EYRE FOLLOWS UP HIS VICTORY. 127 But before setting out on this expedition something yet remained to be done at Arah. The townspeople had unmistakeably sympathised with the revolted sepoys. Not a single voice had warned Captain Dunbar of the ambush into which he was leading his detachment. Some of the more prominent men of the city had even taken an active part against our countrymen. As a preliminary measure, then, Eyre disarmed the population. Men whose active aid on behalf of the rebels was indisputable were brought to trial. Throughout the district order was restored. At the same time Eyre communicated his intentions to the military authorities at Dánápúr, and solicited reinforcements of at least two hundred more European troops and a supply of ammunition. He took advantage, likewise, of the number of volunteers flocking to his camp, to organise a corps of European volunteer cavalry, the command of which he conferred upon Captain Jackson, of the Stud Department. His wounded he sent in to Dánápúr. On the 8th of August Eyre was joined by two hundred men of the 10th Foot and five officers. Three days later a hundred of Rattray's Sikhs joined him. His total augmented force then consisted of three hundred and thirty European Infantry, thirty-six European Cavalry, one hundred and forty Sikhs, forty of whom were the Arah garrison commanded by Mr. Wake, and sixteen Volunteer Cavalry. With this force Eyre. BOOK VII. Chapter III. 1857. August 3-7. Receives re inforcements and sets out. set out on the afternoon of the 11th, in the August 11. direction of Jagdíspúr, the hereditary stronghold of Kúnwar Singh. BOOK VII. Chapter III. 1857. August 11. Kúnwar Singh, His faulty tactics. 128 FAULTY TACTICS OF KU'NWAR SINGH. Meanwhile the troops under the orders of Kúnwar Singh had to a great extent recovered heart. The halt of eight days duration made by Major Eyre at Arah had inspired them with the belief that no further advance was intended by the English, and that they would be left unmolested in their stronghold. Impressed with this idea, Kúnwar Singh detached small parties in the direction of Baksar, to feel their way and to intercept any small bodies of Europeans whom they might meet. In this they were partially successful, and this success would probably have incited their leader to make a little later a movement in force in the same direction. But Kúnwar Singh was well served by the country-people. He was informed, almost as soon as they arrived, of the reinforcements which reached Eyre. He felt certain, then, as to the next move of the British force, and he resolved with the energy which formed so strong a feature of his character to meet it with his remaining available strength. Calling in, then, all his detachments within reach he occupied, in considerable force, the village of Dálaor, about a mile and a half in advance of Jagdíspúr, and covered by a river. This village he caused to be entrenched. It was connected with Jagdíspúr by a very thick jungle, with the intricacies of which, however, his men were well acquainted. Not content with occupying a position presenting difficulties to an assailant, and capable of being in a great measure masked, Kúnwar Singh was so ill-advised as to send a strong body of EYRE CAPTURES HIS STRONGHOLD. 129 cavalry and infantry across the river to occupy a village, Tolá Nárainpúr, on its left bank. It was this cardinal error which made his defeat certain. He had in the field altogether about five thousand two hundred men, of whom twelve hundred were sepoys. BOOK VII. Chapter III. 1857. August 11. Eyre's victory of Jagdíspúr. and capture Eyre had advanced towards Jagdíspúr the afternoon of the 11th. He marched eight miles, passing over en route his late battle-field, and encamped for the night on the banks of the Gaggar rivulet. Resuming his march with the early August 12. dawn he halted at 9 o'clock to refresh his men. At 10 o'clock he again advanced, and in half-anhour detected the presence of the enemy in Tolá Nárainpúr. He at once sent forward his skirmishers, supported by a fire of grape. This fire forced the enemy in and about the village to discover themselves. Eyre then sent at them with the bayonet the detachment of the 10th, eager to avenge their comrades. The main body of the enemy stood their ground with great obstinacy, but were in the end driven across the river. Meanwhile the 5th Fusiliers, assisted by a field howitzer, had held in check the enemy's left, consisting of irregulars, horse and foot. These now simultaneously gave way. The river was crossed by our men, and an impetuous attack the intrenchments of Dálaor placed that village almost immediately in their power. Still there lay a mile and a half of thick jungle to be traversed. Eyre gave the enemy no time to recover themselves; but sending on his infantry in skirmishing order, forced his way through the 130 DRIVES THE REBELS FROM BIHA'R. Chapter III. BOOK VII. thicket, driving the sepoys before him. In their retreat the enemy left behind them two of their August 12. guns. Completely disheartened by the continuous 1857. August 14. Is ordered to advance of our men they scarcely attempted to On the morning of the 14th Eyre detached a The campaign terminated with the victory at Jagdíspúr. Two days after it had been achieved, the Assistant Adjutant-General of the Dánápúr division wrote to inform Eyre that Havelock, then attempting to relieve Lakhnao, had been compelled to fall back; that the cry at Kánhpúr was still for troops; and that he and those under his command were required to join a force then being collected at Alláhábád. Eyre had accomplished his mission. His work was done. The mutineers had been driven from Bihár. He and his gallant comrades were then not at all unwilling to proceed to the part of India for which they had originally been destined, and where they might hope to render fresh services to their country. Eyre, therefore, bade adieu to Arah on the 20th, and on the following day set out for Baksar en route for Alláhábád.* Meanwhile events had been occurring in Calcutta calculated greatly to increase the means at the disposal of the Government for the suppression of the revolt. On the 1st of August, Major-General Sir James Sir James Outram landed in Calcutta. The varied services of this distinguished officer at once marked him out for high command. The name of Outram had for years been a household word in India. A keen and successful sportsman, a quick-witted and energetic political officer, a hater and exposer of corruption, Outram had but recently figured as I may be pardoned for mutinous regiments of Dánáextracting in this place a sum- púr without a hope of relief; mary of this three weeks cam- our river communication bepaign taken from an article on tween Bengal and the Upper Sir Vincent Eyre which ap- Provinces was in danger of peared in the Calcutta Re- being interrupted-a danger view for April, 1867. "On which imperilled the very exAugust 21, the gallant little istence of Havelock's small Arah field force was finally isolated force in the Doáb; dispersed, having terminated and Bengal itself showed sympits brief and adventurous ca- toms of a general rising. What reer in a campaign of three a change had Eyre's little camweeks' duration, fruitful in paign effected! Arah relieved; important consequences to the the Dánápúr mutineers twice Government of British India. defeated and dispersed; KúnWhen this force was first im- war Singh in full flight to the provised by Eyre at Baksar, on north-west; the district of his own responsibility, the en- Shahábád restored to order tire province of Bihar was in and tranquillity; and the route open insurrection, having pro- of the Ganges open for the claimed Kunwar Singh as their safe transit of our steamers Rájá and ruler; the civilians and troops." of Arah were besieged by the Outram. |