G. Salisbury.
Review Order. Marching Order.
OFFICERS. 1852–1841.
The wing thus caught by Michel was simply dispersed; and (in the words of the historian of the Mutiny) Tantia and the Rao Sahib purchased their retreat by the sacrifice of one-half of their followers.
1858.
None the less Tantia pushed on with such force as he had saved. He was again attacked on the following day by a single regiment—that now known as the Central India Horse—and suffered some loss; but still he pushed on. Within a few days he had crossed the Nerbuddha, to the great alarm of the Governments at Madras and Bombay, and was pointing towards Nagpore.
Headed back from thence by a British force, he turned sharp to the west, November. hoping to find some unguarded pass by which he might pierce farther south. It was useless; every outlet to south and west was already occupied. He then turned north-westward into Holkar’s country, forced a certain number of Holkar’s troops to join him at Kargun (19th November), and then hurried away towards the west.
Meanwhile Michel had followed him across the Nerbuddha, reaching Hoshangabad on the 7th November. Feeling sure of the security of the south and west, he sent Brigadier Parke on to Charwah, and followed in the same direction more leisurely himself. Sir William Gordon’s squadron was left for a time at Hoshangabad, where it was presently joined by further portions of the Seventeenth. It is now necessary to pause for a moment and go back to the rest of the regiment, which we left at Kirkee awaiting its establishment of horses.
The second squadron, under Major White, left Kirkee on the 11th June and marched to Sholapore, where it was kept halted for some time. We shall, however, see this squadron in action in due season.
The third squadron, under Major Learmonth, left Kirkee on the 11th September, and proceeded to Mhow, where it was placed at the disposal of General Michel.