ABSTRACT
In 1857 Patna, which stands on the right or south bank of the Ganges, 370 miles north-west of Calcutta, contained 158,000 inhabitants, 38,000 of whom were Muhammadans. The Sipahis, unmolested, emptied their regimental store of percussion caps and marched for Arah, 35 miles to the westward. In 1857, Eyre heard on July 29, while waiting for 150 men, of the 5th Fusiliers, who were steaming up the Ganges that Arah, 45 miles to the eastward, held out. Major Vincent Eyre, Bengal Artillery, who had been recalled from Burma, reached Baksar, on the Ganges, on July 28, with the men of his battery, but without draught animals for the guns. However, mainly owing to the discipline, calm courage, and military training of the Sikh detachment of 70 men, acting as rearguard, that the remnant of this muddled expedition regained the Ganges.
