We were evidently unexpected visitors; wounded men were lying about in all directions, and many sepoys were surprised calmly cooking their frugal meal of unleavened bread.  The tents were found to be full of property plundered from the city and cantonment of Cawnpore—­soldiers’ kits, bedding, clothing, and every description of miscellaneous articles; but to us the most valuable acquisition was a quantity of grain and a large number of fine bullocks, of which those best suited for Ordnance purposes were kept, and the rest were made over to the Commissariat.

That portion of the rebel force with which we had been engaged was now in full retreat, and Sir Colin wished to follow it up at once; but the Cavalry and Horse Artillery had not arrived, so that considerable delay occurred; while we were waiting the Chief arranged to send Mansfield with a small force[3] round to the north of Cawnpore, and, by thus threatening the road along which the Nana’s troops must retreat, compel them to evacuate the city.  The 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers and a detachment of the 38th Foot were to be left to look after the deserted camp, and Inglis’s brigade was to move along the Kalpi road in support of the Cavalry and Horse Artillery.  But where were the much-needed and anxiously-expected mounted troops?  It was not like them to be out of the way when their services were required; but it was now nearly two o’clock, they had not appeared, and the days were very short.  What was to be done?  The enemy could not be allowed to carry off their guns and escape punishment.  Suddenly the old Chief announced that he had determined to follow them up himself with Bourchier’s battery and his own escort.

What a chase we had!  We went at a gallop, only pulling up occasionally for the battery to come into action, ‘to clear our front and flanks.’  We came up with a goodly number of stragglers, and captured several guns and carts laden with ammunition.  But we were by this time overtaking large bodies of the rebels, and they were becoming too numerous for a single battery and a few staff officers to cope with.  We had outstripped the Commander-in-Chief, and Hope Grant decided to halt, hoping that the missing Cavalry and Horse Artillery might soon turn up.  We had not to wait long.  In about a quarter of an hour they appeared among some trees to our left, even more put out than we were at their not having been to the front at such a time.  Their guide had made too great a detour, but the sound of our guns showed them his mistake, and they at once altered their course and pushed on in the direction of the firing.  Sir Colin had also come up, so off we started again, and never drew rein until we reached the Pandu Naddi, fourteen miles from Cawnpore.  The rout was complete.  Finding themselves pressed, the sepoys scattered over the country, throwing away their arms and divesting themselves of their uniform, that they might pass for harmless peasants.  Nineteen guns, some of them of large calibre, were left in our hands.  Our victory was particularly satisfactory in that it was achieved with but slight loss to ourselves, the casualties being 2 officers and 11 men killed, and 9 officers and 76 men wounded.