of an enormous force moving down from Oudh, and in consequence whole regiments of rebels, both horse and foot, were reported by spies to be hurrying northward with much alacrity and consternation. And by-and-bye these rumours proved so far correct, that a swarm of Gurkhas, returning to their homes in Nipal, passed by. our encampment laden with the spoils of Luknow, and exultant in the “exploits” they had there achieved! And yet, forsooth, of what real assistance were these Gurkhas in their confederacy with us after all? No European who had an opportunity of seeing them before the enemy in the field could applaud their prowess; while the natives of Upper India regarded their interference in the war as a proof of weakness on our part, and, in consequence, the Government temporarily lost considerable prestige in those districts through which this superfluous Gurkha army sauntered homeward to Nipal.
While these Gurkhas were passing on, a lull in hostilities temporarily followed; but it was not allowed to continue for any length of time. For now Banse, a large and loyal town on the border of Oudh, was invaded by hordes of rebels; and as it was ascertained that they had resolved to advance farther into the district, the Brigade at once, marched to Banse; while the perpetual and familiar booming of the enemy’s guns marked irregularly the cadence in a long, fatiguing tramp, through a line of country overshadowed with the gloom of a night so black, that our eyes could not pierce its density beyond our horses’ ears.
