Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/429

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Sir Hugh marches to Gwáliár.
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troops, and had fled, without drawing rein, to Agra. Sir Hugh had previously despatched a party, under Colonel Robertson, on the track of the rebels he had defeated at Kalpí.[1] On the 1st that officer had notified to him that Tántiá and his followers had taken the road to Gwáliár. Sir Hugh had at once sent forward the remainder of Brigadier Stuart's brigade. On the 5th he started himself, with a small force, to overtake Stuart.

Sir Hugh overtook Stuart at Indúrkí on the 12th, and, pushing on, reached Bahádurpur, five miles to the east of Morár, on the 16th. There he was joined by General Robert Napier and by a portion of the Haidarábád contingent. The following morning he attacked and completely defeated the rebels posted at Morár. General Smith's brigade of the Rájpútáná field force, which had been ordered to proceed to Gwáliár, attacked them the following morning on the hilly ground between Kotah-kí-sarai and Gwáliár, and after a severe contest forced them to retreat. In this action the famous Rání of Jhánsí was killed, fighting boldly to the last. The rebels, however, though beaten, were still numerous, and the position taken up by Smith for the night left him exposed to the attack of their united force. Sir Hugh then resolved to finish with them. Accordingly, leaving Napier, with one column, at Morár, Sir Hugh, on the 18th, opened communications with Smith, and cutting off the rebels from Gwáliár, sent, on the 19th, Stuart to attack their left, whilst Raines should amuse them on the right. The action which followed was completely successful. In it

  1. During this expedition Major Gall, of the 14th Light Dragoons, an officer whose leading had been conspicuous throughout the campaign, was despatched with Brockman and two companies of the 86th to seize the guns in the palace and fort of Jalaun. This service Major Gall performed with his usual skill and daring.