The Mutiny of 1857, and the Siege
third-class siege-train at Phillour, and the Sirmur Gurkhas, who distinguished themselves so greatly, were ordered from DehraDun to Meerut. General Anson himself left for the plains on the morning
of the 14th, to take command of the relieving force. The Maharaja of Patiala sent troops to occupy Thanesar, and, later, Umballa was con-
fided to his care; the Maharaja of Jhind sent a contingent to Karnal, and other chiefs assisted to guard the communications, for no reliance could now be placed on the Sepoy army.
The next few days were spent in the organization of transport by the civil authorities, in the supply to guns and Infantry of ammunition, of which they had next to none, and In the collection of supplies of food and fodder. The troops were then pushed forward in small bodies to Karnal, where General Anson died of cholera on the 27th of May. On that same evening a force at last left Meerut, and marched to Ghazi-ud-dln-nagar, now Ghaziabad, where, on the 30th of May and following day, it gave the rebels two sharp lessons, and repulsed their attacks with loss. On the 4th of June this force marched to effect a junction with the Umballa force at Alipur, on the right bank of the Jumna, and twelve miles from Delhi.
Sir Henry Barnard, on whom had devolved269
