wwvewUfa/^d^ RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN 1845-1876 BY MAJOR-GENERAL J. RUGGLES COLONEL, IQTH PUNJABEES LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO, 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON NEW YORK AND BOMBAY 1906 054-71 ! Befcfcatefc TO MY DEAR WIFE AS A SLIGHT RETURN FOR ALL THE UNTIRING INTEREST AND TROUBLE SHE HAS TAKEN IN MY WORK 512870 INTRODUCTION ALTHOUGH possessing no claim to literary merit, it has occurred to me that these few jottings from my Military Life might interest some of those who, like myself, passed through the troublous times of the Indian Mutiny and still survive. I fear that this number is fast decreasing, and personally I find it very sad when we assemble at our Annual Luck- now Dinner to miss familiar faces, and it seldom comes round without some missing comrades who shared with me this anxious time. From about fifty we have now dwindled down to scarce twenty- five, and the SILENT TOAST, so often drunk to their memory, casts a shadow over those present. So many have passed away that I now hold the position of the " Father of the Garrison ". At the time of my writing this, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales has just paid us the very high compliment of receiving the few surviving Veterans at Lucknow. His Royal Highness, in replying to an address, made the following remark : "The name of ' LUCK- viii INTRODUCTION NOW ' is very precious to us at home ; it is part of our history of which we are proud, and these sentiments may be shared by the gallant Veterans". Two years since, by His Majesty's gracious permission, I was appointed " Hon. Colonel " of my old regiment, the i Qth Punjabees ; so, after twenty-eight years, I again find myself holding a link with the past. I am indebted to Mr. Gubbins' book, published in the year 1858, for many reminders of what occurred during the Siege, and with few exceptions my notes tally with his History. After a lapse of sixty-one years, it seems a bold task to write one's reminiscences and recollections of what happened so long ago, and that is the number of years since the date of my first commission, namely i3th June, 1845 J an ^ yet, when one's mind is carried back to that time, how many things almost forgotten come back to one ; and, amongst them, the faces of old friends gone long ago. Priestly, who was my first friend in the 4ist and with whom I shared a house for nine years what enjoyable times we had together, and how we condoled with each other on the state of impecuniosity we were generally in, normal with the subaltern in those days ! Scott was another of our standing, a dear old fellow ; fond of horses, and always with several in his stable, but never in that state of " Hard-up-ishness" that most INTRODUCTION ix of us were. How he managed it I don't know, but he always seemed to have some money put by. After the Mutiny he bought a tea plantation in Assam, and it was in returning from an inspection in a boat down the river that during the night the overhanging bank fell in and crushed him. Bennet, too, and Gibbs ; we all joined the regiment within a few days of each other, and now they are all gone, but my remembrance of them is very dear, and will, I trust, always remain so. Taking it all in all, my career has not been a very eventful one. My life in India was most pleasant and enjoyable, the climate agreed with me, and there were hardly any drawbacks. My regret was in having to leave the service when I did, and I have no need to console myself with what Aliph Cheem writes, that : India is not the land alone, Where one digs for a nugget and finds a stone. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. EARLY INCIDENTS. The voyage out Fellow passengers A novel flat A flirtation Mrs. Grundy Going for the letters The result No money A good Samaritan The biter bitten On active service Fort Kote Kangra taken I join Major Abbot's camp Also my regiment the 4ist N. I. Page i CHAPTER II. A FEW ANECDOTES. First steps Slow promotion Unmerited kudos Monkey stories Pity for the pony and its result Doonga Singh, his capture and captivity My first tiger hunt A horse fair Regiment marches to Delhi I and the guide distinguish ourselves A dog scare and a mishap - Page 16 CHAPTER III. DELHI MOOLTAN SEETAPORE. Quartered at Delhi A few incidents Sir Charles Napier presents new colours Society at Delhi A joke at our expense Ordered to Mooltan March across the desert via Bikaneer Arrival Orders to build houses Our difficulties, pecuniary and otherwise An evening party Annexation of Oudh Step not popular with the sepoys Ordered to Lucknow Rumours of discontent Proceed to Seetapore Again ordered to build Further disaffection Outbreak at Meerut, loth May, l8 57 O ur men declare their loyalty Suspense A period of waiting Commissioner's offer refused He holds back important letters from Sir H. Lawrence Page 29 zi xii CONTENTS CHAPTER IV. OUTBREAK OF MUTINY. Outbreak at Seetapore The parade of the regiment Officers killed and wounded Friendly sepoys Flight into Lucknow Incidents attending it Privation Terrible heat Help from Lucknow We reach the garrison All's well Page 41 CHAPTER V. SIEGE OF LUCKNOW. My prediction verified Commissioner's house fired Names of those who perished Other losses at Seetapore Mrs. Stuart saved Just retri- bution Report myself to Sir J. Inglis Given charge of the church Incidents while there On sick list News of Cawnpore massacre Chinhut Terrible fate of friends Return to vestry Church destroyed Death of Sir H. Lawrence Grief of the garrison His foresight Disaster to the cattle Serious attack on Redan battery Enemy's great daring Lieutenant Grant's death Mutineers send me a message Rebels make their fiercest attack Dangers to the garrison Great heat causes many deaths Prices of provisions Great scarcity End of July Many casualties Strange recovery of Lieutenant Charlton A droll incident A memorable night Ungud goes out successfully He returns Several deaths Small-pox and cholera raging in the garrison Great food privations Remarkable death of Ensign Studdy Resi- dency vacated General attack Followed by others - - Page 46 CHAPTER VI. CONTINUATION OF SIEGE. Ungud returns Correspondence with General Havelock Mining disaster Attack on the breach Sorties for destruction of out-buildings Exploits of Browne, Fulton and McCabe Removal of women to the Begum Kotee New batteries of the enemy An awkward mistake Lieutenant Bonham's invention A harmless little gamble Fresh desertions Removal of the powder magazine Gallantry of Captain Fulton Wild rumours Prices current Sickness and many deaths Severe wound of Lieutenant Bonham Page 67 CHAPTER VII. INCIDENTS DURING THE SIEGE. Cooler weather A fatal oversight Explosion near the south-western bastion Attacks redoubled Continued mining and countermining Disastrous result of misplaced economy Death of Captain Fulton Instance of his intrepidity Magnitude of our loss Promotion of Lieutenant J. C. CONTENTS xiii Anderson Rajah Man Singh Desertion of cooks Further dilapidation of buildings More of the horizontal mortar Heavy losses among the Artillery Effect of an eclipse Further casualties The problem of dress and laundry Page 77 CHAPTER VIII. FURTHER INCIDENTS. News from Sir James Outram Welcome sound of artillery Death of Captain Radcliffe Flight of the enemy Arrival of the relieving force Demonstrations of joy Losses by the way Eager enquiries Delafosse and Thompson among the arrivals Straitened commissariat The new tobacco Lieutenant Moorsom Death of Neill and Cooper Details of Havelock's advance Outram's magnanimity Recipients of the V.C. Deaths by sorties Total losses, European and native Case of Colonel Birch Of Graves Outram in command Second phase of the siege, the blockade Successful work by Colonel Napier Rewards to Ungud and other natives Discontent of our own men Unwholesome food Tantalising position of our stores Distress and mortality among the wounded News of the capture of Delhi .... Page 86 CHAPTER IX. ARRIVAL OF RELIEVING FORCE. Mr. Kavanagh's plucky feat Casualties from recklessness Death of Colonel Campbell Approach of the relieving force observed Fighting at the Sekundur Bagh Taking of the Shah Nujeef Captain Wolseley plants the British ensign Strength and casualties of Sir Colin Campbell's force Evacuation of the Residency My Arab in a palkee-gharry Terrible experience of Captain Waterman Removal of the treasury Our six months' mail A treasured piece of furniture Honour for General Havelock His death Wisdom of Sir Colin's arrangements A youthful thief A novel experience Arrival at Cawnpore Kindness of two officers Irate Mrs. Apthorp Christmas day Mrs. Halford again Reception at Calcutta Lady Canning's kindness Ladies of the garrison sail in the Ava Wrecked off Trincomalee Effect of the calamity Fifteen months' leave A strange greeting Voyage back to India Thirteen brides to be Incident at Suez An exacting charge "Devils and devils" An exciting drive ......... Page 99 CHAPTER X. CHINA, 1860-1861. China in preference to Barrickpore Work in plenty Drawbacks of the "irregular" system The unfamiliar hammock Visit of Sir Robert Napier Luxurious voyaging Hostile Chinamen on the Cochin coast Singapore -A thank-offering Drastic measures for drunkenness The xiv CONTENTS "ripples" At Kowloon My friend the compradore Ordered to Shanghai A panic-stricken official Barbarities inflicted on Taipings An annoying incident A case of conflicting ancestral strains From the Stone Bridge to the Ningpo Joss House Polyglot conversation A deal in watches Chinese characteristics Perilous boating Pleasant rela- tions with the Legation Back to India Penang - - Page 113 CHAPTER XI. INDIA AGAIN. Arrival at Calcutta Inspections Interview with the chief Ordered to Lucknow A nocturnal party in strange attire The tinned sausages- Ordered to Seetapore Sad memories Appointed second in command of igth Punjabees A night alarm Mishap with the mess plates Troops at Morar Gwalior fort A mess bungalow secured Court-martial on a European Capping stories Incredulous listeners An unfortunate addition to the rice " Kuch Nes" Tall peas Sport with Stafford at Mahona A sensitive spaniel ------ Page 124 CHAPTER XII. BHOOTAN. Agra and Allyghur Lucky escapes Trains in collision Mr. Barnes at Colgong Recalcitrant baggage animals Karajambus Major Stafford unwell My little brigade Cold night work Harrassed by arrows Rushing the stockade The enemy's flag Commendation from superiors Leeches Sad end of the goat A disastrous march Agility of cholera patients Death of Lieutenant Kennedy Trying climate At Julpesh Bamboo houses Inspection by General Tyler Stafford rejoins W of " ours " Renewed operations against the Bhooteahs Strange use for a telegraph wire A cork bed and a cork mattress Monkeys and dogs Destructive vengeance Freak of an absentee caterer Sagacity of an elephant Page 133 CHAPTER XIII. SIMLA. Return to Allyghur To Simla on leave Trip to Narkhunda Tragic death of Lady Brind Bobbery Pack at Allyghur The fatal lampreys Nynee Tal The yellow-back out of place Native sense of humour Heavy loads carried by women A bribe for wild coolies Miscalling of names In orders for Peshawur Memorials to General Nicholson Tame black buck Earthquake scare at Attock Cholera precautions upset by frogs Cholera deaths A versatile priest Fruit trade arrested Sug- gestion from comparison of cholera poison and snake-bite poison Strange cases of recovery Shere Ali Interesting document possessed by Bahadur Khan Instances of native prescience - Page 145 CONTENTS xv CHAPTER XIV. TULLA GAON AND CASHMERE. Khyberees of the Pass The chowkedar " Good and faithful servant " An eccentric chaplain My house at Tulla Gaon A zebra hunt Transposition of place names Visit to Cashmere Discomforts of an ekka The question of pay A quarrelsome pony Horns for sale From Baramulla by boat The Maharajah's present Pedlars' wares A Shakara Shawls and silks Crows v. snake View from Takht-i- Suliman Sacred fish at Bawan Gul Murg Back to Srinagar Fishing, but not for ancestors A shawl manufactory Charms of the Cashmere valley - Page 157 CHAPTER XV. HOME AGAIN. Preparations for the lieutenant-governor Novel footstools Evening festi- vities Back to Baramulla Modern improvements A paradise for artists Return to Tulla Gaon Disappointment of an enthusiast In command of the regiment The Rev. Geo. Maxwell Gordon An ill- equipped native convert Right type of missionary for India The modern carpenter as Christian teacher Back to Mooltan A strange coincidence Greeting by Bomunjee Brigadier-General MacPherson relieves Brigadier-General Ross Recollections of twenty-five years earlier Pay-day A steeplechase of jackals Regrets on leaving Coonorr Seringapatam Famous quarters Colonel Malleson's description of an historic scene Colonel Scott's house on the Cauvery Nundydroog An eerie resting-place Rats in force By bullock-cart Madras The Young Cadet The titled barber A pleasant meeting on the Trinacria White-water Five ways of getting to India A dream premonition verified Uenfant terrible Home again A farewell Page 169 CHAPTER I. EARLY INCIDENTS. The voyage out Fellow passengers A novel flat A flirtation Mrs. Grundy Going for the letters The result No money A good Samaritan The biter bitten On active service Fort Kote Kangra taken I join Major Abbott's camp Also my regiment the 4ist N. I. AFTER being two years at Addiscombe, and at the age of eighteen, I left England for India on the xoth of September, 1845, m the ship Queen, 1,350 tons, com- manded by Captain MacLeod. On going on board at Southampton I was delighted to find that Howell, who had been in my term at Addiscombe, was to share my cabin for a nicer fellow and more con- genial companion there could not be. We had the same tastes : he was fond of drawing, so was I ; in fact at the final exam, we were both competitors for the Prize for Military Drawing, but he just beat me- his pen-drawing was perfect. Travelling in those days was very different from what it is now, and a voyage to India was looked on as a very formidable affair. To me, who had never been away from home, it seemed especially so, and I can well call to mind after sixty years what a 2 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN wrench the parting was. Up to almost the day of her death my mother told me she never forgot the sight of the train that carried me off as it left Nine Elms Station. The saddest part on these occasions is for those who are left behind. New faces and new scenes soon alleviate and cheer one up. Among the passengers I recollect was a Mr. Hume, of whom a little story. In the summer when we went to Southend my grandfather had rooms at the Royal Hotel. There was one waiter there whom he would always have to wait on him ; he said he was the most perfect servant he ever came across. Of course I knew the man well and could recollect him for twelve years back. My surprise was great when on board the Queen I recognised in Mr. Hume my friend the waiter. He was equally astonished at seeing me ; but he told me he was going to join his brothers, who were Calcutta merchants ; that in early life he had run away from home and it was only lately he had become reconciled to his family. I went to see him in Calcutta, and found him living in one of the largest houses in Chowringhee ! An incident of our voyage I can now recall, which was rather amusing, although at the time annoying. Howell and I each possessed a filter, and as the allowance of water was limited we found these very useful for storing what we could spare from the daily allowance. One day a missionary, who occupied a cabin opposite to us, asked to be allowed EARLY INCIDENTS 3 to put some water into our filter ; to this request we gave consent ; but our vexation was great when we found that he had added sea water under the impression that filters rendered it fresh. I arrived in Calcutta, after a pleasant voyage, on the 6th of January, 1846. Up to the loth of February that year (the day on which the battle of Sobraon was fought) I was quartered in the cadet barracks, Fort William ; but on that date received orders to join my regiment, 4ist Native Infantry, quartered at Noorpore, up in the hills not far from Cashmere territory a formidable journey as I thought at the time. It was, I believe, about 2,000 miles. From Calcutta to Allahabad, about 800 miles, had to be performed by water up the Ganges, and I often wonder how many there are now in 1906 who remember this mode of travelling. The rail- way has of course made the journey shorter, but I am bound to say at the sacrifice of comfort. Being provided by Government with the necessary ticket, on the morning of the loth I went on board the flat Soorma lying at the Ghaut; why called a "flat," I know not ; it is simply a large barge with no masts or anything to hamper the deck which is provided with a roof protecting it in all weathers. Below, it is fitted up with roomy cabins, dining saloon, etc., all most comfortable; and large win- dows, in lieu of port-holes, protected by sunblinds, gave free circulation. In a short time a steam tug, T *fc 4 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN the Megna, took us in tow, and we started down the river Hooghly ; crossing a short arm of the sea, we entered one of the numerous outlets of the river Ganges which form a perfect net-work of streams called the " Soonderbunds ". They are very narrow, giving only just room for the tug and flat ; the shore on either side was the densest jungle I ever saw. Tigers, I was told, abounded, and it was not unusual to find in the morning their muddy footprints on the deck, as they used the flat as a bridge to cross from one shore to the other. Every evening the tug stopped at a station to take in wood for the engines, and there we remained for the night, as the channel was too intricate for us to proceed except by day- time. On getting clear of the Soonderbunds we came into the Ganges itself, and here the scenery was very picturesque ; and with this mode of travel, to me most novel, it was quite sufficient amusement to watch the fresh scenes that opened out as we pro- ceeded up the river. There were several passengers on board, some of whom I was already acquainted with : Anderson and Delamaine, recently posted, like myself; the former to the 38th, and the latter to the 56th ; also Miss Anson, who had come in the Queen and was on her way to join her father, Major Anson, at Indore. My story will not be complete if I do not tell an incident of the trip : I suppose that the romance with which it was tinged impressed it on my memory. Of the friends I made on board, were EARLY INCIDENTS 5 two, St. John, a cadet like myself, and a Miss Elsham, and we became great chums. Miss Els- ham was about seventeen, very pretty, with dark brown hair, and was what would now be called " a little fast," but the word was not coined then. In the afternoons when the steamer stopped at the wood stations we three would go for walks, ex- ploring, or else we would get one of the steamer's boats and go for a row. We had a great time ! But after a while we found this walking and rowing made us all very hungry, the meals on board being over by the time we got back. What was to be done? Miss Elsham, in acknowledging to being "very hungry," said she was "very thirsty" also, and added that she liked beer, and liked it in a large glass ! So one morning I interviewed the old khansamah (butler) to see how it could be managed. He agreed at last to have some supper for us, two grilled moorghees (chickens) and fried potato chips, not forgetting the beer ! Miss Elsham's share, with a tall glass of beer, St. John and I took down to her cabin door by turns. Of course all this occasioned remarks. But there was one old lady on board who, we could see, was very wroth ; still she said nothing, till one morning when I happened to go on deck a little earlier than usual and found Mrs. R there alone. Of course I had to say 11 Good morning," and then she attacked me ; said we were making the girl as conceited as possible 6 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN besides making a fool of her ! (Here I thought her wrong ; it seemed to me the other way about.) And then she added : " You know you can never marry her ! " Now the idea of my joining my regiment for the first time with a wife so frightened me that I said : "I never thought of marriage ! " " Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself! " she exclaimed. " Go away ! " I bolted down below and told St. John, which so scared him that he did not appear on deck the whole day ; the result being that the field was left clear for myself, and I en- joyed the society of Miss Elsham alone for that day. The evening before we arrived at Allahabad, St. John and I had an unpleasant experience. For some days past Miss Elsham had been saying how she looked forward to finding some English letters awaiting her, and this put it into our heads to walk to Allahabad, after the steamer stopped, and get them for her. A more idiotic idea there could not be. In the first place, it was ten miles off; we should have to get a boat to cross the river when opposite the fort ; there was no road, nothing but jungle through which we should have to make our way ; and by the time we arrived the post office would be closed. However, we started, and that is about all we did do ; for in about half an hour such a storm came on as took all the "gee" out of us. The rain came down in torrents, and we were drenched in no time ; there was nothing for it but to go back. By this time it had become quite dark, EARLY INCIDENTS 7 and it was a mystery to me how we did not manage to walk into the river ; as it was, we stumbled through every muddy pool in our way, and by the time we reached the steamer we were nice objects. We were "in white" when we started, and we were most certainly "in black" when we returned! All the passengers were on deck watching the storm, and when Miss Elsham caught sight of us, miserable-looking objects as we were, I thought she would have had a fit ! Wherever we stopped we left a muddy pool, and how they did laugh ! I suppose she could not help it, but we thought it horrid of Miss Elsham. When I got below and began to change my things, I found I had lost my pocket- book containing a fifty-rupee note all the money I had and there were those suppers to be paid for ! St. John was very good about it, said he would go early with me in the morning and have a look for it. We got up at 4 A.M. and went ; and under a tree, where we had tried to get shelter from the rain, found my book ! Next morning we arrived at Allahabad. I have never seen Miss Elsham since, and have often won- dered what became of her. St. John was posted to the Bengal Fusiliers, became a famous Persian scholar, and was appointed secretary to the Board of Examiners at Fort William. The next place I had to make for was Lood- hianah, on the Sutlej ; and now I was to have my first experience of travelling by dak, z>., in a palan- 8 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN quin borne by bearers. Anderson, who had been posted to the 38th N.I., went with me as far as Meerut. The journey, performed day and night, was somewhat monotonous, and I was not sorry when I reached Loodhianah, where I put up at the Dak Bungalow (Rest House). Up to this point I had travelled at Government expense, but now I had to depend on my own resources, and all the remaining distance had to be done by regular marches. How to do it I did not know. A horse or pony had to be bought, also saddle and bridle, tent, pots and pans, and tent furniture and for all this I had not a rupee ! Before leaving Calcutta it was impressed on me by the pay-master to be especially careful of a document he gave me, called "A Last Pay Certificate," as without it no pay would be forthcoming. Of course I had lost or mislaid this precious paper, and all applications for "pay" were in vain. While I was wondering what to do, a Major Creagh came and put up at the Bungalow on his way to Calcutta, en route to England. He came and asked me if I wanted a pony with saddle, etc., as he wanted to get rid of his his dak (journey) being laid to Allahabad. I said Yes, I did want to buy one, but had no money. The following day he introduced me to a traveller who was going to Jullunder, as I was, and who, on hearing of my difficulty, most kindly offered to help me. In the first place he asked me to share his tent and be his companion on the road ; EARLY INCIDENTS 9 he had every requisite for the march, and he would be only too glad if I would go with him. He also offered to lend me a hundred rupees. Sydney Smith was his name, and I shall never forget his kindness. The consequence was, I got my pony, and we started two days after. How proud I was of that pony! my first possession in " horse-flesh ". He was a good little beast, and I had him for many years ; but he gave me several falls before I got accustomed to him. Smith was a good horse- man and gave me several hints, so that after a little I did not do so badly. He rode a grey country- bred, good for work but a vicious brute. He had a trick of making a snap at you when you went near him, and this cost him dearly one day. We were encamped on the banks of the Ravee, and Smith told his syce (groom) to take the horse to the river and give him a bath and wash him well with soap. When the syce got him in the water and began to wash him, the brute made a grab at his hand, in which he was holding a piece of soap ; instead of biting the man, he got hold of the soap which he bit savagely, and got it firmly fixed between his teeth. The syce threw water in his mouth and tried to get it out, but he only caused a lather which nearly drove the horse mad. The more he moved his jaws the worse it became, and it was two days before it all came away. We had a delightful trip. Smith was most en- tertaining ; he had travelled over Turkey and the io RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN greater part of Europe, and told many a story of his wanderings. He was excessively kind, and what I should have done had he not turned up, I don't know. On arrival at Jullunder I reported myself to the brigade major (Major Palmer, 48th N.I.), and was told by him that I could not proceed farther, as the Killadar (Governor) of Fort Kote Kangra was holding the road against all comers ; that a force was being got in readiness under Sir Hugh Wheeler to bring him to his senses ; that I should be at- tached for the time being to one of the regiments, and when the affair was over could then go on to Noorpore. This idea of seeing some service before joining my own regiment was grand, and Smith said he would come too and see the fun. Next day I found myself in orders to do duty with the 2nd Grenadiers, com- manded by Colonel Hamilton. This gave me an opportunity of returning in a slight degree Smith's hospitality, as having a mess I could take him there as a guest ; and this was not all, for that important document the " Last Pay Certificate " turned up ! I could get some pay and refund him what he had lent me. The march to Kote Kangra was uneventful but most enjoyable : climate and scenery all that could be desired. Our arrival there was followed by a demand to " Surrender " ! And, on the killa- dar's refusal, preparations were made for an attack. EARLY INCIDENTS n As soon as fire was opened from the siege train he changed his mind, and in two days the place was ours. I went over the fort the next day. It was a dilapidated place, utterly incapable of standing against artillery, but most picturesquely situated on the summit of a hill. A river flowed round three sides at the base of precipitous rocks, a narrow road on the fourth side led to the gateway, and in- side this a steep flight of stone steps led to the top, the view from which was very fine. I had still some marches before me ere I eventu- ally reached my destination ; and as far as I could see they would have to be done alone, as Smith could go no farther ; but Bos well, the adjutant, 2nd Grenadiers, told me that Major Abbott, Bengal Artillery, had been appointed commissioner of some of the newly acquired territory ; that his work would take him past Noorpore, and that perhaps if I called on him he would let me join his camp. He, too, was most kind and gave me a cordial invitation. Hearing I had no tent, he said he would place one of his own at my disposal, and would be glad to see me as guest at his table. He asked if I had a horse, and on my saying I had a pony, he remarked : " I should like you to ride one of mine while you are with me. You see, I am going to take charge of a large district, and we must make as good an appearance as possible. You shall have one of my Arabs and four sowars 12 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN of my escort will be told off to attend you. " Fancy ! All this for a "griff" not yet joined! It was with sincere regret that I said good-bye to Smith, for he had indeed been helpful in every way. His last act was to make over to me one of his servants, a bearer, a capital fellow who remained in my service eleven years. On joining Major Abbott's camp, I found, besides myself, Dan Robinson and Ralph Young, of the Engineers, who were to carry out the survey. The latter I knew well, as we were at Addiscombe to- gether ; so again my star was in the ascendant ! At this distance of time, I cannot recollect the number of marches there were between Kangra and Noorpore. I think twelve ; but nothing particular occurred till we reached Fort Kotla. Here I quite unintentionally took a rise out of one of our senior captains that I don't think he ever forgot. It must be understood I did not know myself all that I had done until I joined my regiment. Our camp was pitched in a lovely grove of mango trees ; in front ran a small stream, and about a quarter of a mile beyond this rose a thickly wooded hill, on the summit of which was Fort Kotla. I can see it all now (1906) as plainly as I saw it then, and have rarely come across any scene more picturesque or beautiful. Major Abbott told me that a detachment of my regiment (two companies), under a captain and two subalterns, were quartered in the fort, and that I EARLY INCIDENTS 13 ought to go and report myself. Accordingly I got my escort, without which I was never to go out, mounted and set forth. I may mention here that I found the Arab much easier to ride and manage than that little demon of a pony : the horse was a gentleman all over, while the pony was not. On reaching the foot of the hill I had to dismount and ascend a flight of stone steps, similar to those at Kangra. At the top I sent in my card and intro- duced myself to Captain Apthorp (commanding) ; Bennet and Priestly were his two subs., the former having been at Addiscombe with me. There was something in Captain Apthorp's manner I could not understand at all ; it quite chilled one ; and it was not till afterwards that I heard the reason. It appears that when I left the camp with my sowars Apthorp was sitting at one of the windows in his shirt-sleeves, smoking, and saw me coming towards the fort, evidently to make a call. In his opinion no one had any right to go about with cavalry after him unless he had some position ; so he hurried off to put on his uniform, telling his subs, to do the same ; then all were ready to give the great man a proper reception when my card was put into his hand! The " great man" was only a " something sub. after all, and I have put on my jacket for him ! " They told me that after I left his language was awful ; nothing would pacify him. " Twenty-one years in the service to be made a fool of by a something sub. ! What business has 14 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN he to go about the country with a cavalry escort, as if he were commander-in-chief ?" Those of his own standing chaffed him about it a good deal, but we subs, never ventured to allude to the incident again. When I came to know him I liked him, and we were always good friends. He was a fine horseman, had the reputation of being about the best rider in India, possessed good horses, and was never better pleased than to get some of us together and take us across country ; he was then in his element and was as cheery as possible. Three marches from Kotla we arrived at Noor- pore, where I parted from Major Abbott. A kinder- hearted man I never met, and afterwards, reading an account of the way in which he managed his district, I was not surprised to hear how beloved he was by all the inhabitants. Abbottabad, in the Punjab, will keep his name alive for all time. With great regret I had to take leave also of my gallant Arab that had carried me so well. I had greatly improved in riding, and gained more confi- dence ; my pony was a great come down ! Riding through the Bazaar I reached the gate of the fort and reported myself to the adjutant, and there was great joy when it was known I had arrived not, be it understood, because such an im- portant personage had joined, but because I was the bearer of a large box of cheroots ! This the post- master at Jullunder had asked me to take charge of, as the mail carriers could not get past Kote Kangra. EARLY INCIDENTS 15 For days past there had been nothing to smoke, so that my arrival was most welcome. The whole regiment was quartered in the fort, which was much larger than either Kotla or Kangra, but, like these, built on a hill with steep, precipitous rocks on three sides ; it also had a larger space outside the walls. The mess was in a large hall of one of the principal buildings, and high up, round three sides, ran a gallery, from which a number of small rooms branched off ; one of these was allotted to me. It did not take long to settle down, as a bed, table, and chair constituted all our furniture. CHAPTER II. A FEW ANECDOTES. First step Slow promotion Unmerited kudos Monkey stories Pity for the pony and its result Doonga Singh, his capture and captivity My first tiger hunt A horse fair Regiment marches to Delhi I and the guide distinguish ourselves A dog scare and a mishap. THE next day I called on the commanding officer, Major Sibbald, destined to become one of the victims of the Mutiny. He was shot while commanding the Rohilcund Division. My regiment had been in the Sutlej Campaign, and was present at the battle of Sobraon, the loth of February previous ; several of the officers had been wounded, but only one, Lieu- tenant Scatcherd, killed. This gave me a step, making me fourth instead of fifth ensign. Promotion had been terribly slow. Apthorp, when I had met him at Kotla, had only just been promoted after twenty-one years' service, and Brevet- Captain Saunders, adjutant at the time I joined, had been fifteen years an ensign ! After a few days Priestly was relieved at Kotla and joined the head-quarters, and from this time until I went home we became chums, and shared a house together for nine years. His father com- 16 AT NOORPORE 17 manded the Irish Constabulary, and, previous to that, the 25th K.O.B.'s. Two of his brothers were at this time in the same regiment. Our life at Noorpore was a very easy one : hardly any parades, as the ground did not admit of it ; shooting and riding our chief pastime. On one occasion, by a mere fluke, I gained a great reputation as a shot. Priestly and I were on the parapet one day, and looking down we saw a large kite far away below us, whirling round in circles. I had a smooth bore in my hand at the time, loaded with ball, and without for a moment imagining that I could hit it, took aim, and knocked it over. I was never more astonished, but tried not to look it ! The place abounded with monkeys, and it was great fun to watch them when the men were cooking their dinners. As the chupatties were made they were placed on the ground in a pile ; but the monkey would watch till the man's hands were occupied with kneading the dough, when he would pounce down, snatch one up and be off into a tree. The men being Hindoos put up with it very quietly. There was an old grey-bearded monkey that irri- tated Phibbs, one of our captains, immensely. In the afternoon when Phibbs wanted a quiet snooze, the beast would get on the roof over his head and jump about, drumming with his feet. One afternoon, Phibbs was in a tearing rage at this going-on, and taking up a golail (a pellet bow) said : " I'll stop him". Up he went by a narrow staircase that led 1 8 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN to the roof, and getting to the top saw the monkey just opposite to him ; he took careful aim, let drive, and hit the monkey on the nose. What happened then I, who was below, could only judge by the row and the awful language Phibbs was using, but he told me afterwards that the brute charged him like a battering ram, and that he lost his footing and fell down some of the stairs. Noorpore could not be called a gay place, and I suppose it was the want of something to do that caused us sometimes to do stupid things. We got laughed at consumedly for the following : One evening after dinner, Priestly, Aikman, Gibbs and myself went for a stroll outside the fort. On a piece of ground, covered with scanty grass, a very miserable-looking pony was trying to get a feed. The air was keen and there was no blanket on him. One said, " What a shame to leave the poor pony out in the cold " ; and after various ex- pressions of pity, another said, " Let's drive him inside the fort ! " But he would not be driven in, and went round in a circle ; so, as he did not seem to know what was good for him, we determined to carry him in. We each took a leg, and off we staggered he was far too much astonished to kick, so, I suppose, waited quietly to see the upshot. Presently we came to the road, and here was a slight dip, and down went the two carrying the fore legs with a crash. The sentry at the gate hearing the row, challenged. " Hookum dar ? " NUSSEERABAD 19 " Friend ! " we shouted, and off we set again, up the steps, through the gate, and into the fort the pony still quiet. The question was, where to put him ? There were no stables. Unanimously it was resolved to take him to the mess, and in the mess he was put, but I must say the beast did not seem to appreciate all this kindness ; outside, cer- tainly, he got something to eat, though it was scanty, while here he got nothing. We turned in, quite satisfied with what we had done. Next morning there was a bit of a rumpus. The owner went early to fetch his quadruped, and, not finding him where he had left him, began to search and make inquiries. By chance he asked the sentry of the night before if he had seen his pony. "Yes," he said, "some of the ' Sahib Logue ' (gentlemen) have got him. They carried him inside last night." When the owner got his pony he was not satisfied, because he said he had had no grass all night, as if he had turned him into a green pasture ! It was a long time before we heard the last of this. Aikman died six months after, Gibbs at Mooltan in 1851, and poor Priestly in 1868. In September orders came "to be in readiness to march to Nusseerabad in Rajpootana ". We left in October. Priestly and I sharing a tent, as we had one each we were able to send one on ahead the night before, and have it ready pitched when we arrived. After going half a dozen marches we were joined by Lieut. Watson, Bengal Artillery, 20 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN with two guns, for it was thought that the newly conquered Sikhs were inclined to give further trouble. The fort at Jusmeerghur was in a very dilapi- dated condition, though formerly it must have been a strong place, unless artillery was brought against it. What remained of the walls was massive brick- work and was intact ; these walls must have been fifty feet in height. A broad ditch surrounded the place. Major Sibbald here left us for another regiment, and Major Halford from the staff joined us and took command. During one of our riding expeditions, Apthorp came to great grief. We came to some very in- viting hedges for jumping, and he and Bennet went at one together, but too close, for Bennet's horse swerved and caught Apthorp's horse on the quarter just as he rose to the jump. They both came a cropper, and Apthorp had three ribs broken. We were about a month at Jusmeerghur, and then continued our march to Nusseerabad which we did not reach till the middle of January. Dates I am unable to give ; all my memoranda and sketches of these times were lost in the Mutiny at Seetapore, and what I write is from memory alone. Nusseerabad we liked much. The 37th N.I., Boileau's Camel Battery and Tait's Horse (3rd Irregular Cavalry) were also quartered there. After being alone so long the change was a most welcome one. CAPTURE OF DOONGA SINGH 21 Twelve miles from us was Ajmere, a delightful place to go to for a change. A large bungalow, the property of Colonel Sutherland, governor-general's agent in Rajputana, was placed at our disposal when- ever we chose to go. On two occasions when we made these trips Major Boileau sent his camel carriage for us, a most comfortable conveyance drawn by four camels, each camel being ridden by one of his men. As the road was sandy a greater part of the way they travelled over the ground well. The lake gave one boating and fishing, and there was shooting all round. On one occasion, while I was there on leave, a raid was made on the treasury in Nusseerabad by a noted Rajpoot named Doonga Sing. The cause of it all, I believe, was that for some time past he had been petitioning Government regarding a grievance, and not getting, as he said, justice, or even being listened to, determined to have revenge. He got together some horsemen and completely surrounded the paymaster's bungalow, which was separate from all the others by some little distance. Then going in himself with a few followers he cut to pieces a havildar's guard (sergeant) of my regi- ment that was there, not one escaping. He then took the treasure, about ,30,000, loaded it on swift riding camels that he had waiting, and was off before any one knew anything about it. When it was known in the lines, of course the cavalry were sent in pursuit ; but it was too late : 22 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN they got clear away. It was all well planned and well carried out. Doonga Sing eluded capture for some time, but was caught at last, through the treachery, I believe, of one of his followers. He was brought to Ajmere and lodged in the jail, and a company of ours, under a captain and subaltern, was sent to keep guard. Brett's company, with myself as subaltern, had the first turn. The cells, in one of which Doonga Sing was confined, were three in number, forming one side of a court-yard surrounded by a high wall ; iron gates composed of thick iron bars closed the cells, but afforded a free view of the prisoner. At night my bed was placed across the gate of his cell, and there I had to sleep. Doonga Sing was a handsome old man ; a long, white beard flowed down to his chest, and he had a very commanding and most dignified appearance. Hicks of the 37th asked leave to make a sketch of him. " No," he said, "not like this, with chains on. Doonga Sing should be drawn with a sword in one hand and a spear in the other, and then you might say, ' This is Doonga Sing ! " I talked with him sometimes, and rather admired him myself, in spite of what he had done, for no doubt he thought he had great provocation. He was tried at Ajmere and hanged in the jail. But before that took place my company was relieved, I am glad to say. With regard to this episode of Doonga Sing, Captain Parrott of the 3;th wrote some very amus- OUR TIGER HUNT 23 ing verses, the whole of which I cannot recollect, but one part ran : Then raise your voices, let us sing Confusion to this robber king, Who made all Rajpootana ring By looting the Buckshee Khana. Some officers ran as hard as they could Intending to do no end of good, But devil a one was there who could Order the cavalry out, Sirs ! While we were at Nusseerabad, Priestly and I had our first experience of tiger shooting ; and taking into consideration how we went about it, I wonder I'm alive to tell the tale. One day a native came in and told Priestly that a large tiger was lying down on the ground on the opposite side of a small stream that ran at the bottom of the parade ground. As there was no jungle there, only a few scattered bushes, Priestly would not at first believe him, but the man persisted that he was there ; so Priestly came to me, and we agreed to go in pursuit, and in order that they might enjoy the sport we decided to let our small " bow- wows" go with us. Hear it, O Shikaries! Two ''griffs" armed with smooth bores, muzzle-loaded at that, with some small dogs setting forth to shoot a tiger ! On our way we picked up one or two more, anxious to be in at the death. (Whose ?) There was no doubt in our minds that we should kill the tiger if he were there. All our talk was what we should do with the claws, the teeth, and 24 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN the skin. Poor tiger, I wonder if he had any inkling as to what was coming ! Before we reached the parade ground we met Major Biddulph of the 3rd Cavalry, who wanted to know what we were up to. We said we were going to shoot a tiger and then told him what the native said. He would not either at first believe that a tiger could be there, but, at last, after listening to the native's report, he said : " If the tiger is there and you attack him by your- selves, mark my words, there will be no shooting him, but he will make a meal off you and your dogs too. Wait till I get my rifle and I'll come with you to see fair play." Now, we should have liked to do it all our- selves ; but, as Biddulph was an old shikary, and one who had shot big game of all kinds, we were all very glad to have him with us, besides as he said to see " fair play ". We none of us wished to take an unfair advantage of the tiger ! When Biddulph joined us, off we set again and soon arrived at the small stream which was crossed by a small bridge. Here the native stopped and declined to go any farther ; then pointing to a small maddar bush, about a hundred yards distant, said : " If the tiger has not moved, that is where you will find him ". By this time our poor dogs were in a very dejected con- dition I suppose they scented the beast ; no more joyous barks and capers. They came along close to our heels, their tails between their legs. Biddulph marshalled us in skirmishing order, him- OUR TIGER HUNT 25 self in the centre, and begged us to be cool and not fire recklessly. If the tiger came out, those on his right were to fire first, so that all would not be unloaded at the same time ; for there were no breech loaders then. When we got to within about forty yards of the bush, we saw him, that is, his head only as he looked up. Did we remember all we had been told ? Not a bit of it ! We fired a volley "ek sat" that would have done credit to any regi- ment in the service, and some one hit him on the jaw. That roused him with a vengeance, and he lightly jumped over the bush and came and laid himself down in the open, preparatory to a charge, showing his teeth and growling, his tail waving to and fro. Biddulph, who had reserved his fire, now let drive and wounded him mortally, but not suffi- cient to stop his charge. Down he came, direct at Biddulph, who, not having another barrel, knelt down and raised his rifle, holding it in front of him, horizontally, with both hands, and rammed it into the tiger's jaws ; they both rolled over together, and when he got up the tiger was dead. If Biddulph had not come with us the result would have been, I am sure, very different. I never went out tiger shooting on foot again ! Pokur is a place about twelve miles beyond Ajmere. It is a very sacred place on the banks of a lake, where an annual horse fair was held. It is a very lovely spot. In the centre of the lake is an island, on which is a small temple of great sanctity, 26 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN and to swim across to this and do poojah (prayers) is considered a most meritorious act. Pilgrims collect there in numbers, and in spite of the danger from the alligators essay the feat, many losing their lives in consequence. All of us that could get away made a point of attending, and for about ten days it was a most enjoyable picnic. Our camp was pitched in one of the groves of trees close to the water, and our amusements during the day were to visit all the camps of the horse merchants and try their cattle ; also to watch the pilgrims. Some very good horses and ponies could be picked up at a reasonable price ; they came chiefly from Cabul carrying apples. There were also some very good country- breds, especially from Kattiawar. These, curiously enough, were nearly all the same colour, namely, dun, black points, and a black mark running down the centre of the back. You could not have a better horse for work than one of these. Parrott, of the 37th, who was a capital judge of a horse, generally accompanied us, and was a great help in giving his opinion. In October, 1848, we marched to Delhi. How we grumbled at the hour of starting every morning ! Our commanding officer was so afraid of the sun that the first bugle would sound at 3 A.M., and we would be off the ground by 4 A.M. It happened on one occasion that we arrived before sunrise. It was the custom every evening for the head-man of the village to supply three villagers to act as guides for MARCH TO DELHI 27 the next day's march one for the regiment, one for the advance-guard and one for the rear-guard. Sometimes these men knew the road and sometimes they did not, and on one occasion I got into a scrape through one not knowing the road. I had the advance- guard, and started about twenty minutes ahead of the regiment. It was pitch dark, and, although I had never been by this road before, I had my doubts. And sure enough when it was daylight, instead of being first in camp and ready to salute the regiment as it formed up, I found myself behind the rear- guard ! On going to the commanding officer I took care to push the wretched guide to the front to take all the blame. I must say, though, that I pitied him. The guides were brought overnight to the camp, as I said, and for security placed in the quarter-guard ; they then had to walk the march, sometimes fifteen miles, receive the large sum of four annas (sixpence) and then trudge back again. No ! I would not do it for the money. Our commanding officer was about the worst rider that ever got on a horse ; he never went out of a slow jog-trot, and was terribly nervous if any one rode up along-side of him. On one occasion, Priestly caught a pariah dog, tied an empty tin can to his tail, and then let him go. I was riding half-way up the column when this brute of a dog came tearing by me ; my pony reared up straight on end and I went over his tail, and both pony 28 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN and dog raced up to the head of the regiment where the commanding officer was riding. His rage was great, and but for his syce he would have been capsized also. When we arrived at camp he asked whose pony it was, and hearing it was mine, and that I had been thrown, rather hopefully asked if I had been hurt. CHAPTER III. DELHI MOOLTAN SEETAPORE. Quartered at Delhi A few incidents Sir Charles Napier presents new colours Society at Delhi A joke at our expense- Ordered to Mooltan March across the desert via Bikaneer Arrival Orders to build houses Our difficulties, pecuniary and otherwise An evening party Annexation of Oudh Step not popular with the sepoys Ordered to Lucknow Rumours of discontent Proceed to Seetapore Again ordered to build Further disaffection Outbreak at Meerut, loth May, 1857 Our men declare their loyalty Suspense A period of waiting Commissioner's offer refused He holds back important letters from Sir H. Lawrence. WE did not like Delhi so well as Nusseerabad. The 42nd N. I., the 5oth N. I., and a battery of artillery were quartered there. The residents were very sociable and gave us a cordial welcome. Many of the friends I made there suffered in the Mutiny. After arrival the thing was to start on the rounds, as new-comers call first. At one of the places where I called I was so abashed that I had hardly a word to say. It was on the civil surgeon, and, when I went in, there were his wife and three daughters, and they all wore spectacles, and all four flashed them up at me together. The youngest of these, poor Maggie, who was a great favourite with every 29 30 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN one, was barbarously murdered during the Mutiny at Hansi. One day, when Priestly and I were calling here, we found to our annoyance that the commanding officer was making a call too, so we did not remain long ; but on coming out there was a terrible rum- pus. Our syces had allowed our horses to get too close together and they began to fight, the conse- quence being that Priestly's, in delivering a vicious kick at mine, missed him, but kicked the footboard clean off the commanding officer's buggy. Priestly jumped on his horse and bolted, and as I was getting on mine the commanding officer came out. Hearing what had happened he turned round upon me, thinking that my horse had done it. The syce exclaimed : " No, sahib, the other sahib's horse did it ! " Delhi and its vicinity were full of objects of interest, especially the Mod Musjid, the ruins of the old city and the Kootub, fifteen miles from canton- ments. One, which was often at that time passed by us without notice, was to become in after years worthy of as much as any of the first-named places, viz., the famous Ridge that extended from the Cashmere Gate of the city to cantonments. While we were there, Sir Charles Napier, com- mander-in-chief, arrived, and for three days previous a guard of honour, consisting of a battalion, en- camped within the city walls in readiness to receive him. The brigadier sent down his tents and treated us royally, all being his guests for the time being. INCIDENTS AT DELHI 31 On this occasion the chief presented us with new colours, the old ones being placed in the church. One of the duties was " main guard " over the Cashmere Gate relieved weekly, a subaltern com- manding, who during that time had to keep within the city walls, and in fact always well within call ; for, if the old king passed and there was no one to salute him, it would have been unpleasant ! There were several English residing in the city, and all were most hospitable. Two ladies, Mrs. Foster and Mrs. Fuller, the former of whom had two daughters, were always glad to see one. All, save one of the daughters, were murdered by the mutineers. An absurd thing happened at one of their parties. Priestly and I received an invitation to a dance, and at the bottom of the card was put " camp fashion ". This meant that each guest had to bring his own knives, plates and glasses a very usual thing. Now, neither Priestly nor I had any cham- pagne glasses, so we told our servants that before they went to the house they were to buy two long glasses (lumber pyalas), not the common kind, but good ones handsome cut glasses. Well, we had our dance, and on going into the supper-room heard shrieks of laughter from those who were before us ! What did we see when we went in ? Our khit- matgars (servants) had put our plates alongside of each other, knives, wine-glasses all correct, but each plate flanked by two enormous glass flower-vases 32 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN about a foot and a half high, big enough to hold a bottle of champagne in each. This was a native's idea of handsome champagne glasses ! There both the culprits stood behind our chairs looking at the effect with the greatest complacency. We did not hear the last of it for some time. Before we left Delhi one of the Miss Fosters was married to Stevens, our adjutant, and the other to Lieutenant Burgess, 74th Regiment. We were only at Delhi a year ; in 1849 we were ordered to Mooltan. On the route arriving, we found we were to march via Bikaneer, and from thence crossing a sandy desert to Bhawulpore, and then on to our station. It was an experiment. No regiment had ever marched that way before, and a report was to be sent in of our experience. At Bikaneer the desert commenced, and the command- ing officer decided to cross by wings ; and, in order that we should not miss the direction, fires were lighted at intervals. It being the cold weather, there was no earthly reason why we should not have waited till day-break before starting. But no, he would go in the dark. It was the heaviest tramp I ever had, sinking into the sand well above the ankles ; but I was fascinated by the strange, weird scene as far as one could see nothing but sand, and this in huge hillocks. Imagine the sea in a heavy gale of wind suddenly congealed. This gives an exact idea of it. I never heard what the commanding officer said in his report ; not much in MARCH TO MOOLTAN 33 favour of the route, I fancy, for we were the first and last that ever marched that way. We arrived at Mooltan on Christmas Eve, 1849, and took up our quarters in the fort, which had only recently been captured after severe fighting. Of course we had to rough it a bit, but the rooms were not so bad, and, as a consolation, there was no house rent ; but, after wasting all the cold weather, in March orders arrived to have a site for cantonments marked out on a piece of ground about two miles off, and to commence the lines forthwith. This meant that officers were to build their own houses. Pleasant news for the impecunious sub. ! The ground that was marked out for Priestly and me, two separate plots, we joined into one, and forthwith built the stables, which we used as a dwelling while our house was being built. Long before we vacated the fort the weather set in very hot, and to ride down in the day-time to superintend the work in uniform tight red jacket and forage cap which the command- ing officer insisted on our wearing, was not pleasant. The 1 2th N.I. and 5th Irregular Cavalry were there as well as ourselves. The trouble we had with the workmen ! Their utter indifference to a straight line and as to whether a wall was perpendicular or not ! If we showed them it was not upright, the answer invariably was : " Never mind, sahib ; it will be all right when we put on the plaster ! " I wonder some of us were not buried in the ruins. As soon as a house 3 34 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN was finished a house-warming was de rigueur, and then one had to stand the comments on the archi- tecture, etc. ; but it was great fun on the whole. Occasionally you would see a house partially built but deserted no workmen. This meant that the owner had no more money, and had gone to look for some. When ready to go on again his state was indeed parlous, for he had to look for his work- men, many of whom he would find were gone to some one else. Priestly was architect of ours, and he built a very good one a sitting-room, large hall, and a bedroom on each side four rooms in all, a broad verandah running all round. It cost alto- gether about 4,000 rupees. Once every year after the inspection the com- manding officer used to give a dinner. He never invited any one not in the regiment, and as he never unbent always had the parade manner on more or less these parties were dreary in the extreme. I recollect on one occasion when certainly a little life was put into the meeting, but decidedly at my ex- pense. When we went into the drawing-room after dinner, Mrs. Halford apologised for not being able to give us some music, as her piano had not arrived ; and then suddenly, fixing her eye on me, she said: " But I know what will amuse you". She walked over to the bookcase and took down two large music books ; these she brought to me, put them into my hands, and said : " Will you please whistle the Irish Quadrilles for us? The TO LUCKNOW 35 music is in these books." She then complacently resumed her seat. Can any one imagine a more awful situation than mine? those two big books on my knee, all except the commanding officer laughing as if they would never stop. For, as they told me afterwards, they were immensely tickled with the idea that my whistling could afford them any amusement, even with the help of the music, of which I did not know a note. In 1852-53 Colonel Halford was transferred to the 7 ist, and Major Birch got command of the regiment. During this year, 1853, I returned home in order to be married to Miss Bateman, daughter of General Bateman, an old Peninsula veteran ; and in 1854 I rejoined my regiment at Etawah, where the right wing was now stationed, the left wing being at Mynpoorrie. Here we remained till the end of '55, when, the annexation of Oudh having been determined upon, we were ordered to join a force collecting at Cawnpore, under orders to proceed to Lucknow. I do not think this step was at all popular with the sepoys (native soldiers). Oudh was the province where we got our best men, and the regiment was chiefly composed of men from that part ; and then, all of them, more or less, being landowners, by aiding us in the annexation they considered they were giving us the land, and ex- pected something in return. It is true that bribery, corruption and misgovernment prevailed to a terrible 3* 36 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN extent, but all this did not affect the sepoy and his family in the same way as it did the rest of the peasantry, and I will explain why. Cases were of every-day occurrence in the civil courts of crops being stolen cut during the night ; land boundaries encroached upon, and such like. In the majority of these cases the injured would be a poor man, and it was almost hopeless for him to obtain justice. Money was required to have his petition drawn up, to pay a vakil, or lawyer ; money was required to bribe the attendance of the court, to enable him to present it, and, supposing he man- aged all this and brought his witnesses, he would be confronted by his opponent, in nine cases out of ten a rich man, who would have any amount of bought witnesses to swear what he pleased. But supposing this poor peasant had a son in the service, it was another thing entirely. Before enlisting he was made part-owner in his father's property, he would join his regiment, and some while after, per- haps, he would receive a letter from home to the effect that the crops were carried off. Two courses were open to him : first of all he represented the case to the commanding officer who would order the interpreter to draw up a statement which he might take himself if he could obtain leave, and present himself, and being known as a sepoy no one would dare to prevent him from going into court. If he could not get leave, the statement, accom- panied by a power of attorney, would be sent by AT SEETAPORE 37 the commanding officer himself to the British resi- dent at the court of Oudh, who would forward it to the magistrate of the district, and he in turn would send for the complainant and defendant, and the case would be decided on its merits, the whole expense to the sepoy being eight annas (one shil- ling) for the stamped paper. This was one reason why the Company's service was so popular. A little incident that happened on the first march towards Lucknow will serve to show in what light they looked on the whole movement. Some se- poys went to a wood-seller and took some of his wood for cooking purposes. When the man asked for payment they refused, saying that everything in Oudh now belonged to the sirkar (Government), that they had given it all, and that they, being the sirkar's soldiers, could take what they liked. They were made to pay, and I know that they thought it very unjust. There was no opposition to the annexation at Lucknow. The king was deposed and sent to Calcutta, and the force was broken up ; regiments were told off for their several stations. Our destina- tion was Seetapore, fifty miles north-west of Lucknow. Here we had to build again, but in this case were helped by Sir James Outram, the then resi- dent and commissioner, who gave us a Government grant a subaltern got 600 rupees, the higher grades more in proportion. I believe Government gave him a snub for it. 38 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN Besides ourselves there was a squadron of 1 5th Irregular Cavalry and two regiments of Oudh Ir- regular Infantry. In the beginning of the cold weather, 1856, we heard rumours of disaffection in the regiments down country, in the end leading to their disbandment ; then that this feeling extended to stations higher up ; until at last the news of the outbreak at Meerut on the loth of May, 1857, and the subsequent massacre of Europeans at Delhi reached us. During all this time the men were just as well acquainted with all that was going on as we were, if not better ; and thinking, I suppose, that they might be suspected, took every opportunity of assuring us of their loyalty ; on one occasion saying that if the whole army went they would remain staunch. Now I don't know if others experienced the same feelings, but to me this period of suspense was the most trying time of all. We could do nothing but wait, and wait for we knew not what. We believed in our men, but still the question would be asked : " What was there in them to make them different from the others, if all chose to go ? " The commis- sioner of the district, who had a house in the civil lines outside military cantonments, sent a letter to the commanding officer stating that he was pro- visioning his bungalow in case of emergencies, and had directed all those under him to assemble there should an outbreak take place, and suggesting that all military officers should be ordered to do the AT SEETAPORE 39 same. The commanding officer submitted this pro- posal to us all, and I was glad to see the senior officers were against it ; I was only junior then, but I opposed it all I could. It was utterly impractic- able. Fancy trying to hold a bungalow, a one- storeyed dwelling with a thatched roof! This could be fired at once, and out you must come. It was given up as far as we were concerned, and instead we agreed to meet at the commanding officer's house and act as circumstances directed. The commissioner, Mr. Christian, was very ob- stinate, and stuck to his own plan ; he also, as we heard afterwards, kept back a letter that he had received from Sir Henry Lawrence. This letter requested him to send all the ladies and children into Lucknow, and quarters would be provided for them in the Residency. Without saying a word to any one, he took upon himself the responsibility of declining this offer, saying that he could provide for the safety of all under him. How terribly he and his suffered for this the end proved. As he and Mrs. Christian ran out they were immediately shot down. Their little girl, Sophie Christian, was saved by her ayah, who concealed her; and she eventually came safe home to England. An important law case arose out of the deaths here related. When at home a solicitor came to call on me to ascertain, if possible, which of the two, the commissioner or his wife, died first. I told him it was impossible for me or any one else to say, and 40 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN that the best course would be to divide what money depended on the results of the answer to this question. I believe this was done. In addition to Mr. and Mrs. Christian, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thornhill and their children, and several others also lost their lives. Those escaping divided into two parties as follows : ( i ) Lieutenant Burnes, Sir Mountstuart and Miss Madeline Jackson, Ser- geant-Major Morton, and little Sophie Christian. These found refuge, although reluctantly, with Rajah Lonee Singh, at his fort of Mithowlee. (2) Mrs. Greene, Miss Jackson and Captain John Hearsey fled northwards, and after being joined by other refugees found shelter at Mutheearee with the Rajah of Dhoreyrah. The first-named party, after most terrible sufferings, were all murdered with the ex- ception of Madeline Jackson. Miss Jackson and her sister were both extremely pretty girls, and only a few days before the outbreak had spent the day at our house. CHAPTER IV. OUTBREAK OF MUTINY. Outbreak at Seetapore The parade of the regiment Officers killed and wounded Friendly sepoys Flight into Lucknow In- cidents attending it Privation Terrible heat Help from Lucknow We reach the garrison All's well. AT last our turn camel On the ist of June at ii A.M., a subadar (native officer) went to the com- manding officer's house and reported that he had very good grounds for believing that the men of the other two regiments intended to make a dash for the treasury and loot it ; that he had ordered the regi- ment to fall in quietly, and now asked the com- manding officer to come and take command with the object of protecting the sirkar's property. The major got his horse and all went down to the parade where the men were drawn up in line ; after a few words with the native officers he rode to the front and gave the word, "Fours right". And then directly after he gave the order, " Quick march ". A sepoy then ran up and shot him in the back, and he fell from his horse dead. Lieutenant Smalley was immediately killed by a bayonet thrust, as also the sergeant-major. Graves, the adjutant, was 41 42 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN wounded in the head, and a havildar (sergeant), who called out, " Don't kill the Sahib Logue," was im- mediately bayoneted. Some of the men were passive in the matter, and these pushed us clear of the others, saying : " We can do nothing for you. Leave this and get away as fast as you can." We hurried back to the commanding officer's, and found all assembled as had previously been arranged. It was a sad task, telling Miss Birch the news of her father's death. The thing now was to get away to Lucknow, and that as fast as possible, while the men were busy looting the treasury. We had just time to get some of our horses out. It was not pleasant having to aban- don everything clothes, books, pictures, sketches and furniture ; but it had to be done, so regrets were useless. During the time of waiting, inquiry was made if all were present, when a German band- master we had behaved in a most cowardly way. As the pay was good and a house found him, he brought out his father from England, a very old man, feeble and incapable of making any attempt to move himself, and there was delay in providing him with a vehicle. His son was in such dread of the sepoys that, fearing they would come before we could get away, he exclaimed : " Oh, leave him be- hind ! " I am thankful to say the poor old man reached Lucknow in safety. We started, in all about sixty, thirty being friendly sepoys of my regiment, the 4ist N.I, These men FLIGHT FROM SEETAPORE 43 must at this period have been friendly disposed, and yet within a fortnight of entering Lucknow they could not any longer be trusted a mysterious thing, and one that was never accounted for. These men were therefore given the option of returning to their homes, which they gladly agreed to without excep- tion, not one remaining with us officers whose lives they had helped to save. This fact shows that there was some strong undercurrent of disaffection running through them. Possibly they were in com- munication with the rebels outside ; or, again, the hardships they had to endure may have proved too great for them. On our arrival in Lucknow these sepoys were received by Sir Henry Lawrence, who highly praised their devotion, promised them re- wards, and placed them under their own commander, Major Apthorp. Now for the journey. I don't suppose it pos- sible to make any one understand what the heat was. It was blowing half a gale, and the wind was as if it came from the hottest furnace. The road at first took a curve leading to a village, Khyrabad, a place we knew to be full of fanatical Mohammedans. This we thought it best to avoid, so took a line across country and came into the road beyond the village. Most fortunate was it for us that we did so, for we heard afterwards that having looted the treasury the sepoys came in pursuit of us, but, hearing at Khyra- bad that we had not passed, concluded that we had gone some other way, and so returned. We should 44 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN certainly have been murdered if they had caught us up. That bit across country was not easy with the vehicles we had ; a dogcart in which we had put a few things from the mess was upset twice, and others had continually to be helped out of some difficulty or another by literally " putting one's shoulder to the wheel ". The wife of one of the bandsmen died from sunstroke, and in addition to all this there was the fear of our falling in with some of the disbanded regiments that were all over the country making their way towards Delhi. That night we rested in a grove of trees, half our number on guard. We procured a few chupatties and chutney from a village, and, more precious than all, some water melons, for we had had nothing to drink since we started, and our thirst was great. We managed to per- suade a coolie to start off as quickly as possible to Lucknow with a note telling of our condition, as, for all we knew, the road might not be open, the troops forming the garrison at Lucknow having mutinied also. We started again as soon as it was light and trudged on somewhat refreshed after a comparatively cool night, and at about 5 P.M. to our great joy saw Europeans coming to meet us. It was a party of volunteer cavalry, military and civilians, composed of some who, like ourselves, were refugees from the district. They brought with them carriages and re- freshments, and, as we had been without food for nearly thirty hours, the latter were more than accept- ALL'S WELL ! 45 able. Finally we reached the Residency all safe about 8 P.M., and it is impossible to describe the feeling of relief and security at hearing as we passed through the Bailey Guard an English sentry calling out: "All's well!" CHAPTER V. SIEGE OF LUCKNOW. My prediction verified Commissioner's house fired Names of those who perished Other losses at Seetapore Mrs. Stuart saved Just retribution Report myself to Sir J. Inglis Given charge of the church Incidents while there On sick list News of Cawnpore massacre Chinhut Terrible fate of friends Return to vestry Church destroyed Death of Sir H. Lawrence Grief of the garrison His fore- sight Disaster to the cattle Serious attack on Redan battery Enemy's great daring Lieutenant Grant's death Mutineers send me a message Rebels make their fiercest attack Dangers to the garrison Great heat causes many deaths Prices of provisions Great scarcity End of July Many casualties Strange recovery of Lieutenant Charlton A droll incident A memorable night Ungud goes out success- fully He returns Several deaths Small-pox and cholera raging in the garrison Great food privations Remarkable death of Ensign Studdy, 32nd Foot Residency vacated General attack Followed by others. I MAY state here what we heard, but not for some time after, of what occurred in the civil lines and other parts of Seetapore. Strange to say, what I said regarding the futility of holding a bungalow was verified. The Commissioner's house was sur- rounded, an arrow with a piece of lighted tow was fired into the thatch, which was immediately in a blaze, and as the Commissioner and his wife ran out they were shot down. 4 6 DEATHS AT SEETAPORE 47 Captain Doran, commanding one of the Irregular regiments, managed to escape with his wife into the country, but they had not gone far before they were overtaken. Captain Doran had a double-barrelled gun in his hand. The rebels swore to preserve both his and his wife's life if he would give up the gun. He hesitated for a long time, and at last surrendered it. They instantly shot him with it, but let his wife go. She, poor woman, went back to their house and was concealed by her ayah, and by her help suc- ceeded at last in reaching the Residency, disguised as a native woman, being obliged to hide for a fort- night in a village, but having been kindly treated en route. Mrs. Doran and Lieutenant Burnes were the only ones of the loth Regiment who escaped with their lives from Seetapore. In the Qth Regiment, also at Seetapore, the only one who escaped with her life was Mrs. Greene, wife of Lieutenant Greene, every one else being murdered. Mrs. Doran was killed during the siege. Sir Mountstuart Jackson of the Civil Service and his two sisters managed to get away, but were taken prisoners afterwards and conveyed to the city of Lucknow. One sister escaped, but the other, with her brother, was murdered. I had the satisfaction of being the means of saving one life. Captain Stuart, who was attached to us as interpreter, believing in the idea of holding the bungalow, had actually sent his wife there on the morning of the ist, before the outbreak. I knew of this only about 9 A.M., but 4.8 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN immediately went to him and begged him to fetch her away, I felt so certain it would never answer. It was a long time before I could persuade him, but at last he did so. Hardly were they within our lines again before the mutiny broke out and the Commis- sioner's bungalow was fired. One thing that happened after we left I was delighted to hear; just retribution did fall at least on one miscreant. It was told me by our Bazaar chowdrie, who came to see me some years after- wards. The people round about Seetapore are of a low caste, called Pasees, and are armed with bows and arrows. Of course they did not dare to come across any of the sepoys, or try to get any loot, as their career would soon have been cut short ; but they hovered about on the outskirts, looking for a chance. Now one of our sepoys, after getting his share of rupees, went to the colonel's house to see what there was he could take away. In the stable were a pair of horses, and a carriage in the coach- house. A bright idea seized him. He put the horses to, then went into the house and took whatsoever attracted his fancy, piled it all into the carriage, got up on the box and drove off in triumph, no doubt thinking what a swell he would be in his own village ; but although he did not know it, his time was come. One of the Pasees saw what was going on, and watched him, and when he found out the road he intended taking, ran ahead across the fields and lay in ambush. As my friend in the carriage passed, INSTITUTING A GRANARY 49 to his surprise he got an arrow through his temple which tumbled him off the box, and he never rose again. I would have given that Pasee bakshish if I had met him. The day after reaching the Residency, June 3rd, I went to report myself to Colonel (afterwards Sir John) Inglis, and, as help was needed in superin- tending the stowing away of grain that was coming in in quantities, he sent me to the church with orders to make it into a granary. It was not at all nice work, having to pull everything to pieces the pews, pulpit, everything had to come away but it had to be done, and when all was clear the whole space inside was filled with sacks of grain. Mean- while I had taken up my quarters in the vestry. A few days after this another officer was sent to help, a Captain Barlow, who had been major of brigade to the Oudh force. A more excitable man I never met ; it seemed that he could not stand all that was happening ; he was in the vestry with myself, but he had such disturbed nights I could hardly get any rest. At last the idea seized him that I wanted to murder him, and his yells were awful. Then I thought it time that a doctor should see him, and he was ordered to the hospital. There his cries at night for help and assistance still continued, and I was told that a private who was a patient there cursed me, because my name was continually dinned into his ears. Poor Captain Barlow ! He did not live long, but retained his hallucination to the last. 4 50 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN A severe attack of ophthalmia blinding me for the time, rendered me perfectly helpless, and during the time I was laid up the disaster at Chinhut oc- curred, and we were then besieged in earnest. I must not forget to relate the adventures of an officer of ours, Lieutenant Inglis, who at the time of the outbreak was at Mullaon, a small place not far from Seetapore, in command of a detachment. When his men heard what had happened at head-quarters, as a matter of course they followed suit, and sent the native officer to him to request he would march them to Delhi. Inglis said, " No ! But I'll march the men to Lucknow ! " This the men would not have, and again the native officer came to him telling him this, and very coolly added that they were going to take the treasure. " Very good," returned Inglis, " I cannot prevent you ; but as you are going to appropriate the money I beg to remind you my last month's pay is due, and that amount you must hand over to me." The native officer ad- mitted that this was right, but when the matter was put to the sepoys they refused ; and, finding he could do nothing, he got on his horse and made off, only just in time. He made for the palace of a rajah in the neighbourhood, who protected him, and eventu- ally he succeeded in getting into Lucknow disguised as a native woman, carried in one of the small palan- quins women go about in. He was afterwards severely wounded by the fragments of a shell, and the doctors said they never had a better patient : he never MASSACRE AT CAWNPORE 51 complained and took everything as quietly as pos- sible. I shall never forget the time when the news reached us, about the 28th of June, of the massacre at Cawnpore. I was lying in a room in the Residency, quite blind from the effects of ophthalmia, when a doctor came in whose wife had been left at Cawn- pore under the idea she would be safer there than at Lucknow. Poor fellow, it was terrible to witness his grief. All night long he paced the room, except when at intervals he would throw himself on the floor and roll about in agony of mind. Amongst those who suffered on that occasion were two dear friends of mine, Dr. and Mrs. Harris ; he had been surgeon of my regiment, 4ist N.I., during the march from Delhi to Mooltan, but left us at the latter station to take up a civil appointment. Shortly before, in 1856, I had been staying with them at Jounpore, and I little thought when I said " good- bye " that such a terrible fate was in store for them. From the accounts given by natives afterwards of what took place, it appears that when the order was given to separate the men and women it was found impossible to part them. Mrs. Harris had her arms round her husband's neck, and nothing could make her loosen her hold. They were then both cut down together. As soon as I was well enough I went back to the church and superintended the giving out of grain. Day by day the poor little church was 4* 52 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN getting smaller and smaller. Round shot had taken off all the ornamental finials on the roof, and there were great breaches in the walls ; it only just lasted as long as the grain, and then I went to another granary. One morning I was rather startled by what I saw on awakening : the body of a man had been brought into the churchyard and left there till some one had time to dig a grave. His attitude was as if in conflict with an opponent, his right arm being raised, the eyes wide open and fixed in a glassy stare straight at me ; and, as he was but about four feet from me, the sight, under the circumstances and surroundings, gave me an ugly shock. Up to the present date, July 2nd, Sir Henry Lawrence had been Commissioner and Commandant of the Lucknow garrison. Although in failing health, he had continued to perform his duties, but to many his health gave cause for great anxiety ; the strain was evidently proving too much for a man of his age. He occupied a room in the Residency which was greatly exposed to the rebels* fire. Although frequently begged to vacate this, he refused, and only the day before this date a shell had burst in, but without doing injury to any one. About 9 A.M. on the 2nd of July an eight-inch shell entered the room by the window and burst, wounding Sir Henry in the hip, and slightly injuring Captain T. F. Wilson, D.A.A.G., who was standing by his bed. His nephew, Mr. G. H. Lawrence, C.S., who was DEATH OF SIR H. LAWRENCE 53 in the room, escaped uninjured. He was taken to the house of Dr. Fayrer (now Sir Joseph Fayrer), where he lingered till the 4th. His emaciated con- dition and the nature of his wounds rendered any thought of an operation impossible ; his sufferings in the meanwhile were most piteous. Those gathered by his bedside soon realised that the end was near, and to all the loss of such a man at such a crisis was truly irreparable. His personal gifts, as well as his great abilities, and added to these his lovable disposition, had endeared him to all, every one pre- sent being moved to tears ; there was not a dry eye in the room. Truly a great man was passing away amidst agonising sufferings, whilst outside shots were continually striking the verandah on which he lay. During his intervals of freedom from pain, he ex- horted all around him to be sparing of their am- munition, and at all costs to " save the ladies ". His death cast a great shadow over the garrison, and at such a time was most depressing to all con- cerned. His uprightness, unselfishness, and genial, affectionate nature made us all feel that we had indeed lost a friend, and that in a time of great need. Before dying Sir Henry appointed as his successors Major Banks to be Chief Commissioner, Colonel Inglis to command the troops of the garrison, and Major J. Anderson to command artillery and direct engineering operations. It was entirely owing to Sir Henry's foresight that the garrison of Lucknow was enabled to hold 54 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN out so long, both in provisions and in ammunition. Indeed, under Providence we were all indebted to this great hero for preservation from famine. About the middle of July we had a disaster with the cattle that had been driven in for our use. The boosah (chopped straw) intended for their food was stacked in the racquet court, filling it level with the top of the walls. One night it rained, the boosah swelled, and down came the walls like a pack of cards ! The boosah remained stand- ing. Then D of my regiment was told off to look after the bullocks, and see that they did not get at it ; but he was a very poor herdsman and allowed them to do as they liked ; so they ate and ate till they undermined it, and then down it came, smothering five of them. Of course we had them for rations, but it was too much wholesale slaughter for a beleaguered garrison ; so D was taken off duty. If he had only heard what was said of him, well, he wouldn't have liked it. On July 2Oth a very serious attack had been made. A mine was sprung near the Redan battery, evidently intended to destroy it, but fortunately this failed, the enemy missing the right direction. This was followed by an assault on our entire position ; a terrible fusillade of round shot and musketry was directed upon us, the enemy advancing, under cover of this, quite close up to our defences. At the Redan they came within twenty-five paces of the battery, which was under the charge of Lieutenants OFFER TO LET ME ESCAPE $5 F. Cunliffe and MacFarlane ; but they were met by a heavy fire and retired with great loss. Many of them gathered round the bastion, which we called Grant's, and to dislodge them Lieutenant Grant (Bombay Army), who had been stationed at Duria- bad, was throwing a hand-grenade, but unfortunately held it a little too long and it burst in his hand, shattering it completely and wounding Captain H. Forbes, who commanded, at the same time. Grant's hand was amputated, but he died from the effects a few days after, having previously lost his wife and daughter from cholera. He left two little orphans, one quite a baby. The engagement lasted from early morning till 4 P.M. Happily, our losses were but four killed and twelve wounded, whilst the rebels lost some hundreds. This day's work gave us con- fidence, as we were convinced that we could hold our own against their greatest efforts. Apthorp of ours had a post looking on to the Cawnpore Road, and one day he told me that some of the enemy for the last two or three nights had come up close underneath his walls, and called out that they would let the quartermaster from Seeta- pore come out and get clear away if he liked. As I was quartermaster of my regiment, this must have been meant for me. If I had accepted the offer, I wonder how far I should have got ! All this time firing went on continually, day after day, without cessation ; and when, as I suppose, they were hard up for shells, curious missiles were sent. One day 56 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN when I was at the church I watched one in the air that had just been fired from a mortar. On it came, high up, then gradually descended and dropped into an open grave. It was a log of wood, partially hollowed out, and stuffed with combustibles ; it did not do the least harm. On July 2ist (my birthday) the enemy, still un- deterred, made their fiercest attacks which lasted throughout the day. They had discovered our weak side, and proceeded to undermine by digging a hole in the wall of an enclosure which skirted a com- pound on that side, a screen of canvas and a low wall alone separating them from us. The danger at this moment was great, and but for our concentrat- ing our forces immediately at this spot the siege of Lucknow might have ended in a different manner. While these operations were going on, Major Banks was struck in the temple by a bullet and killed instantaneously. He was incautiously looking out upon the enemy, poor fellow, and never moved again. A great stand was here made by us, and after two hours a mortar was brought down and opened upon the rebels. This caused the mutineers quickly to dis- perse, and as they fled a heavy fire was opened upon them from the brigade mess. Late in the afternoon the body of Major Banks was sewn up in a white sheet, this being now the only way available, since deaths had become so numerous that the making of coffins was impossible, often several bodies being buried in the same grave. Added to this, the heat DEATHS IN LUCKNOW 57 was very great, and at times, in spite of precau- tions, the evil smells were most offensive, the odours arising from the dead and unburied cattle, and the offal of the slaughtered beasts, making it almost un- bearable. Under these conditions it was not sur- prising that we had many deaths from disease at this time. Lieutenant Dashwood of the 48th N.I. and the Rev. Mr. Polehampton both died from cholera. Mr. Polehampton had just recovered from a severe wound, when he was taken ill and carried off in a few days. Colonel Halford, who formerly com- manded my regiment, died on the 29th from a carbuncle, and Mrs. Thomas, wife of Lieutenant Thomas, Madras Artillery, and Mrs. Edgar Clarke, wife of Lieutenant Clarke, Assistant Commissioner of Gondalo, of small-pox on the 1 6th and 3Oth respec- tively. Unquestionably the sufferings among the children were even greater than those of adults, and many parents were left childless at the close of the siege. It is never fit for European children to be in the plains during the hot season, but when privations and want of proper food were added to intense heat, it can be easily understood that the mortality was great among them ; as many as fifty succumbed, I believe. Then again the pest of flies was most trying, and as we had no coolies to work the punkahs to abate this nuisance they swarmed in myriads. Lucknow had always been noted for this pest in the hot season. Dr. Brydon (the only sur- 58 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN vivor of the Cabul Massacre) was wounded while at dinner, the bullet completely traversing his body. Every day some one was hit. Provisions had become very scarce : a ham that was put up for auction at this time fetched 100 rupees (>io), and a moorghee (chicken) fifty rupees ($), half a bottle of honey forty-five rupees one might never have to pay for it, so it did not much matter ! Money was plentiful, and none of us were sure if we should ever be able to spend it. By the end of July our casualties had greatly increased, and in the 32nd Regiment alone 170 losses had occurred from sickness and wounds ; this regiment mostly consisted of Cornishmen. The following also were killed : Mr. Bryson, sergeant of the Volunteer Cavalry, shot dead on the Qth of July ; Lieutenant Arthur, 7th Light Cavalry, and Lieutenant Lewin, Artillery, both shot dead at the Cawnpore Battery, which was in a very exposed position and in consequence cost us many brave lives. Two of our European clerks and a son of the superintendent of the Civil Department were all killed about this time. In one instance Lieutenant Charlton of the 32nd received a wound in the back of his head from a bullet which penetrated to the brain ; he was considered by the doctors a hope- less case, but nevertheless recovered, and lived to go home, to every one's great astonishment ; nine months after the bullet appeared on the surface of UNGUD GOES OUT WITH MESSAGE 59 the wound and was then extracted. Among the list of wounded were the following : Lieutenants Bryce, O'Brien, Harmer and Edmondstoune, Captain Boileau, Mr. G. H. Lawrence, C.S., Lieutenant D. C. Alexander, Captain Barlow, my companion in the vestry, and Mr. Heley, 7th Cavalry, who afterwards died. Although there were these dire straits within the garrison, a very droll incident occurred among us about this time. A certain medical officer, thinking that he overheard a brother medico speaking slight- ingly of his behaviour, and attributing to him a want of courage, " went for him," and fisticuffs were followed by arrest, so here was double torture ! Whilst held in durance vile by the rebels outside, he was also under arrest by his commanding officer inside to the end of the siege, only being allowed to visit his wife occasionally ; of course at the end of the siege nothing more was heard of the incident. The following night was a memorable one with us, as we were enabled to send a native messenger named Ungud with a despatch written by Mr. Gubbins to General Havelock, telling of our posi- tion, circumstances and details of our own forces and that of the enemy as far as was known to us. Ungud got away safely under cover of heavy rain and darkness, eluding the sentinels of the enemy. Readers will remember the name of Mrs. Doran, one of our Seetapore refugees, whose husband was killed before her eyes, being shot by the rebels with 60 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN his own rifle, she escaping dressed as a native woman. Well, this poor lady was herself shot dead by a matchlock ball, after it had traversed two suites of rooms, reaching her in a standing position. Her death was greatly deplored, as she had been so helpful to all around her. A real heroine, this woman ! To our great joy, on the 25th Ungud returned with news of Havelock's force, and that we might hope to meet it in the course of five or six days. For some days past we had daily lost several pre- cious lives ; the natives had become despondent and desertions were more frequent among them ; so nothing could have been more timely than this news, and we all felt vastly relieved. As Ungud was him- self a native it gave them the greater confidence in his statements, which he freely furnished them with ; they bombarded him with shoals of questions, all of which he gladly answered, and they were thus satis- fied. Meanwhile Ungud brought us much other in- formation. One thing that was very sad indeed was the terrible account of the Cawnpore massacre of the women and children, by that demon Nana, all of which turned out to be even less than the facts. He could also give us some details of the doings of the rebels, and from him we learnt that the Risaldar of Fisher's Horse, who had been placed at the head of the mutineers, had been killed by one of our rifle balls, and that a Subadar of one of the N.I. regi- ments, named Ghumander Singh, had been made DEATH OF MISS PALMER 61 leader ; also that a boy of the Oudh royal family had been proclaimed king, and his mother, the Begum, regent. After a short interval of rest Ungud again went forth. This time he took from Colonel Inglis to General Havelock despatches and plans showing our position and the roads leading to it ; these being of great value, 5,000 rupees (^500) was promised to him if he succeeded in delivering them in safety. Among those who had taken refuge in the Residency was Colonel Palmer, who had been major of brigade at Jullunder in 1846, and to whom I reported myself on my way to join my regiment. Shortly after the siege began his daughter lost her leg by a round shot which caused her death. She was sitting in the lower wing of the residency at the time ; amputation was immediately performed, but she died on the next day. A few days after this date Major Francis, i3th N.I., received his death wound while sitting in the upper storey of the brigade mess by a round shot which fractured both his legs. He died next day after amputation. About this time Mr. M. C. Ommaney was wounded in the head by a round shot in the Redan Battery. The shot grazed his head and he lingered only for two days. By this time the casualties were very numer- ous, the hospital staff being greatly harassed. Among other things small-pox and cholera were raging among us, and in fact almost every ailment 62 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN under the sun. Roughly speaking, the rebels be- sieging the garrison numbered not less than 1 50,000 at this time. Incessant firing of round shot and musketry went on day and night without ceasing, many bullets coming from a great distance. Again, many of the garrison were greatly hampered by find- ing their native servants continually deserting and joining the rebels ; although none could get in, these could always find their way out. Provisions by this time were very scarce, and personally I had no regu- lar meals, but got something to eat whenever I could. Grass was cut and boiled as a vegetable. August had now arrived, bringing with it sore discouragement in the non-arrival of the promised relief, and producing great despondency in some of us. About this time the supply of tea and coffee failed among the soldiers, causing much privation. The laundry facilities were absolutely nil in the gar- rison ; I was fortunate in possessing a flannel shirt. The strange part of this wearisome time was the monotony of each day and the difficulty of distin- guishing Sunday from the rest, although throughout the siege divine services were carried on. After the death of the senior chaplain, Mr. Polehampton, the junior chaplain, Mr. Harris, performed the duty. Scouts were frequently sent out in quest of news of the relieving party, with little result. The enemy continued increasing their batteries, one twenty-four pounder doing specially great damage to my post, the church, the Residency, and the house at Innes's DEATH OF ENSIGN STUDDY 63 post, Lieutenant Innes's house from the outside being battered in, his verandah carried away, and the ad- joining room on that side brought down. We counteracted this by placing an eighteen pounder of our own, which soon had the effect of silencing the enemy. One sad result of the firing from the twenty-four pounder named was the wounding of Ensign Studdy, 32nd Foot. This poor boy's injury was very remarkable ; he was at the Residency in a centre room with several other officers, of whom I was one, when a round shot penetrated and struck him as he was crossing the room. Strangely enough in its passage it swept off the fringe of the punkah hanging there, which swathed his body round and round ; it then struck him in the arm and chest, the wounds having the appearance of violent contusions. The arm was amputated and he died under the operation. On the 4th of August, during a high wind, a portion of the north-east wing of the Resi- dency fell, burying six men of the 32nd, two of whom were extricated alive, the rest being killed. As there were no means of removing the debris their bodies remained here for a long time. The Residency had been at this time vacated on account of its perilous condition, and the enemy soon discovered the fact. This had the effect of greatly increasing the firing upon the private houses. Most of these at this time were little short of wrecks and scarcely habitable, some of the occupants barely escaping with their lives from the falling masonry, 64 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN notably Mr. W. C. Capper, C.S., and another, who were buried in the ruins, escaping miraculously. On this same date, loth August, a second general attack was made upon us ; large bodies of the rebels had been seen moving about in the direc- tion of the Cawnpore Road and crossing the river to our side, filling Johannes' house ; here a mine was sprung by them about 1 1 A.M., greatly damaging an orphanage founded by a General Martiniere, a Frenchman ; the principal was Mr. Schilling, and all through the siege he and his boys rendered the greatest aid. The rooms occupied by them were by this mine explosion quite exposed ; fortu- nately the room most destroyed was unoccupied at that moment. Mr. Schilling and his people had time to close the intervening doors, which alone now divided them from the rebels. After this the enemy began firing, when two soldiers, who had accom- panied Brigadier Inglis to the scene of the disaster, were dangerously wounded by bullets passing through these door panels. The mutineers pre- sently occupied all the buildings round about, and then began a desperate fusillade, their object being to take the Cawnpore Battery. In this they were again frustrated, being received by such a heavy fire of musketry from us that they fell back. At one moment some got so near that they were close upon the battery, hidden by a ditch, from which they were dislodged by hand-grenades. While this was happening another mine was EXPLOSION OF MINE 65 being exploded by the rebels on the east side ; this shattered some out-houses, where two European privates who were posted there had a miraculous escape, being blown into the air and falling to the ground uninjured ; they regained the defences through a sharp fire from the enemy unhurt. Many other attacks were made, accompanied by mine ex- plosions, the rebels advancing in great numbers, bringing scaling ladders to scale the south-west bastion. These again were dislodged by hand- grenades at the foot of the bastion ; they were also very heavily fired upon ; in their retreat they left on the road two of their dead, whom they were unable to remove ; these bodies in a few days were completely stripped by jackals. In the afternoon the enemy again returned to the charge, this time making a sudden attack on the financial commis- sioner's office, commanded by Captain Sanders ; here they became very bold, even seizing hold of the bayonets protruding from the loopholes ; being again repulsed, they withdrew, keeping up a pro- longed fire of musketry. This was one of our busiest days ; no less than 150 shells were used by us. In hand-to-hand work of this kind the hand-grenades were particularly serviceable, although care had to be shown in using them. They are in reality miniature shells, fired with a fuse in the same way ; they are held in the hand, the fuse is ignited, and they are then thrown in the direction required at a particular moment. It 5 66 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN can be understood that if the grenades are held a few moments too long in the hand they would burst, and cause great injury to the individual, as before related. We had again the satisfaction of know- ing that the mutineers had received heavy losses throughout the day. Ours were as follows : three Europeans and two sepoys killed, and twelve men wounded. And so the days wore on, amidst continual mining by the enemy and countermining by ourselves ; in some instances the two parties working side by side and only divided by a wall. Frequently the rebels placed every form of obstruction in the way of our men, throwing brickbats, squibs, rockets, etc. ; bam- boos wrapped in oiled cloth were lighted and thrown, their object being to fire our men's outbuildings. One very successful effort on our part was made at 10 A.M. on the morning of the nth of August. The garrison was warned that a mine was to be ex- ploded ; it was fired with great success, and brought the building occupied by the rebels down upon them, a number being killed. Many others were shot who ventured out to their aid. This gave great credit to the engineers who undertook the work. Nothing was more harassing at this time than the mining, that of the mutineers giving us great anxiety, whilst our own was attended with tremendous labour. CHAPTER VI. CONTINUATION OF SIEGE. Ungud returns Correspondence with General Havelock Mining disaster Attack on the breach Sorties for destruction of out-buildings Exploits of Browne, Fulton and McCabe Removal of women to the Begum Kotee New batteries of the enemy An awkward mistake Lieutenant Bonham's in- ventionA harmless little gamble Fresh desertions Re- moval of the powder magazine Gallantry of Captain Fulton Wild rumours Prices current Sickness and many deaths Severe wound of Lieutenant Bonham. OF all our messengers sent out Ungud was the only one who returned successfully. He re-appeared on the 1 5th of August bringing the following letter, of which I give a copy from Mr. Gubbins' History : "To M. GUBBINS, Esq. "DEAR SIR, " We march to-morrow morning for Luck- now, having been reinforced. We shall push on as speedily as possible. We hope to reach you in four days at furthest ; you must aid us in every way, even to cutting your way out, if we cant force our way in. We are only a small Force. * "(From General Havelock.)" 1 N.B, The words printed in italics were written in Greek characters. 6 7 5* 68 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN Ungud arrived a fortnight after receiving this despatch, having been taken prisoner by the enemy, while endeavouring to reach us ; the letter was con- cealed in a quill, sealed at the ends with wax, how kept from the enemy I cannot say, but when re- leased, he again returned in search of the relieving force, wishing to obtain the latest intelligence. He discovered General Havelock's force, which, having been harassed by the N ana's men, had been obliged to retrace their steps, recrossing the river to Cawn- pore, where the General was waiting for further reinforcements. We afterwards learnt through Ungud that this force had achieved a victory over the rebels, but General Havelock had thought it expedient to return. Our conjectures were numerous as to what had caused this delay, but all felt convinced that it was to our advantage. Had the General understood the whole circumstances of our condition he would never have suggested the idea of cutting our way out, I am convinced ; this being little short of sui- cide to all concerned, hampered as we were by many women, children, sick and wounded, our greatly re- duced European force numbering 350 only, whilst our women 220, children 230, sick and wounded 1 20, and there were no means of carriage whatever. Again, our treasury contained 25 lacs (,250,000), to say nothing of the guns that would have been left behind ; the sacrifice was not to be thought of. Brigadier Inglis replied to this note in a lengthy LETTER FROM GENERAL HAVELOCK 69 statement, representing our condition as being " ur- gent " and " desperate," especially from the provision point-of-view. The following reply was brought in by Ungud after a lapse of eleven days. I again quote Mr. Gubbins : " CAWNPORE, "August 2$th. " MY DEAR COLONEL, "I have your letter of the i6th inst. I can only say, do not negotiate, but rather perish, sword in hand. Sir Colin Campbell, who came out at a few days' notice to command, upon the news arriving of General Anson's death, pro- mises me fresh troops, and you will be my first care. The re-inforcements may reach me in from twenty to twenty-Jive days, and I will prepare every- thing for a march on Lucknow. " Yours very sincerely, " H. HAVELOCK, Brig. -Gen. "(To COLONEL INGLIS, H.M. 32nd Regt.)" By this letter we knew that the earliest date of our relief would be in about a month. All this time the mining and countermining went on continuously, and at last the rebels succeeded in doing us real mischief by exploding a mine under the outer defences of the left Sheikh's square on the 1 8th of August. The explosion took place early in the morning, doing great damage to our buildings, and blowing up one of our posts, this out- look being kept by Lieutenant Masham, Captain yo RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN A. Orr and two sentries ; Masham, Orr and one drummer were thrown into the air by the explosion, luckily descending inside the building, and escaped with little injury ; the fourth, Band-Sergeant Curtin, of my regiment, was unfortunately blown outside and immediately killed ; at the same time seven others six bandsmen and a sepoy were all killed inside the building. This gave the mutineers what they required, viz., a breach in the wall nearly fourteen feet long, through which they began to stream ; the leader, mounting the wall, waved his sword, but was at once struck down by a bullet fired by an officer from the brigade mess ; a second attempted the ascent, but shared the same fate. After this they contented themselves by firing from their own shelters on this breach. At once every man was at his post, and the 84th was told off to barricade this weak spot ; after working desperately all night, this was completed, the brigadier himself superintend- ing the operations. Our losses were several wounded, and here, through a loophole, Mon. Duprat received his death-wound from one of the enemy's bullets. All this rendered it necessary that a sortie should be made to destroy outbuildings which were by this time much too near our own, and had it been done before it would have spared us much annoyance and saved many lives. Johannes' house was especially in this category. Brigadier Inglis himself, accom- panied by Captain Fulton and other engineers, occu- SORTIE 71 pied all these houses without trouble ; they then blew up the buildings with gunpowder. Repeated sorties went on till all were demolished. On the 2ist inst. we had our revenge for the mischief done by the mine exploded by the rebels. Captain Fulton planned the measure, and Lieutenant Innis aided him untiringly ; for sixty hours he scarcely rested. We succeeded in demolishing the house of Mr. Johannes (senior) and the tower from which the marksmen had done us so much harm. These men were known as the African Riflemen, their aim being very deadly. In the debris many of the enemy were buried. Yet another sortie was as follows : a number of Europeans, fifty in all, divided into two parties, one under Lieutenant Browne, 32nd, reached a battery where they found a gunner of the enemy sleeping securely upon one of the guns. Lieutenant Browne proceeded to snap his revolver at him, but unsuccess- fully ; he then awoke and bolted. An attempt was then made to spike the guns, but ineffectually ; the touch-holes had become enlarged by repeated use ; and the annoying part was that within four hours these very guns were again at work upon the bri- gade mess. Lieutenant Browne for his action here received the Victoria Cross. Meanwhile the other party under Fulton and McCabe reached Johannes' shop verandah. Fulton, finding the doors of the building closed, placed his back against one, and, thrusting his feet against the verandah wall forced 72 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN the frame of the door out of the masonry, falling backwards into the room which was full of the rebels. The room was intersected with deep trenches, dug to protect from shells ; into one of these he fell backwards. Immediately McCabe and his party followed, the enemy fled, and the whole buildings were then blown up with two barrels of gunpowder, by means of a slow match. In all, our casualties in these operations were three killed and two wounded. Many more mining attacks upon us followed, but were met and success- fully foiled in every instance but the one previously related. No words of praise can do justice to that indefatigable officer, Captain Fulton, and all the engineers concerned in these operations. The re- bels attempted to set fire to the gates at the Bailey Guard ; in this also they were frustrated. By this time most of our buildings were hardly habitable, and the Residency was so perforated with round shot that it was considered unsafe even for stores. The brigade mess, guard houses and judicial gar- rison house were all in a state of collapse ; so unsafe were they that it was considered prudent to remove the women from these into the Begum Kotee. The rebels were continually opening fresh bat- teries upon us, some doing much damage, and all proving fresh sources of danger in our now battered condition. They constructed these batteries with marvellous skill and cunning, showing that our lessons given them had not been thrown away. INVENTION OF LIEUT. BONHAM 73 On one occasion they had succeeded in placing a twenty-four pounder and a twelve pounder in a very advantageous position, and these they fired in quick succession, the result being that a breach was made in our wall of defence. Whilst Brigadier Inglis came to inspect it, and we had all congre- gated within a bastion close by, the rebels, perceiv- ing this, opened fire upon us, the result being that two of us were killed : Lieutenant Webb, of the 32nd, and a poor sweeper named Lalloo. The bastion was speedily evacuated, and the brigadier sent orders to the Mortar Battery to shell the enemy at a distance of 200 yards. A mistake in this order nearly cost the lives of Major Apthorp and Captain Edgell. Lieutenant Cunliffe passed the order on to the sergeant who, mistaking it, charged the mortar with an insufficient quantity of powder ; thus, the shell fell among ourselves instead of outside ! About this period an admirable and efficient in- vention was made by Lieutenant Bonham, Artillery. This consisted of firing a mortar horizontally in- stead of vertically as hitherto. The mortar was mounted on a carriage which we called the " ship," and proved of excellent service. This gallant young officer had frequently shown the greatest bravery, and had been wounded at Chinhut ; he had also shown great bravery on the outbreak of the Mutiny at Secrora. During the Mutiny any authentic news of the mutineers was rewarded by money, not by any 74 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN stated sum, the applicant being allowed to put his hand into a bag of rupees and take out as many as he could with one hand. It was diverting to watch him ; he was allowed three tries ; first he would bring out his hand closed on as many as he could hold, looking at them, he thought he could better this, so putting them back he would bring out his hand open, with as much as he could manage to bring out of the bag. After all the sum was not very large, but the little "gamble" appealed to them. Still we were without intelligence of the relieving force. This fact produced great uneasiness among ourselves, and what almost amounted to panic among the natives. It occasioned fresh desertions, one native artilleryman deserting in broad daylight, also an Eurasian and ten Christian drummers who had been in the King of Oudh's service. One cannot be surprised at their going when it is remembered that they were half natives and all their relations were among the rebels outside. The position of our gunpowder magazine, by this time the most precious of our possessions, being considered unsafe, it was found necessary to remove it a difficult task ; for, having been stored outside the residency, it was now unpleasantly near the enemy. This work completed gave us all much satisfaction, as it was now placed underground in the Begum Kotee. It was now discovered that the rebels were mining around us in all directions, and RUMOURS OF OUR MOVEMENTS 75 their endeavours would have been successful, but for the heroic efforts of Captain Fulton and Lieu- tenant Hutchinson (Engineers), the former being especially brave in counter-mining and following the enemy into their own passage. Sufficient jus- tice can never be done to these brave officers, more particularly to Captain Fulton. This gallant man must have suffered terribly from heat during this period, spending many hours underground each day in the terrible heat of the month of August. There is no doubt but that under Providence the Lucknow garrison at this period owed its safety to his perseverance, boldness and skill. The natives affected to disbelieve the goings and comings of Ungud, and persisted in stating to the others their belief that he was kept in hiding by us in the meantime. We knew that some of the natives in the garrison were in communication with the rebels, as Ungud, who moved among the enemy, discovered that our movements were all known to them. The wildest rumours reached us, among others that the natives in our midst were planning a plot by which they meant to attack all Europeans at a given signal, and simultaneously the rebels were to be allowed by them to enter and so annihilate us ; the origin of this we never discovered. The month of August was drawing to a close, and in consequence of many deaths of officers among us frequent sales were taking place of their effects. I quote some of the prices, which ranged as follows : 76 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN Brandy 16 per dozen (before the siege ended as much as 2 los. was given for a bottle), sherry j per dozen, and cigars 2s. each (these rose to 55. each). Sickness was again very rife among us, the victims being many children ; also the deaths took place of Dr. MacDonald, of my regiment, 4ist N. I., from cholera, and Lieutenant Bryce from the same disease, the latter after recovering from a very severe wound. The chief engineer, Major J. Anderson, died after much suffering, principally from fatigue and exhaustion, also Captain Barlow, my companion in the vestry, and Mrs. Greene, wife of Captain Greene, 48th N. I. Among the deaths were 125 privates of the 32nd and 48th Regiments, who had all either been killed or died from their wounds during this month. Captain Power, 32nd, died from his wound, and a clerk named " Wales " had been killed. Among the wounded were : Captain Wa- terman, 1 3th N. I. ; Lieutenant James Alexander, Artillery ; Lieutenant Fletcher, 48th N. I. ; Lieu- tenant J. Cunliffe, Artillery ; Mr. MacRae, En- gineering Department ; Captain Hawes, and, lastly, Lieutenant Bonham, to whom we owed so much, was severely wounded for the third time by a musket ball which struck him on the breast and broke the collar-bone, thus placing this brave fellow, who could be ill spared at this period, hors de combat for the remainder of the siege. CHAPTER VII. INCIDENTS DURING THE SIEGE Cooler weather A fatal oversight Explosion near the south- western bastion Attacks redoubled Continued mining and countermining Disastrous result of misplaced economy Death of Captain Fulton Instance of his intrepidity Magni- tude of our loss Promotion of Lieutenant J. C. Anderson Rajah Man Singh Desertion of cooks Further dilapidation of buildings More of the horizontal mortar Heavy losses among the Artillery Effect of an eclipse Further casualties The problem of dress and laundry. WE now came to the month of September, when the weather was dry, and the nights and mornings were becoming cooler. We hoped the rainy season was over, but about the third week in this month we ex- perienced an absolute deluge of rain, doing harm to our defences, adding greatly to our discomforts, and hindering Havelock's last advance. On September 2nd a most regrettable accident occurred. A party of four Engineer officers, one of whom was Lieu- tenant Birch, who was then attached to this branch (he was a son of my old commanding officer and escaped with me from Seetapore), went out at dusk to examine the spot of a suspected mine ; and the usual warning was given to all posts in the vicinity, 77 78 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN with the exception of one by an oversight. They had accomplished their task and were returning, when the sentry at this post, seeing figures moving in the dark, mistook them for the enemy and fired, mortally wounding poor Birch in the abdomen ; he died during the night in great agony. His sister and his wife, to whom he had been married but six months, were in Lucknow with him. Yet another calamity ! This was the death of Major Bruere, who commanded the i3th N. I. ; he was killed on the 4th of this month by a rifle ball pene- trating the chest. He was an excellent marksman, and, whilst engaged in firing from the brigade mess, he unfortunately exposed himself too much. All the days of this month the enemy continued their work of mining unceasingly ; and, in addition, cannon- ading and firing of musketry would begin at day- break, continuing for about three hours, and then again resumed in the afternoon with still greater vehemence. At this time no less than five mines were known by us to be in course of construction, one of them planned against my late post in the church ; and, in addition to this number, the large one constructed against the Redan Battery still existed. On Sep- tember 5th the garrison received a great scare by the explosion of a mine in close proximity to our most important bastion, viz., the south-western. We had suspected that this bastion was being mined, but we could not be sure. The explosion occurred about FIERCE ATTACK 79 10 A.M., and was a terrific one ; the fallen debris ', smoke, and closeness of the noise gave every one the impression that this stronghold had gone, and that with it must follow the garrison. So imagine our delight on rinding the bastion still intact and realising that the firing, though close, had not been near enough to accomplish the deed. The mutineers had, however, effected a large fissure and caused great damage to the houses near, and they followed up the explosion by promptly fixing to the walls a huge ladder with double rungs; but this we never allowed them to scale, for as fast as their muzzles appeared at the embrasure they were met by Major Apthorp and the men of the 32nd with hand- grenades and musket-shots, whilst all in the back- ground kept up a heavy fire from the loopholes with which most buildings were now pierced. After an engagement of an hour and a half, they fell back with great loss. Our losses were three killed and one wounded. As the time approached for the relieving force to be getting near, the enemy became more and more persistent, convincing us that they too knew this fact. Attacks became almost continuous, but by this period we had well learnt the lesson of de- fence, and every effort of theirs was repulsed, fre- quently with great loss on their side. About this time they directed their attention upon the hospital and near buildings, an eighteen pounder gun being directed on the former, and ? strange to say, a shot from 8o RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN this gun passed down the whole length of the ward, crowded with patients, without any one sustaining harm ! By this time the whole of the garrison was a network of mines, and wherever we had discovered traces of the enemy's mining we had met them with counter- mining, numbers being destroyed by us in this way. Frequently we could hear the cries and groans of the rebels buried in the ruins. One day a sortie was made, under Captain Fulton, to examine the shaft and gallery of a mine which had been discovered in the churchyard. A long gallery was discovered, directed against the church, and of sufficient height to allow a man walking along it almost erect ; this was destroyed with gunpowder. As before stated, our south-west bastion was considered by us all as our weak point, being op- posed by four guns of the rebels, two very heavy ones and two lighter. Major Apthorp, who com- manded this post, had pointed out from the first the necessity of silencing these guns, but so far it had not been done, from fear that by so doing we should give the enemy the use of our round shot (as I must here mention that they fired this upon us again) ; only an occasional fire, therefore, was kept up, an Artillery officer visiting the post for two hours every day, firing a shot every twenty minutes. These few shots produced little effect upon either of the rebel batteries, whilst the enemy used theirs upon us to such purpose that great work was neces- DEATH OF CAPTAIN FULTON 81 sary to keep up repairs which were mostly carried out at night. This economy of shot was destined to cost us very dearly the life of that most brilliant, resource- ful and gifted man, Captain Fulton. It happened as follows : Major Apthorp, having at last obtained permission to keep up a continuous cannonade, Lieu- tenant J. Alexander, Artillery, was appointed to carry this into effect. He was most successful, and after some twenty shots succeeded in blowing the rebels' embrasure to pieces, also damaging the carriage of a twenty-four pounder gun ; this the enemy deserted, and it was never again put into action against us. Later in the day poor Fulton went to examine the effect of Alexander's cannonade. While scrutin- ising the battered embrasure through his glasses, and finding some of the enemy at work there, he called to Alexander to come up and continue firing, he himself leading the way. At the moment when we reached the embrasure one of the guns directed upon our garden battery opened fire ; the ball strik- ing Captain Fulton carried off the top of his head, his death being instantaneous. Thus, at almost the close of our siege, this distinguished man was taken from us. He had ever been foremost in the fight- ing, and his loss to us all was irreparable. He had constantly placed himself in the face of the greatest danger in order to effect his purpose and to shield his men. An instance I will here relate showing his disregard of danger. A few days previous to his 8z RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN death he had made a sortie in order to destroy a house which commanded Innes' shattered post which was being loopholed by the enemy. Captain Fulton and his men succeeded in scaling a wall by a ladder, taking two barrels of gunpowder which they placed near the building ; he then bade the soldiers " retire"; he fired the train and hastened to the ladder, only to find his men thoughtlessly loitering ; he immediately returned to them and hastened them up the ladder ; but, before he could follow, the mine exploded. He had a marvellous escape, for, although the wall blown up was within ten feet of him, a slight contusion caused by a piece of falling wood was his only injury. Readers of the epitome of this great man's doings will have formed an estimate of our loss. Although it was upon every individual's exertions during this trying time that our safety depended, upon none rested such responsibility as on Captain Fulton. Mr. Gubbins rightly designated him " The Defender of Lucknow ". I never heard, but I only trust that the Government of that day did not neglect to do honour to his survivors, as he left a widow and a large family of children inadequately provided for. Two days after this tragedy the Garden Bat- tery that occasioned it was reduced to ruins by a few shots from us. Lieutenant J. C. Anderson, Madras Engineers, succeeded Captain Fulton as chief of the Engineering Department ; he had already given us many proofs of his suitability for this post. DESERTIONS BY NATIVES 83 About this time the infamous rebel and taloodar, Rajah Man Singh, joined the rest of them outside Lucknow, thinking that Havelock had abandoned us and that our case was hopeless. Ungud dis- covered when he recrossed the Ganges that Man Singh had levied heavy taxes on the merchants of Fyzabad in order to join mutineers. This man was a reputed soldier, and, although not one of the oldest of the Oudh chiefs, he had been a power at the Court of the King in Lucknow, and had given much trouble to the British residents. Among the natives his influence was considerable, and his his- tory one of rapacity. He had great caste influence, as he had placed himself at the head of the Hindoos in a fanatical rising which was waged against the Mohammedans during the years 1854 and 1855. More desertions of natives took place about this time, and among others the cooks of the Artillery and 32nd Regiment deserted, at the time causing great inconvenience. The ruins of the buildings became more complete during this month ; walls were frequently breached and had to be replaced by stockades. Innes' house fell in at this period (nearly burying the sentries in the ruins) and had to be abandoned ; not a building was there in our whole line of defence but showed great signs of delapidation. The invention constructed by Lieutenant Bon- ham, before mentioned, was used with much success, being brought to bear when no other weapon was of 84 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN use. A second ship was constructed, and brought into use with equal effect upon the enemy's batteries. Major Simons, ,C.O. A., died on the 8th, having never recovered from his wounds received at Chinhut. His death was followed on the 22nd by that of Lieutenant Foster Cunliffe, also of the Artillery, whose death was caused by low fever. He had long been exposed in his successful guard of the Redan Battery. He was engaged to a young lady in the garrison. We had now lost nearly all the Artillery officers, either from death or wounds ; four were dead and four wounded ; one, Captain Thomas, alone escaped, but he, too, was greatly shattered in health. At the outset we were weak in this branch, and mainly upon their exertions our safety had depended, A weird effect was caused by an eclipse on the i8th ; everywhere was almost total darkness. It lasted for three hours, to the great consternation of the rebels ; nothing was heard from them during this period. Apthorp, who took particular note of the enemy at this time, said they all appeared to be in hiding, not knowing what was coming next ! Not a shot was fired. Besides the casualties named, we lost three other officers in September. Lieutenant James Graham, 4th Light Cavalry, whilst distracted by the strain, threw himself off one of the buildings. (To digress somewhat, I have by me a portrait of this poor fellow's twin daughters, born in Lucknow at this period, very beautiful girls.) Captain Mansfield, OUR CONDITION 85 32nd Regiment, died from cholera ; also Lieutenant Fullerton, who had been Assistant Commissioner at Duriabad, died in hospital. Ensign Hewitt, 4ist N.I., was wounded about this time. The paucity of clothing among us had long been a source of great discomfort. Most of us began the siege with only what we were clothed in ; from various causes nearly all had lost everything at the outset. With some of us our condition was very piteous, as we were veritably reduced to rags. A notable exception during this period was Captain Barwell, who, to the admiration and puzzlement of the rest of us, managed to turn out each day well groomed and laundried how, we never knew! How fortunate it was in this respect that it had been the hot season, or cold would have been added to our inflictions. CHAPTER VIII. FURTHER INCIDENTS. News from Sir James Outram Welcome sound of artillery Death of Captain Radcliffe Flight of the enemy Arrival of the relieving force Demonstrations of joy Losses by the way Eager enquiries Delafosse and Thompson among the arrivals Straitened commissariat The new tobacco Lieu- tenant Moorsom Death of Neill and Cooper Details of Havelock's advance Outram's magnanimity Recipients of the V.C. Deaths by sorties Total losses, European and native Case of Colonel Birch Of Graves Outram in com- mand Second phase of the siege, the blockade Successful work by Colonel Napier Rewards to Ungud and other natives Discontent of our own men Unwholesome food Tantalis- ing position of our stores Distress and mortality among the wounded News of the capture of Delhi. ON the 22nd Ungud returned to garrison, bring- ing good news from General Sir James Outram. We learnt that a fully equipped army was now approaching Lucknow, having crossed the Ganges on the 1 9th. "God grant that it may soon reach us," was the prayer on each one's lips. The general advised our making no attempt to aid their force, unless such as could be done "in perfect safety". Thus was Havelock's promise entirely carried out, the force crossing the river one day later only. Never did glad tidings fly so quickly, and never 86 SOUNDS OF RELIEF 87 did any news bring such joy and thankfulness as this! On 23rd September, the distant sound of artillery in the direction of Cawnpore was distinctly heard, and still nearer and nearer as the day advanced came the welcome sounds, convincing us that Have- lock's force was now fighting with the mutineers out- side. Ungud was almost beside himself with delight. Here was convincing proof! He exclaimed : " Dekho Fouj ata hai ! " (See ! Our troops are coming ! ) The next day the sounds were much less audible, creating a little concern among us, more especially among the natives, as the terrible possibility of a re- pulse could not but force itself upon one. During the night of the 24th, Captain Radcliffe, 7th Cavalry, met with what proved to be his death wound, being hit by a round shot while on duty in the Cawnpore Battery ; besides a broken arm, he received internal injuries, these proving fatal. This was a great loss of a most distinguished officer, who, at the defeat of Chinhut had saved absolute disaster by rallying his few volunteer cavalry at the critical moment ; and now, with the sound of 'relief 'so near, he succumbed. Sept. 2$tk. A sepoy crossed our lines with a note from General Out ram ; it was dated the i6th, and gave us only the repeated assurance that he was approaching. The messenger soon left with the brigadier's reply ; he could add nothing beyond that the force had reached the outskirts of the city. The heavy firing now heard gave great joy ; then 88 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN about 11.30 A.M. the firing ceased, and numbers of the city people could be seen flying over the bridges across the river, laden with their "goods and chattels". Later on the stampede was in full force, sepoys, sowars and matchlock men all fleeing for their lives, aided by every shot that we could fire after them as a parting farewell, a cross fire being kept up, as the rebels assailed us by a perfect hur- ricane of shot and shell from all their batteries. About 2 P.M. smoke from our guns was visible ; a little later the rattle of musketry could be heard ; by 4 P.M. those on the tower could clearly dis- tinguish European troops and officers in move- ment ; and by 5 P.M. the rumble of artillery reached us, and joy of joys ! there were the 78th High- landers and the Sikhs, charging up the main street, leading to the residency, fighting desperately as they came ; and there, too, was General Outram, before one could give voice to a cheer, dismounting near the Bailey Guard Gate. Thus was the long- expected, long-hoped for, among us, and there followed an indescribable scene of delight ; cheers broke forth from every post, trench, battery, and behind every sand bag, while even the inmates of the hospital crawled forth to join in this outburst of cheering in honour of those who had suffered so much to reach us; and thus, after being beaten back three times, they succeeded in fighting their way through and reaching us. If they had not arrived when they did, we should have lost the sepoys who RELIEF BY GENERAL HAVELOCK 89 stood by us so well, men of the regiment who had formed the Lucknow Force. It was indeed a relief, and ever grateful shall we feel to that force for their heroic efforts, for nothing but the greatest determina- tion on their part could have succeeded in reaching the residency. As the soldiers entered through the Bailey Guard Gate the enthusiasm was unbounded, the Highlanders greeting the garrison like joyous chil- dren. At the house of Dr. Fayrer, where the ladies and children were congregated, the bearded High- landers rushed to clasp the ladies' hands ; they took the children in their arms and fondly caressed them, passing them from one to the other to be caressed in turn. After this scene of indescribable delight, they sadly reflected one with another upon the losses they had sustained, of the many comrades who had fallen on the way. From the day they crossed the Ganges, iQth September, up to the 25th, the day they reached us, their total loss in killed and wounded, officers and men, was 535. All honour and praise therefore to the relieving force. As the evening wore on the excitement in- creased ; one can imagine how anxiously relations and friends were inquired after. For 113 days no post had been received, and no communication with the outer world had taken place. Whilst some sought for dear ones in the relieving force, others anxiously inquired how it was with Delhi, Agra, Cawnpore, etc., and news of the world at large was 9 o RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN eagerly asked for. Among the arrivals was Lieu- tenant Delafosse, who with Mowbray Thompson were the sole survivors of the Cawnpore massacre. They succeeded in swimming down the Ganges and so escaped. I remember perfectly well serving out beer to the new arrivals until I felt overpowered by the fumes. By degrees we quieted down, and the gar- rison went to sleep with a feeling of security that they had not known for many weeks. After their arrival with regard to provisions we were rather worse off than before, as all the supplies brought with them had been left at the Alum Bagh, from which we were cut off. Tobacco was much wanted, tea-leaves and leaves from bushes were dried and smoked, but I can't say there was much satisfaction in them ; an old pipe was supposed to give them a flavour of tobacco, but not that of which a connoisseur would approve ! Another of those who came in with the relieving force was Lieutenant Moorsom, to whom we owed much, for he had been selected in 1856 by the Com- missioners of Lucknow to make a scientific survey of the city, and it was owing to his excellent plans, then made of a large portion of the city surround- ing the residency, that success attended so many of our efforts. Lieutenant Moorsom was in Calcutta at the time General Havelock's staff was being formed, and fortunately he was placed upon it. His aid and personal knowledge were of the greatest assistance, DEATHS IN RELIEVING FORCE 91 both in bringing this force in and also in guiding in the second column of Havelock's army, and again upon other occasions when sorties had to be made. Among other details we learnt that General Neill, a fine soldier, had lost his life in fighting his way through the mutineers, whilst effecting an entrance into the city the previous day, as also an old friend of mine, Brigadier Cooper, whom I had known at Ajmere in '47 ; that Deputy-Quartermaster- General Lieutenant-Colonel B. Fraser Tytler was badly wounded ; and that General Havelock's son also was known to be seriously wounded, but had not yet come in. Even now many had not entered the garrison, as they were engaged fighting their way inch by inch with different rebel forces. None of the big guns had yet appeared. By degrees we learnt of the difficulties that Havelock's army had met with, from their earliest efforts to reach us. They had fought five pitched battles, and been obliged to make three retreats owing to the small force available. They had crossed the Ganges on the 25th of July with a force of 1,500 only ; Havelock fought two battles on the 29th, de- feating the rebels, but suffering heavy losses. In addition to this, cholera was raging amongst this small army. These causes necessitated a retreat to Mungulwar on the 3ist, where he procured slight reinforcements, and again took the offensive, but with a force of 1,400 only, this time encountering and defeating the enemy at Busheergunje. Whilst 92 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN resting after this action he received a despatch from Lord Canning, telling him of the mutiny of the Dinapore Brigade, up to that time supposed to be coming to his aid ; also that no reinforcements could be sent for some time. This would almost have daunted any but a Have- lock ; no wonder that for the time being he decided to retrace his footsteps, feeling almost assured that the relief of the Lucknow garrison was under the circumstances an impossibility. And yet, by August 6th, this indomitable man with his handful of men had again occupied Mungulwar, and was construct- ing a bridge of boats across the Ganges to Cawn- pore, for his force to cross over again ; at the same time he put ample defences to protect his men against any attack from the enemy, thus becoming in easier touch with Cawnpore. On the nth with a force of 1,000 men, Havelock took the road a third time for Lucknow. This time success again followed them, the enemy fleeing from their guns, which he captured, returning with them to Mungul- war. On the 1 3th and i6th of August other engage- ments followed. The last of these ended General Havelock's first great efforts for the relief of Luck- now, under difficulties greater than any general had ever encountered. Although resting at Cawnpore for a month after these exertions, preparations were made for the next move. This rest the soldiers were terribly in need of. By the i6th of September the reinforcements DEATHS DURING SORTIES 93 arrived, commanded by General Outram, and it was then decided to make a rapid start. This officer, with rare magnanimity, waived his claim to the command in order that General Havelock should have all the merit of the relief. They marched out a total force f 3> I 79> arriving on the 25th of September, as already related. For gallant deeds performed during the entry into Lucknow, the following received the V.C. : Cap- tain Olpherts (afterwards Sir William, known in the army as " Hell-fire Jack"), Surgeon- Major Jee, and the adjutant, Lieutenant Macpherson, of the 78th Highlanders, who led them in a brilliant charge. The enemy having now removed their guns to a greater distance, some of their shots did more damage than before, as when they were close they went over the entrenchment, while now they fell inside. During the sorties made since the relief many valuable lives were lost. The following are the names of some of the officers, who either were killed or died from their wounds at this time : Captain Hughes, 57th N. I. ; Lieutenant D. Alexander, Artillery; Captain McCabe, 32nd Regiment; Major Simmons, 5th Fusiliers ; and Mr. F. D. Lucas, an Irish gentleman who was travelling in India at the outbreak and joined the Lucknow garrison at the beginning of the siege. In consequence of an ammunition waggon laden with our letters and 94 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN newspapers having been left at the Alum Bagh, few of us received any of these until the final relief on November i7th. Our total European loss up to this was 350 killed, and of natives 133 ; as many as 230 deserted a total loss in all of 713, from a garrison origin- ally 1692 strong, viz., Europeans 927, natives 765. We had lost during the siege forty-one military and two civil officers and one assistant chaplain. Since the day the regiment mutinied events had followed so quickly that at the time the loss of so many old friends was hardly realised ; one seemed to be in some terrible dream. It was scarcely credible that a whole army which had done so much was gone ; disappeared, as far as the Com- pany's army could be reckoned, but now struggling for existence as a herd of rebels thirsting for blood. Although the same question could be asked in every case, I could not conceive why they should have taken Colonel Birch's life. A more con- siderate commanding officer there could not have been ; a master of the language, and perfectly ac- quainted with all their prejudices, one would have thought there were some at least in the regiment who would have protected him. I lost a good friend, one to whom I was greatly indebted for much kindness. In 1854, when studying for an examination in Hindustani, he gave me great help, corrected my exercises and improved my pronuncia- tion, with the result that I passed, the only one DEATH OF LIEUT. GRAVES 95 that did so out of three that went up. It was good to see the old man's delight when the result was known. Poor Graves, too, our adjutant was another case. They tried to kill him, but only wounded him ; eventually he died of cholera in the residency. I think he took the Mutiny to heart more than any one I knew. He thought that he had so thoroughly obtained the men's confidence that they would have given him warning beforehand of what was going to happen ; and to find out in the end that all they told him was false, was more than he could bear. He was a good adjutant and had great pride in the regiment. This, and having no news of his father, who commanded a brigade at Delhi, so affected him that when attacked by cholera he succumbed at once. Sir James Outram now assumed the command, making his headquarters at Dr. Fayrer's house, whilst General Havelock resided at the late Mr. Ommaney's. Although the various posts covered an extent of over two miles, General Havelock ac- complished this round every morning shortly after daybreak. Brigadier Inglis retained charge of the survivors of the old garrison, both military and civil, and in addition a few of the relieving force ; General Havelock, of what was then called the Oudh Field Force, composed of most of the newly arrived troops. Thus another phase of the siege began, this time called "a blockade". The united forces were not considered sufficiently 96 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN strong to fight their way out, hampered as they were by the wounded, women and children, so another period of waiting commenced for still further relief. Day by day the same tactics went on as before the 25th, only that now we were enabled to become much stronger in all our defences, many of them proving an unparalleled success. Chief and fore- most among our engineers at this time was Colonel Napier, afterwards to become Lord Napier of Mag- dala. Amongst those rewarded by Sir J. Outram was Ungud ; for his faithful services he received in cash ^"1,500, being ^500 for each despatch brought in by him, thus becoming, for a native of his class, a rich man, which he thoroughly deserved. Many other rewards were likewise given at this time, but almost entirely to the native force, these being fully satisfied. Not so our own men, who grumbled con- siderably at the want of recognition of their services. Most of them comforted themselves with the reflec- tion that this would come later on ; to my knowledge this further recognition has never been made. Here is an instance of what I mean : for services during the siege Europeans received one year's service, whilst natives received two years' service, towards pensions. Now, as before, bread was unknown among us. No bakers accompanied Havelock ; chupatties con- stituted our staple food. With many these did not agree, but produced dysentery and diarrhoea ; person- ally I rather liked them, but then they agreed with CONDITION OF WOUNDED 97 me. It is probable that this led to the death of our rescuer, General Havelock, later on, the need of nourishing food being much felt ; no green vegetables nor food of this kind could be procured, and this greatly increased all diseases of a scrofulous nature during the blockade. It was tantalising to know that stores for us, detained at the Alum Bagh, com- prised tea, coffee, sugar, rum, wine, spirits and even tobacco. Clothing, in addition, was all stored within four miles of us ; it might have been a thousand for all the good it was. To add to our discomfort the cold increased, as we were closely approaching the cold season ; and our clothing was of the scantiest, most of us possessing only what we stood upright in. This may sound trivial, but let any of my readers try the experiment of being restricted to one suit of clothing during six months, and he will the better realise our dis- comfort. The distress among the wounded in hospital was most pitiable : they were terribly crowded ; comforts were almost unobtainable ; most of the invalid diet had been used. Needless to say, great mortality t/as the result, even among those slightly wounded, gangrene being frequently one of the causes, and all this in spite of the almost super- human efforts of the medical men to alleviate suffering. Among those dying at this time were Mr. Cameron, of the original Garrison, Captain Denison, 9th Light Infantry, and Captain L' Estrange, 5th Fusiliers, the last-named a hero of the celebrated 7 98 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN " Arrah" defence. A singular accident befel a private of the Madras Fusiliers : he had fallen down a well, and was discovered still alive, three days after, by a reconnoitring party that had been sent out to take a battery. On October 3rd Major Haliburton was mortally wounded whilst leading the 78th High- landers in an engagement with the rebels ; Major Stephenson, Madras Fusiliers, and several other officers were wounded about the same time, Major Stephenson afterwards dying from his wound ; and Lieutenant G. W. Greene died from dysentery. On October 9th the good news reached us of the capture of Delhi, and the march of Brigadier Great- head towards Oudh commenced. This gave us all great joy, and again the loyal natives were en- couraged. A fellow cadet of mine at Addiscombe, Captain Graydon, 44th N. I., was killed by a musket ball on the 28th. CHAPTER IX. ARRIVAL OF RELIEVING FORCE. Mr. Kavanagh's plucky feat Casualties from recklessness Death of Colonel Campbell Approach of the relieving force ob- served Fighting at the Sekundur Bagh Taking of the Shah Nujeef Captain Wolseley plants the British ensign Strength and casualties of Sir Colin Campbell's force Evacuation of the Residency My Arab in a palkee-gharry Terrible ex- perience of Captain Waterman Removal of the treasury Our six months' mail A treasured piece of furniture Honour for General Havelock His death Wisdom of Sir Colin's arrangements A youthful thief A novel experience Arrival at Cawnpore Kindness of two officers Irate Mrs. Apthorp Christmas Day Mrs. Halford again Reception at Calcutta Lady Canning's kindness Ladies of the garrison sail in the Ava 'Wrecked off Trincomalee Effect of the calamity Fifteen months' leave A strange greeting Voyage back to India Thirteen brides to be Incident at Suez An exacting charge " Devils and devils " An exciting drive. A RUMOUR now reached us that a relieving force under the commander-in-chief himself was on its way to our rescue ; whereupon the general despatched a messenger to Alum Bagh with plans of the city, and advice as to its approach, and how best to effect a junction with us. Fortunately this messenger reached the Alum Bagh in safety. Mr. Kavanagh at this time volunteered to go out to the chief's camp and guide him through the city. Mr. Kavanagh 99 7* ioo RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN was a civilian in one of the commissioner's offices, and it was plucky of him to make the offer ; he dis- guised himself in native dress, and accompanied by a native left the entrenchment at night, swam the Goomtee, and eventually succeeded in reaching the chiefs camp, for which he afterwards received the V. C., ,2,000, and the post of assistant commissioner in the Indian Civil Service. On November 4th Ensign Dashwood, 48th N. I., contrary to all advice, insisted upon sketching in an exposed part of the residency grounds, when a round shot passed close by him, and narrowly missed him. This was followed shortly by another, which took off both his legs. During this day four more casualties occurred, the others being two of the 3 2nd and two of the 35th, all from the same cause, viz., reckless exposure ! November \$th. Colonel Campbell, C.B., died from the after-result of amputation of his leg. He, like so many others, had not strength to bear the operation. November \^th. The advance of the relieving force is clearly visible from the heights, and after dark beacons are lighted by them to show that they are in possession of the Dilkoosha and Martiniere. Still the enemy does not cease its activity. Musketry fire continues throughout the night. The days of the i5th and i6th were passed by all of us in watching from various heights all that could be seen of the doings of the advancing column, TAKING OF SHAH NUJEEF 101 but it was only afterwards that we heard the fol- lowing details of the righting on the i6th at the Sekundur Bagh, which was at this time an enclosed square surrounded by a high wall of solid masonry. The mutineers had made this square into a defence, and loopholed the wall, and now a fearful fire of musketry began upon our advancing men ; where- upon the infantry lay down till the guns had effected a breach wide enough for three or four to enter abreast. Then the 93rd Highlanders most heroically stormed it, and after discharging their rifles followed up with the bayonet. The first man through this breach was, I believe, Captain Burroughs, of the 93rd, an old school-fellow of mine at Blackheath Proprietary School. The front entrance was then forced, when the 53rd Foot, 4th Punjabees and the detachments of other regiments entered, led by Major Barns ton. Here followed a terrible retribution. Within this en- closure were found some 2,000 rebels, all of whom, with the exception of two or three, were annihilated by our forces. Many went down on their knees begging for "quarter," but none was given, most of them being bayoneted. In taking the Shah Nujeef the same detachments, again led by Major Barnston, met with a desperate resistance. A company of the 93rd, which was well in advance, was met by a terrible fire when within fifteen yards of the principal building, and whilst searching for the entrance both subalterns were wounded, Lieutenant E. C. Wynne and Ensign 102 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN H. Powell. Thereupon the men fell back, Major Barnston, hastening to bring up the rest, was wounded by a shell from one of our own guns. He died afterwards at Cawnpore from the effects ; a sad fate for this brave fellow ! After this sad occurrence, the commander-in-chief caused the heavy guns to cease firing for two hours. He then allowed the 93rd Highlanders to endeavour to take the building. This was not possible till Brigadier Hope had sent for a twenty-four pounder from H.M.S. Shannon, brought up by Captain Peel, the sailors and the Highlanders dragging it close up to the building, under a heavy musketry fire. Still great obstacles were met with, as after a breach had been effected in the outer wall an inner one was discovered, while the intense smoke and dust caused by this heavy cannonade greatly impeded the work, All this time the enemy were keeping up a heavy fire from an elevated position, in spite of the rifles of the 93rd. At this juncture Captain Peel noted a tree which commanded a good vantage over the enemy, and immediately offered the V.C. to any man volunteering to climb it. Three men at once started to make the ascent. They were Lieutenants N. Salmon and Southwall, and Harri- son (leading seaman). Lieutenant Southwall was killed, the others being wounded. The mutineers, becoming alarmed by this time, fled, and, the High- landers rushing in at the breach, the Shah Nujeef was ours. November 17. By 9.30 A.M. we were convinced EVACUATION OF THE RESIDENCY 103 that Sir Colin's forces were in full activity, as they were bombarding the 32nd mess house, which after- wards proved to be abandoned by the rebels ; upon this we also concentrated our full energies ; the men of the Shannon brought a heavy gun closely to bear upon the mess house, amidst an unusual fire from the mutineers, who were mounted on the roof of the Tara Kotta and adjoining buildings, and in a short time the destruction was complete. By 3 P.M. the red coats were seen steadily advancing towards the building, headed by an officer who entered first, and through our glasses we shortly perceived a man upon the roof; this proved to be Captain Wolse- ley, goth Regiment (now Field- Marshal Viscount Wolseley), and in a few seconds the British ensign floated aloft over this massive building ; and, although it was shot away again and again, it finally rested there. Sir Colin Campbell's forces numbered 14,550 men and 32 guns. During the march their losses were 122 killed and 414 wounded. Among the former were 10 officers ; among the latter, 35. Now came the evacuation of the Residency no small undertaking, with the number of sick, wounded, ladies, children and soldiers' wives, especially as a part of the road leading to the " Dil Khoosha" Palace was under the enemy's fire. I was greatly puzzled how to remove my wife, who was an invalid and unable to walk. The Arab that I had ridden from Seetapore was still in the entrenchment, and as I did not like turning him loose to run the risk of io 4 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN ill-treatment from the rebels, I had made him over to one of the clerks, who promised to look after him and to give him what food he could. On my going in search of him, I found him all right, but in very low condition ; however I got some harness and a trap out of the many stored there, and after some difficulty (as he had never seen a collar before in his life) I got him between the shafts of a palkee- gharry, and we began our hazardous journey, the horse behaving as well as could be expected ; but our progress was very slow. We were fortunate enough to get across the exposed portion uninjured, and eventually reached the camp prepared for us at the Dil Khoosha, where they gave us a capital supper, which we much enjoyed. We had a very hospitable reception from Major Ouvry and officers (Qth Lancers), who were encamped there. I had to return to the entrenchment to join a small party under Colonel Masters, who was to remain till the last. We left at midnight, moving out quietly, so as to give no intimation to the enemy. Unfortunately Captain Waterman, I3th N. I., one of the party, had fallen asleep from exhaustion, and so got left behind ; he did not find out that we had gone till some time after. The shock of finding himself alone had such an effect on his nerves that he had to be sent home in charge of an attendant. The shock can be easily realised by anybody on remembering that this place of terrible memories had formed our garrison during nearly six months, EVACUATION OF THE RESIDENCY 105 and was now absolutely deserted ; and at this hour of midnight not a sound was audible, from what had been a noisy turmoil night and day during this period. I remember vividly to this moment the echo of the footsteps of our small party as we wended our way out of this scene of weird desola- tion ; yet all was activity, with no time for thought, or Waterman would not have met his sad fate. I traversed this road three times that night. The treasury, consisting of 25 lacs of rupees (,250,000), was all brought out safely by us, having been buried during the siege, and with it a quantity of the ex-king's jewellery ; although some had been stolen, a considerable amount remained. We learnt afterwards that the rebels remained in ignorance of our evacuation for many hours after, when they were greatly infuriated, nor did they attempt to enter the garrison till mid-day of the following day. We now received our six months' mail ; strange letters they were, many of our friends chiding us for keeping silent, whilst others were painfully anxious as to our safety. The newspapers conveyed to us how great had been the anxiety and sympathy for the Lucknow garrison at home. On my own part I can safely aver that I had a feeling throughout that all would be right, and especially that succour would reach us ; the result proved that I was correct. Sir Colin had given orders that nothing in the form of impedimenta should be taken out of Luck- now ; but an amusing story went the round of a large io6 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN circular drawing-room table, which somebody had evidently a wish to take away, being discovered by the chief, and peremptorily ordered to be abandoned on the road side. Much comment was made on some of the ladies turning out so well dressed, but this arose from their very natural wish to save the best of their wardrobe ; this applies to those who had been living in Lucknow. Sir Colin Campbell informed General Havelock that the honour of a K.C.B. had been conferred upon him ; so that he was now " Sir Henry Have- lock," to the delight of everybody, whose hero he still remained. On the 2 ist, Sir Henry Havelock was attacked by dysentery, and thinking a change of air might do him good he was removed to the Dil Khoosha. On 24th November, but a few days after this honour had been conferred upon him, and to the great grief of all, he died ; he had been sinking for two days past, attended to the last by his son. He lived to see the accomplishment of his work : "the rescue of the garrison ". Thus died, not only a great general, but a good Christian. His remains were interred in the Alum Bagh. Events proved that Sir Colin's decision to evacuate the entrenchments at once was the correct one from all points ; not a life was sacrificed, all Europeans and natives escaping in safety ; also our guns and the whole of the treasury were saved. Nothing but the bare walls were left to the rebels. EN ROUTE TO CAWNPORE 107 Thus, under a most merciful Providence, we had again been relieved all honour to Sir Colin and his force! who, under heavy losses and enormous difficulties, had bravely mastered all, and preserved our lives, whilst so many had paid the penalty by death. Truly an All-wise Providence had watched over us. I think we were two days at Dil Khoosha before arrangements were finally completed for the march to Cawnpore, a movement that caused the chief much anxiety, for the enemy were by no means dis- persed yet, and to protect a train that extended two miles or so was an arduous task. At one of our halts a little boy about five years old, son of an officer of the garrison, on loot intent, spotted a fowl that I had procured with great diffi- culty ; he thereupon seized and bolted with it. At this moment I caught sight of him legging it off for all he knew, with the neck of the bird clutched in his tiny hand, the legs dragging along the ground. I gave chase and recovered it. Poor little Tommy wanted it for his mother. On this march I had an experience that seldom falls to one's lot. One of the bearers of the dhooly in which my wife was carried became ill, and the others declared that they were unable to proceed unless he was replaced ; I there- upon became a dhooly-bearer myself. The work did not appeal to me, and my shoulders pained me greatly for some time after, being unaccustomed to this work. io8 RECOLLECTIONS OF A LUCKNOW VETERAN We reached Cawnpore without interference, but found we were not out of the wood yet. Cawnpore was attacked by the Gwalior rebels, and the bridge of boats was under fire. However we crossed all right, and got shelter in the entrenchment on the right bank of the river. I can recall the kindness here shown to us by two officers whose names I cannot recall ; they gave up their tent and put them- selves to great inconvenience to make us comfort- able. From here we were sent off the next day by rail to Allahabad, where we found tents pitched for us in the Fort and everything provided comfortably. Rations were brought in every morning sufficient for the whole number, and this we had to portion off to the different tents according to the number that occupied them. One morning Germon and I were cutting up some meat when he said : " I think this," holding up a large bone, " will do for No. 6 tent ; Apthorp who is there is on the sick list, and this will make him good soup". Suddenly a voice from behind :