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loose and fought with each other, unheeded by the over-worked garrison.

BOOK IX. Chapter II.

1857.

July 4.

enemy took

no advantage

culties.

The enemy was not ignorant of the confusion that reigned behind those weak ramparts. Why Why the did they not take advantage of it? They had guns, they had position, they had over-whelming of those diffi. numbers. One determined rush, or an unceasing succession of determined rushes, and though their losses would have been enormous, the position must have been carried. The reader will have already answered the question. They did not attempt those rushes because they were entirely Asiatics and the defenders were mainly Europeans!

Its

-as de

Inglis.

The course which they pursued, and the means The defence adopted by the garrison to baffle that course, scribed by have been described in immortal language by the Brigadier Brigadier who commanded the defence.* It would be difficult to add to the grandeur of that simple and expressive story. Regarded from a literary point of view it is a model of despatchwriting. But it is far more than that. greater merit lies in the fact that it records with unsurpassed modesty, untinged by a shadow of self-laudation, a long deed of heroism, unsurpassed and unsurpassable, to be spoken of with reverence so long as the pulse of the English heart beats high in appreciation of what is brave, of what is manly, of what is noble.

Far from taking of their victory at Chinhat that Tactics of the prompt advantage at which an English army

* Despatch of Brigadier Inglis partment, given at full length to the Secretary to the Govern- in Appendix B.

ment of India, Military De

mutineers.

BOOK IX. Chapter II.

1857. July 1-20.

Casualties in the early part of the siege.

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would have clutched, the rebels, for nearly three weeks, did everything but assault those slight defences. They did indeed occupy the houses which commanded them; they erected batteries; they placed guns in position; they dug trenches to protect their men from our shells; and for the entire period I have mentioned, that is from the 1st to the 20th of July, they kept up a terrific and incessant fire day and night, not less than eight thousand men, and probably a larger number, firing at one time into our position. Their fire was very effective. The mosques, the houses which from want of time to destroy them had been allowed to stand, the not very remote palaces, afforded them commanding positions. Their shells penetrated into places before considered absolutely secure. Many succumbed to this incessant rain of projectiles. Mrs. Dorin was killed in an inner room of Mr. Gubbins' house; Mr. Ommaney, of the Civil Service, was mortally wounded on the 4th of July; Major Francis, of the 13th Native Infantry, a very gallant officer, on the 7th; Mr. Polehampton, the chaplain, the same day, severely. Before the 20th of July dawned, the list of casualties had been increased by Mr. Bryson, at one time Sergeant-Major, 16th Lancers, shot through his head on the 9th; by Lieutenant Dashwood, 48th Native Infantry, who succumbed the same day to cholera; by Lieutenant Charlton, 32nd Foot, shot through the head on the 13th; by Lieutenant Lester, mortally wounded on the 14th; by Lieutenants Bryce and O'Brien, wounded on the 16th; by Lieutenant Harmer wounded, and Lieutenant

PROCEEDINGS OF THE GARRISON.

447

Arthur killed, on the 19th. That day also, Mr. Polehampton, wounded on the 7th, died of cholera. In addition to these officers, many privates, Europeans and natives, succumbed. A few of the latter deserted to the enemy.

Upon the improvised defences the effect of the enemy's fire was even greater. Thus on the 15th Anderson's house was entirely destroyed by round shot, though still nobly held by the garrison; on the 18th, many round shots were fired into the Post office, Fayrer's house, Gubbins's, and the Brigade mess-house. At one time the rebels succeeded in setting the Residency on fire by firing carcasses into it. At another they threatened an assault on Gubbins's post. In fact they had recourse to every possible expedient excepting one, and when they did attempt that one it was met gloriously and successfully.

The garrison during these three weeks had their work cut out for them. The order, so conspicuous by its absence in the first hours of the siege, was gradually restored. By the 10th arrangements had been made for securing and feeding the bullocks, whilst the surviving horses, after scores had been shot down, had been got rid of by turning them loose over the intrenchment in the dark of the night. A strong element of disorder was thus removed. These animals, however, had previously perished in great numbers, and the interring of them was no slight addition to other labours.*

* Numbers of horses and at night by working parties, bullocks died, and their burial in addition to nightly fatigue

BOOK IX. Chapter II.

1857. July 1-20.

Further

effect of the

enemy's fire.

Proceedings

of the gar

rison.

BOOK IX. Chapter II.

1857. July 1-20. Difficulties they had to

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The heat during this time was excessive. Cholera was busy. The stench from putrid animals was most offensive. Few officers had a servant. The real work of the garrison, in fact, contend with. took place in the night time. Then, stores had to be dug out and carried, guns to be shifted, trenches to be dug, shafts for mines sunk, the dead buried, and the thousand and one necessities devolving upon men so situated attended to. Still the garrison showed no signs of faltering. The necessity for having the mind constantly on the stretch, however, whilst, perhaps, it added to the bodily capacity to bear fatigue, told in the long run upon many.

The first sortie.

Daring of
Lieutenant
Sam. Law.
rence.

On the 7th of July a sortie was made. The party consisted of fifty men of the 32nd and twenty Sikhs. The object was to examine Johannes house, a building outside, and close to the line of defence, near the Brigade mess, as it was believed that the enemy were mining. The sortie was successful. The enemy were driven out of the house, and fifteen or twenty of their number were killed. On our side three men were wounded. I cannot quit the account of this sortie without making special reference to the gallantry of

parties for the purpose of or day. In all duties the burying the dead, carrying up officers equally shared the supplies from exposed posi- labours with the men, carrying tions, repairing intrench- loads, and digging pits for ments, draining, and altering putrid animals, at night, in the position of guns, in addi- heavy rain. All exerted themtion to attending on the selves to the utmost, alterwounded, caused excessive nately exposed to a burning fatigue to the thin garrison, sun and heavy rain.”—Journal who had but little rest, night of a Staff Officer.

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the officer who led it, Lieutenant Sam. Lawrence, of the 32nd Foot. The cool daring he displayed obtained for Lieutenant Lawrence the Victoria Cross.*

For some time subsequently the garrison confined themselves strictly to defence. But on the 20th the enemy changed their tactics. They determined then to try the rush which they should in the first instance have attempted.

BOOK IX. Chapter II.

1857.

July 1-20.

July 20.

At midnight, on the 20th of July, the enemy's fire almost ceased, nor was heavy firing resumed in the early morning. About half-past 8 o'clock, however, a considerable movement on their part was noticed. The garrison in consequence were well on the alert. A little after 10 o'clock they sprung The first a mine inside the water-gate, about twenty-five yards from the inner defences, and close to the Redan. Immediately after the explosion the enemy opened a very heavy fire on the defences near which the mine had been sprung. Under cover of this fire, as soon as the smoke and dust

It may be interesting to garrison, for the purpose of the reader to peruse the words examining a house strongly in which the bestowal of this held by the enemy, in order honour was notified. In the to discover whether or not a London Gazette of the 22nd of mine had been driven from it.' November 1859, the following Major Wilson states that he announcement appeared :- saw the attack, and was an 66 Lieutenant, now Brevet eye-witness to the great perMajor, S. Lawrence, 32nd sonal gallantry of Major Foot.-Date of act of bravery, Lawrence on the occasion, he 7th July 1857.-For distin- being the first person to mount guished bravery in a sortie on the ladder and enter the winthe 7th of July 1857, made, dow of the house, in effecting as reported by Major Wilson, which he had his pistol late Deputy Assistant Adju- knocked out of his hand by tant-General of the Lucknow one of the enemy."

assault.

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