Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/302

272 the enlistment of old Sikhs as gunners, and by the timely securing of important places, Sir John made the province, which was to be the base of his operations, as secure as, under the circumstances, it could be made.

That some outbreaks should take place was, in the excited state of the minds of the sipáhís, but natural. These will be related in their proper place.

The first indication of actual outbreak on the part of the sipáhís occurred at Mardán, when the 55th N. I., who had replaced the Guide corps at that station, rose in rebellion rather than surrender their arms, and rushed off towards the hills of Swát. Nicholson pursued them with a few trusty horsemen, caught them on their way, killed 120 of them in fair fight, made 150 prisoners, and forced. the remainder to take refuge in the Lund-khur hills. On the 7th of June the native regiments stationed at Jálandhar rose in revolt, and swept on to Lodiáná, on their way to Dehlí. An energetic member of the Civil Service, George Ricketts, in concert with Lieutenant Williams of the Indian army, made a most determined and gallant effort to prevent the passage by them of the Satlaj. But the levies at their disposal were few, and some of these crumbled in their hands. After a fight of two hours' duration the rebels had their way. Williams was shot through the lungs. The rebels, on reaching Lodiáná, roused the population to revolt, released the prisoners, and pushed on to Dehlí. The British troops at Jálandhar pursued them, but with so little energy that, alike at the passage of the Satlaj and at Lodiáná, they were always too late.

Meanwhile, Sir John Lawrence had gradually realised that, in predicting the immediate fall of Dehlí on the appearance before it of the British troops, he had been over-sanguine. As day succeeded day, and the force of the rebels was augmented by the arrival of the mutinied