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For the next two months The Connaught Rangers supplied mobile detachments to keep the country between the Ganges and the Jumna clear of the enemy, the permanent camp continuing at Akbarpore. The ten companies had usually a little over 800 of all ranks available, with about 120 or so on the sick list.
Meanwhile, during these two months, [[Hugh Rose|Sir Hugh Rose ]] with the "Central India Field Force" was approaching Kalpee from the south-west. After capturing Jhansi on April 4th and Koonch a month later he reached the neighbourhood of Kalpee on May 15th. Colonel Maxwell, who was strengthened about the same time by Major Ross's Camel Corps (nearly 700 strong) and some mortars, advanced towards Kalpee on the 18th and established communication with Sir Hugh Rose, sending on the night of the 20th the whole of the Camel Corps with two companies of the 88th and 124 Sikh infantry across the Jumna. Sir Hugh Rose prepared for battle on the 22nd but was himself attacked that morning. The ensuing fight was one of the fiercest during the Mutiny; indeed the issue was at one time in doubt. The rebels however were in the end decisively defeated, the Camel Corps sent by Colonel Maxwell rendering timely help at the critical point. The rebels at Kalpee were shelled by the mortars on the forenoon of the 23rd, a portion of the 88th lining the river bank and engaging with musketry fire. The enemy, however, soon proved to be so disheartened by their defeat of the previous day that they evacuated the place, which was entered without opposition during the day. At that period the weather was extremely hot, and several of the men died from sunstroke.
Owing to the trials of the hot weather campaign under canvas the Rangers were ordered into cantonments at [[Cawnpore]], arriving there on June 2nd. The cessation of active work, however, with its excitement produced the usual reaction, with the result that, notwithstanding the better protection from the heat, fever and cholera broke out and before long more than half the battalion was on the sick list. The sickness fortunately abated after some weeks, and then, on July 17th, The Connaught Rangers left [[Cawnpore]] for [[Lucknow]], once more in British hands. The regiment, after being at first under canvas at Bohura, moved to the "Old Cantonments" at [[Lucknow]] on August 5th. Five companies, with the regimental Head-quarters, remained there. The other five companies were attached to the Field Force at Nawabganj, an arrangement that continued with little alteration for about five months. The half-battalion at [[Lucknow]] was generally over 400 strong, while the five Field Force companies mustered about 350 of all ranks fit for duty. On July 1st, there had been 207 sick. This number decreased to 108 by September 1st, and to 45 only on December 1st. Although drafts were received from home from time to time, the enrolled strength in India between August and December 1858 decreased somewhat, from 917 to 872.
