Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/402

394 SIT: and children fled out of the bungalow on the opposite side of the house which faced the river; pursued and fired upon by the miscreants of the military police, and other regiments which now joined them, somo were shot down before they reached tho stream, others were killed in it, a few perished on the opposite bank, two or thrce only escaped, viz., Sir Mountstuart Jackson and his two sisters and little Sophy Christian, who was saved by Sergeant Major Morton. There fell Mr. and Mrs. Christian and child, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thornhilland their children, and several others. Those who escaped broke into two parties. Lieutenant Burnes, Sir Mountstuart, and Miss Madeline Jackson, Sergeant-Major Morton and little Sophy Christian found. refuge, though an unwilling one, with the Rája Lone Singh at his fort of Mitauli. Mrs. Greene, Miss Jackson, and Captain John Hearsey fled north- wards, and, after being joined by other refugees, found shelter at Mathiári with the Rája of Dhaurahra, whence also they had soon to fly. The following account of a battle near Biswán and subsequent proceed- ings is taken from Sir Hope Grant's Sepoy War:-"On the 13th April we marched at daybreak, but had scarcely gone three miles on our way when I heard the advanced guard commence firing. The road or rather track had been very bad, and I had remained behind to see the heavy guns brought across a nála. I immediately galloped to the front, and found that a strong cavalry picket of the enemy had attacked our advanced guard, had surrounded a troop of Wale's horse, wounding one of the officers, Prendergast,* and would have taken the two guns which were with it, when they suddenly perceived a squadron of the 7th Hussars, which tho dust lead hitherto prevented them from secing, ready to charge them, whereupon thoy wheeled about and galloped off. When I reached the scene of the condict I saw this hostile force, which now amounted to some thousand men, working round our right flank, ovidently bent on attacking our baggage, which extended over a lino of nearly three milos. I instantly brought up 300 cavalry and two of Mackinnon's guus to protect our flank, and fired several shots at them, but without effect. In addition to our rear guard, I ordered the Bengal Fusiliers to cover our right flank. I sent a troop of the 7th Hussars to patrol along both flanks, and another squadron to watch the movements of the sowars. The enemy came round in rear of a villago, and were in the act of charging upon our baggage when the troop of the 7th Hussars, who were ready prepared for them, dashed down and galloped through them, putting them to flight and sabring many of their number. "Captain Topham, t who commanded tho troop, and who had run a native officer through the body, was wounded by a lance. He had two men mor- tally and six men slightly wounded. A little after another body of the rebels charged down upon our baggage, but were met by two companies of the Bengal Fusiliers, who poured a volley into them when within 30 yards distant, which rolled a number in the dust. Thereupon they desisted from further attacks, and retreated as quickly as possible. † Now Major M.M. Prendergast, secoud in command of the 4th Bengal cavalry, † Captaia R. Topham is now in contagd of the 16th Bengal cavalry,