On the 8th they proceeded to Poorah, ten miles and a half; and on the day following to Chobeepore, thirteen miles and a half; and passing the town encamped about two miles beyond it. On the next day they marched to Kullianpore, nine miles. This was near Bithoor, the palace of the Nana; which however had been destroyed before the Riflemen visited it on this march.
On the 11th, starting at 5.45, they marched seven miles to Cawnpore, which they reached before nine; passing over the battle-fields of November 26, 27 and 28, and encamping on the ground where they had fought on the 27th. At this time the Oude force was formed, probably in number and efficiency the most formidable army that had ever assembled in British India. It consisted of one division (two brigades) of Cavalry, and of three divisions (six brigades) of Infantry, besides Artillery, etc.
It is sufficient for my purpose to record that the two Rifle Battalions (with a Punjaub native regiment) formed a brigade under Colonel Horsford in the division commanded by Brigadier Walpole; the Divisional General and the Brigadier being thus both Riflemen.
On February 13 the 2nd Battalion received a sudden order at six in the morning to march, with the object of intercepting or catching the Nana, who, it was supposed, was about to cross the Ganges. They started at 9.30, and retracing their steps made the march to Chobeepore, sixteen miles, in one day, arriving at 2.30. One man had a sunstroke on the road.
On the next day they marched at three in the morning, and arriving at Sheorajpore, halted for two hours before it was decided whether to continue the march or to remain there. Eventually, however, they encamped and halted there during the following day, it being reported that the Nana or his brother had crossed the river and got away.
On the 16th they resumed their march, and proceeding six miles encamped at Poorah on the ground they had occupied on the 8th.
On the day following they received a sudden order to march to Urroul. They started at 8.30, and passing by their old camping-ground they pitched tents about three miles beyond it, making the distance about thirteen miles. They arrived about two after a fatiguing march, the day being extremely hot.
They halted here till the 21st. On the 20th the women and children from Agra arrived, and passed through during the night; and on the next day the Battalion returned towards Cawnpore, halting that day at Poorah, on the next at Chobeepore; and reaching Cawnpore at nine o’clock on the morning of the 23rd, encamped on their former ground.
The 3rd Battalion during this expedition had remained at Cawnpore; but on the departure of the 2nd Battalion on the 13th, they had shifted their camp nearer to Head-quarters. They left Cawnpore on the 21st and marched to Oonao in Oude; and on the 22nd to Nawabgunge,[283] where they halted for some days.
Here they were reunited to their left wing, which they had not seen since before their embarkation in the July preceding. During their stay here numerous escorts were furnished by this Battalion, which was mainly employed in keeping open the road by which quantities of ammunition and stores were daily passing towards Lucknow. On the 28th, two companies of this Battalion, with some Horse Artillery, proceeded to a village about six miles distant, and brought in some of the principal men; the villagers having attacked and beaten the camel-drivers.