Return to Cawnpore
The gallant attack of Major-General Charles Windham’s force on the Gwalior Contingent, 26 November 1857, at the Paudoo Nuddee. NAM 1971-02-33-496-17
Cawnpore was held by the British until November, when Lieutenant-General Sir Colin Campbell marched most of its garrison to Lucknow. He left behind a small detachment under Brigadier Charles Windham. Meanwhile, Nana Sahib's general, Tantya Tope, had gathered a large army to recapture the city. Its core was the Gwalior Contingent, a body of troops that had mutinied in June. On 26 November Windham drove off Tantya's advance guard but was then forced back to the original entrenchment. Campbell’s force then returned from Lucknow and found Windham surrounded and the rebels occupying the city.
Cawnpore captured
The pursuit of the Gwalior Contingent by Sir Colin Campbell on 6 December 1857.
NAM 1971-02-33-496-20
Campbell attacked on 6 December. Windham opened a bombardment to deceive the rebels that Campbell was about to attack their left. The real attack was made on the right to threaten their communications with Kalpi. Campbell's heavy naval guns were the decisive factor. As the Gwalior Contingent broke and fled, Nana Sahib's own men were defeated north of the city. The British pursued them to Bithur where the Nana's treasury was captured the next day.
