Mughal monarch was a prisoner, and the principal nucleus of insurrection was destroyed.
The re-conquest of Upper India, however, was still far from completion. The fall of Delhi, important as was its moral effect, made substantially little difference to the rebel numbers. The garrison had escaped, and the hostile forces, previously occupying various portions of the country, were strengthened by the accession of a garrison till now concentrated for the defence of the besieged city. Outram and Havelock had heard of the fall of Delhi as they were entering Lucknow, but they were practically prisoners in that city.
The task of rescuing them devolved on the newly-arrived Commander-in-Chief. It was no light one. Sir Colin Campbell, on his arrival in Calcutta, found a general sense of disaster and discouragement. There was much to be done before an advance upon Lucknow could be attempted. The war departments at Calcutta had to be strengthened into increased efficiency: transport for reinforcements to be provided; the line of advance from Calcutta to Cawnpur — dangerously exposed throughout its entire length — to be secured. It was not till the close of October that the Commander-in-Chief was able to quit Calcutta for the theatre of war. After a narrow escape of being taken prisoner, en route, Sir Colin reached Allahábád on November 1st. His position was critical. To his north lay Oudh, and the districts, eastward and westward, which had been caught in the Oudh
