CHAPTER XX

OPERATIONS NEAR GWALIAR—DEATH OF THE
RANI —MAN SINGH OF NARWAR-~ MAJOR
ROBERTSON

THE operations briefly described in the previous
chapter had apparently disposed so effectually
of the rebellious forces in Central India, that Sir Colin
Campbell wrote to Sir Robert Hamilton regarding the
distribution of the troops, who, under the inspiring
example of Sir Hugh Rose (Lord Strathnairn), had
shown the endurance and undaunted courage of the
British soldier at his best. Sir Hugh Rose had been
invalided, and was leaving for a cooler climate, when
on June 4 he received information which induced him
to resume command.

During the operations ending in the capture of
Kalpi, Tantia Topi was in hiding with his parents
near Jalaur, a village of that district, but a few days later
he joined the Rao Sahib, who, with the Rani of Jhansi and
the Banda Nawab, had fled from Kalpi to Gopalgur, a
village 50 miles south-west of Gwaliar. There it was
resolved, on the suggestion, as it was commonly believed,
of the Rani, to march on Gwaliar and oust Sindhia,
whose loyalty to the British Government had rendered
him unpopular at his capital. Bold as was the scheme,
it was the only one offering fair chances of success, for
British forces were closing in on the rebels from the

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