Page:Clyde and Strathnairn.djvu/113

Rh of Government, to punish revolt and restore order in the State of Indore, Sir Hugh Rose, early in January, marched to the relief of Ságar. This duty had been assigned to the Madras Column under Brigadier Whitlock; but the Madras Column was hopelessly in the rear, and could not reach its objective under two months, while on the other hand the situation at Ságar was extremely critical. The garrison of the fort was composed of one weak company of European Artillery and about forty officers of the covenanted and uncovenanted services. To this handful of men was entrusted the protection of a large arsenal and the lives of some 170 European women and children. In the cantonments were 1000 Bengal Sepoys and about 100 irregular cavalry. Though mistrusted by the authorities and not allowed to take up any duties inside the fort, the Sepoys had so far behaved well. But a large body of mutineers were moving towards the cantonment with a view of attacking it, and unless help should arrive quickly a disaster was inevitable. In response, therefore, to the urgent appeals of the civil and military authorities of the district, Sir Hugh Rose moved rapidly forward with a portion of his force and reached Ságar from Indore in 34 days, after taking the Fort of Rathgarh on the way.

The Fort of Rathgarh, 24 miles from Ságar, was garrisoned by Valaitis (Afghán mercenaries) and Patháns, as warlike as they were desperate. It was hardly less formidable than the famed strong-