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164 On arriving there the Náná pitched his camp in the centre of the station, hoisted two standards — one to propitiate the Hindus, the other to humour the Muhammadans. He then sent out fifty troopers to kill any Christians who might be found, and directed the looting of the houses of those native gentlemen whom he suspected of being favourable to the English. Within his position he threw up works and mounted heavy guns.

General Wheeler had hoped, when he heard of the march to Kaliánpur, that his difficulties were practically over. But in the return of the sipáhís he recognised the hand of the Maráthá chief. Even if he had had any doubts on the subject, such doubts would have been no longer possible on the 7th. On the morning of that day he received a letter from Náná Sáhib intimating his intention to attack the garrison. It was soon recognised that this was no idle threat, for two guns began at once to play upon the intrenchment. On the 8th three more guns opened fire, and on the 11th the rebels had in position, playing upon the garrison night and day, three mortars, two twenty-four-pounders, three eighteen-pounders, two twelve-pounders, the same number of nine-pounders, and one six-pounder. Their numbers had, meanwhile, considerably increased. From Allahábád, from Oudh, from the districts evil-disposed men had flocked in. Náná Sáhib assumed, during these operations, the position of, and received the honours due to, a sovereign prince. In this capacity he appointed Subahdár Tíká Singh of the 2d Cavalry to be general of that arm, and Subahdár Gangá Dín and Jámadár Dalganjan Singh of the native infantry to be colonels of the infantry brigades.

The garrison which had to sustain the attacks directed by these men was composed of 210 English soldiers, and nearly a hundred officers and civilians. The