 | Relief of Lucknow, 1858
 | In the annals of war there are few achievements more heroic than the
defence and relief of Lucknow. For nearly six months the garrison
withstood repeated attacks of an overwhelming force and suffered hunger
and sickness with a courage that won them an imperishable name. In
the summer of 1857 the country between Delhi and Allahabad was in the
hands of the rebels, and Lucknow and Cawnpore were besieged by men whom
we had armed and trained for war. Betrayed by native gunners the
defenders of Lucknow had to abandon the fort in the city and to seek the
refuge of the Residency. Here they were invested from the 1st of
July until the 23rd of September, when the guns of havelock thundered at
the gates of the city. Through the enemy's country he had marched
with fourteen hundred men and a few Sikhs. Fierce heat and
torrential rains barred his progress, while clouds of rebel horse and
foot harassed him at every turn. But Havelock's was an avenging
force and it swept through the land with a sword of flame until the
massacre of Cawnpore was wiped out in blood. For a moment it
appeared as though vengeance must halt at the hecatomb of Nana
Sahib. Exhausted by long marches and continuous engagements the
devoted little band was compelled to recross the Ganges, and to rest for
one month at Cawnpore. Here cholera was added to the number of
their enemies and the "prop and stay of British India in the hour
of her severest trial" seemed ready to fall. Then came the
final advance and Lucknow was reached. But the task had only
begun. One third of the gallant infantry fell at the taking of the
bridge, and even after that two miles of streets had to be traversed,
and every street was entrenched and barricaded and every house was
loopholed and defended by riflemen. Progress in that direction was
impossible and a detour had to be made. The Highlanders formed the
rear guard and suffered heavily. Led by Outram and Havelock they
left the main body and pushed on with desperate gallantry through the
houses, out of which poured a deadly stream of bullets. Covered
with wounds and blood they reached the Residency. Step by step the
wounded were brought in and the reinforced garrison prepared to continue
their resistance, for the enemy were still too numerous to attempt a
sortie, hampered with women and children and sick. Rations already
scarce were still further reduced and for two months the struggle went
on with unabated fury on the one side and with dauntless bravery on the
other. Again and again the rebels sought to capture the fort by
mining. Never were men pressed more desperately and never were
endurance and courage more manifest. Sharpshooters crept within
fifty yards of the defences and kept up a galling fire, while disease
and death wrought havoc in the ranks. But their troubles were
nearly over. Colin Campbell with three thousand five hundred men
were on the march. When the news came of his approach the bugle
sounded and the garrison dashed out upon the enemy scattering them like
chaff and the siege ever memorable in our history was raised.
There was one regret only. The gallant and dauntless Havelock did
not live to reap the reward of his daring march to Lucknow. (extract
from British Battles 1898) |
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