291 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



FROM UMBALA TO FATHIGARH. 

 NOV. 1857-JAN. 1858. 



Towards tlie end of the same month his old friend 

 Colonel Seaton was instructed by General Penny to 

 take charge of an immense convoy about to be 

 despatched from Delhi on the road to Cawnpore, 

 or wherever he might find Sir Colin Campbell. A 

 small force of all arms — absurdly small for a convoy 

 reckoned to cover some eighteen miles of ground — 

 was assigned to him for this purpose. For the 

 success of such a movement Seaton felt that the 

 means of obtaining correct information on all essen- 

 tial points was absolutely necessary. He therefore 

 requested General Penny to let him have Major 

 Hodsou and his regiment of horse, instead of the 

 cavalry corps that had been detailed for that duty. 

 " ' But,' urged the general, ' Hodson's corps is 



not so strong as 's nor anything like so well 



mounted.' ' I know that, sir, quite well ; but 

 as the safety of the convoy — the whole success of 

 the expedition — will depend mainly on getting 

 accurate information of the enemy, I wish to have 

 Hodson, for I know well that if any man in the 

 world can get it, he is the man. He is indefatig- 



