At length, on the 25th September, early in the morning, a messenger
arrived with a letter from General Outram, announcing his approach to
Lucknow. Hours passed by; many of the enemy were seen retreating across
the river, and every gun which could be brought to bear was fired at
them, though all the time the rebels engaged in besieging the
intrenchments never ceased firing, both with artillery and rifles. At
four p.m. there was a report that some officers and a European regiment
had been seen advancing in the distance. At five p.m. volleys of
musketry were heard, growing louder and louder, and soon afterwards the
British troops were seen fighting their way through one of the principal
streets; and though men fell at every step, onward they gallantly
pushed, till the rearguard heavy guns were inside the position. The
relieving force was under the command of Sir James Outram. It had
suffered severely in the gallant exploit. Of 2600 who had left
Cawnpore, nearly one-third had been either killed or wounded in forcing
their way through the city, so that nothing could be done for the relief
of the place. The united body was therefore as closely besieged as
before.
We must now describe more particularly how this gallant exploit had been
accomplished.
On the return of General Havelock from Persia, he was appointed to the
command of a movable column, consisting of 1964 men. He immediately
commenced his march on Cawnpore, hoping to relieve the prisoners there
confined by the miscreant Nana Sahib. Having been joined by Major
Renard with 800 men, a victory was obtained, on the 12th July, over a
large body of the rebels near Futtehpore.
Twice on the 15th he engaged the rebels, at Aeng, and the bridge of
Pandoo Nudder. On the 16th he drove Nana Sahib from a strong position
at Ahirwa.
The next day, the fatal 17th, the wretch butchered the women and
children left in his power, blew up the magazine at Cawnpore, and
retreated to Bithpor. Here he was unable to make a stand, and once more
made a hasty retreat. General Havelock, on this, leaving General Neill
at Cawnpore, pushed on for Lucknow. He again encountered the mutineers
near Uano on the 29th July, when the 78th Highlanders, the 1st
Fusiliers, and the 64th Regiment were chiefly engaged. The same corps
next captured Busherut Gunge, a walled town with wet ditches. Three
times the same place was attacked and taken while General Havelock was
waiting at Cawnpore for reinforcements. On the 16th September, Sir
James Outram arrived. Though superior officer, he refused to supersede
Major-General Havelock, but accompanied the force as Chief-Commissioner
of Oude. The relieving force, now amounting to about 2500 men and 17
guns, crossed the Ganges, and, on the 21st September, attacked the
rebels at Munghowar, who fled, four guns being captured, two of which
were taken in a cavalry charge led by Sir James Outram. On the 23rd,
they arrived before the Alumbagh, an isolated building, a country palace
situated in a large walled park to the south-east of the city of
Lucknow, and about three miles from the Residency. From this place the
enemy were driven, four guns were taken, and it was occupied by the
relieving army. As the British troops were wearied with their long
march in pelting rain, the assault was deferred till the 25th. All the
24th they were bombarded by the enemy, and an attack was made by 1000
cavalry on the baggage, which was defeated by the soldiers of the
gallant 90th, though not without the loss of several officers and men.
The morning of the 25th arrived. The generals breakfasted at a small
table placed in the open field; and while they and their staff were
afterwards examining a map of the city spread out on it, a 9-pound shot
from the enemy's battery struck the ground five yards from it, and
bounded over their heads. Soon after eight the welcome order to advance
was given. Sir James Outram commanded the first and leading brigade,
with all the artillery, heavy and light. The second brigade, under
General Havelock, followed in support. Scarcely had Sir James's brigade
passed the advanced pickets, than it was assailed by a heavy fire in
front, on either flank, and from two guns planted near a house called
from its colour the Yellow House. The enemy had flanked his road under
cover of long, high grass, and a murderous fire was poured on the
columns from a double-storied house, full of musketeers, from the
loopholed walls of the surrounding gardens, from two guns that raked the
road from his right flank, and from another that commanded his front.
In the face of this desperate opposition, Captain Maude, with his brave
artillerymen, pushed on, though not without the loss of one-third of
their number. A canal passes between the Alumbagh and Lucknow. At the
bridge over it the enemy had determined to make their stand, and dispute
the entrance to the city. It was defended by six guns on the Lucknow
side, one of them a 24-pounder, which completely swept the bridge and
the approach to it, while all the houses near it were loopholed and
filled with musketeers. Here nearly every man of Captain Maude's two
guns was killed or wounded, though he and Lieutenant Maitland remained
unhurt, and they frequently had to call for volunteers from the infantry
to replace the artillerymen falling around. A charge was now made by
the Madras Fusiliers, when Lieutenant Arnold, at the first word of
command, dashed on to the bridge with nineteen of his men. The enemy,
believing this little band to be the main body, sent a discharge of
grape, which they had reserved for the occasion, among them. Lieutenant
Arnold fell, shot through both legs, and most of his men were swept
down. Lieutenant Havelock alone remained on the bridge. Waving his
sword, he called to the Fusiliers to advance. Then, bravely led by
their regimental officers, they dashed forward with a cheer, and, not
giving the enemy time to reload, rushed on the guns, amid a storm, of
bullets, wrested them from the enemy, and bayoneted the gunners.
The British army now entered the city, and the 78th Highlanders were
pushed forward on the Cawnpore road to the Residency, to cover the
passage of the troops and baggage, etcetera; while the remainder turned
short to the right, and began to thread the narrow lane leading towards
the king's stables.
The 78th Highlanders held their position at the head of the street, as
the baggage, the wounded, and the followers defiled over the bridge. As
soon as the enemy perceived that it was an unsupported rearguard, it was
assailed by overwhelming numbers, but continued firmly to hold its own.
In this unequal struggle, which lasted nearly three hours, its
ammunition was more than once exhausted and renewed.
On one occasion, the enemy becoming more bold, brought two brass
9-pounders to bear on the Highlanders; but they immediately left the
shelter of the houses, captured the guns, hurled them into the canal,
and then calmly resumed their defensive position. Repeatedly tried
through this campaign, and always found worthy of its high reputation,
never did the valour of this gallant regiment shine brighter than in
this bloody conflict.
Among others, Lieutenant-Adjutant Herbert McPherson was conspicuous in
the splendid charge on the two guns, while Assistant-Surgeon Valentine
McMaster exhibited the most devoted gallantry in the way in which he
risked his life for the purpose of binding up the wounds, and securing
the retreat of the men under his charge disabled by the bullets of the
enemy.
The main body, turning to the right, advanced to a point between the
Motee Mahal and the old mess-house of the 32nd. It was between this
spot and the Residency, a distance of three-quarters of a mile, that the
strength of the enemy was concentrated; and here the fiercest conflict,
after that of forcing the bridge, occurred. At length, however, the
enemy were driven back by the heavy guns, and, after passing through a
hot fire from the roofs of neighbouring houses, the force was halted
under shelter of a wall of one of the palaces, to allow the long column,
the progress of which had been impeded by the narrowness of the streets,
to come up. The main body was now within 500 yards of the Residency,
but surrounded with enemies. The generals, however, determined to push
on. The Highlanders and a regiment of Sikhs were called to the front;
Sir James Outram, though wounded, and General Havelock placed themselves
at their head, and through an incessant storm of shot pushed on to the
Residency. "The loopholed houses on either side poured forth a stream
of fire as they advanced: every roof sent down a shower of missiles on
them. Deep trenches had been cut across the road to detain them under
the fire of the adjacent buildings. At every angle they encountered a
fearful volley; but, animated by the generals, officers and men pushed
on, till at length the gate of the Residency was reached, and the
hard-pressed garrison welcomed them with their hearty cheers. The
remainder of the troops quickly followed, and entered the Residency.
Numbers had fallen, and among them General Neill, who was with the 1st
Madras Fusiliers, and soon after the shelter was quitted was shot dead,
falling instantly from his horse, and never speaking more. The united
forces were, however, too weak to attempt to retreat. They were
consequently again besieged in the Residency, though able to keep the
foe at bay."