who came through Patiala were received with the greatest kindness and hospitality and were supplied with everything they required. The Maharaja gave a loan of eight lakhs to Government, and expressed his willingness to double this amount.
Most of the services of the Maharaja were rendered in Dholpur and Gwalior. Early in September, 1857, the combined insurgent forces of Indore and Gwalior entered the Dholpur State. Most of the Rana's troops and officials joined the rebels, who ravaged the district, defied the Chief's authority, and even threatened his life until he consented to their demands. At length they left Dholpur, taking with them the Rana's guns, and set out for Agra; but Dholpur remained in a state of anarchv, and the Chief was unable to restore order till, with the consent of the North-West and Punjab authorities, the Maharaja of Patiala sent there a force of two thousand men and two guns. Although Dholpur was tranquillized, the neighbouring States, particularly Gwalior, were in so disturbed a condition that the Patiala troops were directed to remain at Dholpur. Maharaja Jiaji Rao Sindhia, attended by his Minister, Sir Dinkar Rao, and three or four Sardars, fled to Dholpur on 2nd June, and were supplied with an escort of Patiala troops till they reached Agra. A British force then marched against the rebel army at Gwalior, and the Patiala forces were increased by every available man. All the ferries on the Chambal river were guarded by Patiala troops, and supplies were procured for the British army. A detachment of Patiala troops served under General Napier in the action at Alipur on 19th June, and attacked and routed the rebels who had already been defeated before Gwalior. A month later, at the request of Sir R. Hamilton, a Patiala detachment of six hundred infantry and three hundred horse was moved from Dholpur to Gwalior, and it remained doing excellent service at Isagarh, near Ujjain, and other places, reducing rebellious village and acting as guards and escorts.
