rebels' position, and thus turned and rendered useless to them the strong line of intrenchments they had thrown up on the right bank of the Gúmtí. In the attack on the