On the 18th they started again at 4.15 P.M. and reached Gopeegunge at 1.45 P.M. on the 19th, and after halting till 5.50 started again. Here Colonel Woodford was informed that a rebel force of 300 or 400 cavalry, 6,000 or 7,000 infantry and ten or twelve guns was encamped on his right, about twenty miles from Gopeegunge. The march, or rather the journey in bullock-carts, in the night was therefore made with great caution and with every preparation to resist an attack. But none was made, and on the 20th they reached the Ganges at Allahabad about twelve P.M., and after great difficulty in finding the camping-ground got into camp. On that night they again had a false alarm.
They halted at Allahabad till the 23rd, the intervening time being employed in getting clothing for the men.
Here the detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel Fyers, which had sailed in the ‘United Kingdom,’ joined them; and the whole started by rail at 8.30 on the 23rd and arrived at Lohunga at 12.30. Here they again divided; Colonel Woodford’s detachment proceeding by bullock-carts and Colonel Fyers’ by route march. Woodford’s detachment started about five, and after delays by break-down of waggons and restive oxen, arrived at Futtehpore at 4.45 on the 24th. Starting again at eight they met a Sikh on the 25th bearing a message from General Windham urging them to push on, as they would be wanted. Making all speed therefore they reached Cawnpore at 6.45 P.M. and took up their quarters in the Theatre for the night, being warned to go to camp at four A.M. on the following morning.
On that morning (the 26th) they paraded at 2.30, and shortly afterwards marched to General Windham’s camp, which was formed near the bridge, on the road from Cawnpore to Calpee, over the Ganges canal.
They reached it about seven; and no breakfast being provided, they received a dry biscuit and a ration of rum. Hence they moved out to attack the Gwalior contingent, which was posted in great force on the Pandoo Nuddee river. They advanced, the three companies[268] of Riflemen in front. On approaching the enemy’s position the mutineers at once opened fire about 9.30. ‘The battle on the part of the British began with the companies of the Rifle Brigade. These admirable troops at once advanced in skirmishing order on the right of the road. The country was a good deal encumbered with high standing corn, topes of trees, walls, &c.’[269] Some of the Riflemen got into ruined houses, and having got the range picked off the enemy’s gunners. The Gwalior contingent however held their position—a strong one, on the right bank of the Pandoo Nuddee—for some time. But at last the men advanced with a rush, and crossing the almost dry bed of the river drove them back. The Riflemen pursued them for some miles. One man only (Wolfe) was killed in this day’s fight: he was shot through the head. At a little before twelve the fight was over, and the Riflemen returned towards their camp. After they had retired some distance the mutineers pursued; and they were halted and deployed. During this halt a ration of rum was served out to the men. Resuming their march the Riflemen returned to Cawnpore, and pitched their camp near the city across the Calpee road and close to some brick-kilns. They arrived in this camp about four P.M.
On the 27th there was a false alarm at six in the morning; but later it was found that the Gwalior contingent, with a strength of about 25,000 men and forty guns, had commenced a most determined attack on General Windham’s position, both in front and on his right flank. The three companies of Riflemen, Nixon’s, Dillon’s and Earle’s, were moved out about noon, and posted on the right of the road to Calpee at its junction with the Grand Trunk road to Delhi, and were immediately under fire. ‘The heavy fighting in front, at the point of junction of the Calpee and Delhi roads, fell more especially upon the Rifle Brigade, ably commanded by Colonel Walpole.’[270]
However the enemy were too strong for them, and they were obliged to retire. Some officers and men occupied a small tope of trees, but they were soon out of ammunition, and Lieutenants George Curzon and Dugdale went back across the open, exposed to the fire of two guns which plied them with grape. However they succeeded in bringing up a camel with a supply. A second, third and fourth time Curzon passed the same ordeal in search of further ammunition or caps; and after some unsuccessful ventures obtained a supply from Captain Atherley of the 3rd Battalion, who with his company after a forced march from Futtehpore (to be presently more particularly mentioned) had arrived at Cawnpore.
This retreat was covered in a most masterly manner by the three companies under Woodford, who were extended in a line of skirmishers over a space of nearly a mile, and for a long time held back an enormous force of the enemy of all arms. And had it not been for the stand made by this detachment, it was generally supposed that the two guns of the Naval Brigade, which had been left unprotected, would have fallen into the enemy’s hands.[271]
It was first observed by Corporal Suddlers of the 2nd Battalion that these guns were deserted; and they were with difficulty brought back by some Riflemen of Captain Nixon’s company, under Lieutenant-Colonel Woodford, who took the slings off their rifles for that purpose.[272]