On the 28th, leaving their camp standing, they marched at four in the morning, about six miles into the jungle to a fort called Kataree. On arrival they found it deserted. The fort was blown up, and they took five guns, one brass and four iron. The former had an inscription in Persian, stating that it had belonged to Rajah Buksh Ullah Khan Bahadoor. It had been employed in the Sikh campaign. The iron guns, being unserviceable, were destroyed.
It appeared from the traces on the ground that the rebels had occupied with considerable numbers the positions they had gone over in the late marches. Many of these were strong and commanding; and had the enemy dared to make a stand they might have harassed our people considerably; but their courage had failed them, and all were found unoccupied. The Battalion returned to their camp at Jugdespore about seven in the evening.
On the 29th they marched to Gooreabad, nine miles. A weary march, for the siege guns could not be got forward in consequence of the frequent occurrence of nullahs and aqueducts for irrigating the country. These were broken down by coolies; yet the progress was very slow, and they did not camp at Gooreabad, till after eleven.
On the 30th they started at four in the morning; and it was intended to make a march of seventeen miles. But from the same difficulties in moving the heavy guns as occurred the day before, the camp was pitched at Itterowah, after marching nine miles, which it took six hours to accomplish.
On the 31st the Battalion marched to Ettyah, eight miles, and halted there for some days.
On November 9 they marched at four o’clock in the morning. The country being cultivated there was great difficulty in getting the siege guns forward, and the treasure chest broke down. Thus hindered, it took the Battalion some thirteen hours to make a march of eighteen miles; and they did not encamp, about a mile and a half from the fort of Amethie, till five in the evening. Here they formed a junction with the Commander-in-Chief’s army, which was encamped about five miles from them, on the north-east of the fort; while General Wetherall’s force was on the south-west. The Riflemen expected to assault the fort on the morrow. But when that morrow came, Loll Madhoo, the Rajah of Amethie, came into camp and capitulated, declaring that he had no power over his people, and that he had been compelled, in order to save his own life, to fire on the English troops the day before.
But though the Rajah had himself surrendered, no doubt to secure his personal safety, the occupants of the fort evacuated it in the night, and disappeared through the jungle. Wherefore on the 11th the Battalion received an order to start in pursuit; and marched at three o’clock in the afternoon through very dusty roads nine miles to Gowriegunge, and did not reach their camping-ground till seven o’clock in the evening. On the 12th they proceeded to Ettyah, nine miles.
On the 13th, starting at six in the morning, they marched twelve miles to Pursaidepore, near Salone, where they arrived at twelve, having on the march crossed the river Sie. At eight o’clock at night they received a sudden order to move their camp further; and accordingly on the 14th, at five in the morning, marched four miles, and arriving at seven pitched their camp at Secrian, near the entrance of the jungle, and furnished strong outlying picquets.
On the next day, starting early in the morning, they marched fourteen miles by a very bad road and through clouds of dust to Shunkerpore. This was a stronghold of Beni Madhoo, and it was hoped that by concentrating the columns on it, he might be caught. But however there was a fresh disappointment. In the dark hours of the morning he managed to evade the picquets, and to escape with his followers, guns and baggage. As soon as his flight was discovered on the morning of the 16th, the Battalion received a sudden order to march in pursuit, and starting at seven o’clock proceeded to Roy Bareilly, where they pitched camp about two in the afternoon.
On the 17th they made a march of sixteen miles to Mohungunge, starting at six and not arriving till about two, several long halts having been made for guns to come up, the road leading through much thick jungle.