CHAPTER  XI
AGRA AND CENTRAL INDIA

IT was shown in Chapter VII that with the sur¬
render of the King the effective occupation of the
city of Dehli was complete. This success occurred just
in time to extinguish the sparks of rebellion, then being
assiduously fanned in the north of India.

The general in command of the field forces had
broken down in health and was about to proceed to
the Himalayas; but on September 24 he despatched
a force of 900 Europeans and 1800 Panjabis to re¬
establish our rule farther south. On the 28th there
was a fight near Balandshahr, resulting in the defeat
of the rebels, who lost 3 guns, two of which were
taken by the 75th (ist Gordon Highlanders) and one
by the cavalry, on which Arm the brunt of the
fighting fell. Lieutenants the Hon. A. Anson and
Blair, of the Queen's service, Hugh Gough (now Sir
Hugh, V.C, G.C.B.), Probyn (now General the Right
Hon. Sir Dighton, V.C), Sleigh (now Field-Marshal
Earl, V.C) Roberts, and Watson (now General Sir John,
V.C, G.C.B.), of the East India Company's service, all
had personal encounters in the streets of the town
with the enemy, who individually fought well when
retreating. Anson and Blair gained the Victoria Cross.
Lord Roberts, in his Forty-one Years in India, de¬
scribes his narrow escape through his horse's rearing