Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/402

366 15th to the consolidating of the position he had gained. On the left bank, sensible, too late, of the error he had allowed to be committed by the despatch to Outram of the absurd order on which I have commented, he despatched Hope Grant, with his cavalry, and Campbell, with his infantry brigade and 1500 cavalry, to pursue the rebels on the Sítápur and Sandílá roads respectively. But the rebels had taken neither of these roads; the pursuit, therefore, was fruitless. It was not till the 16th that Sir Colin directed Outram to cross the Gúmtí, near the Sikandarábágh, and to join him, with Douglas's brigade, at the Kaisarbágh, leaving Walpole, with Horsford's brigade, to watch the iron and stone bridges. Outram crossed as directed, was joined by the 20th and Brasyer's Sikhs, and was then ordered by Sir Colin in person to push on through the Residency, take the iron bridge in reverse, and then, advancing a mile further, storm the Machchí Bhawan and the great Imámbárah. Outram carried both places without much opposition; but before he had accomplished his task the rebels, with the design of retreating on Faizábád, had made a strong attack on Walpole's pickets. They had been unable to force these — probably they never seriously intended to do so — but they held them in check whilst the bulk of their comrades made good their retreat on to the Faizábád road. I need not point out how impossible retreat by that road would have been had Sir Colin permitted Outram to cross on the 14th.

The rebels attempted the same day another diversion, by suddenly attacking the Álambágh, but Franklyn, who commanded, Vincent Eyre, with his heavy guns, Robertson, with the military train, and Olpherts completely foiled them.

Whilst the operations I have described had been