BOOK IX. Chapter III. 1857. Sept. 21. Our troops make a mo mentary halt at Lakhmao, Onão and bivouac for the night at Bashíratganj. Temper of the men. 530 DRIVE THE ENEMY BEFORE THEM. The volunteer cavalry captured two guns, a set of Our men halted for breath and a mouthful of food at Onáo. They stayed there but half an hour. Then, pushing on, they reached Bashíratganj-likewise abandoned by the enemy in their flight and put up for the night in the serai or travellers' resting place-a very large building, capable of accommodating nearly the whole of the force. There was not a man not wet to the skin, for the rain had been of the pelting nature peculiar to the break-up of the rainy season. The baggage was some distance behind, but it came up two hours later, and afforded then to our men the luxury of dry clothes and a dinner. The force had thus reached with but a skirmish the furthest point of Havelock's three brilliant inroads into Oudh. This time there was no talk of retreat. Yet, excited with victory, proud of their day's work as they were, the men were not unconscious that their greatest difficulties lay THEY PRESS ON TRIUMPHANTLY. 531 before them. But had those difficulties been ten times greater they were in the mood to overcome them. The end to be attained was the relief of their beleaguered countrymen-of those countrymen who for more than eighty days had held out against the hosts of the enemy. It was that enemy who now barred their onward progress. The pent-up determination of every heart found vent that night in the expressions of firm resolve that, be the resistance of the enemy what it might, it should bar the way no longer. BOOK IX. Chapter III. 1857. Sept. 21. They recomward move. mence the on ment. The rain fell heavily next morning as Havelock's force left its night quarters at half-past 7, the first brigade leading. Every one was in the highest spirits, and, in spite of the pelting downpour, wetting to the skin, all stepped out gaily. No enemy was seen in front-a few cavalry only, at a safe distance, on the flanks. After a march of sixteen miles they reached the village of Baní. Baní was a strong and defensible position. To reach it a force coming from Kánhpúr had to cross the river Saí, here spanned by a long bridge built of masonry. After passing the bridge the road takes a turn to the right. The river was not fordable. Strong as was the position, the The rebels, enemy neither used the advantages it offered to en, abandon them nor opposed to our troops the smallest defensible opposition. They even neglected to break down the bridge. Nor, although they had constructed two half-moon batteries on the Lakhnao side of it had they the spirit to use them. In a word, panic-stricken by our rapid advance, they abandoned the best chance they had of stop panic-strick positions. BOOK IX. Chapter III. 1857. Sept. 22. The troops bivouac for the night at Baní. They start again the following morning, but meet no enemy till the A'lam. bágh. 532 THEY APPROACH THE A'LAMBAʼGH. ping us and evacuated their strongest position The events of the following day, the 23rd, were certain to be crucial. Breakfast, then, was served out to the men before they started. But by half-past 8 o'clock they were on their way marching in column of subdivisions right in front. The rain had cleared off but it was very close and steamy, without a breath of wind. Since 6 o'clock that morning the booming of the cannon discharged against the Residency had ceased. This silence seemed to indicate that the they approach enemy were massing their big guns to oppose the relieving force. Our men, however, unawed by the silence, pressed on with determined step. For some time no enemy was visible. But as they approached the A'lambágh infantry began to show themselves on their flanks, and it soon became apparent that the enemy were prepared to receive them at that walled garden. A party of cavalry was sent on to reconnoitre. They returned to report the enemy had six guns in position; that their left rested on the A'lambagh, their centre and right being drawn up behind a chain of hillocks. BOOK IX. Chapter III. 1857. Sept. 23. for attack. FROM WHICH THE REBELS ARE DRIVEN. 533 Havelock then halted his force, changed the order of the column from right to left in front, and brought up the 78th Highlanders and Eyre's heavy guns. These changes having been effected Havelock's the British force moved on. No sooner, how dispositions ever, were they within range than the enemy's guns opened with round and grape shot. They must have studied the distance very carefully for their first shot knocked over three officers of the 90th, all of whom subsequently died. The casualties amongst the men and camp followers were likewise considerable. But these losses did not check the advance. Whilst the 78th, the 90th, and the remainder of the 2nd Brigade pushed quickly on to gain the open ground on which it could deploy, Neill, with the 1st Brigade, took ground to the left, passing through deep ditches, through swamps, and over heavy ground. On reaching the open he deployed his men in a position causing them to overlap the enemy's right. Meanwhile Eyre's battery on the road, and Olpherts's on the right, had opened out on the enemy. Maude's quickly followed. This fire had the effect of dispersing the rebel cavalry and cleared the way for the advance of Our men. By this time the two brigades had reached open ground, had deployed, and were advancing, the 2nd on the front, the 1st enveloping the enemy's right. Neill led his men over He drives the enemy from very heavy ground and drove the enemy from the Alamseveral villages in succession. The key of the bagh, enemy's position, however, was the A'lambagh and the upper-storied buildings adjacent to it. BOOK IX. Chapter III. 1857. Sept. 23. advances, then halts for the night. The enemy turn upon him. 534 HAVELOCK HALTS FOR THE NIGHT These the rebels defended with great resolution ; but they could not withstand the assault made by the 5th Fusiliers. Advancing with the bayonet the men of this splendid regiment cleared the houses and stormed the position. The rebels then fell back to resume the contest on the mor row. Of the guns they had brought into action. five were captured by the Volunteer Cavalry. One of these, however, in the darkness and confusion of the night, they recovered. Having driven the enemy from the A'lambágh the force advanced to within sight of the domes, the minarets, and the gardens of Lakhnao. But the day's work had been hard-much still remained to be effected, and the General prudently determined to halt for the night. Accordingly he took up a position, placing the 1st brigade on the right, the 2nd on the left, of the road, Eyre's heavy battery on the road itself. Our men, however, had scarcely taken up the ground assigned to them and had halted, when the rebels who, up to that time, had been fleeing in desperate haste, suddenly stopped, brought up fresh guns, and opened a heavy fire on the regiments as they stood or lay in line. They occupied also in considerable strength a two-storied house, subsequently known as the Yellow house, and from it began a fusillade on our line. Just at this time the rain came down in torrents and our men were soon wetted to the skin. Havelock met this action of the enemy by drawing back his line out of fire, throwing his right on the A'lambagh and refusing his left. The movement was a difficult |