Cb. II ]
 

Havelock
 

CHAPTER   II

HAVELOCK
 

When the Sikh Sepoys delivered the Allahabad fort into the
hands of the English, instead of into the hands of the Revolu¬
tionaries, the English made it a base of operations on their
side. There was now no longer the danger of having to
carry on all civil and military operations in the North of India
from a distant centre like Calcutta. Lord Canning decided to
shift the capital itself to Allahabad until the Revolution was
suppressed and, accordingly, he came in a few days to reside
at Allahabad. But, in the meanwhile, came the news of the
miserable plight of the English at Cawnpore and their piteous
cries for help. General Neill, therefore, kept a small army for
protection at Allahabad and sent the rest under Major Renaud
to raise the siege of Cawnpore. This detachment marched on
burning villages indiscriminately, on their way. Just then,
Havelock was appointed to the command of the Cawnpore
army in place of Neill. He arrived at Allahabad, towards the
end of June. He was a trained and experienced soldier. For¬
tunately for the English, the war with Persia came to an end
about the time when the Revolution actually broke out, and
the whole English army, under good commanders like Havelock,
arrived in India just at the time when they were very badly
wanted. Though Neill was extremely chagrined to find that
Havelock superseded him as the chief officer at Allahabad and
that he had to be under him, he did not allow his private
feelings to come in the way of the welfare of his country's
rule   in   India.    He   made   vigorous efforts towards the equip-

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