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Chapter 3 – Sir Hugh Rose and Gwaliar

Movements of Tantia Topi, the Rani of Jhansi and Rao Sahib after the fall of Kalpi

It has already been related that Tantia Topi, after his Defeat at Kunch, had fled to Chirki – about four miles from Jalaur – where his parents resided. He remained there during Sir Hugh Rose’s march to Kalpi, and during the events which led to the capture of that place. Learning that Rao Sahib and the Rani of Jhansi had fled, after their defeat at Galauli, towards fan of Gopalpur, forty-six miles south-west of Gwaliar, Tantia girded up his loins and joined them at that place.

Desperate condition of their affairs

Their affairs seemed desperate. Not only had they lost their hold on central India, on the Sagar and Narbada territories and on Bundelkhand, but their enemies were closing in on every side; Roberts had already detached from Rajputana a brigade under Colonel Smith to co-operate with Sir Hugh Rose; the force under that officer was at Kalpi, about to be distributed in the territories west of the Jamnah; Whitlock had conquered Bandah and plundered Kirwi. On three sides, then, on the south, east, and the west, they Were encompassed by foes. Nor towards the north did the prospect look brighter.

Surrounded by enemies

There lay the capital of Maharajah Sindhia, overlooked by a wall-girt and almost inaccessible rock. Sindhia was not less their enemy than were the British. In the darkest hour of the fortunes of the British, at a time when hostility seemed to promise him empire, Sindhia had remained faithful to his overlord. It was not to be thought of, nor was it thought possible, that in the mid-day of their triumph he would turn against them.

Desperate remedy suggested

The situation then seemed desperate to the rebel chieftains. But desperate situations suggest desperate remedies; and a remedy which, on first inspection, might well seem desperate, did occur to the fertile brain of one

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of the confederates. To which one it is not certainly known. But, judging the leading group of conspirators by their antecedents – Rao Sahib, the Nawab of Bandah, Tantia, Topi, and the Rani of Jhansi – we may at once dismiss the two first from consideration. They possessed neither the character nor the genius to conceive a plan so vast and so daring. Of the two who rem in, we may dismiss Tantia Topi. Not that he was incapable of forming the design, hut – we have his memoirs – and in those he takes to himself no credit for the most successful act with which his career is associated.

probably by the Rani of Jhansi

The fourth conspirator possessed the genius, the daring, the despair necessary for the conception of great deeds. She was urged on by hatred, by desire of vengeance, by a blood-stained conscience, by a determination to strike hard whilst there was yet a chance. She could recognise the possibilities before her, she could hope even that if the first blow were successful the fortunes of the campaign might be changed; she possessed and exercised unbounded influence over one at least. of her companions – the Rao Sahib. The conjecture, then, almost amounts to certainty that the desperate remedy which the confederates decided to execute at Gopalpur was suggested and pressed upon her comrades by the daring Rani of Jhansi.

Her plan

The plan was this. To march on Gwaliar by forced marches, to appeal to the religious and national feeling of Sindhia’s troops, to take possession of his capital, by force if it were necessary, and then from the precipitous rock of the Gwaliar fortress to bid defiance to the British.

The confederates accept it and march on Gwaliar

The scheme was no sooner accepted than acted upon. Emissaries proceeded in advance of the column to tamper with and, if possible, to gain over Sindhia’s troops; the column followed more leisurely, yet with a celerity adapted to the occasion, and reached the Morar cantonment, formerly occupied by the contingent, in close vicinity to Gwaliar, during the night of the 30th of May.

Maharajah Sindhia

Maharajah Sindhia was informed that night of the arrival of his dangerous visitors. Probably no prince had ever been placed in circumstances of stronger temptation than was Jaiaji Rao Sindhia during 1857-58. The descendant by adoption and the representative of the family of the fatuous Madhaji Rao, of the Daolat Rao who had fought for the possession of India with the two Wellesleys; he was still the most

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His great influence

considerable chief of the Maratha race, and his word, if spoken for religion and race, would have found a response all over central and western India.

For four months he had the fate of India in his hands

For four months he had probably the fate of India in his hands. Had he revolted in, June, the siege of Dehli must have been raised, Agra and Lakhnao would have fallen; it is more than probable that the Panjab would have risen. That, under such circumstances, possessing strong military instincts and chafing under a great ambition, Sindhia should have remained loyal, is most weighty testimony to the character of the English overlordship, and to its appreciation by the greater princes of India.

Probable reasons for his loyalty

That Sindhia was greatly influenced in the course he followed by his shrewd minister, Rajah Dinkar Rao, and by the appeals from his the fort of Agra of the able British representative at his court, Major Charters Macpherson, may be admitted. But neither Sindhia nor Dinkar Rao liked the English personally. Both the one and the other would have preferred an independent Gwaliar. But, though they did not like the English personally, they had great respect for the English character. Recollecting the state of north-western and central and western India prior to the rule of Marquess Wellesley, they could feel, under the English overlordship, a sense of security such as their fathers and their fathers’ fathers never possessed. They had, at least, secure possession of their holdings. No one from outside would venture to molest them as their ancestors had been molested. The question, then, would rise – and it was in answering this that the influence of Major Charters Macpherson came most beneficially into play – “Granting that, by joining the mutineers, we could confine the English to Bengal, would Gwaliar gain by their expulsion? It is doubtful: there would be many competitors for supremacy, and – who knows? The King of Dehli might, with the aid of Sipahis, become supreme, or the Sikhs of the Panjab, or Nana Sahib, or perhaps even Holkar. The risk is too great, for, adhering to the English, we shall be safe in the end.”

In some such manner reasoned Sindhia and Dinkar Rao. They argued the question in the light of the interests of Sindhia, and in that light, held ever before them by the steady hand of Charters Macpherson they cast in their lot with the British.

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The same reasons do not affect the bulk of the Maratha people

But not in this manner reasoned many of the great families of Gwaliar, the bulk of the army and of the people. These men could recognise only what was passing before their eyes. Their eyes looked back with longing to the past when the empire was dangling before the Maratha race, and they never attempted even to open the book of the future. They could only see, in 1857, the British power struck down, and an opportunity offering itself to their master such as the great Madhaji would have given half his years to have clutched. They could not understand their Maharajah’s inaction, his attempts to befriend the British in the hour of their adversity.

who in consequence, vent their discontent on Sindhia

They had sympathised with the men of his contingent when they revolted and murdered their officers. The higher and more influential amongst them assailed Sindhia with persuasions and entreaties; and, when they found these fail, they began even to talk of dethroning him and setting up another ruler in his place.

The fall of Dehli, the British successes in Lakhnao and in north-western and central India, had by no means changed these sentiments. The irritation caused by lost opportunities had produced a state of mind eager to grasp at any chance to mend the situation or to be rid of it.

Sindhia hears of Tantia Topi’s arrival at Morar

Such was the state of general feeling in Gwaliar when, on the night of the 30th of May, information was brought to the Maharajah that Tantia Topi, the Rani of Jhansi, and other chieftains, with a force estimated at seven thousand infantry, four thousand cavalry, and twelve guns, had reached Morar. No one know better the general state of feeling about him than the Maharajah.

And resolves to do battle with him

But he never wavered. The conviction of the ultimate triumph of the English was never stronger. Within him than at this apparently inauspicious moment, and, notwithstanding the ill-concealed hostility of many of his adherents, he determined to seize the offered opportunity and do battle with the rebels.

He marches to meet Tantia

Accordingly, at daybreak on the 1st of June, he marched out and took up a position about two miles to the eastward of Morar. He had with him six thousand infantry, abort fifteen hundred cavalry, his own bodyguard six hundred strong, and eight guns. These he ranged in three divisions, his guns in the centre, and waited for the attack. About 7 o’clock ill the morning the rebels

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advanced, covered by mounted skirmishers, with camels carrying guns of small calibre. As they approached, Sindhia’s eight guns opened on them.

Is completely defeated

But the smoke of the discharge had scarcely disappeared when the rebel skirmishers closed to their flanks, and two thousand horsemen, charging at a gallop, carried the guns. Simultaneously with their charge Sindhia’s infantry and cavalry, his bodyguard alone excepted, either joined the rebels or took up a position indicative of their intention not to fight. The rebel cavalry, pushing their advantage, then attacked the bodyguard, with which was Sindhia himself. A portion of the guardsmen defended themselves with great gallantry, and did not cease to fight till many of their number had fallen.

And flees to Agra

But, as it became more and more apparent every moment that it was useless to continue the unequal contest, Sindhia turned and fled, accompanied by a very few of the survivors. He did not draw rein till he reached Agra.

The first part of the Rani’s bold plan had thus succeeded. She and her confederates delayed not a moment to carry it out to its legitimate consequences.

The rebels enter Gwaliar and form a government there

They entered Gwaliar, took possession of the fortress, the treasury, the arsenal and the town, and began at once to form a regular government. Nana Sahib was proclaimed as Peshwa, and Rao Sahib as governor of Gwaliar. Plentiful largesses were distributed to the army, alike to the Gwaliar troops as to those who had come from Kalpi. Rao Govind, one of the Sindhia’s disgraced courtiers, was appointed prime minister.

And prepare to hold the place and the surrounding territories

The royal property was declared confiscated. Four Maratha chiefs, who had been imprisoned by Sindhia for rebellion, were released, clothed with dresses of honour, and sent into the districts to raise troops to oppose the British in any attempts they might make to cross the Chambal. The command of the bulk of the troops, encamped outside the city, was entrusted to the Rani of Jhansi. Those within the town obeyed the orders of Tantia Topi. Letters were at once despatched to the rebel rajahs still in the district, notably to the Rajahs of Banpur and Shahgarh, to join the new government at Gwaliar.

The intelligence of the success of this audacious enterprise reached Kalpi on the 3rd of .June. Before I refer to the action taken by Sir Hugh Rose, it is necessary that I should state

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The story returns to Sir Hugh Rose

the exact positions of the various portions of the force with which he had conquered Kalpi on the 24th of May.

His action After the defeat of the rebels at Kalpi

As soon as, by the occupation of Kalpi on the 24th of May, Sir Hugh Rose had discovered the flight of the rebels, he sent out parties to discover the line they had taken. Information was soon brought to him that, whilst a few had crossed the Jamnah into the Duab, whilst a few more had been checked in attempting the same course by Colonel Riddell100, the main body had bent their steps in almost a south-westerly direction to Gopalpur. To pursue these latter he at once organised a column composed of , the 25th Bombay Native Infantry, the 3rd Bombay light cavalry, and a hundred and fifty cavalry, and despatched it, under the command of Colonel Robertson, on the track of the rebels.

Robertson pushes on in pursuit of the rebels

Robertson set out from Kalpi on the 25th of May, the rain falling heavily. This rain, which continued throughout that day and the day following, much impeded his progress. He pushed on, however, as fast as possible, and, traversing Mahona and Indurki, found that the rebels were but little in advance of him. At Irawan, reached on the 29th, supplies ran short, and, as none were procurable in the district, the column had to wait till they could be sent up from Kalpi. On the 2nd of June Robertson received these and was joined by two squadrons of the 14th Light Dragoons, a wing of the 56th Foot, and four 9-pounders. The following day he reached Moharar, fifty-five miles from Gwaliar. Here he was startled by information of the attack made by the rebels on Gwaliar and of its result.

An express from Robertson, sent from Irawan, and which reached Kalpi on the 1st of June, gave Sir Hugh the first information

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that the rebels had taken the road to Gwaliar.

Sir Hugh learns that the rebels are moving on Gwaliar, and at once dispatches Stuart’s brigade in that direction

Instantly Sir Hugh despatched General Stuart with the remainder of his brigade, consisting of the other wing of the 56th foot, a wing of the 71st Highlanders, four companies of the 25th Bengal Native Infantry, one squadron 14th Light Dragoons, No. 4 Light Field Battery, two 18-pounders, one 8-inch howitzer, and some sappers, to join Robertson and to march on Gwaliar. Stuart reached Atakona on the 3rd – the day on which Robertson had reached Moharar – and there he too received the first information of the startling occurrences at Gwaliar.

No one divined that the daring of the rebels would be successful

The order which had sent Stuart to Gwaliar was dictated by a sound military instinct. But no one, not even Sir Hugh Rose, had imagined the height of daring to which the Rani of Jhansi would carry her audacious plans. The rebels might march on Gwaliar, but no would one believed they would carry it by a coup-de-main. It seemed more likely that they were marching into a trap, to be kept there till Stuart’s force should fall on their rear.

The effect of its success on Sir Hugh Rose

How the “impossible” happened has been told. The information of it reached Sir Hugh on the 4th of June, after he had resigned his command and applied for leave on medical certificate. In a moment he realised the full danger of the situation. Gwaliar had fallen into the hands of the rebels at the time of year most unfavourable for military operations. Another week and the monsoon rains would render the black soil untraversable by guns, and would swell the rivers. Under those circumstances, the transport of siege-guns, in the absence of pontoons, which Sir Hugh did not possess, would be most difficult if not impossible. He realised, moreover, the great danger which would inevitably be caused by delay.

He realises the enormous issues at stake

No one could foresee the extent of evil possible if Gwaliar were not promptly wrested from rebel hands. Grant them delay, and Tantia Topi, with the immense acquisition of political and military strength secured by the possession of Gwaliar, and with all its resources in men, money, and material at his disposal, would. be able to form a new army on the fragments of that beaten at Kalpi, and to provoke a Maratha rising throughout India. It might be possible for him, using the dexterity of which he was a master, to unfurl

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the Peshwa’s banner in the southern Maratha districts. Those districts were denuded of troops, and a striking success in central India would probably decide their inhabitants to pronounce in favour of the cause for which their fathers had fought and bled.

He resumes his command

Thus reasoning, Sir Hugh considered, and rightly considered, that the time for ceremony had passed.

and sets out for Gwaliar

He at once resumed the command which he had laid down101, and, leaving a small garrison at Kalpi, set out on the 5th of June with a small force102 to overtake Stuart’s column.

The Commander-in-Chief places other columns at Sir Hugh’s disposal

With a view to aid Sir Hugh in his operations against Gwaliar, the Commander-in-Chief placed at his disposal, by telegraph, Colonel Riddell’s column previously referred to, and Brigadier Smith’s brigade of the Rajputana field force. The only other troops of which it was possible for Sir Hugh to avail himself were those composing the small garrison of Jhansi, ender Lieutenant-Colonel Hicks of the artillery, and the Haidarabad contingent, commanded by Major Orr.

Spirited conduct of the Haidarabad contingent

The Haidarabad contingent, after their hard and splendid service, had received orders to return home. They had already started; many of them, indeed, were far advanced on their road. But the moment the intelligence of the events passing at Gwaliar reached them they one and all expressed their earnest desire to take part in the operations of their old commander.

Sir Hugh’s plan of operations against Gwaliar

Whilst Sir Hugh Rose himself proceeded by forced marches to join Stuart, he directed Major Orr to move to Paniar, on the road between Sipri and Gwaliar, to cut oil the retreat of the rebels to the south, and Brigadier Smith, who was near Chanderi, to march with his brigade direct to Kotah-ki-sarai, about five miles to the south-east of Gwaliar. To Colonel Riddell, escorting a large supply of siege-guns, he sent instructions to move with his column by the Agra and Gwaliar road. He hoped that all

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the columns of operations would be at their posts by the 19th of June.

Sir Hugh overtakes Stuart and reaches Morar

Setting out, as I have said, on the 6th of June, and making forced marches in spite of a heat which occasionally rose to a hundred and thirty degrees in the shade, Sir Hugh overtook Stuart at Indurki on the 12th, and, still pushing on, reached Bahadurpur, five miles to the east of the Morar cantonments, on the 16th.

Is joined by General Napier

There he was joined by Brigadier-General Robert Napier, whom he last heard of at the storm of Lakhnao, and General who at once assumed command of the 2nd brigade103.

reconnoitres the rebel position

Sir Hugh had reached Bahadurpur at 6 o’clock in the morning of the 16th of June. He at once directed Captain Abbott with his Haidarabad cavalry to reconnoitre Morar. On receiving Abbott’s report that the rebels were in force in front of it, Sir Hugh galloped forward himself to examine the position. He noticed that the side of the cantonments fronting the British position was occupied by strong bodies of cavalry, flanked to the right by guns, supported by infantry in considerable numbers.

Reasons which decided him to attack

The position offered strong temptations to a commander who knew the value of time and promptitude in war, and who considered that minor difficulties must give way when a chance should present itself of overcoming a great obstacle. I shall tell in his own words the effect produced on Sir Hugh Rose by his examination of the positions of the rebels before Morar.

Told in his own words

“My force had had a long and fatiguing march, and the sun had been up for some time. Four or five miles more march in the sun, and a combat afterwards, would be a great trial for the men’s strength. On the other hand, Morar looked inviting with several good buildings not yet burnt; they would be good quarters for a portion of the force; if I delayed the attack until the next day, the enemy were sure to burn them. A prompt attack has always more effect on the rebels than a procrastinated one. I therefore countermanded the order for encamping and made the following arrangements to attack the enemy104.”

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The battle of Morar

He attacked them accordingly. Placing his cavalry and guns on his flanks, and the infantry in the centre, he took ground to the right, the 86th leading the way, with the view of coming upon the road leading to cantonments, and the occupation of which would have turned the left of the rebels.

The guide loses his way

Sindhia’s agent, however, who had promised to lead the troops to this road, lost his way, and found himself in front of a masked battery in the enemy’s centre.

and the army debouches on the wrong front

This at once opened upon the assailants, and its fire was rapidly followed by a musketry and artillery fire from both sides of it. Sir Hugh answered with his guns, at the same time pushing forward his infantry to gain the required turning position on the right.

but, by a masterly movement gains a firm position

This once gained, he formed to the front, and, reinforcing his left, which bore for a moment the whole weight of the enemy, pushed forward. The advance was decisive.

The enemy fall back

The enemy limbered up and gave way on all sides. The gallant Abbott with his Haidarabad men had meanwhile galloped across the nullahs further to the right, and, dashing through the cantonments at a more northerly point, endeavoured to cut off the retreat of the rebels. But the broken ground he had had to traverse had enabled these to take their guns across the stone bridge which spans the river at the back of the cantonment on the road to the city.

and continue the contest in a village,

The main body of the enemy, driven through the cantonments, fell back on a dry nullah with high banks, running round a village, which they had also occupied. Here they maintained a desperate hand-to-hand struggle with the British.

which is at length carried

The 71st Highlanders suffered severely, Lieutenant Neave, whilst leading them, falling mortally wounded; nor was it till the nullah was nearly choked with dead that the village was carried. On this occasion Lieutenant Rose of the 25th Bombay Native Infantry greatly distinguished himself.

The victory is completed by a successful pursuit of the rebels

The victory was completed by a successful pursuit of the rebels by Captain Thompson, 14th Light Dragoons, with a wing of his regiment. The wing of the rebel force which he destroyed had been turned by Abbott’s advance already spoken of; Thompson, following up the rebels, caught them in the plains and made a great slaughter of them. The guns were splendidly commanded

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during the day by Strutt, always to the front, and by Lightfoot.

Result of the battle

The result, then, had justified Sir Hugh’s daring. Not only had he dealt a heavy blow to the rebels, but he had gained a most important strategical point.

Brigadier Smith advances from the south-east

Sir Hugh Rose’s success was speedily followed by an exploit on the part of Brigadier Smith, fruitful in important consequences. That gallant soldier, coming up from the south-east, had to make his way through difficult and hilly ground on that side of Gwaliar before he could reach Kotah-ki-sarai. Picking up on his way the small field-force from Jhansi, he reached Antri, with his brigade105, on the 14th of June, and was joined there the following day by Major Orr and his Haidarabad men.

and reaches Kotah-ki-sarai

Under orders from Sir Hugh Rose, Smith marched from Antri early on the morning of the 17th of June, and reached Kotah-ki-sarai, five miles to the south-east of Gwaliar, at half-past seven o’clock that morning.

Discovers the rebels massed between him and Gwaliar

Smith had met no opposition in marching into Kotah-ki-sarai, but on reaching that place he observed masses of the enemy’s horse and foot occupying the hilly ground between himself and Gwaliar. As these masses showed a strong disposition to attack him, and as, hampered with a large quantity of baggage, Smith did not regard his position as a very secure one, he determined to take the initiative. Reconnoitring the ground in front of him, he found it very difficult, intersected with nullahs and impracticable for cavalry. He discovered, moreover, that the enemy’s guns were in position about fifteen hundred yards from Kota-ki-sarai, and that their line lay under the hills, crossing the road to Gwaliar. Notwithstanding this, Smith determined to attack. First, he sent his horse artillery to the front, and silenced the enemy’s guns, which limbered up and retired. This accomplished, Smith sent his infantry across the broken ground, led by Raines of the 95th. Raines led his men, covered by skirmishers, to a point about

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Raines leads the infantry to the front

fifty yards from the enemy’s works, when the skirmishers made a rush – the rebels falling back as they did so.

and, after overcoming many obstacles

Raines then found himself stopped by a deep ditch with four feet of water, and having banks so steep that it was with difficulty the men could cross in single file. The rebels took advantage of the delay thus caused to move off with their guns and to retire up the ravines and across the hills.

gains the intrenchment abandoned by the enemy.

Raines found them so retiring when, after surmounting the difficulty I have recorded, he gained

the abandoned intrenchment.

Smith moves forward the cavalry.

Whilst he was continuing his advance across the broken and hilly ground, Smith moved his cavalry across the river Umrah, close to Kotah-ki-sarai.’ He had hardly crossed when his men came under fire of a battery which till then had escaped notice. At the same time a body of the enemy threatened the baggage at Kotah-ki-sarai.

serious nature of the action

Matters now looked serious. But Smith sent back a detachment to defend the baggage and rear, and pushed forward with the rest of his troops. The road, before debouching from the hills between his position and Gwaliar, ran for several hundred yards through a defile along which a canal had been excavated. As he entered this defile, and during his march through it, he encountered considerable opposition. At length he bore it down, emerged from the further end, joined Raines, then his infantry halted to hold the defile, he ordered a cavalry charge.

At length Smith is victorious

This was most gallantly executed by a squadron of the 8th Hussars, led by Colonel Hicks and Captain Heneage.

and drives the rebels before him

The rebels, horse and foot, gave way before them. The Hussars captured two guns, and continuing the pursuit through Sindia’s cantonment, had for a moment the rebel camp in their possession.

Death of the Rani of Jhansi

Amongst the fugitives in the rebel ranks was the resolute woman who, alike in council and on the field, was the soul of the conspirators. Clad in the attire of a man and mounted on horseback, the Rani of Jhansi might have been seen animating her troops throughout the day. When inch by inch the British troops pressed through the defile, and when reaching its summit Smith ordered the Hussars to charge, the Rani of Jhansi boldly fronted the British

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horsemen. When her comrades failed her, her horse, in spite of her efforts, carried her along with the others. With them she might have escaped but that her horse, crossing the canal near the cantonment, stumbled and fell. A hussar close upon her track, ignorant of her sex and her rank, cut her down. She fell to rise no more. That night her devoted followers, determined that the English should not boast that they had captured her even dead, burned the body.

Thus died the Rani of Jhansi. My opinion of her has been recorded in a preceding page. Whatever her faults in British eyes may have been, her countrymen will ever believe that she was driven by ill-treatment into rebellion; that her cause was a righteous cause; and that the treatment she received at the hands of Lord Dalhousie was one of the main causes of the disaffection in Bundelkhand and Central India in 1857-8. To them she will always be a heroine106.

Smith falls back for the night on the head of the defile

The charge of the 8th Hussars was the last effort of Smith’s force. “Upon the return of the squadron, the officers and men were so completely exhausted and prostrated from heat, fatigue, and great exertion, that they could scarcely sit in their saddles, and were, for the moment, incapable of further exertion107.” But the enemy, recovering, were again threatening. Smith then determined to content himself with holding the defile, the road, and the adjoining hills for the night. He drew back his cavalry accordingly, and brought up his baggage. The enemy held their ground on the heights on the other side of the canal.

Dangerous nature of his position

The position thus taken up by Brigadier Smith left much to be desired. It left his left and rear threatened, his baggage within range of the enemy’s guns, and his whole force cramped.

Sir Hugh reinforces him

Sir Hugh, on receiving an account of the action, with characteristic promptitude despatched Colonel Robertson, with the 25th Bombay Native Infantry, three troops 11th Light Dragoons, and four guns, to reinforce him.

The 2nd brigade joins Sir Hugh, who resolves to “finish” with the rebels

The next day Sir Hugh was reinforced, and his 2nd brigade, commanded by Robert Napier, brought to its full strength by the arrival of the Kalpi garrison. This arrival left him free to act.

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Leaving Napier in Morar with the troops he could spare108, Rose marched in the afternoon with the rest of the force to join Smith.

Harassing nature of his march

The distance was long, the heat terrible, the march harassing in the extreme. No less than a hundred men of the 86th were struck down by the sun109. Nevertheless, Sir Hugh pushed on, and bivouacked for the night on the rocky ground between the river and Smith’s position.

He opens communications with Smith

The first thing that struck Sir Hugh on reconnoitring the following morning was the possibility of cutting off the main body of the enemy from Gwaliar by forcing, their left the next, the extremely cramped and dangerous nature of his own position.

Resolves to anticipate the rebels’ attack and to cut them off from Gwaliar

The rebels, too, showed every indication that they intended an attack, for with the early dawn they began a heavy fire from their guns, whilst masses of their infantry were seen moving to positions from which they could manoeuvre with advantage against the British position. On the principle, then, that when one is disadvantageously posted an attack is often the best defence, Sir Hugh resolved to become the assailant.

The rebels, as we have seen, were occupying the heights separated by the canal from those gained by Brigadier Smith. That they meant to attack was evident. They spent the early hours of the morning in strengthening their right with the view of assailing the weakest point of the British line, the left. The sun had not risen very high when Sir Hugh received an express from Sir Robert Hamilton to say that he had received certain information that the rebels certainly intended to attack him that day. There was no time for further consideration.

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Sir Hugh sends Stuart to turn the left of the rebels

Sir Hugh at once directed Brigadier Stuart to move with the 86th regiment, supported by the 25th Bombay Native Infantry, across the canal, to crown the heights on the other side of it, and to attack the left flank of the rebels.

Whilst Raines makes a diversion

As a diversion in favour of this attack he sent Colonel Raines with the 95th regiment from his right front, across the canal in skirmishing order over the shoulder of the hill on which a division of the rebel force was in an intrenched. position, covered by guns. This movement was supported by the 10th Bombay Native Infantry. Sir Hugh at the same time ordered up the 3rd troop Bombay Horse Artillery, supported by a squadron of the 8th Hussars, to the entrance of the pass towards Gwaliar. The remainder of the force he disposed in support of the attacking columns and for the defence of the camp from the rear.

Stuart’s attack

Lieutenant-Colonel Lowth led the 86th, in accordance with the orders he received, against the left of the rebels. These fell back rapidly on the battery; while the 86th pressed them so hard that they made no stand even under their guns. The 86th gave them no time to rally.

Brockman captures three guns

Brockman’s company, led by that gallant officer, then only a lieutenant, dashing with a cheer at the parapet, crossed it and took the guns which defended the ridge, two 6-pounders and a 9-pounder. Brockman, with great smartness, turned one of these guns on the rebels, and was engaged in turning the other, when Raines, advancing with the 95th, came up, took command, and completed the operation which Brockman110 had so well begun.

Raines completes the operation

Meanwhile the 10th Bombay Native Infantry, led by Lieutenant Roome, moving up in support of the 95th, and protecting the right of the assailing force, found itself exposed to a fire of musketry and artillery from the heights on the enemy’s extreme left. Roome was equal to the occasion. Wheeling to the right, he advanced with half his regiment in

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Gallantry of Roome and the 10th Bombay Native Infantry

skirmishing order, the other half in support, cleared the two nearest heights of rebel infantry, and captured two brass field-pieces and three mortars which were in the plain below.

Gwaliar lies at the feet of the British

The day was now won, the heights were gained; Gwaliar lay, as it were, at the feet of the British. “The sight” writes Sir Hugh, “was interesting. To our right was the handsome palace of the Phulbagh with its gardens, and the old city, surmounted by the fort, remarkable for its ancient architecture, with lines of extensive fortifications round the high and precipitous rock of Gwaliar. To our left lay the Lashkar, or new city, with its spacious houses half hidden by trees.” In the plain between the heights and the city was a great portion of the rebel forces, just driven from the heights, and now, under the influence of panic, endeavouring to seek a refuge in one or other of the walled enclosures or fortified places towards which they were moving.

Sir Hugh resolves to occupy the city at once

The sight of these men at once suggested to Sir Hugh that it would be possible to complete his work that day. “I felt convinced.” he wrote in his despatch, “that I could take Gwaliar before sunset.”

Orders a general

He at once, then, ordered a general advance. Covering his extreme right with the 3rd troop Bombay Horse Artillery and a troop of the 8th Hussars. he ordered Colonel Owen, with the 1st Bombay Lancers, to descend the heights to the rear, make his way into the road which led through the hills to the south, and thence attack the grand parade and the new city. Covering his advance, then, with No. 4 Light field-battery, and two troops 14th Light Dragoons, he moved forward his infantry from the left, the 86th leading from that flank, the 95th forming the right.

The British carry the Lashkar

This prompt advance completely paralysed the rebels. Their guns, indeed, opened fire, but the main object of their infantry seemed to be to escape. The British infantry were approaching the plain, when Owen’s Lancers, who had gained the point indicated, charged across the grand parade, and, carried away by their ardour, followed the rebels into the Lashkar. In this charge a gallant officer, Lieutenant Mills, was shot through the heart. Raines followed up this charge with a dash on to the parade-ground with two companies of the 59th, and took two 18-pounders and

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two small pieces. The British line pushing on, the rebels retreated through the town. Before sunset, as Sir Hugh had divined, the Lashkar, or new city, was completely in his possession. That night, too, Sir Hugh rested in the regained palace of Sindhia.

Smith takes the palace of Phulbagh

Meanwhile, Brigadier Smith had taken the garden palace, the Phulbagh, killing great numbers of the rebels. He then, in pursuance of orders, followed up the retreating enemy, and continued the pursuit long Phulbagh. after dark, inflicting great loss on them and capturing most of their guns.

Sir Hugh sends and express to Napier to pursue

As soon as it was clear the day was won, Sir Hugh sent an express to General Robert Napier, directing him to pursue the rebels as far and as closely as he could. How this order was carried out I shall have to relate presently.

and then arranges for the security of the city

The Lashkar and palace occupied, Sir Hugh, ever careful even of the vanquished, made arrangements for the security of the city. This task he found comparatively easy, for the shopkeeping class had always been on the side of its best paymaster, the British.

The rock fortress defies him

Thus, on the night of the 19th of June, Sir Hugh had, with a loss of eighty-seven men killed and wounded, regained all Gwaliar, the formidable fortress alone excepted. But the exception was a grave one. The rock fortress, completely isolated, having a length of a mile and a half, and a breadth at its broadest part of three hundred yards, its face presenting a perpendicular precipice, might, if well defended, still give some trouble. The guns from its ramparts had maintained, during the operations of the 19th, a continuous, though not, very effective, fire on the British troops. The fire recommenced on the morning of the 20th. It was then, early on that morning, that two officers of the Indian army and their Bombay Sipahis performed a deed of unsurpassed daring.

Daring feat of Lieutenants Rose and Waller

On the morning of the 20th, Lieutenant Rose, 25th Bombay Native Infantry, was in command, with a detachment of his regiment, of the Kotwa, or police-station, not far from the main gateway of the rock fort. As the guns from its ramparts continued to fire, Bose proposed to a brother officer, Lieutenant Waller, who commanded a small party of the same regiment near him, that

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they should attempt to capture the fortress with their joint parties, urging that, if the risk was great, the honour would be still greater.

who, with a small following

Waller cheerfully assented, and the two officers set off with their men and a blacksmith, whom, not unwilling, they had engaged for the service. They crept up to the first gateway unseen, then the blacksmith, a powerful man, forced it open, and so with the other five gates that opposed their progress.

attempt to storm the fortress

By the time the sixth gate had been forced the alarm was given, and, when the assailants reached the archway beyond the last gate, they were met by the fire of a gun which had been brought to bear on them. Dashing onwards, unscathed by the fire, they were speedily engaged in a hand-to-hand contest with the garrison.

and succeed

The fight was desperate, and many men fell on both sides; but the gallantry of Rose and Waller and their men carried all before them. Rose especially distinguished himself.

The success is dimmed by the death of Rose

Just in the hour of victory, however, as he was inciting his men to make the final charge, which proved successful, a musket was fired at him from behind the wall. The man who had fired the shot, a mutineer from Bareli, then rushed out and cut him across the knee and wrist with a sword. Waller came up and despatched the rebel; too late, however, to save his friend111. But the rock fortress was gained.

I have said that when Sir Hugh saw that success was certain he sent a despatch to Brigadier-General Robert Napier requesting him to pursue the rebels as far and as closely as he could.

Napier started on this service at 0 o’clock on the morning of the 20th with about five hundred and sixty cavalry, of whom

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Napier, receiving Sir Hugh’s order to pursue

sixty were dragoons, and Lightfoot’s battery of artillery, and, pursuing the rebels rapidly, came up with them, about twelve thousand strong, at Jaura-Alipur, receiving shortly after sunrise on the 21st.

pursues and finds the rebels at Jaura-Alipur

Napier, reconnoitring, found them drawn up in two lines. The first, consisting of infantry and a bullock battery of six guns, had its right resting upon Alipur; the second, composed of cavalry and horse and field artillery, rested on a village in rear of the front line. They were the entire remnants of the Kalpi army, with additions picked up at Gwaliar.

Finding the ground to his right open. Napier directed Captain Lightfoot to take up a position on the left dank of the enemy, about three hundred yards from them, and to enfilade them. He then ranged his cavalry behind a rising ground, which afforded partial concealment, ready to act as soon as the fire from Lightfoot’s guns should be felt.

His guns rake their line

This soon happened. Lightfoot’s horse artillery, escorted by Abbott’s cavalry, dashed at a gallop towards the enemy’s left, and opened fire at the distance indicated by Napier.

The fire causes them to waver

After a few discharges the ranks of the rebels wavered, then they began perceptibly to thin. Then Lightfoot limbered up and again pushed on at a gallop, whilst the 14th Light Dragoons, led by Prettijohn, and the Haidarabad cavalry, led by Abbott, dashed into their ranks.

and when charged, break and flee

The result was decisive. Prettijohn’s distinguished valour and Abbott’s gallant leading were especially conspicuous. The dash of Lightfoot’s horse artillery was superb to look at. “You cannot imagine,” writes an eye-witness, a cavalry officer, “the dash of the artillery: it was wonderful. We could scarcely keep up with them.” But, in fact, every man behaved like a hero: each vied with his comrade. After a brief resistance the rebels broke and fled, hotly pursued112. They lost twenty-five guns,

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all their ammunition, elephants, tents, carts, and baggage, and had three to four hundred men killed. Never was a rout more complete113.

Close of the campaign

The capture of Gwaliar and the dispersion of the rebel army closed the campaign which will for ever be associated with the name of Sir Hugh Rose. In a previous chapter I have alluded to the personal character, strong and firm as iron, and yet singularly sympathetic, which had chained success to all the incidents of that most eventful campaign.

Recapitulation of its results

I may be pardoned if I briefly recapitulate here all that had been accomplished in a period falling somewhat short of six months. On the 6th of January, 1858, Sir Hugh Rose had left Indur; on the 24th he laid siege to Rahatgarh; on the 28th he defeated in the field the Rajah of Banpur; on the 29th he took Rahatgarh; on the 3rd of February he relieved Sagar; on the 13th he took the strong fort of Garhakota; on the 4th of March he forced the pass of Madanpur; on the 17th his 1st brigade stormed the fort of Chanderi; on the 22nd he invested Jhansi; on the 31st he defeated Tantia Topi on the Betwa; on the 3rd of April he stormed Jhansi; on the 6th of May he defeated Tantia Topi and the Rani of Jhansi at Kunch; on the 23rd he beat the rebels at Galauli, near Kalpi, and occupied that fort the following day. In this chapter I have told how, roused from a bed of sickness by the news of the capture of Gwaliar by the rebels, he pursued them with unremitting vigour, and stayed not his hand till he had recovered all that they had temporarily gained.

Real cause of his success

In every undertaking he was successful, and he was successful, because, careless of himself, he thought of the great end he had in view, and spared no means to attain it.

Sir Hugh proceeds to Bombay

After the victory at Gwaliar, Sir Hugh Bose proceeded to Bombay to assume command of the army of that Presidency114. The force with which he had won so many victories was, to a great extent, broken up.

Map to Illustrate the Campaigns of Malwa & Central India

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The 95th regiment was ordered to occupy the rock fortress. The 71st Highlanders, the 86th regiment, and the 25th Bombay Native Infantry, with detachments of cavalry and artillery, remained at Morar. The 3rd Bombay Europeans, the 24th Bombay Native Infantry, with cavalry-and artillery, were sent to Jhansi. Of these troops the command devolved upon Brigadier-General Robert Napier. Brigadier Smith’s brigade was distributed in three portions, respectively at Gwaliar, at Sipri, and at Gunah. It seemed as of the though they were about to enjoy the rest they had so gloriously earned. But appearances were deceitful.

The prospects of peace are elusive

Though one bitter enemy, the Rani of Jhansi, had disappeared, there had escaped another, not less implacable, perhaps even more fertile in resources than of that resolute lady. Though beaten at all points, that other adversary had never despaired. Not many weeks elapsed before the cities, the villages, and the jungles of Central India once more resounded with the name of Tantia Topi.

Footnotes

100. Colonel Riddell, who was moving down the north bank of the Jamnah with the 3rd Bengal Europeans, Alexander’s horse, and two guns, caught sight of a body of the rebels escaping from Kalpi, a few miles above that place, on the south bank of the river, on the 25th of May. He instantly sent the 3rd Europeans across, who captured their camp equipage, the enemy not waiting to receive them. Colonel Riddell’s force had previously had several skirmishes with detached parties of insurgents. A small party of his troops had proceeded to Kalpi in boats, joining there Sir Hugh Rose. On their way they were threatened by a numerous body of rebels near Bhijalpur. Lieutenant Sherriff, who commanded the party, had at once landed 150 men, defeated the rebels, and captured four guns.

101. It is said that for this breach of red tape rules Sir Hugh was severely reprimanded by Sir C. Campbell. Undoubtedly strict routine required the previous sanction of the Commander-in-Chief. But there are circumstances which require that strict routine must be laid aside; and this was one of them.

102. 1st troop Bombay horse artillery; one squadron 14th Light Dragoons; one squadron 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry; Madras Sappers and Miners.

103. Only a small portion of this brigade was present, the bulk of it having been left at Kalpi.

104. Despatch of Sir Hugh Rose dated the 13th of October, 1858.

105. The brigade was thus composed: a wing 8th Hussars, a wing Bombay Lancers, H. M.’s 95th Foot, the 10th Bombay Native Infantry, and a troop of Bombay Horse Artillery.

106. Vide pages 110, 139, of this volume, and pages 120-1 of Vol. III.

107. Brigadier Smith’s report.

108. These were – One troop Bombay horse artillery, three troops 14th light dragoons, three troops 3rd Bombay light cavalry, fifty men 1st Haidaribid cavalry. 3rd Haidarabad cavalry, two squadrons Meade’s horse, 21st company Royal Engineers, wing 3rd Bombay Europeans, four companies 24th Bombay Native Infantry, three guns Haidarabad artillery.

109. Of these men, Sir Hugh reports that they “were compelled by sun-sickness to fall out and go into dolis. These same men, the next day, unmindful of their illness, fell in with their companies, and took part in the assault of Gwaliar.” These men, be it remembered, formed part of the unreformed British army, an army never surpassed by any other in the world. A “doli,” generally but incorrectly spelt “dhooley” – for it is ignorant of the letter “h” and possesses but one “o” and no “y” – is an inferior kind of palanquin.

110. For his splendid services, Brockman obtained his brevet majority as soon as he got his company, though not until after another officer, whose name I will not mention, had attempted to “annex” his services. The fraud was, however, discovered and rectified with the full sanction of Lord Strathnairn (Sir Hugh Rose).

111. Sir Hugh Rose, in his despatch, thus alludes to this officer: “But the gallant leader, Lieutenant. Rose, who has been twice specially mentioned by me for good and gallant conduct, fell in the fort, mortally wounded, closing his early career by taking the fort of Gwaliar by force of arms.”

His brigadier, Brigadier C. S. Stuart, thus referred to him in his brigade orders: “Brigadier Stuart has received with the deepest regret, a report of the death of Lieutenant Rose, 25th Bombay Native Infantry, who was mortally wounded yesterday. on entering the fort of Gwaliar, on duty with his men. The brigadier feels assured that the whole brigade unite with hint in deploring the early death of this gallant officer, whose many sterling qualities nose who knew him could fail to appreciate.”

112. An officer who served with great distinction throughout this campaign writes me: “The courage of General Napier in ordering this attack, and the dash and vigour with which it was delivered. so surprised the enemy, that, as we afterwards ascertained, they believed us to be but the advanced guard of a strong force coming up. Just after the action General Napier received a despatch from Sir Hugh Rose ordering him not to attack in consequence of the strength of the enemy.”

113. Tantia Topi, who was present on this occasion, thus describes the affair: “We reached Jaura Alipur and remained there during the night. The next morning we were attacked and fought for an hour and a half. We fired five shots and the English army fired four shots, and we then ran off, leaving all our guns.”

114. The following farewell order was issued on this occasion by Sir Hugh Rose:– “The Major General commanding, being on the point of resigning the command of the Puna division of the Bombay army, bids farewell to the Central India Field Force; and at the same time expresses the pleasure he feels that he commanded them when they gained one more laurel at Gwaliar. The Major-General witnessed with satisfaction how the troops and their gallant comrades in arms – the Rajputana brigade under General Smith – stormed height after height, and gun after gun, under the fire of a numerous field and siege artillery, taking finally by assault two 18-pounders at Gwaliar. Not a man in these forces enjoyed his natural health or strength; an Indian sun and months of marching and broken rest had told on the strongest; but the moment they were told to take Gwaliar for their Queen and country they thought of nothing but victory. They gained it, restoring England’s true and brave ally to his throne, putting to rout the rebel army, killing many of them, and taking from them in the field. exclusive of those in the fort, fifty-two pieces of artillery, all their stores and ammunition, and capturing the city and fort of Gwaliar, reckoned the strongest in India. The Major-General thanks sincerely Brigadier-General Napier, C.B., Brigadier Stuart, C.B., and Brigadier Smith, commanding brigades in the field. for the very efficient and able assistance which they gave him, and to which he attributes the success of the day. He bids them and their brave soldiers once more a kind farewell. He cannot do so under better auspices than those of the victory of Gwaliar.”

This collection transcribed by Chris Gage
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