Following the death of Major Holmes and the uprising in Dinapore, a very disheartened William Tayler followed with growing dismay the continued lack of regard Calcutta placed on the problems facing Bihar. He had limited resources to protect Patna, let alone the rest of the division, and he had until now done everything in his power to ensure his division and Patna, in particular, remained calm.

Tayler had reined in his panicking subordinates, ordering them throughout May and June to remain at their posts, believing their limited presence was better than none at all. To his intense irritation, they continued trying to leave – as noted already, even disguised as women from Shahbad – or in complete disorder like Mr Richardson from Sarun in the Chupra District. He had removed the treasuries from the outlying areas, as far as possible, to Patna – firstly to remove temptation that could lead to an uprising and secondly because it could be better protected under his own men.

He had ordered the men at Shahabad to go back to their station, he had supported Wake and Littledale to remain at Arrah, and although he had sanctioned Raikes leaving Champaran, he had made it clear that as soon as possible, he must return. Tayler felt that showing a presence in their districts, regardless of how unsafe they were, helped preserve a sense of confidence. He even gave Richardson and William McDonell on their flight from Chupra the benefit of the doubt – being in bad health and of a nervous constitution, Tayler managed to soothe Richardson enough that he went back to the station of his own will. Insolence and threats from the local population were not reason enough, Tayler felt, to abandon a post. That is, until the barbaric murders at Sagauli and the defeat of Danbar’s relief for sent to Arrah.

Following the uprising in Dinapore, Tayler was faced with a difficult decision. The crisis, he knew, called for immediate action. If Kunwar Singh was not stopped at Arrah, he would certainly march to Gaya, and Tayler was not willing to have the blood of the men under his charge on his hands. In light of these circumstances, Tayler sent an order to the civilians of the remaining outlying stations of Muzafferpore, Tirhut and Gaya to come without delay to Patna. The officials at Arrah were under siege and could not possibly follow a withdrawal order, and all the functionaries of Chuprah had left their station again of their own accord a few days earlier. Raikes at Champaran had left after the murder of Holmes, a withdrawal Tayler sanctioned after the fact, but as quickly as he left, Tayler approved him going back when the 12th Irregulars were well out of his district.
Lynch and Macdonnell had been chased out of their station by the 12th Irregulars quite nearly to the very borders of Dinapore, and Tayler found them, footsore, tired, but very much alive in that station.
The men at the remaining stations of Mozufferpore and Gaya both complied with Tayler’s orders but in different ways. One was understandable, and the other, ridiculous.

When the order to withdraw was given, Mr Forbes of Mozufferpore and his office complied but were unable to take the treasure – they had insufficient carriages, and their flight was necessitated by the surly 12th Irregulars, lately sent by the now-deceased Major Holmes to help defend the station.

The twelve men of Holmes’ Irregulars revolted shortly after the Europeans left. They ran off with the Collector’s horses and his boots and would have taken the contents of the treasury had the Najibs posted there not put up a strong resistance – the same Najibs who at this point were distrusted by everyone – saved the Muzaffurpore treasury. Being already in the pay of some wealthy local merchants, they gained nothing by joining the mutineers.
The mutineers called on the Najibs at the treasury to come out and divide the treasure with them – the Najibs refused. Their reply in effect was, they were in charge of the treasure and they would keep it. After some rather choice words, the Najibs opened fire on the mutineers, who swiftly turned their horses and fled.
The same merchants had also posted Najibs in the town and in front of their own homes – as the mutineers rode down the street, the Najibs shot at them. Only one person was wounded in this encounter, and that was an elderly woman who got caught in the middle of the fray, suffering a bullet wound to the leg.
Hearing Mozufferpore was now without any European officials, the indigo planters in the district decided to take up the call, and the next day, a party of five rode into the town, armed with rifles and swords, determined to hold it until the Europeans returned. The next day, the magistrate and collector arrived back in Mozufferpore, sent back by William Tayler, who assessed correctly, with the flight of the 12th Irregulars, Mozufferpore was once again safe.

Then there was Gaya and the rather curious Mr Alonzo Money.