but "I do not despond. I must march to-morrow against Bithoor, but it seems advisable to look the evil in the face, for there is no chance but between reinforcements and gradual absorption by disease. I don't halt while the enemy keeps the field." That same day Neill, with a mere handful of men, fell on the left wing of Nana, and drove it in confusion back to Bithoor. The next day, Havelock put himself at the head of his band of invincibles, and marched eleven miles to attack the main force, consisting of 4,000 men. At noon of a hot August day he came in sight of the enemy's cavalry hovering in front, into which a couple of round shot, at a long distance, were pitched, to make them unmask their position. After reconnoitering, Havelock discovered that their centre rested on a bridge which crossed a stream running in front of Bithoor, his right and left on two hamlets, while his flanks were well protected by fields of sugar-cane, which effectually covered them. Bithoor, occupying a rising ground, with its brick houses and grove of trees, lay farther in the rear, and was also filled with troops. Havelock saw that his favorite measure of turning the enemy could not be adopted here on account of the stream, and he, therefore, moved straight upon their several positions. The artillery opened within 1,000 yards, but soon limbered up and advanced to within 700. After a few rounds it again limbered. up, and reopened at canister range. Suddenly the rebel infantry, who had not fired a shot, waiting till the British came within close range, poured in a destructive volley. The guns, drawn by bullocks,

CAPTURE OF BITHOOR.

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kept advancing; but the Highlanders could not stand their slow movements, and with a cheer made a rush at the battery. The rebels stood to their guns nobly, and never flinched till the bayonets of the Highlanders were at their breasts. It was the first time those stern men had been able to get at the Sepoys with the bayonet, and they now used it without mercy upon them. The British were successful at every point, and drove the enemy back into the village. The troops were now thoroughly exhausted, and reaching the large inclosure surrounding the residency formerly occupied by the British agent near Nana, flung themselves on the ground to snatch a little rest. But in a few moments the bugles sounded the advance, and they staggered up to drive the rebels from the village itself. This was severe work -the streets were narrow, some of them winding, while almost every house had to be carried separately. One Highlander and a Madras fusileer, reduced to a rifle between them, entered a building where there were seven Sepoys, and killed the whole of them. Some of the mutineers, enraged at their defeat, broke their muskets and withdrew, weeping. No pursuit was attempted, for the troops were too exhausted-many of them lying utterly prostrate along the road and in the streets. The enemy fled to Soorajpore, whither Havelock wished to follow him, but without cavalry he saw it would be useless. Only 50 of the British had fallen, while the enemy had lost between 300 and 400, many of whom had been struck down by the bayonets of the Highlanders. After the battle was over, Havelock rode

along the line, and although the troops were scarcely able to stand, they sent up cheer after cheer with the same enthusiasm they did when flushed with their first victory. "Don't cheer me, my lads," he replied, "you did it all yourselves." This march of eleven miles, followed by a severe battle, under the burning sun of an August noonday, proved too much for the already overtasked troops, and that afternoon cholera and dysentery broke out with alarming violence among them.

The next day, Havelock marched back to Cawnpore. It was now plain to the most casual observer that the fighting power of that army was exhausted, and nothing more could be expected of it until it had

rest.

When one considers the prostrating effect of an Indian sun upon European troops, it seems incredible that this army, without tents, and often fasting, could have made the long marches and fought all the severe battles it had, between the 12th of July and 17th of August. These extraordinary efforts however had not been made without a fearful sacrifice-they had cost Havelock more than half of his army. Less than 800 men now answered to the roll call; while on every side the enemy were gathering by tens of thousands. Havelock, in his dispatches to the commander-in-chief, declared that he was ready to fight anything, yet he was convinced that one lost battle would be most disastrous to the British cause. Without reinforcements, he said, it was impossible to advance; in fact, he thought the emergency might arise that would compel him to fall back on Allahabad.