Lucknow and Cawnpore. At the latter place not only had the native troops
mutinied, but the Rajah of Bithoor, Nana Sahib, whom the English had
regarded as a firm friend, had joined them. Sir Hugh Wheeler, with the
officers of the revolted regiments the civilians of the station, and forty
or fifty white troops, having some eight hundred women and children in
their charge, were defending a weak position against thousands of the
enemy, provided with artillery.

When after riding thirty miles, the party stopped at daybreak at a ruined
temple standing in its grove at a distance from the main road, Major
Warrener called his officers into council, to determine what was the best
course to adopt under the circumstances. Should they dash through the
lines of the besiegers of Cawnpore, or should they make for Agra, or
endeavor to join the force which was being collected at Allahabad to march
to their relief?

Finally, and very reluctantly, the latter course was decided upon. It was
agreed--and the truth of their conclusion was proved by the fact that
throughout the mutiny there was no single instance of the rebels, however
numerous, carrying a position held by any body of Englishmen--that Sir
Hugh Wheeler and his force could probably hold the intrenchments against
any assault that the enemy could make, and that if forced to surrender it
would probably be from want of supplies. In that case the arrival of a
hundred men would be a source of weakness rather than of strength. The
reinforcement would not be of sufficient strength to enable the garrison,
incumbered as it was with women and children, to cut its way out, while
there would be a hundred more mouths to fill. It was therefore resolved to
change their course, to avoid Cawnpore, and to make direct for Allahabad,
with the news of the urgent strait in which Sir Hugh Wheeler was placed,
and of the necessity for an instant advance to his relief.