BOOK IX. Chapter III. 1857. Sept. 2. Alláhá bád, 520 SENDS EYRE AGAINST THE REBELS. and Kánhpúr divisions-a command including practically the entire country between Calcutta and A'gra. General Outram left Calcutta at once by river steamer, and after a tedious voyage up He arrives at the Ganges, reached Alláhábád on the 2nd of September. He devoted three days to the necessary preparations. These made, he sent off on the morning of the 5th the 5th Fusiliers, some detachments of the 64th and the 1st Madras Fusiliers, and Major Eyre's battery of artillery -the same which, with a detachment of the 5th, had relieved A'rah-following himself the same evening with the 90th Light Infantry. and sets out for Kánhpúr. Learns that the rebels are cut him off. For the first three days the progress of the attempting to troops was uneventful. But on the fourth day, on arriving at the camping-ground of Kalógan, definite information reached Outram that a party of insurgents from Oudh, in number from three to four hundred, with four guns, had crossed the Ganges, near the village of Kúndanpati, on the trunk road between Fathpúr and Alláhábád. The object of this party was evident. It was to sever the communications between Outram and Alláhábád. On Despatches Outram at once sent orders to the advanced Vincent Eyre against them. guard of his force to halt where it was. joining it, he directed Major Eyre to march against the enemy. For this purpose, he placed at that officer's disposal one hundred men of thə 5th Fusiliers, sixty of the 64th, all mounted on elephants, and two guns. Forty men of the 12th Irregulars were directed to join this detachment on its march. EYRE MEETS AND CRUSHES THEM. 521 BOOK IX. Chapter III. 1857. Sept. 10. on the enemy, Eyre set out on the 10th. On reaching, that same evening, the village of Hatgaon he was joined by Captain Johnson and his forty horsemen (the 12th Irregulars). As these men had made a forced Eyre marches march of twenty-four miles to join him Eyre prudently resolved to halt for a few hours. By so doing he would refresh his men, and still be able to reach his destination by daybreak. He set out again at half-past one in the morning and came in sight of Khúndanpati at early dawn. The villagers whom he met reported the rebels to be close at hand, if not actually within the walls of the village, and that their boats were moored about a mile off. Eyre at once ordered his cavalry to gallop at once to the gates of the town,-to guard them should. the rebels still be there-to pursue and hold them in check should they have evacuated it. Meanwhile he pressed on the infantry. them. The prudence of these dispositions was quickly and crushes justified. The rebels, learning almost at the same time of Eyre's approach, had already commenced a hasty retreat towards the river, and were entering their boats when the cavalry came upon them. The latter were just in time to prevent the unmooring of the boats. The infantry and artillery came up very soon after. Eyre at once gave orders to board. The enemy, crowded in their boats, made for some time an obstinate resistance. Seeing then that the day was going against them, they made a desperate attempt to blow up the boats and all therein. In one boat only was the attempt partially successful. Noting their failure, and resolved not to ask for quarter, they threw their BOOK IX. Chapter III. 1857. Sept. 11. Eyre's decisive action defeats the plans of the rebels. Outram arrives at Kánhpúr. guns overboard, and precipitated themselves into the river. Eyre at once drew back his men, and opened upon the enemy a grape and musketry fire the effect of which was decisive. Not a man surrendered-but only three escaped. The effect of this decisive movement completely paralysed the plans of the mutineers. It was felt all over the Doáb. Another, and, it was estimated, a larger party, had landed some four miles higher up with the intention of co-operating with the men against whom Eyre had marched. But so great was the terror caused by his victory that they re-embarked and re-crossed into Oudh before the cavalry could intercept them. The movement, so skilfully planned and so vigorously carried out, had, in fact, relieved Sir James Outram from the danger, no light one, of having his communications cut off during the contemplated operations in Oudh.* Thus secure regarding his communications, Outram continued his march, and reached Kánhpúr on the 16th of September. His very first act was of a nature so noble, so generous, so disinterested, that had it been the solitary glorious act of his glorious life, it would have sufficed to That this was the view secure, which otherwise must taken by the General himself have been entirely cut off is clear from the despatch to during our operations in Oudh. the Commander-in-Chief, A general insurrection, I am dated the 11th of September: assured, would have followed "The importance of this suc- throughout the Doáb had the cess will, I am sure, be appre- enemy not been destroyed, ciated by your Excellency and they being but the advanced the Governor-General. I now guard of more formidable consider my communications invaders." HIS UNPARALLELED SELF-ABNEGATION. 523 BOOK IX. Chapter III. 1857. Sept. 16. He gene surround his name for ever with a halo of veneration and respect-an act so rare, so striking in its self-abnegation, that lesser and ignoble natures, unable to comprehend it, endeavour to seek for it a motive congenial to the temper to Havelock of their own minds,-but yet an act essen- the glory of tially genuine-pertaining to the nature of Lakhnao. consistent with every previous act the man of his life. Sir James Outram had been sent to Kánhpúr to command the force which was to relieve Lakhnao. In accepting that command he superseded the man whose daring efforts with an inferior force to effect that relief had won for him the applause and admiration of his countrymen. To the generous nature of Outram it seemed revolting that he should reap where another had sown; that he should obtain the glory where another had endured the trials and the dangers. He could not do it. He was determined that it should not be done. Availing himself of the circumstance that whilst, in a military point of view, he was commander of the forces about to march into Oudh, he would also enter that country in a civil capacity as its Chief Commissioner, he published, the day of his arrival at Kánhpúr, the following order : "The important duty of relieving the garrison of Lucknow had been first entrusted to BrigadierGeneral Havelock, C.B., and Major-General Outram feels that it is due to that distinguished officer, and to the strenuous and noble exertions which he has already made to effect that object, rously leaves relieving The order issued on the occasion. which he BOOK IX. Chapter III. 1857. Sept. 16. Sir Colin Campbell appreciates Outram's noble selfabnegation. Sir Colin Campbell's order to the army. 524 HIS UNPARALLELED SELF-ABNEGATION. that to him should accrue the honour of the achievement. 66 Major-General Outram is confident that this great end for which Brigadier-General Havelock and his brave troops have so long and gloriously fought, will now, under the blessing of Providence, be accomplished. "The Major-General, therefore, in gratitude for, and admiration of, the brilliant deed of arms achieved by Brigadier-General Havelock, and his gallant troops, will cheerfully waive his rank in favour of that officer on this occasion, and will accompany the force to Lucknow in his civil capacity, as Chief Commissioner of Oudh, tendering his military services to Brigadier-General Havelock as a volunteer. "On the relief of Lucknow, the Major-General will resume his position at the head of the forces." Rare and noble act of generosity! Only a soldier can appreciate the full extent of abnegation of self which it involved. Well might the illustrious warrior who then commanded in chief in India-well might Sir Colin Campbell, when announcing to the army this deed of real glory, write these glowing words: "Seldom, perhaps never, has it occurred to a Commander-in-Chief to publish and confirm such an order as the following one, proceeding from Major-General Sir James Outram, K.C.B. "With such a reputation as Major-General Sir James Outram has won for himself, he can well afford to share glory and honour with others. |