BOOK IX. that succumbed to incessant battering; now the wall of the building occupied by the boys of the Chapter II. Martinière. Some idea of the incessant nature of the hostile fire may be gleaned from the fact that on the 8th of September two hundred and eighty round shot, which had lodged there during the siege, varying in size from a 24 to a 3-pounder, were gathered from the roof of the Brigade Messhouse alone! At 10 P.M. on the 16th the pensioner Angad was again sent out with a letter rolled up in a quill for General Havelock. 1857. September. Sept. 16. He evinced no Angad again reluctance. The risk was great, certain death if discovered, but the reward promised him was enormous-not less than five hundred pounds a trip. He was absent just six days. He returned at 11 P.M. on the 22nd bringing with him sent out. a letter containing the gratifying intelligence that Angad brings the relieving force had crossed the Ganges and glad tidings. would arrive in three or four days! To guard against that depression amongst his men apt to be engendered by disappointed hope, the Brigadier put on ten days to the time, and announced to the garrison that help from outside would arrive certainly within the fortnight. The effect was electric. The garrison were greatly elated by the news, and and on many of the sick and wounded the speedy prospect of a possible change of air and security exercised a most beneficial effect. As to Angad-whatever may have been his adventures, they had satisfied him for his life. "Live or die," he exclaimed, "I have made the trip three times in safety; BOOK IX. Chapter II. 1857. Sept. 23. The approach of the reliev ing force heralded. 476 APPROACH OF THE RELIEVING FORCE heralded. I'll go no more, but come life or death I'll remain with you. ""* On the 23rd-the day following Angad's return a smart cannonade was heard in the direction of Kánhpúr: some even fancied they heard musketry fire. A considerable movement of troops was also observed in the city, but the object was not apparent. A similar sound of distant firing and a similar movement of troops in the city was noticed likewise on the 24th. The night that followed was very unquiet, two alarms keeping the whole garrison under arms. It subsequently transpired that the enemy, aware of the near approach of the relieving force, were determined to use all possible means to prevent communication between that force and the garrison. Sounds indicating great disturbance reached them from the city. At 10 o'clock the following morning a messenger arrived bringing an old letter from General Outram dated the 16th. The messenger could only add of his own knowledge that the relieving force had reached the outskirts of the city. The anxiety of the garrison was now intense. It was not lessened by the gradual cessation of the fire about an hour later (11 A.M.). The sounds of disturbance still continued, however, to reach them from the city. At noon the sound of musketry and of cannon close at hand gladdened their ears, whilst the smoke from the discharge of the latter showed that their friends were within excitement of the limits of the city. The excitement now almost Intense the garrison. * Angad had made four these only had been undertaken trips; but the three last of by order of the Brigadier. SIGNS OF THE ENEMY'S DEFEAT. passed the power of endurance. 477 But it had to BOOK IX. 1857. Sept. 25. enemy's de be borne. For an hour and a half it was evident Chapter II. But then it that a fierce struggle was going on. became evident that the European had asserted his superiority. At 1.30 P.M. many of the people of the city commenced leaving with bundles of clothes on their heads and took the direction of the cantonments across the different bridges. At 2 P.M. armed men and sepoys commenced to follow them accompanied by large bodies of Irregular Cavalry. Whilst the struggle in the city had been pro- Signs of the gressing a blockading party of the enemy's troops feat. had continued to keep a heavy fire on our defences. They continued it, now that their comrades were retreating, more vigorously than ever. But the garrison, leaving them to do their worst, brought every gun and mortar to bear on the foe fleeing from the city. They were able to do this with the more effect as the bridge of boats had been carried away, and many of the enemy's cavalry had to swim the river Gúmtí. The cannonade on these men lasted an hour and a a half, a proof that their numbers must have been considerable. The scene that followed cannot be better told than in the words of one to whose diary* I am so largely indebted. "At 4 P.M." writes Captain The relief. Wilson in his journal "report was made that some officers dressed in shooting coats and solah hats, a regiment of Europeans in blue pantaloons and shirts and a bullock battery were seen near *The Defence of Lucknow,-a Diary by a Staff Officer. 478 THE RELIEVING FORCE ARRIVES. BOOK IX. Chapter II. 1857. Sept. 25. The meeting. Mr. Martin's house and the Motí Mahal. 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 had been 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," continues the journal, "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 Lakhnao 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 for REINFORCEMENT-NOT RELIEF. 479 BOOK IX. Chapter II. 1857. Sept. 25. or reinforce. ment ? ward to glad meetings with those near and dear to them, now for the first time learned 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.' But relief had come. Communication with the Was it relief outer world had been opened. By whom had this gallant dash through the beleaguering force been accomplished? This is a question which I shall answer fully in the next chapter. In this place I will only add that when the delirium of joy at the sight of old friends, and of receiving intelligence from outside had given place to sober considerations, it was recognised that the garrison had been not relieved, but reinforced; that the losses sustained by the incoming force had been so great that, combined with the garrison, they still could not thoroughly master the enemy. In some respects, even, the position of the garrison had been rendered worse. There were more mouths to feed, and there was no increase of food to supply them; more accommodation to be provided only to be obtained by extending the position; and withal the uncertainty as to the period when it would be possible for the Government to equip another force sufficiently large to attempt a real relief. But with the arrival of that force concludes Summary. the episode of the first siege of the Lakhnao Residency. If in the course of my narrative of that unsurpassed trial of courage and endurance I have not more markedly referred to individuals by name it is because, where all fought so nobly, |