Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/385

Rh bodies, united, should clear the ground to the north of Banáras and to the east of Oudh, and then march on Lakhnao, to co-operate with Sir Colin Campbell in the operations against that city, which we have seen him contemplating, the force above referred to, under Rowcroft, should move from Tirhút along the Gandak towards Gorákhpur, and remain in observation on the frontier. It is necessary first, whilst the others are assembling, to deal with Rowcroft's force.

That force, composed of thirty men of the Royal Marines, 130 of Sotheby's Naval brigade, 350 Nipál troops, fifty of the police battalion, and four twelve-pound howitzers, was, in December, at Mirwá, forty-nine miles from Chaprá. Seven miles distant from him, at Sobanpur, was a force of 1200 regular sipáhís, supported by 4000 armed adventurers. These Rowcroft attacked on the 26th, defeated, followed up to Mijáulí, and drove across the Gandak. Thence, in obedience to orders, Rowcroft marched to Burhat-ghát, on the Gográ, to await there further instructions. On the approach of Jang Bahádur with his army (December 23 to January 5) he was directed to ascend the Gográ, to co-operate with the Nipál leader, who had signalised his advance by defeating the rebels at Gorákhpur. Rowcroft reached Barárí, in close vicinity to Jang Bahádur's camp, on the 19th January, and was joined by a brigade of Nipal troops the day following. The next day, to assure the passage of the river by the main body of the Gurkhás, he drove the rebels from Phulpur. Joined then by the Yeomanry Cavalry, he proceeded to enter upon the second part of his instructions, to keep open the communications whilst Jang Bahádur should march on Lakhnao.

The task was no light one, for the surrounding districts were surging with revolters. Rowcroft and his