Chapter IV: Part 4

About 9 A.M. this morning a mine of the enemy was discovered within thirty feet of Captain Saunders' post: they came up to a well, and, not knowing what it was, made a hole in the surface; when the smoke from their lamp became apparent. A countermine was immediately commenced and run out sixteen feet, and within two feet of the enemy; it was quickly loaded and tamped for about fourteen feet, and the head of their gallery was blown in. Their miners were heard at work when the hose of our mine was ignited; and it was believed they must have sustained some loss. Another of the enemy's mines was also discovered this morning, coming for the centre of the brigade mess-house; but we had a shaft and gallery ready to frustrate their efforts. One of the sepoys of the 13th Regiment Native Infantry was severely wounded this morning while standing sentry. We had a heavy cannonade from the enemy in the afternoon, and some alteration was made in the position of some of their guns on the Cawnpore side of our position. The advance of a month's pay, which had been offered to all natives, was declined by the 13th, 48th, and 71st, and pensioners, and only four rupees each was received by the Seikh Cavalry, as all preferred to receive it in arrears hereafter. This spoke volumes for their faithfulness.

This evening a very sad event occurred. Lieut. Birch, of the 59th Regiment Native Infantry, attached to the Engineer department, went out at dusk, accompanied by four other officers, to explore some old ruins quite close to the north side of our position, in order to see if there were any traces of mining. The work had been most satisfactorily performed, and the party were returning, when a sentry of the 32nd Regiment, who, unfortunately, had not received the caution that a party was going out and to be careful not to fire, seeing objects moving in the dark outside our limits, fired his musket; lamentable to relate, it took effect, and the bullet passed through the lower part of the belly of Lieutenant Birch, who died two hours after. He was a gallant and efficient officer, and had only been married six months. His loss was greatly deplored by the garrison. Our miners were all hard at work all day, countermining the enemy, who still persevered in their efforts to blow us up.

_September 3rd._--About 2 A.M. a very heavy cannonade from the enemy till 9 A.M. Unbarricaded a door leading out of our position, and turned loose during the night sixteen horses and a mule, which had been wounded, and were unfit for use. Further efforts made to limit the supply of flour, and issue wheat in lieu thereof. Advances of pay made to officers, ladies, the civil and uncovenanted service, and a few natives who desired it.

The sun particularly powerful, and as during the nights a heavy dew fell, and occasionally the mornings were very cool, great fears were entertained for the health of our men; especially as nearly all had to sleep in the trenches. Consequently search was everywhere made for tents to shelter them; but the majority of these had been used as barricades and other defences, and were now, from exposure to the rain, &c., completely rotten and useless.

The enemy commenced mining at Sago's garrison, and a shaft and gallery were made to meet them. In the evening there was a heavy cannonade on Mr. Gubbins's post. A soldier of the 32nd was dangerously wounded at Innes' house by an 18-pounder shot, and another slightly wounded by grape shot. Much heavy firing from the enemy. Very severe work at mining, as our people were employed at four different points. After 10 P.M. an exceedingly heavy cannonade accompanied by musketry. The enemy were distinctly heard repairing their batteries, and moving a heavy gun with elephants, in the direction of the Cawnpore battery.

_September 4th._--The usual cannon and musketry throughout the night, which greatly increased after daylight, but gradually subsided after 9 A.M. into a few solitary discharges of cannon. The outer wall of the mess house was greatly injured by the constant firing from the enemy's guns, although it was of great solidity. Between 9 and 10 A.M. an unusual commotion was observable in the town, and the streets were much crowded, for which we were unable to account; whatever it was, the crowd gradually dispersed, and by 11 A.M. all was tranquil, and the enemy's guards were relieved as usual at that hour.

Towards the middle of the day there was very little firing from the enemy: they could be distinctly heard in three of our listening galleries, sapping steadily towards us. A 32nd soldier was severely contused to-day by a round shot, while on duty in the Cawnpore battery, and another wounded by a musket-ball. About 4·30 P.M. Major Bruère, commanding the 13th Regiment Native Infantry, went on the top of the brigade mess to endeavour to pick off some of the enemy's gunners. Unfortunately, in his anxiety to get a shot at some riflemen, he somewhat unnecessarily exposed himself, and was hit by a rifle-ball through the chest, which almost immediately proved fatal. His death was very greatly lamented by the sepoys of the 13th, with whom he was very popular: they insisted on carrying his remains to the grave, and his funeral was attended by all the men of the 13th who could be permitted to leave their trenches. The eighteen-pounder battery made by the sepoys of the 13th, was now nearly completed, and was sixteen feet thick, besides the wall in front; the eighteen-pounder intended for it was got down, and put in position. The enemy were evidently aware of what we were about, as two shells fell quite close; one just inside, and the other outside the new battery.

The outer wall and buildings on the top of the mess house fell in this evening, with a great crash, consequent on the outer wall having been completely breached; fortunately no one was hurt, and several ladies and children still clung to the inner rooms for shelter, preferring the chance of a round shot or musket-ball to the fetid close atmosphere of an already overcrowded hovel in the interior of our position; which, after all, was perhaps hardly any safer from the fire of the enemy.

_September 5th._--A fine moonlight morning. Soon after daylight, the enemy commenced the severest cannonade we had yet had. About 8000 infantry and about 500 horse were by sunrise seen moving about round our position, and evidently preparing for an attack. The garrison were soon--every man--on the alert, and remained patiently under a tremendous fire of cannon, awaiting the enemy's onset. They soon opened fire from a new battery of two guns across the river; and about 10 A.M. exploded two mines, one (a large one), close to the 18-pounder battery, and the other, a smaller one, at the brigade-mess (which we had countermined and were about to blow up.) Providentially, the enemy had miscalculated their distance in both instances, and were just short of our defences, and neither explosion did us any harm. As soon as the cloud of dust and smoke had cleared away, they advanced under cover of a tremendous fire on several points--particularly at Mr. Gubbins's post--where they came on resolutely and planted an enormous ladder against the bastion to mount it. Several reached the top, but were so steadily received with musketry and hand grenades, that none could gain a footing: and after several leaders had fallen, the rest fell back to the cover of the neighbouring houses, where they kept up a tremendous fire. Their loss was very heavy, as they showed themselves well; particularly in the garden close to the brigade-mess and Sikh square, where they fell rapidly to our rifles and muskets. Long after the action, they could be seen carrying away their killed and wounded over the bridges.

During the attack we only had one havildar of pensioners and two sepoys of the 13th killed, and one soldier of the 32nd wounded (loss of hand), from round shot. Eight sepoys of the 13th Native Infantry, assisted by three artillerymen, loaded and worked the 18-pounder in the 13th battery, and after three or four rounds succeeded in silencing the 18-pounder opposed to them. The sepoys were very proud of this battery, which was entirely under their charge, and constructed solely by them, under the superintendence of the Engineers. A fearfully hot-day, and a broiling sun, to which all were exposed for nearly the entire day. During last night another shaft, eight feet deep, was sunk by the officers of the brigade-mess as a listening gallery, in case the enemy should run a sap in that direction.

In the evening, the enemy seemed disgusted with their want of success in the morning, and confined themselves to a few shots now and then from their batteries. An 18-pounder came right through the hospital from their new work across the river, and passed through the whole length of the building, which was crowded with patients, and very slightly wounded Lieutenant Charlton and a soldier of the 32nd, both of whom were lying there wounded. Passing as it did through the entire length of such a crowded space, it was perfectly extraordinary that this ball did not do more harm.

After all attacks, the enemy were most determined in their efforts to carry off their dead, and generally contrived to do so at night. To-day, as usual, the leading men were most of them knocked over, which greatly discouraged their followers. All reports from positions which commanded any views of the enemy retreating, agreed in saying that they seemed to-day more thoroughly beaten than ever.

Lieutenant James Graham, of the 4th Cavalry, shot himself through the head this morning with his revolver, in a fit of temporary insanity: he left a wife and child.

_September 6th._--At 12 o'clock midnight, the garrison was aroused by a heavy cannonade from all sides, and much bugling and shouting; but it all gradually subsided in about half an hour, without any reply from our side: during it a soldier of the 32nd lost his leg from a round shot. This morning, the enemy were unusually quiet, and their guns more silent than it was remembered for a long time.

The rains seemed to have cleared off, and the sun was most powerful. Our live stock was now fast diminishing in numbers, and had any disease broke out amongst them, it would have been a most serious loss. Our stock of rum and porter was also fast running very low. Now that the stagnant water was fast drying up, the miasmatic stenches in various parts of the garrison were of a morning almost insupportable; and it was greatly feared would produce much fever and other illness. About 1 P.M., the Engineers made a small sortie from Innes' post, and blew down a house which yesterday the enemy commenced to loophole; and which, had they succeeded in doing, would have been a most serious matter to Innes' garrison, in the present shattered and dilapidated state of the house they occupy, caused by the effects of round shot, which had steadily for the last month been fired into it from guns of heavy calibre. Captain Fulton of the Engineers was slightly contused by an explosion to-day. About 10 P.M. the enemy sent two men with loads of combustibles, to place under the entrance gates, to set fire to them; they were seen, and one was shot dead by the sentry, on which the other fled. An hour later, they made a very smart attack on the Baillie Guard gate, but were quickly driven back: during this affair, a very excellent native officer (a subadar), of the 13th Regiment Native Infantry, was killed in the 13th battery.

_September 7th._--The enemy were unusually quiet with their cannon this morning, contenting themselves with mining, while we as busily endeavoured to countermine them. An unusual commotion among them: large numbers crossing and re-crossing the bridge of boats; and about 11 A.M. a regiment, with colours, and band playing, and about 1000 matchlockmen, passed from right to left of our position. About 5000 men passed during the afternoon from right to left; many of them seemed as though they had marched in from a distance. Heavy showers during the afternoon; the garrison constantly wet.

Our miners, both European and native, were greatly done up with their day and night exertions, which were absolutely requisite for our preservation. In all these operations the Seikhs and Hindoostanee sepoys worked remarkably well.

_September 8th._--Captain Simons of the Artillery, who had been long suffering from his wounds, died early this morning. A tolerable cannonade kept up all night. The enemy had now completed a breach in the wall enclosing the courtyard of the Martiniere School, broad enough for four or five men to pass through abreast, and which we were obliged to retrench and stockade. Nearly one-half of the officers were on the sick list, with fever and dysentery.

The shot fired in by the enemy were yesterday collected, and 280 round shot, varying in size from a 24 to a 3-pounder, were gathered from the roof of the brigade-mess alone! In the evening we had heavy rain and a moderate cannonade.

_September 9th._--During the night a shell exploded in a room occupied by a lady and some children, and though almost every article in the room was destroyed, yet all providentially escaped.

Finding this morning that the enemy were rapidly mining towards the Cawnpore battery, it was deemed advisable that our mine, containing 200 lbs. of powder, which had been ready and charged for upwards of a month, should be exploded; and accordingly, at 10 A.M., it was sprung. The effect was tremendous, and it evidently astonished the enemy, whose miners must have been destroyed. They immediately beat to arms, and opened on us from most of their batteries on that side of our position. When the smoke and dust (which were tremendous) had blown away, it was seen that the explosion had destroyed all the front face of the outhouses opposite our battery.

In the evening a body of 3000 men moved up to our right flank, which caused us all to keep particularly on the alert. About 11 P.M. very heavy rain began to fall, and the early part of the night passed away quietly. For the third time since the siege commenced there was no funeral on this day.

_September 10th._--The rain cleared away towards morning, and all was moderately quiet till 6 A.M., from which hour till 10 A.M. an unusually heavy cannonade was kept up, and replied to by our guns and mortars. All the state jewels were brought over from the Residency, and put into the Begum Kotee for better security.

Owing to the necessity for blowing up the Muchee Bhawun, the officers brought in with them nothing but the clothes they wore. Many others in this garrison had lost everything when their bungalows in cantonments were burnt; and a few better off had shared their wardrobes with them. As time went on, however, clothes wore out, and there were no means of providing others; and by this time officers might have been seen wearing the most extraordinary costumes; few, if any, had any semblance of a military uniform, and very many were in shirts, trowsers, and slippers only; one gallant civilian having found an old billiard-table cloth, had contrived to make himself a kind of loose coat out of it, while an officer wore a shirt made out of a floor cloth. All carried muskets, and were accoutred like the soldiers. At the auction of the effects of an officer recently killed, a single bottle of brandy realised seventeen rupees (thirty-four shillings). The soldiers had for a month past all been out of tobacco, and had taken to smoking dried tea and common leaves. Not very much firing in the evening.

_September 11th._--This was a quieter night than usual with the garrison. Much disturbance was heard among the enemy, and the noise of elephants was distinctly heard, as if they were moving some of their guns into other positions. About sunrise, two sides of Innes' house, which had been steadily cannonaded daily with 18-pounder shot, fell in, and the two sentries on that side escaped with difficulty; the post was, however, still nobly held, and preparation made for making some kind of a defence out of the debris. Many bodies of armed men were seen moving about, and we had the usual three hours' morning cannonade. About 10 A.M., as our mine out of the Seikh square (which had been charged with 200 lbs. of powder) was ready, it was determined to explode it, as the enemy's miners could be very distinctly heard sapping quite close; it was very successful, completely destroying all their excavations, and buried the party who were at work, the groans and moans of some of whom were heard for some time after. Later in the day, another mine of the enemy was discovered in the churchyard. A sortie was made under Captain Fulton of the Engineers (the ground being open), and the working party were driven off and their work examined. It proved to be shaft and gallery, fully five feet high, and extended twenty-four feet, running in a straight line to the church: two barrels of powder were separately exploded in it, and completely destroyed the entire work. Two of the enemy were shot by Lieutenant Sewell this afternoon.

At dusk, the enemy threw in (apparently from a howitzer) five hollow iron cylinders, filled with a composition (similar to that with which we are accustomed to fill our carcases) done up in strong canvas. On reaching the ground, the apparatus burst, and the five cylinders spouted forth fire without any further explosion: this, perhaps, was the most curious and complicated projectile that had yet been received by the garrison. At 7 P.M. very heavy rain, which lasted an hour and a half.

_September 12th._--A tremendous row and noise in the city all night. A shaft sunk in the centre of the brigade-mess, in view to running a sap out across the road into the garden, in front of the enemy's battery. Rather less firing all day than usual. Very large bodies of matchlockmen were seen moving about, but a smaller proportion of sepoys. A soldier of the 32nd and an uncovenanted man were wounded; the former in the head, the latter through the hand. During the past few days no case of cholera occurred. In the evening after dark, the 71st sepoys were employed under Lieutenant Langmore in bringing in some tents which were piled up in the Residency garden; while so employed, one of the enemy came up, evidently having mistaken our party for one of his own. He was immediately seized by two sepoys and brought in. An European sentry was killed to-day through a small loophole in the Redan, out of which he was looking, and another in the same battery was wounded during the night.

_September 12th._--A smart cannonade at daylight. Considerable progress was made in our new mines out of the Cawnpore battery and brigade-mess. Captain Mansfield was seized with cholera early this morning, and died a few hours after. A great number of matchlockmen seen moving about in the bazaar. Enormous prices offered in the garrison for all kinds of supplies. A small fowl was to-day purchased by a gentleman for his sick wife for 20 rupees (2_l._) A bottle of Curaçoa sold at auction a day or two ago for 16 rupees, and the same price was freely offered for two pounds of sugar. Divine service performed at the brigade-mess, and at Dr. Fayrer's to all who were able to attend. A man came in about 8 P.M. from the city. He could not or would not give any information, was looked upon as a spy, ironed and placed in the main-guard. A tolerably quiet evening.

_September 14th._--A good many matchlockmen were seen coming into the town during the day, both over the stone bridge and the bridge of boats. For the last two days, the bugles of the enemy had not been heard, which led us to conclude that the head-quarters of regiments had probably left the city. A few doolies were seen passing down the Cawnpore road, and a man (apparently of some consequence) was observed haranguing a mob in the city. There was the usual amount of firing and sharp-shooting all day.

A grievous occurrence took place in the afternoon. Captain Fulton of the Engineers, while reconnoitring from a battery in Mr. Gubbins's post, was killed dead by a round shot, which struck him on the head. He had conducted all the engineering operations of the siege for a considerable time previous to the death of his chief (Major Anderson). He was a highly gifted, cool, brave, and chivalrous officer, fertile in resources, and a favourite with both officers and men. His loss was acutely felt.

_September 15th._--The 18-pounder battery beyond Innes' house fired heavily, and reduced Innes' house to almost a heap of ruins; the shot came right across the entire open space round the Residency, and one soldier of the 32nd was mortally and another slightly wounded. The breach in the Seikh square made by the enemy was now tolerably retrenched. The inner square was well loopholed and barricaded, so that even if the enemy had made their way in, they would have been unable to make a lodgment. The vicinity of the houses to our defences in the outer square rendered mining easy, and we took and blew up three of the enemy's mines at this point alone. Lieutenant Fullerton of the 16th Regiment Native Infantry, died in hospital this morning.

To-day the verandah of the Residency fell in with a great crash, from the effects of the battering it had received from the enemy's 18-pound shot. This afternoon, a mortar, equipped as a howitzer (on Lieutenant Bonham's principle), was put in position against the 18-pounder battery opposite Innes' house, and fired several shots, which kept the enemy's gun in check; and one shell having blown away most of their parapet, they did not fire again from it during the evening. Under the direction of the garrison engineer, a shaft was commenced in the Baillie Guard gate by the sepoys of 13th Regiment Native Infantry, in order to run a sap out in the direction of the Lutkun Durwaza; eight feet and a half were this evening accomplished. It is intended as a safeguard, to cut off any mine that the enemy may be running towards the gateway.

_September 16th._--A very sharp cannonade from daylight, for three hours. An 8-inch shell fell in the rear of the 13th battery, (for the second time since the commencement of hostilities) and mortally wounded a sepoy, and slightly wounded a subadar. Enemy were very busy erecting (apparently) a new battery, to the right of our Cawnpore battery; but it was difficult at the time to say what it was intended for: the people working at it were greatly annoyed by our shells, and it made but little progress, except during the night. They were also very hard at work in front of the Redan battery, where they had made deep trenches in all directions.

Ungud, pensioner and spy, was sent out at about 10 P.M. with a letter, done up in a piece of quill, to take to General Havelock at Cawnpore, and was promised a large reward if he brought a reply. Preparations made for getting the mortar howitzer into the courtyard in rear of the brigade-mess, by cutting a road through the intermediate walls. The mine out of the brigade-mess building, and that out of the Cawnpore battery, were worked all night, and considerable progress was made in both. The rains seemed quite over, the sun was very powerful, and much fever prevailed. Not so much firing as usual in the evening, and only one shell came in. Much bugling among the enemy during the night.

_September 17th._--All very much as usual, with rather less firing. Many vague rumours were abroad in the garrison, all without foundation. The mortar howitzer was got into position behind the brigade mess; the second shell thrown from it severely wounded two of our servants, in consequence of the shell having exploded before it cleared our defences. After the range was, however, once got, the practice was good, and several shells exploded in the embrasure of the enemy's battery. The mine out of the brigade-mess and that out of the Cawnpore battery, damaged during the day by round shot, was also repaired by a working party of sepoys from the 48th regiment Native Infantry. The sentry of the 32nd Foot, on duty at the church, had his head carried off by a round shot. Exactly at midnight the enemy made a demonstration on Saunders's post, and fired heavy volleys of musketry, but made no attempt to advance; in about half an hour, after a few shells had been thrown among them, they retired.

Many cases of fever and dysentery. Two sepoys of the 13th died in hospital of their wounds. The Seikh cavalry sowars, under Lieutenant Hardinge, worked at the barricade across the breach in the third Seikh square, and still further strengthened it.

_September 18th._--Nothing new to record. Each day passed away much like its predecessor, with the same amount of cannonading and musketry fire.

Throughout the siege, a regular system of look-out was organised from the top of the tower in the Residency, which commanded a view of the river, the three bridges, and the open country beyond; and also from the roof of the Post-office, from which a great part of the city and the road to Cawnpore could be observed. At the former post the officers were relieved every two hours, and at the latter hourly. At each post a book was kept, in which whatever had been observed was noted down, and if anything unusual, or any new work of the enemy was seen, a report of it was instantly forwarded for Brigadier Inglis's information. A new truck was constructed to enable us to fit out another mortar as a howitzer, for it would be impossible to say how greatly we felt throughout the siege the want of a couple of 8-inch howitzers. To-day, the enemy threw in (evidently from a 13-inch mortar) a piece of wood of very great weight, which measured twelve inches in diameter and eighteen in length! It made a prodigious noise as it passed through the air.

In consequence of the very small stock of rum left in store, all the Europeans were reduced to one dram each per day. This was perhaps the quietest day of the siege up to this date, as we had nothing but a few stray cannon shots and a slight musketry fire throughout the twenty-four hours. About 11 P.M. a very considerable noise was heard in the town, together with much bugling and shouting.

_September 19th._--This morning, almost before daylight, we commenced a heavy cannonade from the Post-office on the battery in the square house opposite. During the morning the enemy kept up also a heavy fire all around; particularly on the Residency, which now wore a most desolate tumbledown and dilapidated appearance, from the effect of round shot which had been steadily poured into it daily from the commencement of the siege. About 10·30 A.M. the enemy's battery in the square house, opposite the Post-office was set on fire by our shot, and a pretty sharp fusillade and cannonade was kept up by us to prevent the enemy from distinguishing it; the fire however soon died out. An auction was held this day in the Residency of the property (clothes, &c.) of deceased officers, and the prices that all useful articles fetched was enormous: for instance, a new flannel shirt was knocked down for forty rupees, while five old ones were sold for 112 rupees, and a bottle of brandy brought twenty rupees. A man of the 84th was shot dead at Sago's post early this morning. During the day the enemy threw into our position, probably from an enormous mortar, six pieces of wood about the size and shape of a large oyster barrel; they were thrown up in the air to an enormous height, and came down with almost incredible force.

_September 20th._--At 1 A.M. a smart musketry fire and cannonade took place, which lasted for about half an hour. At daylight discovered two new batteries, which the enemy had very nearly completed, and one of which contained a 32-pounder. We opened on them with a howitzer and an 18-pounder, but did them little mischief; the batteries having been made excessively strong, with enormous beams of wood and earth. We however, entirely prevented them from working at either battery during the ensuing night. The Cawnpore battery was repaired, and the centre mine from the brigade mess was connected with the one we had previously run out from the left. The guard-room at Anderson's house was lowered by digging out the floor, so as to keep the guard clear of the round shot which passed through it; the 13th mine was also worked eighteen feet further. A very considerable noise was heard in the city for some hours after dark. During the day nearly as many men as usual seen moving about. A private of Her Majesty's 32nd at Innes' post was killed by a round shot.

_September 21st._--Between 12 and 1 o'clock A.M. the enemy suddenly began a very smart musketry fire all along the city side of our position, and opened from their guns. We threw a few shells amongst them; and their fire soon subsided into the usual steady fire which had gone on every night of the siege.

About 4 A.M., we had very heavy rain which lasted till about 11 A.M. The heavy rain seemed to keep the enemy quiet, and there was little firing on either side till 1 P.M., when one of our 18-pounders at the Post-office opened on the enemy's new 32-pounder battery, and knocked their parapet about, leaving the gun greatly exposed; which enabled Captain Saunders's garrison to pick off two of the enemy's gunners at the gun, and keep it silent for the rest of the day. In the afternoon, the enemy battered down a great portion of the wall enclosing the building occupied by the Martiniere school-boys, and killed a water-carrier who was drawing water at the time, and who was knocked dead into the well; which was a great misfortune, as none of the natives would again use it. The body was got up soon after. Not many armed men were seen in the morning beyond the enemy's regular relief of guards and pickets. At 10 P.M. heavy rain came on. About 11 P.M. the enemy were reported to be in unusual strength near the Seikh square, on which all were kept well on the alert. A shell was thrown among them, but nothing further took place.

_September 22nd._--Continued heavy rain, which fell without cessation till about 3 P.M. The garrison were in a great state of discomfort, as little shelter was to be had anywhere; the roofs of all the buildings were so injured from eighty-four days' constant cannonading that but few could boast of a waterproof residence. Lieutenant Cunliffe of the Artillery, died early this morning from fever; he had previously been wounded. A Seikh sepoy of the 13th, a native artilleryman, two private servants, and three grass-cutters deserted during the night; and in the course of the morning four cook boys contrived to desert during the heavy rain. The rain did considerable damage to various parts of our defences, washing down many of the fascines in the batteries, and causing several parts of the defences at Mr. Gubbins's and Innes' post to fall down. A great part of the outside wall of the brigade mess also fell from the same cause. Towards evening the enemy opened their guns, and we dismounted one of their 9-pounders by a shell, which fell on the top of one of them and killed two gunners. About 11 P.M. Ungud, pensioner, returned, bringing us a letter containing the glad tidings that our relieving force, under General Outram, had crossed the Ganges, and would arrive in a few days. His arrival, and the cheering news he brought of speedy aid, was well-timed; for neither our fast diminishing stores, the vague and uncertain rumours of the advent of reinforcements, nor the daily sights and sounds by which we were surrounded, were calculated to inspire confidence and check desertion among the servants and camp followers. All the garrison were greatly elated with the news, and on many of the sick and wounded, the speedy prospect of a change of air and security exercised a most beneficial effect. Heavy rain fell about 11 P.M.

_September 23rd._--About 3 A.M. the rain cleared off, and at 11 A.M. the sun came out and the clouds dispersed, and gave promise of fair weather. A smart cannonade was heard in the direction of Cawnpore; several imagined they also heard musketry, and the sound was listened to with the most intense and even painful anxiety by the garrison, who felt assured it must be their friends advancing to their assistance. But it was hardly expected that our force could have advanced so far, owing to the heavy rain which had fallen, and the state in consequence that the roads and country were in; however at 5 P.M. another distant cannonade was heard which lasted for half an hour, and which appeared much nearer than before: this elicited many and divers opinions, and created the greatest possible excitement.

Throughout the day, large bodies of troops with guns and ammunition waggons were seen moving about in the city, in the early part of the day to the right, and later, in large bodies to the left. In the afternoon, the enemy placed a gun in position facing down the Kass bazaar street, with what object it was impossible to say. We threw many shells into the city during the day among the parties of the enemy seen moving about. At 9 P.M. heavy rain began and fell for two hours.

_September 24th._--Everything most unusually quiet throughout the night, and only one or two cannon shot were fired early in the morning. A considerable body of cavalry were seen moving to the right through the city, and about 8·30 A.M. a distant cannonade was heard, which continued nearly all day.

We had no news of any kind, and the anxiety of the garrison was very great. During the morning, large bodies of the enemy were seen moving through the city to the right and left. Ensign Hewitt, of the 41st Regiment Native Infantry, was slightly contused on the head by bricks struck out of a wall by a round shot. At 8 P.M. the enemy made a false attack on the Cawnpore battery, keeping up a heavy cannonade and musketry fire which lasted for about half an hour, after which all became moderately quiet. During the night guns were heard in the direction of the Cawnpore road, and the flash of them could be very distinctly seen; they were supposed to be about seven miles distant.

_September 25th._--A very unquiet night. Two alarms, one at 1·30 A.M. and another at 4 A.M. The whole garrison were under arms nearly the whole night. A very great disturbance in the city, in the direction of Mr. Gubbins's post especially. To the very great regret of the garrison, Captain Radcliffe of the 7th Light Cavalry was dangerously wounded while in command of the Cawnpore battery. About 10 A.M. a messenger came in bringing in a letter of the 16th instant from General Outram, dated Cawnpore, announcing his being about to cross over to this side of the Ganges, and march on to Lucknow. The messenger could give no account of our force, beyond its having reached the outskirts of the city.

About 11 A.M. nearly all sound of firing had ceased, but increased agitation was visible among the people in the town, in which two large fires were seen. An hour later, the sound of musketry and the smoke of guns was distinctly perceived within the limits of the city. All the garrison was on the alert, and the excitement amongst many of the officers and soldiers was quite painful to witness. At 1·30 P.M. many of the people of the city commenced leaving, with bundles of clothes, &c. on their heads, and took the direction of cantonments across the different bridges. At 2 P.M. armed men and sepoys commenced to follow them, accompanied by large bodies of Irregular Cavalry. Every gun and mortar that could be brought to bear on the evidently retreating enemy, was fired as fast as possible, for at least an hour and a half. The enemy's bridge of boats had evidently been destroyed and broken away, for many were seen swimming across the river, most of them cavalry with their horses' bridles in their hands. Strange to relate, during all this apparent panic, the guns of the enemy in position all round us kept up a heavy cannonade, and the matchlockmen or riflemen never ceased firing from their respective loopholes.

At 4 P.M. report was made that some officers dressed in shooting coats and solah caps, a regiment of Europeans in blue pantaloons and shirts, and a bullock battery were seen near Mr. Martin's house and the Motee Muhal. At 5 P.M. volleys of musketry, rapidly growing louder, were heard in the city. But soon the firing of a minié ball over our heads gave notice of the still nearer approach of our friends; of whom as yet little or nothing had been seen, though the enemy were to be seen firing heavily on them from many of the roofs of the houses. Five minutes later, and our troops were seen fighting their way through one of the principal streets; and though men fell at almost every step, yet nothing could withstand the headlong gallantry of our reinforcements. Once fairly SEEN, all our doubts and fears regarding; them were ended: and then the garrison's long pent-up feelings of anxiety and suspense burst forth in a succession of deafening cheers; from every pit, trench and battery--from behind the sandbags piled on shattered houses--from every post still held by a few gallant spirits, rose cheer on cheer--even from the hospital! Many of the wounded crawled forth to join in that glad shout of welcome to those who had so bravely come to our assistance. It was a moment never to be forgotten.

Soon all the rear-guard and heavy guns were inside our position; and then ensued a scene which baffles description. For eighty-seven days the Lucknow garrison had lived in utter ignorance of all that had taken place outside. Wives who had long mourned their husbands as dead, were again restored to them; others, fondly looking forward to glad meetings with those near and dear to them, now for the first time learnt that they were alone. On all sides eager inquiries for relations and friends were made. Alas! in too many instances the answer was a painful one.

The force under the command of General Sir James Outram, G.C.B., came to our assistance at a heavy sacrifice to themselves. Of 2600 who left Cawnpore, nearly one-third was either killed or wounded in forcing their way through the city: indeed, the losses were so heavy that they could effect nothing towards our relief; as the enemy were in overpowering force, and the position having been extended, in order to accommodate as far as possible our great increase in numbers, and the guns that were in our vicinity having been captured at considerable loss to ourselves, we remained on three-quarter rations, as closely besieged as before, until the 22nd November; when the garrison were finally relieved by the army under the Commander-in-Chief.

APPENDIX.

No. I.

CAPTAIN RADCLIFFE'S (7th Light Cavalry) NARRATIVE.

On the evening of the 30th May, about 9 o'clock, shots were heard at Moodkeepore (the cavalry station), in the direction of the infantry lines in Lucknow. The 7th Cavalry, consisting of about 150 sabres, immediately were turned out by their officers, and placed in three troops. On wheeling into line, about 30 men rushed out of the ranks, and rode furiously towards cantonments: they were not seen again. The corps advanced towards the race-course, towards the Residency, at a canter, which place they reached about half-past 9 or a quarter to 10. The regiment received orders to patrol round the Residency, and in the rear of Colonel Halford's house, which was done accordingly, and they afterwards formed up in rear of the lines stationed on the city road.

About 11 o'clock the 7th Cavalry marched down to the Baillie Guard, patrolled towards Muchee Bhawun, and, finding all safe, returned _viâ_ the stone bridge through Mukka Gunge, warned all on duty at the elephant sheds to be on the alert, and reached the Residency in cantonments about 2 in the morning. At 3 o'clock the 4th troop arrived from Chinahut, under the command of Captain T. Boileau. At a quarter after gunfire the cavalry marched off with the two artillery guns from the Residency, and took up a position on the right of the line on the 32nd parade ground. The 7th were directed to move towards Moodkeepore, which place was reported to have fallen into the hands of the mutineers. The corps advanced at a canter, and on reaching the plain close to the race-course, a large body of armed infantry, amounting to some 1000 men, were seen advancing in skirmishing order towards the cavalry. The report was, as regarded Moodkeepore, too true, for the Standard Guard was looted, public and private property destroyed, and the 2nd Squadron standard was actually seized from the hands of the jemadar in charge, and dashed to pieces.

Lieutenant Raleigh, who had lately joined the corps, was brutally murdered at 5 A.M. in front of the first troop lines. This officer was sick, and unable to join the regiment the night before when ordered out. The officer commanding ordered his men to form line to the front, which was done rather sullenly; but on his ordering the line to take ground to the right, a number of men broke out from the ranks, crying out that they _would_ charge, as their children, etc., were being murdered; they rode away towards the mutineers, having been beckoned to come over by a leader riding a horse and bearing a standard. Some thirty-five or forty men left their officers. At this time an officer was sent back towards cantonments to request Sir Henry Lawrence to send up some guns, as the small body of cavalry that were left alone in front of the insurgents were in danger of being driven back.

The guns soon afterwards came up, and after a few rounds dispersed the enemy. The 7th Cavalry, in concert with the Irregulars, followed up the retreating mutineers, killed one or two, and sent in some ten or twelve prisoners. The corps returned to Moodkeepore about 10 o'clock, and marched into cantonments in the evening, and took up a position on the right of the line. Some 105 men remained with their officers up to the 12th June, on which date, by authority, they were given two months' pay, and allowed a furlough to their homes till the 15th October. The men remaining after the mutiny behaved admirably in quarters, and when told they were to go to their homes obeyed the order, quietly lodging their arms, and moving quietly homewards. The horses of the corps were marched down to the Residency at noon of the 12th, and in the evening the European and native officers, with the standards, repaired to the Baillie Guard, opposite to which the cavalry horses were ordered to be picketed.

No. II.

ACCOUNT OF THE EXPLOSION AT THE SEIKH SQUARE ON 18TH OF AUGUST.

(Dated) Lucknow, 19th August, 1857.

Yesterday morning, between the hours of 5 and 6, the enemy sprung a mine at the Seikh Square, blowing down the corner house, on the top of which Lieutenant Mecham and Captain Orr, with two sentries, were on the look out from the loopholes, Lieutenant Soppitt being below at the time.

A few minutes before the explosion not a single individual was to be seen in the quarter occupied by the enemy. Suddenly, however, one man was discovered by a sentry, and Lieutenant Mecham fired at him, but missed; and immediately after the mine exploded, sending four of us, viz., Lieutenant Mecham, Band-sergeant Curtain, of the 41st Native Infantry, Drummer Ford, of the 13th Native Infantry, and Captain Orr up in the air, and burying underneath the ruins of the battery six drummers and one sepoy, _i. e._, Wiltshire, Williams, 13th Native Infantry, E. Curtain, A. Nugent, Rowlan, 41st Native Infantry, Fife-major Shipley, 4th Oude Irregular Force, and sepoy Heerah Sing, 48th Regiment Native Infantry. Of the former, I regret to state that Band-sergeant Curtain was thrown on the enemy's side and killed; Lieutenant Mecham and Drummer Ford were almost unhurt, and Captain Orr escaped with a few bruises.

Every precaution had been taken by Lieutenants Mecham, Soppitt, and Captain Orr to guard against all contingencies, Lieutenant Mecham remaining at night with the sentries, Lieutenant Soppitt and Captain Orr being below with the guard, and occasionally visiting the sentries. Since on duty at the Seikh Battery we had already discovered two mines, one of which we countermined, and the other we found to be an abortive attempt at one. The above discoveries had the effect of making us doubly vigilant on this point.

The new mine, which occasioned the calamity of yesterday, must have been worked by the enemy with sharp and noiseless tools; as--though a shaft was already sunk beneath the battery, over which a sentry was posted, and into which, during our respective tour of duty, we each occasionally descended for the purpose of listening whether mining was carried on by the enemy--not the slightest sound which in any way led us to suppose the same was the case, ever reached us.

There was never perfect silence in the square, owing to the Seikhs' horses being picketed therein, the tramping of whose feet on the ground had more than once previously deceived us.

The smoke and dust thrown up enveloping us for some moments in complete darkness, and the sudden shock of the explosion, prevented my personally knowing what subsequently happened.

No. III.

DIVISION ORDERS BY MAJOR-GENERAL SIR J. OUTRAM, G.C.B.

Head Quarters, Lucknow, 5th October, 1857.

The incessant and arduous duties which have devolved on Brigadier Inglis and his staff, since the arrival of the relieving force, had hitherto prevented him from furnishing to the Major-General Commanding the usual official documents relative to the siege of the garrison.

In the absence of these the Major-General could not, with propriety, have indulged in any public declaration of the admiration with which he regards the heroism displayed by Brigadier Inglis and the glorious garrison he has so ably commanded during the last three months, and he has been reluctantly obliged therefore to defer so long the expression of the sentiments he was desirous to offer.

But the Major-General having at length received Brigadier Inglis's reports, is relieved from the necessity of further silence, and he hastens to tender to the Brigadier, and to every individual member of the garrison, the assurance of his confidence that their services will be regarded by the Government under which they are immediately serving, by the British nation, and by Her Gracious Majesty, with equal admiration to that with which he is himself impressed.

The Major-General believes that the annals of warfare contain no brighter page than that which will record the bravery, fortitude, vigilance, and patient endurance of hardships, privation, and fatigue, displayed by the garrison of Lucknow; and he is very conscious that his unskilled pen must needs fail adequately to convey to the Right Honourable the Governor-General of India, and his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, the profound sense of the merits of that garrison which has been forced on his mind by a careful consideration of the almost incredible difficulties with which they have had to contend.

The term "illustrious" was well and happily applied by a former Governor-General of India to the garrison of Jellalabad; but some far more laudatory epithet--if such the English language contains--is due, the Major-General considers, to the brave men whom Brigadier Inglis has commanded with undeviating success and untarnished honour through the late memorable siege. For while the devoted band of heroes who so nobly maintained the honour of their country's arms under Sir R. Sale were seldom exposed to actual attack, the Lucknow garrison, of inferior strength, have, in addition to a series of fierce assaults, gallantly and successfully repulsed, been for three months exposed to a nearly incessant fire from strong and commanding positions, held by an enemy of overwhelming force, possessing powerful artillery, having at their command the whole resources of what was but recently a kingdom, and animated by an insane and bloodthirsty fanaticism.

It is a source of heartfelt satisfaction to the Major-General to be able, to a certain extent, to confer on the native portion of the garrison an instalment of those rewards which their gallant and grateful commander has sought for them, and which he is very certain the Governor-General will bestow in full; and though the Major-General, as regards the European portion of the garrison, cannot do more than give his most earnest and hearty support to the recommendations of the Brigadier, he feels assured that the Governor-General of India will fully and publicly manifest his appreciation of their distinguished services, and that our beloved Sovereign will herself deign to convey to them some gracious expression of royal approbation of their conduct.

Brigadier Inglis has borne generous testimony to the bravery, vigilance, devotedness, and good conduct of all ranks; and to all ranks, as the local representative of the British Indian Government, the Major-General tenders his warmest acknowledgments,--he would fain offer his special congratulations and thanks to the European and Eurasian portion of the garrison whom Brigadier Inglis has particularly noticed, but, by doing so, he would forestall the Governor-General in the exercise of what, the Major-General is assured, will be one of the most pleasing acts of his official life.

No. IV.

FROM BRIGADIER INGLIS, COMMANDING GARRISON OF LUCKNOW, TO THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT MILITARY DEPARTMENT, CALCUTTA.

Lucknow, September 26th, 1857.

SIR,

In consequence of the very deeply-to-be-lamented death of Brigadier-General Sir H. M. Lawrence, K.C.B., late in command of the Oude Field Force, the duty of narrating the military events which have occurred at Lucknow since the 29th of June last has devolved upon myself.

On the evening of that day several reports reached Sir Henry Lawrence that the rebel army, in no very considerable force, would march from Chinhut (a small village about eight miles distant, on the road to Fyzabad) on Lucknow on the following morning; and the late Brigadier-General therefore determined to make a strong reconnaissance in that direction, with the view, if possible, of meeting the force at a disadvantage, either at its entrance into the suburbs of the city, or at the bridge across the Gokral, which is a small stream intersecting Fyzabad road, midway between Lucknow and Chinhut.

The force destined for this service, and which was composed as follows, moved out at 6 A.M. on the morning of the 30th of June:--

_Artillery._--Four guns of No. -- Horse Light Field Battery, four guns of No. 2 Oude Field Battery, two guns of No. 3 Oude Field Battery, and an 8-inch howitzer.

_Cavalry._--Troop of Volunteer Cavalry, and 120 troopers of detachments belonging to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Regiments of Oude Irregular Cavalry.

_Infantry._--Three hundred of Her Majesty's 32nd, 150 of the 13th Native Infantry, 60 of the 48th Native Infantry, and 20 of the 71st Native Infantry (Sikhs).