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66 Gwalior State Contingent, which from that date played so prominent a part at Cawnpur and in Central India. There were now about 14,000 troops in Bengal, the North-West Provinces and Oudh at Sir Colin Campbell's disposal, while the bulk of the reinforcements from England were still pouring in. General Outram reached Cawnpur on the 16th of September, 1857, with sufficient reinforcements to raise the force available for the relief of Lucknow to about 3179 men. By virtue of his rank and appointment, Outram unwillingly superseded Brigadier Havelock. 'But to you,' he wrote to that distinguished officer, 'shall be left the glory of relieving Lucknow, for which you have already struggled so much. I shall accompany you only in my civil capacity as Commissioner, placing my military service at your disposal should you please, and serving under you as a volunteer.' And here we find the key to the whole career of the 'Bayard of India.' 'Outram,' said the Commander-in-Chief, 'has behaved very handsomely.' He was indeed one of India's most famous political soldiers. Calm in action, chivalrous in conduct, simple in character, he had passed successfully through the ordeal of a long and varied career, and now ended that career, so far as active duty in the field was concerned, by a noble act of self-abnegation, followed by service as arduous as ever fell to the lot of a military officer.

On the 19th and 20th of September, 1857, Havelock's little army of 3000 men again crossed the