BOOK VIII.

of June.

CHAPTER V.

A gra in the THE events recorded in the three preceding last fortnight chapters affected, more or less intensely, the situation at A'gra. That situation was becoming, towards the latter end of June, difficult to maintain. During that month the entire country on the right bank of the Jamná, on which the city stood, had pronounced against the British.

Its gradual isolation.

Reception of the fugitives

Nor were any reassuring signs visible on the left bank. There, where the light of day was not entirely shut out, the lurid flame of insurrection alone was visible. In a word, towards the fourth week of June, the capital of the NorthWest Provinces had become entirely isolated. But her worst days had not even then dawned upon her.

The mutiny at Gwáliár had occurred on the from Gwáliár. 14th of June. During the following days the fugitives had been gradually arriving at A'gra. They were received there with all the kindness and consideration due to suffering humanity, their

CONFIDENCE IN THE NATIVE POLICE. 263

Chapter V.

1857.

June.

wants were supplied, and their comforts were at- BOOK VIII. tended to. Up to this time the idea of retiring within the Fort had not again been mooted. The defence of the station had been entrusted Disposable to the volunteer levies, and these had latterly Agra. troops at been placed under the command of an officer in active service, Major Prendergast. Besides these were the regular European troops before alluded to, numbering altogether about six hundred and fifty fighting men.

and Mr.

dence in the

In addition to these defenders was another Mr. Colvin body in whom the Lieutenant-Governor, Mr. Drummond Colvin, and the magistrate, Mr. Drummond, were place confi. unhappily disposed to place confidence. These native police, were the native police, the leading spirits of whom were, to a man, Mahomedans.* If the evidence of those who were at A'gra, and who enjoyed opportunities of noting the conduct of these men, is to be trusted, the confidence reposed in them was entirely misplaced. They were in communication with the several bodies of mutinous men on the right bank of the Jamná. It was in response to their entreaties that these latter turned their steps towards A'gra. They harassed and opposed the officers who were engaged in victualling the fort; they intercepted communication who are unwith the world outside A'gra; and they showed in various ways, unmistakeably to all except to Mr. Drummond and the Lieutenant-Governor, that they too were waiting their opportunity.† Meanwhile, towards the end of the third week from outside.

trustworthy.

Rumours

1857. June.

264

RETIREMENT WITHIN THE FORT.

BOOK VIII. of June, the rumour gradually filled the air that
Chapter V.
the regular troops who had revolted at Nímach
and at Nasírábád, recruiting their strength by
taking up stray revolted bodies in their course,
were marching direct upon A'gra. Every item of
ascertained information pointed to the conclusion
that the rumour was true. The strength of the
force was then estimated to be about two thou-
sand six hundred men with twelve guns.

Mr. Colvin authorises retirement within the fort,

but limits

the amount of property to be stored there.

The rebels reach Fath. púr-Sikrí.

The confirmation of this rumour decided Mr. Colvin. Certain now that the rebels were approaching A'gra, with the intention of attacking it, the Lieutenant Governor felt how his position would be hampered by the necessity of defending the non-combatant population of a large and straggling station. At the end of June, therefore, he authorised the retirement within the fort of the helpless members of the Christian population. But, whilst he did this, he, with a fatuity which is inexplicable, forbade the transfer to the place of refuge of "any property beyond the sort of allowance which a French Customs' House officer at Calais or Marseilles passes under the term of a sac de nuit." This extraordinary prohibition entailed subsequently "the loss and destruction of books, furniture, archives, records, public and private, and the ruin of hundreds of families."+ The victualling of the fort was, however, pushed on from this time with greater earnestness than before.

It was but time that measures of precaution

DISPOSITION OF THE TROOPS AT A'GRA. 265

should be taken. On the 2nd of July the rebel army had reached Fathpúr-Sikrí, only twentythree miles from A'gra. Further measures now became necessary. I shall endeavour to describe, as clearly and succinctly as I can, those which were adopted.

BOOK VIII.
Chapter V.

1857.

July 2.

of the native

levies at and near A'gra.

I have already stated that native troops from Disposition Gwáliár had been despatched to A'gra by Mahá- troops and rájá Sindia, on the requisition of Mr. Colvin, as soon as the intelligence of the Mírath outbreak had been received. These troops had been sent out to endeavour to restore order in the A'gra and Aligarh districts and were no longer at A'gra. Subsequently a detachment of the Kótá contingent had arrived and had been retained at the capital. Besides these there was at the same place, under the command of Saifúlla Khán, a native civil officer of high character, a body of about six hundred Kiráolí matchlockmen and three hundred Bharatpúr horse, with two ninepounder guns. Lieutenant Henderson of the 10th Foot acted as the agent of the LieutenantGovernor with this force.

approach of

As soon as it was known that the rebel army Changes was at Fathpur-Sikrí a disposition was made of made on the these two bodies of men by which they should the rebels. command the flanks of a force marching on A'gra from the west. The detachment of the Kótá contingent was brought into the cantonment, whilst Saifúlla Khán's levies were ordered to the neighbourhood of Shahganj, four miles on the * Page 154.

†Their operations will be detailed in the next chapter.

BOOK VIII.
Chapter V.

1857. July 3.

forced by sickness to resign temporarily his office.

road to Fathpúr-Sikrí. This disposition took effect on the 2nd of July.

On the following morning there happened an Mr. Colvin is event which took the supreme power out of the hands of the statesman who had up to that time directed it. Mr. Colvin was threatened with an apoplectic attack. If his measures had not been successful, his task, it must be admitted, had been most difficult. He had at least maintained his post at the helm and had done his best. Throughout a most trying period he had displayed great personal courage, an unselfishness not to be surpassed, whilst his kindness of heart and sympathy with suffering had endeared him to all with whom he had come in contact. Feeling himself, for the time, incapable of the direction of affairs Mr. Colvin made over charge of the Government, by warrant, the same day, to three officers-Mr. E. A. Reade, Brigadier Polwhele, and Major Macleod.

Mr. E. A.
Reade.

Major
Macleod.

Brigadier
Polwhele.

Mr. Reade was the senior member of the Board of Revenue. He was a man of considerable capacity, and possessed judgment and energy. Major Macleod of the Engineers, Mr. Colvin's Military Secretary, had served with credit in the first Afghánistán campaign, and had a high character in the army. Brigadier Polwhele was the officer commanding the station. As it is action which is the truest test of the stuff which is in a man, and as the action of Brigadier Polwhele against the mutineers is now about to be recorded, I prefer that the reader should draw his own conclusions regarding his character from that action.