Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/430

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394
Napier's Victory at Jaurá-Alípur.

Brockman of the 86th again greatly distinguished himself. One consequence of it was the capture of the city of Gwáliár the same evening. The fort still defied the victors; but by an extraordinary act of daring on the part of two British officers, Rose and Waller, with a small following, this apparently impregnable place fell into their hands in the grey dawn of the 20th.

When, on the 19th, Sir Hugh had recognised that his attack on the rebels was succeeding, he had sent a despatch to Napier to pursue and follow them up as far and as closely as was possible. Napier set out at nine o'clock on the morning of the 20th, and the following morning came up with the enemy, about 12,000 strong, posted at the village of Jaurá-Alípur. He at once attacked and defeated them, taking from them twenty-five guns and all their ammunition, tents, carts, and baggage. This victory was, for the time, their death-blow. Apparently it finished the campaign.

His work accomplished by the restoration ol Sindhiá, Sir Hugh Rose resigned his command, and proceeded, covered with laurels, to Bombay, to assume there the office of Commander-in-Chief of that Presidency. He was replaced in command of the Central India force by Robert Napier. This officer was soon to find that the security which had seemingly followed the victory of Jaurá-Alípur was but temporary.

Tántiá Topí, escaping from that field, had fled in a north-westerly direction. Finding, however, that his escape would be difficult, he had turned and made for Jaipur. There were ranged round the area in which he would be likely to move Napier's force at, and in the vicinity of, Gwaliar itself, a smaller force at Jhánsí, another at Síprí, a fourth at Gunah, a fifth at Nasirábád, and a sixth at Bhartpur, There were other forces round the outer ring