My message to his Lordship was that he should lose no time in advancing, and should keep his alignment. As we advanced the rebels fell back, and for a time they sheltered themselves in their entrenchments. This being just what my Chief wanted and expected them to do, cavalry and some infantry were immediately sent round their flank, to attack them in the rear and to cut off their retreat should they bolt. The siege train of heavy guns, drawn by elephants, was now moved up and opened fire on the forts. By 4 P.M. we had carried the fort and the villages. There was a chase until seven o’clock, and the cavalry were very effective during the flight of the natives. It was wonderful how soon the rebels got away. They were marvels at running when once off: nothing but horse artillery and cavalry could come up with them. Many hid themselves away in the high-standing crops, villages, out-houses: in fact, they scattered all over the country.

That night we bivouacked outside the enemy’s fort and entrenchments. Just before dusk I rode in to see what they were like. It was certainly a very strong position; but the dirt was so abominable that I could not stay long. They had evidently been there some time: anybody who knew India in the Mutiny days will well understand what I mean. Several of the enemy’s guns that day were carried at the point of the bayonet (generally by our skirmishers), and we routed them completely.

Next day the troops rested.

On Christmas Day, as we were well into our dinner, and what might be called enjoying ourselves, Sir Hope Grant rode into camp about 4 P.M. and ordered us to make a forced march immediately, so as to follow up the rebels, who were trying to escape to the eastwards. What a nuisance we voted this grand soldier, as he stood there with a fine escort of cavalry (Lancers) giving his orders to our General! I heard him say, “Off at once! Dinner or no dinner, we must cut these rebels off.” There, on the spot, the bugles were sounded; down came our tents; and what became of our stewed kid and other little delicacies we had taken so much trouble to get hold of I don’t know. I was on my horse in no time and sent galloping about with instructions.

Marching until well into the night straight across country (the roads being blocked with mud, owing to heavy rains), we halted, and curled ourselves up as best we could on the ground until daylight. I lay down in a ploughed field that night: no baggage or tents had come up. The soil was soft at first; but I soon made a large form, which became as hard as a brick bat; and I woke up aching all over. For three days we saw neither tents nor baggage. We were simply following up the rebels, who were now making for the great Terai Jungle. Arriving at Intwa on the 28th, we found Sir Hope Grant with a troop of horse artillery, the 9th Lancers, and Hodson’s Horse. What joy to see horse artillery and that splendid cavalry! The 9th looked nearly as well as if they had been at Aldershot; so did the horse artillery; and that splendid regiment, Hodson’s Horse, was indeed a sight.

For two or three days our force and Sir Hope’s marched in parallel columns. Only once did we come across rebels. That was at the edge of the Terai, where we took them completely by surprise, and actually found their pots on the fire, cooking. This was about the last shot the Brigade saw fired. On the 3rd of January 1859 we had done our share in quelling the Mutiny, and received orders to return to our ship viâ Allahabad. All our part of the country was freed from rebels: at any rate, there was no chance of their congregating again.

CHAPTER XIX
COMPLIMENTS TO THE NAVAL BRIGADE

It was a pretty sight when we marched away. All our old comrades cheered us; the Ghoorkas, the Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry, and the 13th Foot, who had been our companions during the greater part of the eighteen months we were landed, followed us out of camp; and the bands played for a goodly distance along the road. Hand-shaking and leave-taking followed, and Brigadier-General Rowcroft made us a most complimentary speech. He was very much cut up (no wonder, considering all we had gone through together); he was proud of his Naval Brigade; and to me personally he was the best of Chiefs, considerate and kind on all occasions—I do not remember his ever having allowed an angry word to pass his lips. I had acted as his Aide-de-Camp the whole time, excepting on one occasion when I was sent with a detachment from Bustee and acted as Aide-de-Camp to Lord Mark Kerr.