Headquarters and the remaining squadron, having left a small depôt at Kirkee, marched from that station on 22nd September, in company with D troop of the Royal Horse Artillery and some infantry, 1858. November.the whole being under the command of Colonel Benson of the Seventeenth. On arrival at Mhow they were immediately pushed forward towards the Betwah, and having picked up first Major Learmonth’s squadron at Bhopal, and next Sir William Gordon’s at Hoshangabad, united three-fourths of the regiment at the latter place on the 6th November.
Meanwhile Tantia was still pressing on with all speed to westward. On the 23rd November he crossed the great highroad from Bombay to Agra, plundered some carts laden with mercantile stores for the army, cut the telegraph wires, and hurried on in the hope of recrossing the Nerbuddha unperceived. The British were quickly on his track. Major Sutherland, with a handful of 200 infantry, caught him at Rajpore, attacked him, though against odds of fifteen or twenty men to one, and put him to flight. Nevertheless, though the pursuit was resumed next morning with all possible swiftness, it was only to find that Tantia was safe across the Nerbuddha. Tantia then moved rapidly north in the hope of surprising Baroda; but the British were beforehand with him. Brigadier Parke, moving by extraordinary marches, met him at Oodeypore on the 30th of November and defeated him once more. Tantia then fled eastward into the Banswarra jungle, and the British commanders thought that they had caught him at last. He was not caught yet by any means. The next that the Seventeenth heard of him was that he was advancing on Indore, and that they must move up to Mhow with all speed. Colonel Benson left his encampment, twelve miles south of the Nerbuddha, crossed the river in boats, and was at Mhow in twenty-six hours—a march of fifty-two miles, to say nothing of the passage of the river.
Tantia, however, prudently remained in the jungle; and on the 3rd December Colonel Benson, with his three squadrons of the Seventeenth, again left Mhow and marched north-westward for Ratlam, in order to meet him whenever he might issue from his hiding-place. December. A small column under Major Learmonth was detached from Ratlam, but after three days’ search discovered nothing of the enemy; 1858. and Colonels Benson and Somerset, who had united their two flying columns at Ratlam, then moved up together to Partabghur. At this point, however, a new ally for Tantia, Feroz Shah, appeared upon the scene, and Somerset’s column was detached to Ashta to cut him off. Emboldened by Feroz Shah’s diversion, Tantia finally emerged from the jungle, after a month’s wandering, at Partabghur, on Christmas day 1858. But meanwhile Colonel Benson had been moved from Partabghur; and a very weak force of native infantry alone was on the spot to stop the famous rebel. Tantia held this little force engaged for a couple of hours until his baggage and elephants were clear of the passes, and then marched quietly away. Halting for the night within six miles of Mundesoor he struck eastward, and in three days had reached Zeerapore, one hundred and ten miles as the crow flies from Partabghur.
Meanwhile Colonel Benson had lost no time in starting on his track with 210 men of the Seventeenth and 37 men of the Horse Artillery with 2 guns; and after a march of one hundred and forty-eight miles in one hundred and twenty hours, he finally caught Tantia at Zeerapore. This being, so to speak, a strictly regimental affair, we may give an abridged journal of the march:—
Friday, 24th December.—Left Ninose for Nowgaum (seventeen miles).
Saturday, 25th December.—Made a reconnaissance, and discovered that the enemy had marched on Mundesoor; made a forced march thither, and arrived that night (thirty-six miles) to find the enemy encamped but four miles away.
Sunday, 26th December.—Marched at daybreak, leaving behind all infantry, artillery waggons, led horses, and baggage of every description, and all grass-cutters. Moved first towards Seeta Mhow on false information, but, discovering the true direction, turned towards Caimpore, and halted for the night on the left bank of the Chumbul (twenty-six miles).
Monday, 27th December.—Marched at daybreak, crossed the Chumbul, and came up with the rebels encamped at Dug; bivouacked in sight of their fires.
Tuesday, 28th December.—Marched at 4 A.M. so as to attack at daybreak; found that the enemy’s main body had retreated. Drove in the picquets and pursued, crossing the Kollee Sind River on the way (twenty-eight miles).
Wednesday, 29th December.—Marched at 3 A.M. from the right bank of the Kollee Sind; after an eight-mile march came in sight of the rebel camp; advanced over the ploughed land, so as to make as little noise as possible, and waited for daylight. Found the main body had retired two miles; trotted on and came up with it; and on emerging from a wooded lane found the rebel army, apparently about 4000 strong, drawn up in line of battle on rising ground, with a ravine and jungle to their rear.