mm mm UC-NRLF ^B 2^M 512 12 tions for a siege. John always said we should be attacked and should have a hard struggle, our posi- tion being a bad one. On the 24th I was taken ill with fever, and was laid up until the 28th, when some suspicious marks shewed themselves upon me, and the doctors pronounced my disease small-pox. This was not very pleasant news ; but I was said to have it very mildly, though my face was covered. I immediately begged to be removed to prevent the infection spreading, and John had a hut comfortably arranged for me, into which I was to have moved on the 28th, but news arrived that the enemy were close upon us, and as in the event of our being at- tacked the house we were in was not safe, it was thought better for me to wait so as not to be obliged to move twice, as the hut would, of course, have to be abandoned. On the 29 th the enemy were reported to be within a few miles of us, and it was thought advi- sable to bring in the force from the cantonments. Accordingly they marched in that evening ; part came to the Residency, and the remainder were ordered to the fort. Colonel Case being in command there, he came in the evening to pay his wife a visit. Poor man, he little thought it was the last hour they would spend on earth together. The next morning we were awoke by a noise outside our windows, and found out 13 a force of cavalry, infantry, and artillery were on the point of moving from the Kesidency. We had heard of no intended expedition, but immediately fancied they must be going out to meet the enemy. I was feeling very unwell, and dozed for some hours, and awoke, saying, "Oh, I have dreamed our troops have been signally defeated." My dream proved but too true. An officer was soon afterwards brought in wounded; and he brought the disastrous intelli- gence that the native troops with us had proved un- faithful. At the same time the report came in that our force was returning, and it was very doubtful whether they would be able to save their guns. You may imagine our feelings of anxiety and con- sternation. I posted myself at the window — for re- maining in bed was out of the question — and watched the poor men coming in; a melancholy spectacle, indeed ; no order ; one after the other ; some riding ; some wounded, supported by their comrades ; some on guns ; some fell down and died from exhaustion, not half a mile from our position. The enemy followed them to the bridge close to the Residency, which was defended by a company of the S2nd, under Mr. Edmonstone, a gallant young officer. I could see the smoke of the musketry, and plainly discerned the enemy on the opposite bank of the ?^r?^2^ay T (:^^. ^yfuyya^ c/^i-n^'yTiA Cm^c -47-- ■■ li ,^ |. ^-^--=^%^^^^^^^^j Pr5. Iiiglis's |0unial <^»fi,i?»-'*i^i^^^^i^^^^^i LETTER CONTAINING EXTRACTS FROM A JOURNAL KEPT BY DUBINQ THE SIEGE OF LUCKNOW. -c— ^ — *-v- ^.::%:^:;/- LONDON: PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY. 1858. |\ , T)S47g . 3 ffCHSY MORSE ST ••• • •,• • .•• . ., LETTER. Lucknow Garrison, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1857, 8 p.m. My own dearest Mama, Although I fear at least a month must elapse before any opportunity of sending a letter home occurs, I have come to the determination of commencing an account of all that has occurred since last we had the happiness of corresponding — a sad and anxious time for all of us, but more especially for you all at home, who have been, and still are, in such a wretched state of uncertainty as to our fate. I trust God has mercifully supported you under this great trial, as He has mercifully preserved us in the midst of so many and great dangers. I \hsi[l begin my history from the 17th of May, the day we left our house and gave up all domestic comfort and happiness. For some time past, suspicions were entertained that all was not quite right amongst the native troops 86600? in this place; several fires had occurred in canton- ments, and though: always ^aJ(J tc JDe purely acci- dental (at least with one exception), .they caused great uneasiness.,; Ox^.thie, 'sVbiing.' of tile 18th May news by telegraph arrived of the insurrection and massacre at Delhi and Meerut, and at once Sir Henry Lawrence consulted with the civ^il and mili- tary authorities as to the preparations necessary to be made to meet any outbreak in this place. The European troops were at that time three miles away from cantonments, where there were three native infantry and one cavalry regiment, so that had the Sepoys mutinied, every man, woman, and child might have been murdered before help could arrive. After some deliberation, it was determined to place the Eesidency in the city in a state of defence, to lay in there a stock of provisions, and to collect within its walls all the sick, women, children, and non-combatants. On the evening of the 16th they were sent in together with a company of the 82nd and some guns ; the rest of the 82nd was ordered to march into cantonments the next morning, there to encamp for the present. Sir Henry Lawrence kindly asked us (the ladies of the regiment) to take up our abode in his house in cantonments, which we were only too glad to do, instead of remaining in the city. On the l7tli the regiment marched at daylight ; just before we started John received a letter from Captain Hayes, Military Secretary, informing him an attack was expected in cantonments, which sounded rather alarming ; it turned out to be a false report. John had cavalry and guns with his force, and we, the ladies and children, were placed in front of the column, poor Colonel Case acting as our escort, and going on in advance to see that all was quiet ; we arrived without adventure at Sir Henry's house. John went with his regiment in camp, and seldom left it for more than an hour at a time. Every day an outbreak was expected, and we had constant false alarms ; the house was filled with ladies and children, and we sat down every evening to a large dinner party — a more mournful affair than which you cannot imagine. Poor Sir Henry was so worried and anxious tliat he hardly ever opened his lips, and every one looked and felt uncomfortable. As long as Cawnpore remained quiet it was thought nothing would occur at Lucknow, but it was quite evident that Sir Hugh Wheeler, commanding at the former station, had no confidence in his troops. Telegraphic mes- sages were exchanged twice a day, and at last his intelligence was so unsatisfactory, that it was deemed a prudent measure to send every woman and child to the City Residency ; — so on the 25tli we came in, most providentially as affairs turned out. The Gub- bins' asked me to stay with them, their house being within the Residency walls ; and I remained a week at their house* driving down almost every afternoon to cantonments with Mrs. Case and her sister, to pay John and Colonel Case a visit. We used only to be able to stay about half an hour, as we did not like driving home in the dark. On the evening of the 30th we drove to camp as usual ; everything seemed going on quietly, and our respective husbands drove us a mile on our way back. At about ten o'clock that night, just as I was going to bed, Mr. Gubbins ordered us all to come to the top of the house, firing having been heard in cantonments. We all went on the roof from which we saw fires blazing in that direction, and heard cannonading and musketry. In case of an attack being made on the house we occu- pied our position was a very safe one, the roof being only accessible by a spiral staircase, and all the gentle- men were armed. However, everything was perfectly quiet in the city. I soon had a note from John to say he was all right, and deeply thankful was I, for my anxiety had been great. It appeared that parts of the three native infantiy regiments had risen as the nine o'clock gun fired, and commenced a sharp musketry fire. A few rounds from our guns in the camp drove them back, and they then dispersed through can- tonments, burning and plundering in all directions. The Brigadier was killed, and two other officers ruth- lessly murdered. Mrs. Bruere, a lady who against orders was passing tlie night in cantonments, narrowly escaped a similar fate. Whilst the mutineers were calling for her at her bungalow, some of the faithful Sepoys in her husband's regiment cut a hole in the wall at the back, took her out, and secreted her and her children in the dry bed of a river till morning. At daylight part of the force went after the rebels, leaving Colonel Case in camp with the remainder; but with the exception of a few who were taken prisoners, all escaped into the district, and the Euro- pean force was too small to follow them up. We remained on the roof all night, and descended in the morning rather tired ; at twelve o'clock it was reported that large bodies of men were collecting in the city, and it was thought better for us aU to go over to the Residency house, where we should be protected by a company of the 32nd and two guns. Everybody collected there, and the scene of confu- sion and excitement baffles description. A murder had already been committed in the city, showing the 8 spirit that was abroad, and a general feeling of in- security pervaded our whole party. I took up my abode in Mrs. Case's room, which she shared with her sister and Mrs. Giddings. No fui-ther cause for alarm occurred ; but from the top of the house we heard several shots fired, and learned afterwards that there had been a slight tumult in the city which had been put down by the police corps, who at that time were faithful. About dusk, to my great joy, we espied at a distance part of the force from canton- ments marching in oar direction ; Sir Henry Lawrence and John accompanying it. They quartered them- selves within the Residency walls, and Sir Henry made this place his head-quarters. Colonel Case was left in command in cantonments, and another force was in a fort called '* Muchhee Bhowun,'' in the city. The night passed off' quietly, and the next day ; every tumultuous feeling for the present seemed to have subsided. I determined on remaining where I was instead of returning to the Gubbins' ; we orga- nised a sort of mess, composed of ourselves and two other ladies with four children, and made ourselves as comfortable as we could under existing circumstances. The children and I slept on the roof every night, our one room being so close. John I seldom saw ; he was made a Brigadier, and given the command of all the troops in garrison, and his time was fully occupied. All hands were at work in strengthening our position, making intrenchments, barricades, &c., and laying in provisions. On the 1st of June I dispatched my last letter to you. I fear it never reached, as I sent it to Captain Barrow, who had been obliged to fly for his life to Allahabad. On the 3rd, the sad news reached us that Captain Hayes and two other officers, who had gone out beyond Cawnpore with some irregular cavalry to keep the road quiet, had been brutally murdered by their men. Their wives were with us in the Residency ; one, Mrs. Barber, had only been man-ied four months. I had the painful task, together with the clergyman, of breaking the sad news to her. Mrs. Hayes I mentioned to you in my letters as having just sent home four children. On the 5th the troops at Cawnpore mutinied, and from that time all tele- graphic and dawk communication was cut off" between us, and all the news we could obtain was transmitted to us with great difficulty by private messengers. The mutiny did not at first appear to be very serious, but on the 7th, firing was heard nearly all day from that place, and we all felt most anxious, knowing how weak the garrison was, and how little able to stand against any determined attack of the enemy. On the 12th the police force in Lucknow deserted, but did 10 not harm their officers. They went off into the country, and in the afternoon a force went out after them commanded by John. Unfortunately, the muti- neers had got the start, it was a fearfully hot day, and the infantry could not keep up with the artillery, who opened fire on them from a distance, and killed a few, and the volunteer cavahy took some eleven prisoners ; our loss was very slight. On returning, an attempt was made to lead the force by a wrong road, but John, suspecting treachery, took his own course through the city, and most fortunate was it that he did so, for just as he passed the turning he had been urged by his guides to take a heavy fire of musketry was opened on his force by the Badmashes, or bad characters who go by that name, who were about 500 in number, and had evidently been laying a trap for them. As it was, their shot did not reach. Every day news amved from the district of mutinies and murders, and at the same time letters from Sir Hugh Wheeler, earnestly craving help, which, alas ! it was not in our power to give. The enemy had broken the bridge over the river which ran between us, and to have got even a large force over without boats, which had also been taken away, would have been a most perilous undertaking indeed. The engineers pronounced it impracticable, but even 11 had it been feasible a European could hardly be spared from our garrison, when we were daily expecting to hear of a large army marching against us, and our force was a very small one. Still, it was very sad to reflect upon the situation of our poor country- men, exposed as we knew they were to the greatest hardships and miseries, and surrounded by a band of the most cruel, bloodthirsty wretches that this world has ever produced. We continued in this state of suspense and anxiety, sometimes receiving reports that Delhi had fallen and troops arrived at Cawnpore, but never obtaining any reliable information. We ladies were prisoners, never being able to go beyond the Residency gates ; but we used to spend our evenings at the top of the house, and the children were allowed to play in the gar- dens. Cholera was beginning to show itself in the place, and also small-pox. Numbers of guns were found buried in diff*erent parts of the city and brought into the Kesidency. Officers and men were hard at work night and day, and exposed continually to the broiling sun ; — there was so much to be done to put our position in a defensible condition, so few hands to work, and we never knew the day when we might be attacked. Many people were determined that not a shot would be fired, and made no prepara- 12 tions for a siege. John always said we should be attacked and should have a hard struggle, our posi- tion being a bad one. On the 24th I was taken ill with fever, and was laid up until the 28th, when some suspicious marks shewed themselves upon me, and the doctors pronounced my disease small-pox. This was not very pleasant news ; but I was said to have it very mildly, though my face was covered. I immediately begged to be removed to prevent the infection spreading, and John had a hut comfortably arranged for me, into which I was to have moved on the 28th, but news arrived that the enemy were close upon us, and as in the event of our being at- tacked the house we were in was not safe, it was thought better for me to wait so as not to be obliged to move twice, as the hut would, of course, have to be abandoned. On the 29 th the enemy were reported to be within a few miles of us, and it was thought advi- sable to bring in the force from the cantonments. Accordingly they marched in that evening ; part came to the Residency, and the remainder were ordered to the fort. Colonel Case being in command there, he came in the evening to pay his wife a visit. Poor man, he little thought it was the last hour they would spend on earth together. The next morning we were awoke by a noise outside our windows, and found out 13 a force of cavalry, infantry, and artillery were on the point of moving from the Kesidency. We had heard of no intended expedition, but immediately fancied they must be going out to meet the enemy. I was feeling very unwell, and dozed for some hours, and awoke, saying, "Oh, I have dreamed our troops have been signally defeated/' My dream proved but too true. An officer was soon afterwards brought in wounded; and he brought the disastrous intelli- gence that the native troops with us had proved un- faithful. At the same time the report came in that our force was returning, and it was very doubtful whether they would be able to save their guns. You may imagine our feelings of anxiety and con- sternation. I posted myself at the window — for re- maining in bed was out of the question — and watched the poor men coming in ; a melancholy spectacle, indeed ; no order ; one after the other ; some riding ; some wounded, supported by their comrades ; some on guns ; some fell down and died from exhaustion, not half a mile from our position. The enemy followed them to the bridge close to the Residency, which was defended by a company of the 82nd, under Mr. Edmonstone, a gallant young officer. I could see the smoke of the musketry, and plainly discerned the enemy on the opposite bank of the 14 river. Soon after John returned, and my heart felt overflowing with joy and thankfulness ; but, to my very great sorrow, he turned to Mrs. Case, and told her her poor husband was killed. The shock was a fearful one, for she had just been assured by her servants of his safety. Poor thing! the luxury of quiet sorrow was not granted her ; the enemy were firing heavily upon our position, and we were obliged in all haste to leave our room, and descend to the lower part of the house, where we were comparatively safe ; we spent a miserable day in a hot close room almost underground ; and at dusk, when the fire had a little slackened, John moved us over into a room he had prepared for us in a court, surrounded by high walls, and which has been our abode from that time to the present. Wonderful to say, although the disease was just at its height with me, I did not suffer at all from the knocking about and fatigue and excitement of that wretched day. It was not for some time that we learnt the real account of this disastrous affair. It appeared that poor Sir Henry having heard the enemy were on their march towards this place, and having been rather pressed by some persons not to act entirely on the defensive, but to make a demonstration to the insurgents, which it was imagined would at once overawe them, determined 15 on going out to meet them. His force consisted of ten guns and a howitzer, 40 volunteer cavalry, and 120 native troopers, 800 of the 32nd, and 230 native infantry, comprising the few men who had remained faithful when their regiments deserted. They met the enemy about eight miles from Lucknow. The enemy were in overwhelming numbers and surrounded our poor little force in front, flank, and rear ; we opened fire on them, and even then might have saved the day, for the native troops can seldom stand in open field ; but our native artillery proved traitors, and actually cut the traces of the horses and drove the guns into ditches. The order was given to retire, when the enemy opened a murderous fire from a village in rear, which they had occupied unperceived by us. Poor Colonel Case feU, shot through the breast ; Captain Stewart, Mr. Thompson, the Adju- tant, and poor Mr. Brackenbury : Captain Bassano was wounded. Had the enemy's cavalry behaved well, in all human probability not one of our force would have returned to tell the tale ; but they did not follow us up, and the remnant of the force returned as I have described. One other officer was killed, and several wounded. Three guns and the howitzer fell into the enemy's hands ; and, counting those who have since died of their wounds^ 120 of the 32nd lost 16 their lives on that miserable day. Independently of our loss, this calamitous affair did us an immensity of harm. It drew the enemy upon us, and gave them courage, and much disheartened all in the garrison. We were now closely besieged, and, as I have read in the despatch, had at one time as many as 8,000 firing on our position. I shall not attempt to give you an account of the siege ; this has been done by abler pens than mine, and our own individual history will, I am sure, please and interest you most. The first few nights and days were very miserable. I was ill in bed, poor Mrs. Case in great grief, and we could not help feeling our position a most perilous one. You must remember that we well knew if the enemy succeeded in overpowering us and storming the place, death in its most horrible form awaited every member of the garrison. I never shall forget the first morning after the siege commenced. The enemy having stopped firing at night recommenced at daylight and made an effort to storm the gate. Every man was at his post. We could gain no information as to what was going on, and to our inexperienced ears the cannonading and musketry sounded terrific. We all thought the place would be taken, and tremblingly listened to every sound, when Mrs. Case proposed reading the Litany, and the soothing efiect of prayer was marvellous. We 17 felt different beings, and, though still most anxious, could feel we were in the hands of our Heavenly Father, and cast our fears on Him. The enemy were completely repulsed that day and many others, when they made similar attacks ; but we soon got accus- tomed to the firing, for it seldom ceased day or night, and settled ourselves down in our new abode — a small room, which throughout the siege has been our dining and sleeping apartment, except for a short time, when we had the use of a large room in the same court. John had, before we were shut up, laid in a very good supply of hermetically sealed provisions, arrowroot, sugar, and, most fortunately, food for our goats, so that the children have never been deprived of their milk. We had daily rations of meat, flour, rice, tea, and salt, and managed to live most comfortably, considering the circumstances. We had no luxuries, but we were in want of few necessaries — bread and butter being what we missed most ; for the former " chapatties" — small cakes made of flour and water — are an excellent substitute, and the latter we have by this time nearly forgotten the taste of Numbers of servants ran away the first day, and many people were left with only two or -three, some with even none, but nearly all ours remained with us ; we lost a cook, ayah, bheestie, dhobee, and bearer. B 18 Our head man, who was with John all through Mooltan, proved himself invaluable ; and one and all our servants have behaved and are still (though on very small rations) behaving admirably. A dhobie or washerman, was a great loss to us, and we have often been obliged to wash our own clothes. In the evening, our only amusement and change was to sit outside our door, or walk up and down our court-yard filled with natives and half-castes. For four months and ten days we have had but one walk, and that was only a few yards from our quarters, and in a lane enclosed by walls, where on every quiet evening we paced up and down. Strange to say, we have all kept our health ; I soon recovered from the small-pox, and have now completely lost all traces of the disease. Miss Dickson caught it from me, and got well over it. Johnny and Charlie are at this time looking as well and strong as I could wish to see them. Baby is miserably thin and puny : I hope when we get out, and are able to give him a change of nourishing food he will pick up. I must now return to the commence- ment of our imprisonment. On the 3rd July poor Sir Henry Lawrence was mortally wounded by a shell from our own howitzer, and died on the 4th. I do not think a better, kinder hearted man ever lived ; to know him was to love him, and- his death was 19 indeed, a blow to all. His loss to the garrison was irre- parable ; and each day was felt more acutely. Major Bankes, by his appointment, succeeded him as Chief Commissioner ; he was a clever, clear-headed man, and would have fulfilled the duties of his responsible office well and bravely ; but, alas ! he forgot, in the ardour of the soldier, how invaluable his life was, ran great risks, and unnecessarily exposed himself, and was shot dead on the 31st. This melancholy event deprived John of his only adviser, and the only person whom he could look up to on military matters ; and left him with the entire responsibihty of the command of this garrison ; his position was, as you will believe, a most anxious and painful one. Major Anderson, command- ing the engineers, was confined to his bed with sick- ness ; nearly all his best artillery officers were killed or disabled ; and from laying a mine, conducting the defence, ordering and arranging sorties, down to the most trivial arrangements regarding accommodation, rations, &c., all was referred to him ; and he had the direction of everjrthing. At times he was dreadfully harassed, and I used to fear he would knock up ; but God blessed him with health and strength, and sup- ported him to perform the onerous duties of his position. The enemy made four regular attacks to storm the place,— on the 20th July, 10th and 18th August, and B 2 20 the 5tli September ; each one of these was commenced by the explosion of a mine. In general these subter- raneous attempts proved failures, but on one occasion no less than eleven natives were buried alive. Had the enemy possessed any resolution the place would have been theirs long ago, but they could not make up their minds to stand the British bayonets, and though always commencing their attacks with desperate de- termination they were soon repulsed, and never but once succeeded in gaining an inch of ground, and upon that occasion before many hours were over they were driven back and lost more than they had gained. We have been in a particularly safe place during the siege, though bullets have fallen very near us, and an occasional round shot and piece of shell has found its way into our court. Two ladies have been killed in the garrison ; Miss Palmer who had her leg shot off the first day, and Mrs. Dorin who was shot dead in the Gubbins' house. Some women and children have also been wounded, and many have had hairbreadth escapes. The S2d has suffered fearfully ; besides the four officers who fell on the 80th June, Captain Power Captain Joly, Mr. Studdy, and Mr. McCabe, have died of their wounds ; Captain Mansfield has died of cholera ; Captain Lowe and six officers have been wounded, some of them twice. On the 29 th of June 21 the regiment numbered 651 ; on the 25th of September it had dwindled down to 401 ; the band is completely cut up, and all the records and documents belonging to the regiment have been destroyed. There has been a great deal of cholera, but it has not assumed the form of a regular epidemic. From the day we were shut up to the 25th of July we received not one line or word of authentic information from without ; on that day a letter arrived from Colonel Tytler, saying that two European regiments and some guns were on this side the river, and would be at Lucknow in four or five days. This was indeed good news, and our troubles seemed nearly at an end ; but the five days, and many succeeding days, passed without any sign of our reinforcements, and each day the garrison became more heartsick and desponding. Letters were con- stantly sent by messengers to Cawnpore and Alla- habad, and large rewards promised if an answer was brought back ; these letters were put up in a piece of quill about this size ( ), and written partly in Greek characters lest they should fall into the enemy's hands. At last, on the 29th August, a letter came from General Havelock, dated Cawnpore, whither his force had been obliged to retire, not being strong enough to attempt our relief ; it informed us that he was await- ing further reinforcements, which were expected in from 22 twenty to twenty-five days, before again advancing on Lucknow, and bade John not negociate but rather perish sword in hand. Fancy this, after our long suspense. Most providentially we had ample provisions to last us, and were, therefore, not afraid of the enemy starving us out. From that day to the 23d September we dragged on our weary existence ; but our suspense was nearly at an end ; a few lines from General Outram announced the fact that a large force had crossed the river and would be with us in a few days. That very after- noon we heard distant guns; and the whole of the next day there was cannonading and musketry at intervals ; the excitement and anxiety of the garrison was at its height. The next day, the 25th, our re- inforcements could be discerned by the officers on the look-out, fighting their way thi'ough the city ; and at seven o'clock in the evening, Generals Outram and Havelock entered the Residency gates, greeted by the cheers of our little garrison. Certainly it was a joy- ful moment ; and when darling John kissed me and said, " Thank God for His mercies," I did think that all our troubles were over ; still I felt no tumultuous joy, for there was much sorrow around me. Poor Mrs. Case, and many other poor widows, felt bitterly at this time the loss they had sustained, and contrasted their present feelings with what they would have been 23 had those they loved been alive. We heard the force had sustained fearful loss in coming in, and then a woman belonging to the 32nd came to tell us the sad news that every soul in Cawnpore, with the except tion of three officers and one man, had perished. We had heard rumours of this dreadful tragedy before, but could hardly bring ourselves to believe it ; but now our worst fears were realized. You will have read the account in the papers, with all its attendant horrors. I believe in the annals of history no records could be found of a deed of such unexampled atrocity as murdering in cold blood so many defenceless women and children. My very heart sickens at the thought. Four ladies in our own regiment were tliere, three died during the siege from privations and ex- posures ; the fourth, Mrs. Moore, who was staying with us in March last, was cut to pieces by the swords of these fiends in human shape. I believe pen will never be able to write the horrors that have been per- petrated in Cawnpore and other stations during the last five months ; and I know we have not heard one half of what has occurred. Our hopes of being speedily released from our imprisonment were not destined to be realized, and we soon found we were almost worse off than before. Sorties were made by our garrison the next day, and twice afterwards to 24 retake guns, blow down houses, &;c. Upon each occasion our loss was great, and not at all commen- surate with our success. The 32nd led almost every sortie, and suffered severely. We had now a very large addition to our garrison and no fresh pro- visions. The force was too small to attempt retiring on Cawnpore, and nothing remained for us but hold- ing out until fresh reinforcements could arrive. Four miles from us on the road to Cawnpore, Europeans occupied a place called the Alum Bagh, where all the baggage, commissariat stores, &c., were left ; but with this position we could keep up no commu- nication except by an occasional spy or messenger being induced by large rewards to carry a small note between the garrisons. Thus matters con- tinued until the 7th of this month (November^. Our position was certainly a little extended, as the new troops had taken some of the enemy's ground, and located themselves in the streets nearest to our intrenchments ; but with this exception we were as closely besieged as ever. Our provisions lasted wonderfully, and we never had to complain of not having enough to eat, though we were put on quarter rations. The poor soldiers have, however, suffered ; the cold weather and hard work made them very hungry, and their rations did not satisfy them, 25 indeed they would give a rupee (two shillings) for a small cake, barely enough for a child's breakfast. Several of the enemy's mines were discovered, and blown up, and all our works greatly improved and strengthened. The enemy made one more attack on the 6th October, which proved as fruitless as the pre- ceding ones, after which they made no more attempts to storm the place, but continued to fire on us as usual, though not so constantly or heavily. November 20th, Dilkhoosha Park. — You will see by the date of this letter, my own darling mother, that we are released from our imprisonment, and are once more, to a certain extent, free. On the 7th November we received intelligence that the Comman- der-in-Chief, with a large force, had crossed the river, and was marching on this place. We waited anxiously until the 10th, when heavy firing was heard at Alum Bagh, and a flag hoisted at that place announced to us that Sir Colin had arrived. He halted there for some days. Mr. Cavanagh, a member of the Lucknow garrison, made his way out to that place, disguised as a native, and was able to give the Chief most valuable information regarding our position ; and on the 14th the force marched to the Dilkhoosha Park (our present encamping ground), and had a severe fight in taking one of the king's palaces. Another action was fought 26 at the Martiniere college ; and a most severe one in taking a place called the Secunder Bagli, a large garden and house. The loss was heavy, — 40 officers, and upwards of 500 men. In all these three places garrisons were left, and on the l7th the communica- tion was to a certain extent opened, and some officers came in from our relieving force. Colonel Berkeley, who has exchanged with Colonel Brooke, was one of the first. He told us you were all well in August. That evening the Commander-in-Chief sent an order for all the sick and wounded, women, and children to be moved out of the Residency to the Dilklioosha Park the next night, and for the force to abandon the place altogether, blow up the guns, destroy the ammunition, &c. The next day a change was made in the arrangements, and only the sick were sent away. We were detained till yesterday, when a general exodus took place of all the incumbrances in the garrison. In the meantime good news had arrived of fresh troops being in Gude, and a rumour went abroad that Lucknow was not to be abandoned. At about four o'clock P.M. we made a start, and left the place where we had passed so many anxious hours. John could not accompany us, but sent his aide-de-camp, Captain Birch, a very nice creature, and a most gallant young officer; he is a great 27 comfort to John, and they get on capitally together. We were obliged to walk, having no carriage horse, five of our horses were turned loose at the commence- ment of the siege ; the road was quite safe, except in three places, where it was overlooked by the enemy's position, and we had to run; one poor woman was wounded in one of these places ; we arrived at Secunde Bagh about six, and found everyone as- sembled there awaiting an escort and doolies to carry us on. When I tell you that upwards of 2000 men had been hastily buried there the day before, you can fancy what a place it was ; however, we met many friends, General Grant and several officers of the 9th Lancers, whom we knew ; Captain Rudman, the old adjutant of the 32nd, and Deighton Probyn came up and introduced himself to me; he is looking very well and handsome ; we were regaled with tea and plenty of milk, and bread and butter — luxuries we had not enjoyed since the commencement of our troubles. At ten o'clock we recommenced our journey ; most of the ladies were in palanquins, but we had a covered cart, drawn by two obstinate bullocks; we had a force of infantry and cavalry with us, but had not proceeded half a mile when the column was halted, and an order sent back for reinforcements; some noise was heard, and it was feared we might be 28 attacked ; however, it proved a false alarm, and after two disagreeable and rather anxious hours, we arrived safely at this place, and were quartered in some tents pitched for our reception ; Colonel Little, 9 th Lancers, took care of us. To-day we have pitched our own tent, and Mrs. Case, her sister, I, and the children occupy the half, having given the other to a poor sick lady. We are very comfortable, though rather pressed for room, and most thankful to breathe the fresh air once agaiu ; but I feel very lonely without my darling husband, and most anxious to know whether he will remain here, or go on with us to Cawnpore. A separation is inevitable, and my heart is very sad at the idea ; for six months I have never spent a quiet day — hardly an hour in the day with him ; still I saw him occasionally, and knew he was safe, which was an unspeakable comfort ; now, T fear, I have many months of intense anxiety before me ; but God has preserved him hitherto where dangers met him at every step, and I trust He will hear my prayers and spare us yet to live happily together. At present we have not an idea how long we are to remain in our present position ; but I know, for Sir Colin himself told me last night, that, as soon as a sufficient force could be spared and the road was safe, we should all be sent to Cawnpore, and from thence 29 to Allahabad, en route to Calcutta, so I trust in two or three months I may see you all again. It is such a disappointment to think that John will not be with me. It would have been almost too great happiness to have gone home together with our three boys, but all is for the best, and trials used aright and borne with submission often turn into blessings. I know you will feel for me and sympathise with me. You know how intensely I love my own darling John, and I have been so accustomed to depend entirely on him for everything that I feel like a child without him, though I have been gradually weaned lately. I feel so glad Mrs. Case is with me, as it would be wretched for her to be amongst strangers. We hope to go as far as Malta together. To-day we have had a quantity of English letters, the first we have had for six months. The very sight of them made me feel quite bewildered, and I have not yet been able to read more than one. I need not say how much I have thought of you all — how many; many sad hearts and homes there must be in England just now; and really at present one cannot see an end to oui' troubles. The whole of Bengal is in such an un- settled state that no one can tell when or where a fresh disturbance may break out. Sir Colin is much liked ; he is living now exactly as a private soldier, 30 takes his rations, and lies down whenever he can to rest. This the men like, and he is a fine soldier. A Commander-in-Chief just now has indeed no envi- able position. I heard to-day of Gordon Higgins' safety, and was truly rejoiced. Of Willie Randall I have made constant inquiries, but do not know what has become of him ; but the mutinies in the Punjaub were trifles compared to those down the country. I have just had a note from John, and he says : — " I have seen Sir Colin and Mansfield. There is no doubt we shall all leave this place, and in a few days." He also says, "I have not heard what command I am likely to get, but I imagine some- thing will fall to my lot." He has gained the greatest praise for the defence of the Residency. Every one who has been round the defences and understands military matters says it is a perfect won- der to them how the enemy were ever kept out. The scene of devastation within and around the place baffles description ; and I never beheld a more melan- choly sight. I copy you General Outram's order which he issued after having reinforced our garrison, I have given you but a mere sketch of all that has happened. Details would fill a quire of paper, and this letter must be ready by six to-morrow morning ; but I have kept a journal, and some happy day will 31 tell you all. I have opened some of John's letters, and was very grieved to hear that poor General Cochrane was dead. He appears to have had a long and painful illness. Poor Mrs. Inglis, this sorrow and her anxiety about us must have been a dreadful trial to her. It will be a great treat to me to have John as far as Cawnpore ; but I am truly sorry that Luck- now is to be abandoned. I have not mentioned, I think, Captain Barrow in my letter. We have seen a great deal of him. He dined with us last Sunday to celebrate John's birthday, and was quite well. He is such a kind creature. I cannot make out whether Charlie is in the 14th Dragoons or 6th Inniskillings. I congratulate Colonel Thesiger on his promotion. I could go on writing to you all night, but I must not. You must send this to Mrs. Inglis, as I shall only be able to write a few lines to her. And now, God bless you, my own darling mother, and all at home. Give our dearest love to papa and all. Ever your devotedly attached child, JULIA INGLIS. RETURN TO DESK FRf M^qit^w i|y^| WED LOAN DEPT. This book is due on the last date stamped below, or on the date to which renewed. Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. m 2b 'm mz 8 M i I.e. BERKELEY ''RE'C'D LD VfiR 2 '^ ' PP -5 PM ^'■y:^2 4 19/ / '^ CIR./|pg 1 7; SENT ON ILL FEB 2 6 1996 U.C. BERKELEY mhmM'O'^''^^ LD 21A-50m-12,'60 (B6221slO)47fiB General Librarj' University of Calif ornij Berkeley 866007 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY