Chapter III: Part 3

Less firing than usual. The enemy again ascended into the upper story of Johannes' house, and from thence caused much annoyance to the position of the brigade mess, where the cooking went on. They succeeded in killing a sweeper. Terrible heat; Brigadier Inglis suffered from its effects. Various rumours afloat in the garrison; some of which seemed to have originated either with a servant of Mr. Gubbins, or some member of his post. The Residency is at last to be entirely vacated by the officers of the 32nd and others now resident there. Last night was spent in earthing in the magazine, as several shots had lately gone unpleasantly near, A carcase came into the Begum Kotee in the afternoon, into the room in which Lieutenant James (wounded), Mr. Lawrence (wounded), and Ensign Keir (sick), were lying; it set some of the things in the room on fire, but was speedily extinguished without injury to any one. Much bugling, drumming, and firing towards evening. After dark the enemy fired heavily from their guns in front of the Residency. Our engineers and a working party were busy all this night at Innes' house, making a battery for an 18-pounder, to be moved down in order to endeavour to silence a 24-pounder of the enemy's, which had been doing much mischief by firing through the church and Residency. About 9 P.M. a sepoy of the 1st Oude Irregular Infantry, who took out a letter to the officer commanding the relieving force, came in; he stated that he had delivered it, and that he had received a letter in reply which he had lost in coming in to us. Half-an-hour later, another man, a sepoy of the 48th, who had been sent into the town two days previously to try and gain intelligence, returned, and stated he had been confined several days by the enemy; and he in a great measure corroborated the statement of the sepoy of the 1st Oude Irregular Infantry: this loss of the letter was a great mortification to us, as it might have explained what was at this time inexplicable--the retirement towards Cawnpore of General Havelock's force, after apparently the greatest success on this side the Ganges.

_August 7th._--We worked hard at our new battery at Innes' house, and got it ready; an 18-pounder was taken down and in position by daylight, whence it commenced firing, and soon silenced the enemy's guns. The enemy, however, fired heavily from some others, and about 8 A.M. a shell burst close to the Residency and mortally wounded two of the best men in the 32nd, the one a colour-sergeant and the other an orderly-room clerk. Captain Waterman of the 13th was wounded through the hand by a musket ball at Innes' post this morning. Several cases of cholera. Every effort made to increase the number of men to grind wheat for the force. Exceedingly heavy rain during the middle of the day. The hose into our mine near Johannes's house got damped, and required all the tamping to be removed. Our position greatly flooded, which rendered it most wretched for those who had to be in trenches night and day. The artillery canteen closed, in consequence of the gross irregularities which prevailed, and its contents removed to the canteen of the 32nd Regiment, from which the artillery were in future supplied. The heavy rain seemed to make the stench which pervaded the place worse, and this evening it was fearful. Several cases of cholera occurred to-day. The enemy's cannon knocked down a portion of the verandah of the Residency, also the verandah of Delprat's house at the Cawnpore battery: a few shells came in in the evening.

_August 8th._--A tolerably quiet night. Dr. McDonnell, of the 41st Native Infantry, died early this morning of cholera. A soldier of the 32nd was shot, and a native woman-servant of Mrs. Banks had her thigh broken by musketry at Mr. Gubbins's post this forenoon.

A heavy smoke was distinctly seen in the far distance in the direction of the Cawnpore road. Many reports were made of heavy firing being heard in the same direction: a Sikh attached to the cavalry brought repeated accounts of it, but no European, save Captains Forbes and Hawes, of Mr. Gubbins's post, could say he heard it. The natives (some of them) very anxious about the arrival of the reinforcements, of whom we could hear nothing.

In the afternoon, a regiment of infantry, about 600 strong, with drums beating, marching in quarter distance column with colours, was seen marching through the city, in the direction of the Cawnpore road.

Seven hundred yards from the brigade-mess was a street in the city which was commanded by Lieutenant Sewell's double Enfield rifle, and on which spot he had killed several sepoys and others: this was this afternoon barricaded right across, which was a nuisance, as it entirely obstructed our view of what passed along. Lieutenant Bryce of the artillery, who had been severely wounded, died of cholera.

No intelligence came in this evening, and much anxiety as to our reinforcements was evinced by some of our native troops and servants. Rice was served out to most of the natives in lieu of flour, and wheat to the native camp-followers, in order to husband our stock of flour. All the tea and coffee for the Europeans expended; the last issue being made yesterday. This was the first day on which we had no casualty.

_August 9th._--The heat excessive, and children sank rapidly under the effects of want of good air, food and exercise: several deaths occurred among them, both yesterday and to-day. The enemy fired heavily in the morning, but providentially, no one was hurt. Ensign Studdy, who had had his arm amputated from the effects of a 24-pounder shot, died this morning. The enemy were thought to have recommenced mining near the Redan battery.

Divine service was performed in the brigade mess-house to all officers not on duty. No signs or symptoms of our reinforcements. In the middle of the day Ensign Loughnan of the 13th (on duty at Innes' house) went out with a few men and quietly spiked a small gun of the enemy's, and returned without any loss. A very heavy shower in the evening, which filled our trenches. One or two doolies were seen going across the Goomtee, accompanied by sepoys. About 9 P.M. a Seikh sowar of the 3rd Oude Irregular Cavalry came in by the Seikh battery. His having been permitted to pass the enemy's outposts induced a belief that he had come in to try and make the other Seikhs desert; consequently he was placed under British bayonets, and not allowed to converse with any one.

_August 10th._--About 10 A.M. a great number of sepoys, probably 1600, were seen, with two guns, marching up our left flank and across the Cawnpore road, behind their trenches. Very shortly after, a large force was seen to be approaching the bridge of boats from cantonments; and, in consequence, all were quickly at their posts. About half an hour after, the enemy fired a shell into the Begum Kotee, which appeared to be a signal; for the instant after, a mine was sprung opposite to Johannes's house, which blew in a great portion of the house occupied by Mr. Schilling and the Martiniere boys, and entirely destroyed our pallisades and defences for the space of sixty feet. One of the heaviest timbers was pitched right on the top of the brigade mess-house, among the officers and men of the 32nd, who occupied the post. As soon as the smoke blew away, the enemy pushed up, under a tremendous musketry fire, right into Johannes's house and garden, and into all the buildings close round the Cawnpore battery; but all their efforts to enter our position were met with such a steady fire, that they fell back, and kept up an incessant fire of musketry on our defences. About thirty of them, however, lodged themselves in the ditch of the Cawnpore battery, within a few feet of our guns. A hand grenade was rolled over right into the centre of them, on which they bolted and ran back, exposed to a sharp fusillade from our people on the top of the brigade-mess.

While this was going on, a very sharp attack was made on Mrs. Sago's house, where the enemy blew up a mine, which destroyed some of the outhouses and blew two soldiers out into the road, outside our defences: extraordinary to relate, they fell unhurt, and got safely back to their posts. The enemy then made their attack, but were soon driven back with considerable loss, and confined themselves to keeping up a tremendous storm of round shot and musketry on our position, which after two hours, in a great measure, subsided. About 5 P.M., they made a sudden rush on Captain Saunders's post. One of the enemy even seized a bayonet of one of the 84th Foot, and tried to wrench it off through a loophole, but was instantly shot; after a smart fusillade, which lasted for about 25 minutes, they withdrew, and gradually the fire ceased.

About 9 P.M. a third attack was made, and was similarly repulsed; nor were these efforts confined to the places above noted. At Innes' house, Anderson's, and Mr. Gubbins's post, large bodies of men came forward, bringing up large scaling-ladders, several of which they abandoned. During the day, we lost three Europeans and two sepoys killed, and about twice that number wounded. Our garrison were under arms the entire day, the heat was excessive, and all were greatly exhausted; nevertheless, every officer and man remained under arms all night: after 10 o'clock all became tolerably quiet. Captain Power, of the 32nd, who had been wounded early in the siege, died in hospital to-day, and Major Anderson, chief engineer, was reported very dangerously ill. The enemy must have had a considerable loss this day, as a great number of them were seen to fall; and we threw 150 shells, besides great quantities of round shot and grape, from which also many casualties must have occurred.

_August 11th._--A slight alarm about 2 A.M., after which all subsided into the usual routine firing. A very fine morning, very little to be seen of the enemy, who however were not idle, as they were to-day busily employed constructing earthworks and trenches in various directions close to our position. Early in the morning the enemy fired many round shot, some of which struck the Residency, already much shattered; and about noon a very distressing accident took place. There was a high wind, and it brought down a great portion of the left wing, on the ground floor of which, in a room, six men of the 32nd were asleep. They were completely buried in the ruins. Two were got out alive after very great exertions, but the remaining four were left under the ruins. Immediate arrangements made for the removal of the few European women and children who still occupied one of the rooms on the ground floor.

Major Anderson, chief engineer, died during the afternoon. He had been ailing before the siege, but on the commencement rallied somewhat, owing to the excitement and novelty of the position. Latterly he fell off again, and to-day expired; his death no doubt hastened by the impossibility of any change of air or diet. The look-out officers yesterday reported having seen some few doolies going across the river with sepoys after the day of attack, and to-day some dead and wounded were also seen being conveyed away. The enemy were busy close under Mr. Gubbins's ramparts, whence they had once before been expelled by some hand grenades. At the corner of the Seikh square also, from across the road, they amused themselves by pushing out over the wall bamboos with lighted straw at the end; but with what object was not very clear: in the meanwhile not one of them showed themselves, but kept well under cover. Smart firing in the evening. The corpse of a soldier of the 32nd was extricated from the ruins of the Residency; three others still remained.

_August 12th._--A fine moonlight night. About 3·30 A.M. the enemy suddenly commenced a very heavy fire of round shot and musketry, which lasted for three-quarters of an hour. We kept close, and hardly fired a shot, beyond throwing a few shells. At day light, they commenced a very heavy cannonade and musketry fire on the Cawnpore battery; this gradually became so sharp, that it was impossible to work our guns, or even remain in the battery; and we were obliged to withdraw every one but the sentry, as the enemy's round shot had destroyed our musketry shutters, and completely swept the battery: later in the day, our sentry, the only man in the battery, was killed by a round shot. This portion of our position caused us great anxiety, as we were quite unable to hold it as it should be held; we would not withdraw our guns, for fear of giving the enemy confidence. The enemy were busily employed to-day also in digging close to Sago's house. In order to see what they were about, at 12 o'clock a sortie was made with twelve Europeans of the 32nd Foot under Lieutenant Clery, accompanied by Lieutenant Hutchinson of the Engineers. The enemy were, however, well on the alert, and had a large covering party over their work, and as our men appeared, they threw in such a heavy fire that our people were compelled to retire; this brought on a very great fire from all that side of the enemy's attack, and they kept up a smart fire of round shot and musketry for fully an hour, when it gradually subsided. Finding we were unequal to meet the enemy by a sortie, we determined to push on our mine as fast as possible, and continue working all day and night, hoping to blow them up.

In the evening we had as strong working parties of Europeans as we could afford, and removed from the Cawnpore battery, a 9-pounder which had been disabled by a round shot of the enemy. We also dug a trench and threw up earth on the top of our parapets, and endeavoured to our utmost to repair the damage the enemy had done, and make the place as strong as possible. Several shells came in after dusk. The heat throughout the day was excessive, and there were several fatal cases of cholera, and also several deaths among the children, who were all greatly emaciated.

In the evening, a letter to General Havelock, rolled up and put inside a quill, was despatched by the hands of an old woman; she left our position about 9 P.M., and we hoped, would be permitted to pass the enemy's sentries without being stopped. During the past forty-five days, we had sent by different hands, in a similar manner, some twenty letters, to only one of which was any reply received. The garrison, very greatly harassed and fatigued from continued exertion night and day and want of rest.

_August 13th._--An excessively hot night. During the early part of the morning the enemy threw in a very heavy fire, which lasted for nearly half an hour, when all subsided into the usual routine firing.

Our mine near Sago's house was pushed on all night with the greatest possible speed. Every possible means was adopted by the enemy to prevent our miners working, and as only a wall and a few feet of ground divided the two parties, they resorted to squibs, rockets, brickbats, and lights at the end of bamboos, to annoy our workmen. As the latter were thrust forward with the hope of setting fire to our tiled outhouses, the ends were successively cut off by us. Several reports alive in the garrison, but on what grounds, or how stated, no one could say. However, as these were all more or less favourable to us, and encouraging to the natives, if credited, no harm was done.

Shortly before 10 A.M. the engineers reported our countermine as ready; the neighbouring outposts and garrisons were duly warned, and the mine fired, with the happiest results: the brick house in which the enemy was, and from which they had started their mine, settled down, burying all inside; the earth was thrown up to a considerable height, and only one outhouse of our own, of no consequence, destroyed. Up to the last moment, the people inside the enemy's mine were hard at work, and after the explosion the groans of the sufferers were plainly audible. In the course of the day, some few of the enemy were shot from Sago's post. In the afternoon, after several shells had been thrown in to drive as many out as possible, it was determined to go out and see what the enemy were doing near Mr. Gubbins's post. A hole being cut in the wall out of our defences, a party of Europeans, with the engineer officers, went out and found a deep trench dug through the outhouses for some distance towards our position. The work was not deemed of any great importance, and after it had been well examined, the party withdrew.

Many cases of fever to-day, and four deaths in hospital among the Europeans. Enemy very quiet during the evening; unusually so, till about 10 P.M., when they threw an 8-inch shell into our position. This appeared to be a signal; for instantly they commenced a tremendous fire with round shot and musketry, which lasted half an hour, and completely lit up the darkness around. They were busy mining us in several places, and their workmen could be distinctly heard at work. Our engineers were hard at work, trying with the best means at their disposal to frustrate their efforts; but our people were so harassed that they were not capable of any prolonged exertion. A shaft, however, for a mine was made in Mr. Anderson's house, and sunk to the extent of eight feet, in view to running a sap to meet the enemy. Heat very great, and mosquitoes, bugs, and fleas most troublesome.

_August 14th._--Enemy unusually quiet all the morning; more so than they had yet been. Our people were all busy preparing new sandbags, as the old ones were so rotten, from long exposure to the rain, that they would bear no removal: also in countermining the enemy from out of a corner of Anderson's house. A Mater came in this morning, but could give no information. Provision for the cattle growing short; and every means adopted to reduce the daily consumption. The various look-outs reported no movement of the enemy: in a word, it was the quietest day we had yet had. About 4 P.M. they began a more brisk fire. Many cases of fever and several deaths amongst the children. Many rumours abroad regarding our relieving force; but all was conjecture. Most of our outpost houses were now so riddled with round shot, that it was a wonder how any of them stood up at all: indeed most of them were in ruins, and at Mr. Anderson's house part of the garrison had been twice pulled out of the ruins which had suddenly fallen on them; nevertheless, these posts, in spite of many casualties, were held with the same courage and devotion as was displayed the first day of the siege. At dusk we had a severe thunderstorm, with exceedingly heavy rain, which lasted for several hours, falling in a complete deluge; the night was exceedingly dark, with extremely vivid lightning. Captain Fulton and Lieutenant Hutchinson of the Engineers went down and examined all the outhouses in Dr. Fayrer's premises, to see if any mining operations could be heard. They afterwards went down to the Buxee Khana, and examined the wall in front to some distance.

_August 15th._--Heavy rain till about 3 A.M., when it cleared away, and the morning was beautifully clear and fine. The enemy fired salvos of two and three 18-pounders at once into the Cawnpore battery, and brought down all the outer wall of the house alongside it, which we used as a guardroom; making the place so hot we were obliged to retire our men from it during the heaviest part of the cannonade. Lieutenant Bonham received a severe contusion, from bricks knocked out on him by an 18-pound shot; and later in the day the sentry left in the front part of the battery was killed by a round shot. Lieutenant James Alexander was shot through the arm while laying an 18-pounder in the Hospital battery. Several servants and six bheesties of the 32nd deserted last night. At night, advantage taken of the dark to repair as much as possible the damage done to-day to the Cawnpore battery. About 9 P.M. a pensioner named Ungud, who had been sent out with a letter, returned, bringing a letter from Cawnpore. This was the first night since the siege began that no burial took place.

_August 16th._--Great progress made in our mine out of Lieutenant Anderson's house, which had now reached a distance of twenty-five feet from the shaft. Also much done in the way of making the Cawnpore battery more secure. Brigadier Inglis slept in it himself. In the early morning the enemy fired a great many round shot, and brought a new gun into position, to play on the corner of the brigade mess-house; also one which fired on Mr. Gubbins's post, but which was soon silenced by a 9-pounder placed in position against it. Divine service performed in the brigade-mess to a few officers who were off duty, and to the ladies. Much round shot fired during the day, but fewer sepoys in sight than usual. Every possible effort was made to curtail the expenditure of our provisions, and make them last as long as possible. The enemy threw in three 8-inch shells during the evening, and fired several round shot during the night.

_August 17th._--The remaining portion of the Residency was deemed unsafe by the engineers, from the number of round shot that had come through it; and arrangements were made to remove the Europeans. The heat extreme, a heavy cannonade from daylight till 9 A.M., when it gradually slackened. A few round shot were fired through the Residency during the morning. Much progress was made in the mine out of Lieutenant Anderson's house, and a new shaft sunk in the Martiniere School, in view to running a sap towards Johannes' house. The Seikhs mined well, and the payment in cash of two rupees per man for each night's work made the work popular. Between 4 and 5 P.M. the enemy recommenced a slight cannonade, doubtless stirred up by some shells which were thrown during the afternoon. Towards dusk the enemy threw in several shells, and at midnight an 8-inch, which nearly hit our laboratory.

_August 18th._--At daylight the enemy exploded a large mine under one of our principal posts in the outer square, occupied by the Seikhs; the three officers and three sentries on the top of the house, were blown up into the air and fell among the debris. The guard below were all, however, buried in the ruins, and lost their lives: they were two bandsmen of the 41st, two of the 13th, and a sepoy of the 48th Native Infantry. The officers, though much stunned, on recovering themselves ran away, and all three escaped unhurt.

When the smoke had blown away, we discovered that a clear breach had been made into our defences, to the extent of thirty feet in breadth. One of the enemy's leaders sprung on the top of the breach, brandishing his sword and calling on others to follow; but he fell dead instantly from the flank fire of the officers on the top of the brigade-mess. Another instantly followed and shared the same fate, when the rest of the force declined making a home rush. On the first springing of the mine, our garrison was at once under arms, and the reserve of the 84th Foot (eighteen men) were immediately sent down and placed in a position which commanded the breach from the right; while boxes, doors, planks, tents, &c., were rapidly carried down to make as much cover as possible to protect our men against musketry: also a house was pulled down and a road made for a gun; and, after incredible exertions, a 9-pounder was got into a position which commanded all the breach, and was loaded with a double charge of grape. The enemy, by means of some barricaded lanes, contrived to creep up and get possession of the right flank wall of the Seikh square; but our mortar and a 24-pounder howitzer drove the main body off, and a sudden rush at noon cleared away the rest. We reoccupied all the ground we had lost in the morning, and also took possession of the houses previously held by the enemy, and which were situated between the Seikh square and Mr. Gubbins's house. No time was lost in destroying them, and by sunset 400lbs. of gunpowder had cleared away many of the houses from which the enemy had most annoyed us. By this time the breach was securely barricaded against any sudden rush, and at night a working party completed it. In addition to the eight men lost in the explosion, we had this day one of the 32nd killed, and a volunteer (M. De Prât) and three of the 32nd wounded. Nothing could exceed the zeal with which _all_ the natives worked to secure the breach, and make a road for a gun. The heat was fearful, and this was one of the most harassing days we had, all ranks being hard at work from daylight till dark, under a dreadful sun. Lieutenant Fletcher, 48th Regiment Native Infantry, on look-out duty at the top of the Residency, was shot through the arm, and had his telescope shivered by a rifle-ball, while reconnoitring. Lieutenant Graham was also hit on the chest with a spent ball. For further accounts of the explosion of the mine, see the report of the disaster by an eye-witness, marked (II.) in the Appendix.

_August 19th._--The enemy rather lively with their large guns this morning. Firing more particularly at the guard-rooms on the top of the brigade-mess, which were by this time well-riddled. About 2 P.M. the engineers, Messrs. Fulton, Hutchinson, and Anderson, with a small party, went out on the premises which we yesterday seized, for the purpose of blowing up some more houses and buildings. This party was supported by some Europeans and Seikhs, kept inside the square. The enemy showed nowhere, and save for a few dropping shots, their presence would not have been known.

It is worthy of notice, that even through the Pucka buildings, the enemy dug communicating trenches, probably to escape the effects of our shells; which, however, they had not always been successful in doing, as several pools of blood showed us. In the afternoon we experienced a smart cannonade, and about dusk had a heavy shower which stayed it for a while, and after 8 P.M. it subsided nearly entirely into a musketry fire.

_August 20th._--A heavy fire of musketry towards daylight, when the enemy began the heaviest cannonade we had yet had; particularly on the Cawnpore battery, in front of which they had put another gun in position. For three hours they fired continually, and a great portion of Mons. De Prât's house fell in. Their round shot came in through the Thug Jail, and enfiladed it; fortunately it struck high, and no casualty occurred: they also threw some shrapnel, as yesterday. Our guard rooms on the top of the brigade mess were now entirely demolished by round shot, which came through them almost unceasingly. An 8-inch shell went into the Residency, and exploded on the staircase. A soldier of the 32nd Foot was killed in the 18-pounder battery, at Dr. Fayrer's, by a musket-ball which struck him in the head. We were busy all night at our mine, which was now completed, and we hope to be able to load it and have it ready to fire by daylight to-morrow morning. Many men were seen in the early part of the day, moving about in the bazaar (most of them sepoys). It was difficult to say what they were about, as they were moving both ways. Lieutenant Cunliffe of the artillery was slightly wounded this morning in the knee by a musket ball. Great mortality amongst the children in the garrison, and a great deal of sickness prevailed, particularly fever. All the tea and sugar for the Europeans had been for some time expended, save a small supply which had been reserved for the use of the sick and wounded. The enemy again commenced to undermine the lane running from the Cawnpore battery behind the brigade-mess, and were also engaged in some other work to the right of Johannes' house. Much firing during the evening. Captain Lowe of the 32nd Foot, had a very narrow escape; an eight-inch shell burst close to him in the trenches, and slightly wounded him in the hand, and cut off the arm of a soldier alongside him. The enemy made an attempt to burn down the gates at the Baillie Guard, by eluding the vigilance of the sentries and piling up logs of wood and combustibles outside the gate. It burnt fiercely, but was soon extinguished by the water-carriers of the 13th, without damage to the gates: the fire was the signal for a heavy fusillade, which lasted nearly half an hour.

_August 21st._--At daybreak all was prepared and ready for the blowing-up of our mine, and the simultaneous sortie of fifty Europeans under Captain M'Cabe and Lieutenant Browne (divided into two parties), for the purpose of spiking the enemy's guns which fired into the mess house, and in order to hold Johannes' house while the engineer officers blew it up. Precisely at 5 P.M. the mine, containing 400 lbs. of powder, was sprung, and as soon as the dust and smoke had in a measure subsided, the party ran out, drove the enemy (who were taken by surprise, and made but a slight show of resistance) from their guns (two), and spiked them both, and retained possession of Johannes' house, while the engineers made arrangements for blowing it up. These were soon completed, and the party withdrawn. A slow match was applied, and the house laid in ruins. Our losses were one of the 84th killed, one sergeant (84th) mortally wounded, one of the 32nd dangerously wounded, one slightly wounded, and a sergeant of the artillery killed. The operation was entirely successful, and rid us of a house from which the enemy had, from the commencement of the siege, annoyed us greatly. Captain Barlow, of the 50th Native Infantry, died somewhat suddenly in hospital this morning. The grass and jungle all round had grown to a very great height, and would have given cover to a number of men to approach close up to our position unobserved. In the afternoon, a boy about twelve years of age was seen close to the Baillie Guard gate, picking up bullets that had been fired. A sepoy of the 13th on sentry-duty saw him, covered him with his musket, and compelled him to come in. An eight-inch shell fell on the top of the Residency about 9 P.M., and exploded, fortunately without injuring any one.

_August 22nd._--Mrs. Green, of the 48th Native Infantry, died early this morning. There had been also many deaths among children during the few previous days. Many of our supplies were entirely expended, and the garrison were put to great inconvenience for the want of tobacco, of which for some time past there had been none to issue. Still more stringent measures adopted to prevent the consumption of flour; and wheat was issued to all non-combatants who had time to grind it. A fine clear night, with less musketry and more cannon firing than usual. Many of our defences were greatly injured from the late heavy rain and the incessant cannonade of the enemy. Last night repairs were made to the Cawnpore and Redan batteries, both of which still required much to be done to them. To-day an European sentry inside the Baillie Guard gate, was shot dead by a rifleman: the ball went through some sand bags put up for his protection. A sepoy of the 13th was also hit in the knee this morning from the same loophole. Arrangements were made to knock the place down to-morrow morning at daylight with a 24-pounder howitzer. Sergeant Ryder, of the artillery, was killed dead by a musket ball to-day in the churchyard. Up to this date, we had lost since the siege commenced on the 30th of June, by killed, wounded, and sickness: 101 men of the 32nd Foot, not including officers; and of the detachment of the 84th, consisting originally of fifty men, eleven had been killed and died of wounds and disease since the above date. Reports of distant firing being heard, vague rumours were afloat; but these excited little attention _now_, so often had they been in circulation, giving rise to false hopes of our reinforcements being near.

Captain Hawes, of the 63rd Native Infantry, was wounded this afternoon by a musket ball through the side and arm, while on the look-out from the top of the defences at Mr. Gubbins's post. After dark we had two eight-inch shells and several shrapnell sent in. One of the former carried off the leg of a native (who died soon after), and slightly wounded another. Repairs continued in the Cawnpore and Redan batteries. The want of tea and sugar much felt, and very large prices offered for stores of any kind.

_August 23rd._--A heavy cannonade from the enemy, from daylight till about 10 P.M., when it slackened. Their principal efforts were against the brigade-mess house and Cawnpore battery; the former they seriously damaged, and succeeded in entirely levelling the guard-houses on the top; both of which had fallen in, and there was no longer any cover for our musketry to fire from. Our ranks were rapidly thinning. Two men were again this morning mortally wounded by musketry fire. The enemy were busily employed in digging on all sides, more particularly in front of the Redan; but it was very difficult to say what their object was, as they dug deep trenches in all directions. Continued reports of distant firing being heard. The enemy fired heavily from their guns in the afternoon, and did considerable damage to our defences. A working party employed after dark, making a magazine for the powder and shells lodged in the Post-office.

We had work nightly for at least 300 men; as we had the defences to repair daily, supplies to remove from godowns which were fallen in from the effects of the enemy's shot, mines to countermine, guns to remove, barricades to erect, corpses to bury, and rations to serve out; but with our weak, harassed, and daily diminishing garrison, we could seldom produce as working parties more than three fatigue parties of eight or ten men each relief; and the Europeans were capable of but little exertion, as from want of sleep, hard work night and day, and constant exposure, their bodily strength was greatly diminished. The enemy threw in an 8-inch shell about 9 P.M. and fired all the evening. Divine service was performed at the brigade-mess in the morning, and in the afternoon, at Dr. Fayrer's; the sacrament was administered on both occasions.

_August 24th._--This morning, at about 2 o'clock, the enemy opened a very heavy fire, both of round shot and musketry; commencing and concluding the same apparently on the signal of a fireball thrown up on each occasion. The Judicial Garrison house, under command of Captain Germon, being in a most dangerous state from the effects of round shot, all the women and wounded men, also children, were removed from that post, as well as from all the other outposts in that quarter, into the Begum Kotee in the neighbourhood. A sergeant of the 84th was dangerously wounded coming up from Mrs. Sago's house, by a sharp-shooter. Lieutenant Bonham, of the artillery, was busily employed perfecting his arrangements for using an 8-inch mortar as a howitzer. The experiment succeeded very well yesterday evening.

The verandah of the Residency on the west side came entirely down this morning. The commissariat stores in the godown underneath were removed in the evening, as some of the arches of the lower story were cracked, and a heavy cannonade would have brought the whole place down. Arrangements were made this day for still further reducing the rations of Europeans. A kitmutghar came in from the city last night: his account was so suspicious, that he was placed under an European guard, as he might have tampered with the natives. To-day we threw two shells a long way into the city, in the direction of the palace. The enemy tolerably quiet; towards the middle of the day confining themselves to sharp-shooting at every one they saw move about in our position. Mr. MacRae of the Civil Engineer Department was very badly hit in the shoulder this afternoon, while assisting in laying a mortar in the Post-office; and a sergeant and a private were badly wounded early in the day, while going to their post. The enemy possessed many excellent rifle shots, and fired out of their loopholes from the houses around with great certainty; occasioning us a daily loss of from three to five men. Two sepoys of the 13th were also slightly wounded by random shots before daybreak this morning. Several shells came in this evening; and about 12 P.M. the enemy opened a tremendous fire on all sides, of round shot, grape, and musketry, which lasted for an hour: the fire was very heavy, but they made no effort to storm, though their bugles sounded the advance repeatedly.

_August 25th._--There was the usual heavy cannonade this morning from the enemy, which continued from 5 to 9 A.M., when it slackened. All the remaining porter in store (thirty-nine casks) was got out of the Residency, and removed to another place, consequent on the unsafe state of the building; nearly one half of which had fallen from round shot, and the remaining portion was likely to follow. The magazine for the Post-office battery completed. In the night two sepoys of the 11th were slightly wounded by random shots. Several coolies were seen coming through the bazaar from the direction of the Cawnpore road. Sharp-shooting all day long from the enemy, who had also got a new gun in position to the right of Mr. Gubbins's post. One mine completed, and three others steadily progressing; the enemy digging on all sides.

_August 26th._--The enemy commenced the day with a very heavy fire of round shot and musketry a little before daylight, which subsided in a great measure in about half an hour. Their earthworks had been added to during the night; but it was difficult to distinguish new work, as the whole of our position was now surrounded with them on every side quite close up to us. A jemadar of the 71st was shot dead near the Redan this morning by one of the enemy's riflemen. The house of Innes was reported to be in a dangerous state, in consequence of the repeated round shots through it. Also reports were made of the enemy mining at the Redan. The enemy unusually quiet, and very little firing went on during the middle of the day, but they were busily employed in making trenches round us in every direction, and worked particularly hard in front of the Redan, with many coolies. No intelligence whatever. One or two servants deserted last night, and there were reports that all the servants were thinking of leaving us, unless our reinforcements arrived soon.

_August 27th._--A good deal of rain during the night. A heavy cannonade from the enemy, and the usual amount of musketry fire all the morning.

To-day, the supplies of the late Brigadier-General Sir Henry Lawrence, K.C.B., were sold by auction. The brandy realised from 140 to 160 rupees (16_l._) per dozen; beer averaged from 60 to 70 rupees (7_l._); sherry 70 rupees; hermetically sealed hams from 70 to 75 rupees (7_l._ 10_s._) each; a bottle of honey 45 rupees (4_l._ 10_s._); rifle gunpowder, 16 rupees per lb. (1_l._ 12_s._); small cakes of chocolate, from 30 to 40 rupees (3_l._ to 4_l._); and other things in proportion. Sugar (had there been any for sale) would have commanded almost any price.

The enemy brought another gun into position opposite the racket court, and where we had no means of replying to them. A soldier of the 32nd was very seriously wounded this morning by a musket-ball, while sitting in the verandah of Dr. Fayrer's house. In the evening a 3-pounder shot killed a soldier of the 32nd and carried away the arm of another. A native officer of the 13th was wounded through the foot by a musket-ball. Our miners (working in the gallery we had run out thirty-three feet to the right of the brigade mess-house) heard the enemy distinctly mining towards us. Their sap seemed to run for the centre of the brigade mess.

_August 28th._--Heavy rain nearly all night, which considerably injured our sap to the right of the brigade mess, in consequence of it leaking; the rain ceasing at daylight, we set to work, and in a few hours got if cleared out, and had our people at work again. A good deal of fever prevalent, and great mortality among the children, who faded away rapidly from want of proper food. A smart cannonade at daylight from the enemy, who fired heavily with two guns on Mr. Gubbins's house; fortunately no casualties occurred. Last night, three men deserted to the enemy from Mr. Gubbins's post. One, a chuprassee of Mr. G.'s, took with him 400 rupees (40_l._) belonging to different people; four servants belonging to officers also deserted.

Lieutenant Bonham fired his mortar, equipped as a howitzer, fourteen times during the day, against the new battery erected against Mr. Gubbins's post, and with considerable success, having struck it ten times; but their battery was of great strength, and required a good deal more battering to do it much mischief. We waited with impatience for the enemy's miners to break through our gallery, and were obliged to stop our own men, as the enemy left off work immediately they heard our people's pickaxe.

This night we learnt, by a letter from General Havelock, dated Cawnpore, the 24th instant, that we had no hope of being relieved for another twenty-five days.

_August 29th._--Cooler weather. Our miners busily employed endeavouring to break into the enemy's gallery, which, though quite close to our own, had not yet been found. The magazine sergeants at work, making an expence magazine in the Begum Kotee. The upper story of Mr. Gubbins's house was no longer safe, owing to the numbers of round shot through it, and the ladies were removed. Much difficulty was experienced in finding quarters for them, every place being so crowded, and the ladies were already four and five together in very small badly ventilated native buildings; dreadful smells pervading the whole place, from the half-buried bodies of men, horses, and bullocks, and also from the drains--some of which were fearfully offensive, as we had no means of attending to them. Several more servants deserted last night; which caused the very greatest inconvenience, as already very few officers had any. About 10 A.M. our miners broke into the enemy's gallery, which they immediately abandoned, and began to fill in the shaft; we as instantly applied a barrel of powder at the farther end of their sap, and blew up their work altogether. Our men brought away their lantern, tools, and a bottle of oil, which in their haste they had left. Very heavy rain all the forenoon.

Sickness became daily more prevalent, and a number of officers and "the uncovenanted" were daily placed on the sick list. To-day it was decided to issue one month's pay after the 1st proximo, for the month of July. The heavy rain caused one of the enemy's mines, running towards the outpost called Mrs. Sago's house, to fall in. This mine was never known to us, or even suspected. Many and grave doubts and suspicions were entertained that the enemy were running a mine towards the Redan battery. Captain Fulton, Garrison Engineer, did not, however, share in this opinion. A native artilleryman, who belonged to a number entertained by Mr. Gubbins, deserted from his post while on sentry over one of the guns in Mr. G.'s compound. A European sentry fired at him, but did not succeed in hitting him.

Now that it appeared evident that the siege must last in all probability another month, increased care and vigilance in the issuing of all stores was observed. The rain cleared off towards evening. A considerable cannonade all through the night.

_August 30th._--A heavy cannonade all night. Four half-castes (Christians) one of whom had been made a local sergeant, and was head-writer in Captain Weston's office, deserted to the enemy; having broke open the door in the barrier they had to defend, and left the post unprotected. He took with him, in addition to Captain Boileau's gun, five drummers, formerly in the king of Oude's service, two drummers of the 48th, and some ten native servants. An eight-inch shell burst in the native hospital this morning, killing one native and wounding two others. An attack was expected to-day, and everything was prepared as far as possible to repel it. A good many cases of fever. Divine service was performed at the brigade mess at noon, and at Mr. Gubbins's house at 2 P.M., when the sacrament was administered, and at Dr. Fayrer's house at half-past 5 P.M. To-day, Lieut. Bonham, of the artillery, was very severely wounded by a musket-ball, while sitting in the doorway of the Post-office: he was a very great loss to the garrison, having very greatly distinguished himself throughout the siege; particularly in the accuracy with which he used his mortars, and the excellent practice he had made with a mortar which he had made to act as a howitzer. This was the third time he had been wounded since hostilities began on the 30th of June. Very little firing during the middle of the day, and not much movement observable among the enemy. A European soldier of the 32nd died very suddenly to-day; he lost the use of his side from sleeping in the wet trenches, and died in hospital a few hours after. Europeans and natives all greatly distressed on account of the want of tobacco, of which we have had none left for distribution for a considerable time past. Great difficulty was experienced in getting shelter for women and children; so many houses had been destroyed by the round shot and shells of the enemy: all suffered greatly from being crowded together in low, small, badly ventilated buildings. The dreadful stench which pervaded that part of the defences held by the commissariat officers and the uncovenanted service, exceeded all belief. It arose from the decayed entrails of the bullocks and sheep daily killed by the butchers, and of which we had no means of disposing, but by throwing them over the defences: the decayed boosah and vegetable matter which here also abounded, assisting in creating a stench which was probably never exceeded. Nearly every officer who slept at this post was laid up with fever at one time or another; but as it was one of the weakest parts of our defences, it was absolutely requisite that two officers should be ever with the party occupying it. A false alarm at sunset, and a heavy cannonade brought the day's proceedings to a close.

_August 31st._--The enemy fired at intervals very hard, both guns and musketry, particularly towards daylight. Then we found they had got another very large gun, apparently a 32-pounder, in position under the Lutkun Durwaza, and about 100 yards from the Baillie Guard gates, on which it fired several times, smashing two ammunition waggons with which the gates were barricaded. Towards the middle of the day the enemy were unusually quiet, confining themselves to sharp-shooting. An excellent artillery sergeant was killed at Mr. Gubbins's post, by a rifle-ball, which struck him in the side.

The heat excessive. In the evening, the kitmutghar of the late Captain Hayes, military secretary, who had come in some ten days before, and was believed to be a spy, escaped from the 84th Guard during the night, and contrived to get clear away. He had been kept in confinement from the time of his coming in, and had not been allowed to converse with any one; and therefore could give little or no information. About 10 P.M. the enemy very suddenly opened from nearly all their guns, and threw in a heavy fire of musketry, which subsided in about half an hour. All the 13th Native Infantry employed in making a new sunken battery to the right of the guard-room, in order to oppose the battery of the enemy which was located in the Lutkun Durwaza. Our people in the Redan battery had a narrow escape from an 8-inch shell, which just cleared the parapet and exploded outside.

_September 1st._--A fine breezy morning. Not very much firing; but a great deal of bugling was heard among the enemy's troops during the early part of the morning. Rumours that the half-caste Christians who deserted had been murdered. The enemy's 24-pounder fired several shots during the morning, which took effect on the gates, smashing them considerably. The enemy reported to be running another mine towards the brigade mess.

Our third sap from Anderson's post nearly completed, and considerable progress made in the one commenced out of Sago's house. All the boys in garrison above ten years of age were collected and set to work with hand-mills, to assist in grinding flour for the use of the garrison. Sickness showed itself amongst the bullocks; and in the last two days two bullocks had to be suddenly killed, in order to save the meat. This was most unfortunate, as the stock in hand would not last (even at the reduced rate of rations) the time we might probably be besieged. Arrangements were made to have some artillery and irregular cavalry horses that were wounded, or from want of condition were unserviceable, turned out on this evening. The last cook-boy of the artillery absconded last night. This put the men to much inconvenience, as they had now to draw their rations with Her Majesty's 32nd Regiment; but it was better for the service, as now there was no excuse for any of the guns' crews leaving their batteries for their food. This morning some fresh beef was accidentally removed from the slaughter-yard in one of the magazine carts. As these carts were used also for transporting grain, it excited remark amongst some Seikhs. The cart in question was immediately marked in the presence of the Commissariat Establishment, and strict orders were given that it should not be used again. This shows how careful we had to be with all the natives about their castes.

In the evening, about dusk, two European artillerymen were struck in the Post-office battery by an 18-pounder shot, which killed both. Great progress was made in the battery which was erected by the 13th Native Infantry, for the 18-pounder to be placed in at the Baillie Guard gate. Two 8-inch shells exploded in the vicinity of our magazine, but without doing any injury. Our third mine from Anderson's house completed, but not charged, it being retained as a listening gallery. Another shaft for a mine was struck out from Captain Saunders' post, to be ready to meet the enemy's so soon as it could be ascertained which way they were mining. The cook-boys of two companies of the 32nd Foot deserted to-day, which caused extreme inconvenience.

_2nd September._--Sounds of mining heard near the slaughter-house. This was quite a new direction for the enemy to commence this work at; but it had not yet been ascertained for a certainty, and appeared most unlikely. Last night three men of Her Majesty's 32nd Regiment died in hospital.