The Escape of Mr. V.J. Sturt

Mr. Sturt was not from Nowgong but attached to the garrison at Jhansi. He had, however, made his escape from that station disguised as a native after the massacre of the Europeans there and had made his way to a village, escorted by 2 friends. He joined Captain Scot after they left Chhatarpur on the 14th of June and would remain with them until the 19th, when they left Kabrai.
He had been persuaded by some sepoys and a guide to make his way to a village called Mirka in the Chhatarpur territory, where, while asking around for Scot’s party, he was attacked. “While I was speaking to them, one wrenched my sword from my belt, and the other aimed a blow from behind with his sword. Luckily I saw this in time, and fired at him with my revolver, which had the effect of weakening his hand so that I only got off with a scratch; other men were persuing me, when my beast of a horse made a dead stop which obliged me to leave him to his fate and trust to my legs, to gain my party…”
He stayed with them until Kabrai.
When the party started off that night, Sturt found he could no longer keep up. He was so exhausted after his 20 mile walk in the sun that day, he quietly stopped and unperceived by the others, became separated. Scot would later claim Sturt had willingly disengaged himself, and disguised as a native, pursued his own course. This was not quite the truth.

Realising he would never catch up, Sturt found a hollow in which to rest himself a little before proceeding through the countryside for the remainder of the night. At daybreak, he came to a village, where he was once again attacked and robbed of what little he had left. He was then chased out of the place.
Driven on by thirst, Sturt tried in vain to find a well. Providence, however, can come to those who persevere, and not long after, he saw a group of men carrying water vessels. Instead of approaching them (Sturt had by now learned his lesson), he followed them until he could muster the courage to ask them for a drink. It was fortunate he did. As he stood conversing with the men, a zamindar came up and, seeing Sturt’s rather bewildering appearance, offered him shelter at his village, saying he could stay as long as he liked. Grateful for a little kindness at last, Sturt went with him.
Although he was not met with much comfort – the food was coarse, and his bed was the hard ground in a shed – it was certainly better than he could have expected. Shelter was all they would give him, and he could not persuade anyone to take a message for him, either the Nawab of Banda or their own Chirkari Raja. After a fortnight, his luck changed once again.
Some of the Chirkari Raja’s men who happened to be passing through the village convinced Sturt to accompany them. On arriving at Chirkari, his case was immediately reported to the Raja, who most kindly took him under his protection, and Sturt was taken to the quarters given to Mr. Carne, that most fortunate of collectors. Here they remained until it was safe for them to proceed onwards to Nagode.

This is not the end of the accounts of Nowgong. We will turn our attention now to Lieutenant Jackson of the 12th BNI after leaving Chhatarpur.