[Illustration: CAPE OF GOOD HOPE GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL, WITH BAR FOR BECHUANALAND, 1896.]
=Kotah.=--General Roberts, in order to deal with the mutineers who had murdered the Resident, Major Burton, and his two sons, pushed past all opposition in Rajpootana, and in spite of great hardships advanced against Kotah, and on March 30th, under the leadership of the 72nd the troops poured through the Kittenpole Gate, which had been blown up by the Engineers; and after terrific fighting, in which Lieutenant Cameron of the 72nd gained his V.C., the mutineers gave way, and by the evening Kotah, with its 70 guns, was denuded of mutineers. The force engaged included 250 of the 72nd Highlanders; 500 of the 83rd; 250 of the 95th; a like number of the 10th and 13th Bengal Native Infantry; a number of Sappers, and a detachment of the 8th Hussars.
The Highland brigade, after the capture of Lucknow, was engaged in assisting to stamp out the rebellion in the province of Rohilcund, and to that end were employed in Brigadier Walpole's force, which marched from Lucknow with the object of advancing upon the district from one point while Brigadier John Jones advanced from Roorkee. In Walpole's advance he called upon the Rajah in possession of the jungle fort of Rhooyah to surrender the place, and on his refusal ordered four companies of the "Black Watch" to advance without protection or cover against the strongest face of the fort, from which, after gallantly remaining in an exposed position for six hours, they ultimately retired, but not before Brigadier Adrian Jones of the 93rd, Lieutenants Douglas and Bramley of the 42nd, and Lieutenant Willoughby of the Punjabis had been killed, also a sergeant and 6 privates of the 42nd, a lieutenant, 3 sergeants, and 34 privates wounded, in an affair that, but for the want of spirit on the part of the commander, might have been settled in a few minutes by a bayonet charge into the mud fort! Next day the place was found to be deserted, and after burying their dead the British marched in pursuit of the mutineers, whom they caught up and defeated at Allahgunge.
=Three V.C.'s won by 42nd.=--In this unfortunate affair Quartermaster-Sergeant Simpson of the 42nd gained the V.C. for bravely going back and rescuing an officer and a private who lay dangerously wounded. Private Davis of the 42nd was also awarded the coveted distinction for going up to the very walls of the fort and rescuing the body of Lieutenant Bramley. Lance-Corporal Alex Thompson of the 42nd also received the Cross for assisting Major-General W. M. Cafe to bear away, under a heavy fire, the body of Lieutenant Willoughby, and going to the rescue of Private Spence, who had been mortally wounded in the same effort.