Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/428

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392
Whitlock and Kírwí.

than Sir Hugh Rose did it. As a campaign his was faultless.

Meanwhile, the column under Whitlock had moved, on the 17th of February, from Jabalpur towards Bundelkhand. The movements of this officer were as slow as those of Sir Hugh had been rapid. On the 19th of April, however, he appeared before Bandah, and defeated the troops which the Nuwáb of that place had collected. From Bandah he intended to march to Kalpí, every step in the road having been cleared for him by Sir Hugh. But on his way thither he received instructions to turn from his course and march against Kírwí, the Ráo of which, an irresponsible minor, a ward of the British, was charged with having rebelled. The little Ráo, who had no idea of rebellion, displayed his confidence in his overlord by riding out to Whitlock's camp to welcome him. Whitlock then occupied Kírwí without the semblance of opposition, and declared all the enormous treasures it contained to be spoils of the victors. In this contention he was supported by the Government of India, and the spoil was subsequently divided. But to the ordinary reader the decision will always remain a puzzle.

Sir Hugh Rose, after his five months' campaign, had the right to hope that he might be allowed some rest, and he had applied for leave on medical certificate, accompanying his application with the formal resignation of his command. But, on the 1st of June, there occurred, close to Gwáliár, an event which upset all his calculations. The news of it reached him on the 4th. It was to the effect that Tántiá Topi and the Rání of Jhánsí, re-collecting their scattered followers, had marched on Morár; that Sindhiá, marching to meet him at the head of 6000 infantry, 1500 cavalry, and his own bodyguard, 600 strong, had had the mortification to be deserted by his