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Chapter 6

The spirit of the garrison fluctuates – Servants despair and run away – Fidelity of Natives inexplicable – Good servants badly treated – Wounded in the Kanhpur battery – Mr. Gubbins unfairly abused – Innes’s garrison saved by civilians – Captain Waterman wounded, and is run after by a frightened man – The famous Redan Battery – The 82nd Foot – Good troops and better officers – Sir John Inglis earned his honours – Kind, gentle, patient, generous woman – Captain Fulton, the ablest man of the garrison, not sufficiently praised

Towards the end of August and beginning of September, the spirit of the garrison fluctuated between hope and despair, because the time had gone by when they were to have been relieved, and nothing but rumours had yet arrived to encourage them. The most positive assurances of immediate relief were circulated. We were kept in a state of excitement by reports of distant guns, which seemed to come closer and closer, till many averred that they heard successive salvoes, and a straggling fire of musketry. For two nights, after Havelock had retired to Kanhpur, our hopes of instant relief were sustained by a pony in a dark stable, whose tremulous efforts to shake off insects from his sides were echoed in a well close by!

Then a lull would come, which we employed in conjecturing the cause of our disappointment, and in endeavouring to persuade each other that myriads of troops were arriving in Calcutta, enraged by our wrongs and eager to avenge our dishonour. We drew lively

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pictures of long lines of infantry, artillery, and cavalry – veterans from the Crimea – advancing up the Grand Trunk Road, trampling out every vestige- of rebellion, and, by their invincible courage, spreading, consternation to the most distant spots. We used fancifully to march that prodigious army over India, stopping occasionally to annihilate contemptible hosts of rebels and mutineers, and to enforce a terrible retribution for the savage murder of the Innocents. We hung and slaughtered a fabulous number of “odious” creatures; for all were more and more convinced that mercy was misplaced, and that Asiatics could only be ruled in future by scorching rods of iron. Indeed, if a verdict of ours could have had effect, we would have left our defences, to wander down to the sea, through a wilderness of wreck and ruin. This heartless and ignorant temper will many years survive the extinction of the mutiny; and it is to be feared that it will still more estrange the people from their proud masters.

To a few, however, these lively visions of capering conquering armies afforded no solace. Fudge! they would pettishly say, all India is in arms to expel the hated foreigner, and that dangerously clever Emperor6 will prevent the dispatch of an adequate number of troops. They would argue themselves into a vehement passion against the prevailing belief that England was pouring out her best troops to secure her great eastern gem, and appeal to our past experience as proof of their prognostic, that the extent of the disaster, and the necessity for immediate assistance, would be so slowly

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believed, that the empire could not be saved. The infatuation which blinded the officials in India, was, they urged, even greater in England, where old Indians abounded who would industriously deny the necessity, and accuse us of exaggerating the danger. Whilst we spoke, an army was landing which Providence had floated towards us, and we were saved.

These disappointments affected the minds of the natives, but especially the servants, who began to discredit the reports of spies and the letters, which Brigadier Inglis promptly circulated with the generous object of enlivening them. Desertions again occurred, which left some families without a single menial, and reduced the messes to great discomfort. The fear of the natives quitting us altogether occasioned anxiety, for their endurance of danger and privation with us was inexplicable: there was little reliance on their attachment, and small hope of their submitting to much more fatigue and starvation for our sakes. Brigadier Inglis, and his advisers, were conscious that our chief strength – and, indeed our salvation – lay in the retention of our Sepoys and followers; they, therefore, very discreetly encouraged them by paying liberally for extra labour, and by treating them with the kindness and consideration their valuable services merited. Their fidelity was one of those chances that enter into all the great contests of mankind, for which no cause is discoverable.

I was particularly fortunate in losing only one out of eleven servants, and Rujub Ali, (a Mahomedan to whom I had shown some kindness after the annexation of Oudh, by which he lost service,) voluntarily came in to me from the city on the second day of the siege; and, in this month, took out a despatch to Allahabad,

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which he safely delivered. He was promised a reward of money, and a situation for life, and I know not what else, for we were profuse in promises to induce men to undertake such hazardous tasks. He got only twenty pounds, and I had difficulty in getting a situation for him of two pounds a month; from which he was afterwards discharged. Captain Carnegie sent out two more of my servants with letters, one of whom was killed while leaving the entrenchment. The other was liberated by me from the Kaisarbagh Palace, during the assault in March, 1858, and was afterwards shot by our own soldiers, in the streets of Lucknow, while making his way to my quarters. My cook, (good old Badoolla Khan!) had known me more than twenty years; and his wife, (who was wounded in the thigh by a bullet,) had nursed mine when an infant. These two old servants cheerfully did whatever was asked of them by any one, and the rest behaved well. It is impossible to overrate the assistance which these poor people were to me and my family in our extremity. Three of them were wounded.

I fast recovered my strength after August, and, when not on duty at my own post, was engaged shooting at the other garrisons. Man-shooting! as I then called it. The Kanhpur Battery was a dangerous place, and an especial mark for the enemy’s guns, which were about a hundred yards off. Colonel Palmer and myself one afternoon amused ourselves by firing at the gunners, and silenced them for some time, when we descended from the rampart to talk. I ascended again; and, as a sentry was warning me that the enemy had pointed one of their guns for the spot from whence I had teased them, an eighteen-pounder shot burnt my right ear and grazed

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my shoulder, drawing little blood, but greatly swelling and discolouring the skin. Myself and an artilleryman were violently thrown down, a sand bag having hit him on the chest. The enemy made repeated attempts to force this battery, but they were so spiritless, and had such an unconquerable dread of hand grenades, (which certainly are very dangerous), that they never got over our five-foot ditch. It was one of our worst built batteries, and the guns were withdrawn from it at the commencement of the defence.

I visited Mr. Gubbins’s post occasionally, and observed him active with his rifle. The defences of his garrison were erected by himself, and he did some execution during the siege, for he was a good shot. It was the fashion to decry this gentleman before and during the siege, although he was one of the most active in preparing for it, and seemed to have a very correct notion of what would happen. He did as everybody else had the power of doing; but few had his forethought, and did not furnish their cellars. He has been accused of illiberality. When I was sick my wife troubled Mr. Gubbins for some soda-water: her request was twice complied with; and I saw that the sick and wounded were better served in his house than anywhere else. Although I think that he might have stinted himself and his friends a little more, it would be unjust to deny that he could have lived sumptuously but for his liberality to others. The clamour against him was not altogether fair, and it might have been more justly applied to others of the garrison, who gave nothing from their stores.

I visited all the posts, but most frequented one

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known as Innes’s Garrison7. There were several civilians there, who, encouraged by their gallant young commander, Lieutenant Loughnan, had distinguished themselves in resisting the assaults, which were unusually vigorous at this weak point. It was almost the key of our position, but so little was this understood before the siege, that the Chief Engineer distinctly warned the civilians that it was needless entrenching themselves there, for it must be abandoned as untenable. Luckily, Mr. Parry (manager of the Delhi Bank), and his spirited son-in-law, Mr. Erith, (who was killed repelling one of the assaults,) continued the work, and this important post was saved. The house was reduced to ruins before the end of September, but the good spirits of the garrison never suffered in the least, and I spent some happy moments there. It was a dangerous post, for the enemy’s sharp-shooters rarely missed an object, and none of them were ever tired of shooting. Captain Waterman, (who succeeded Lieut. Loughnan), was standing in the shade of a doorway with his glass, directing his riflemen, with little more than one band exposed; he was observed, and soon sent running to the hospital with a broken thumb, pursued by me with a tumbler of spirits. Persons not liking to be shot, ran to and from the garrison through the fire of the enemy, as only frightened men can run; and on that occasion I just escaped by stumbling on my nose,

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and crawling through the churchyard gateway. It was the first visit I made after leaving my bed, and my trembling legs were no match for Captain Waterman, who was quickly out of sight. Some of my war companions have asserted that I did not know what fear was, but if they had felt the palpitation of my heart, and seen me that day, they would have looked down upon as frightened a creature as ever licked the dust. I am not ashamed to confess that I was often affrighted afterwards, for there are certain helpless situations into which men are sometimes forced in war, by their own impetuosity, when they cannot help trembling, though they may conceal it.

Our famous Redan Battery was worth a visit; it was well raised and in a good commanding position. Our cannon and rifles often sent strings of people scrambling across the Iron Bridge spanning the river, to our extreme amusement: for there is nothing so droll as the external manifestations of fear. From it we commanded the opposite bank of the river, to which the enemy sometimes descended to bathe, and the women and children for water. Few of the former ventured within range, for, whether citizens or soldiers, they rarely escaped; but it soon became known that females and children might do so, as our gallant defenders never hurt them. I once heard men of the 32nd Foot object to shells which fell away from the mark, because they might hurt innocent women, and, on another occasion, condemn a comrade, who exclaimed aloud, that he would kill the “mother of a woman!”

The 32nd Foot behaved so admirably after the first month of the siege, that it would be ungenerous to complain of their proceedings at a time when all of us

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were more or less disorderly. We were particularly struck with their courageous bearing, and, indeed, reckless exposure of their lives; and the manner in which they endured privation, the most severe day and night duty, and constant exposure to sun and rain, almost without a murmur, could not have been exceeded by any troops in the world. Their officers were all worthy of their commissions. Brigadier Sir John Inglis, although excelled by some of the garrison, discharged his responsible and laborious duties with ability. He was always on the move, and most watchful, and never persisted in doing wrong when errors were respectfully explained to him. He is a good, plain honourable man, who deserved the distinction which Her Majesty has been pleased to confer for his indefatigable services during the memorable defence of Lucknow.

The enemy’s efforts to force an entrance were neither many nor manful during the month of September, and nothing they could do then would have alarmed us, for we felt more than equal to them. Among the Europeans there was rather a liking for the hardy and hazardous life led for three months: for man was born for turmoil and trouble, and is sometimes glad to be rid of the restraints of civilization. War introduces queer fashions, and he was a proud man who could sport a red or green shirt, and a pair of rough inexpressibles, with the ends tucked into a pair of brown leather boots. One of our most amiable men8, (who died from the effects of the siege, after the relief,) bound up his legs with red tape, – by which, alas! our hands were often tied before; – and many carried,

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absorbed in their clothes, the ink of the public offices, for that mixture bore much dirt without showing it.

The women, by this time, had resigned themselves to their fate, and the dear, kind, gentle creatures, were so patient, and so generous! Women shine brilliantly in all those qualities that are most needed in affliction. She bears travail and trouble heroically, and is so unselfish. She welcomed her husband back from his dangerous duty with a sweet encouraging smile, for she would not damp his spirits! “There, dear soul! you must be so tired, and hungry, and I have cooked that horrid bit of beef so nicely for you,” pointing to a savoury morsel smoking under the greedy eyes of the hungry man. “But, dear wife, have you eaten any?” – Watch the affectionate flash of her beautiful eyes as she tells that heavenly falsehood! She sits by, gay and happy, while he devours his and her own share! I have several times known wives to hunger for the sake of their husbands and children, and I was told of one instance in which a husband starved himself, when food was scarce, to feed his wife and child. I am glad to record so noble an act of Mr. George Couper.

Towards the end of September we lost the most active and most daring man in the garrison, who, by his excessive zeal and intelligence, had enabled us to thwart almost every attempt of the enemy to destroy our defences by mining. Captain Fulton, of the Bengal Engineers, had the top of his head carried off by a round shot, when observing a battery of the mutineers. He was so conspicuously useful, and so indefatigable – whether sick or well – that he was known to all the defenders, who greatly deplored his death. He was kind and gentle, and did more, in his own quiet

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way, than anybody else. The Engineers were more or less remarkable for their ability and devotion during the siege, and their labours were of the utmost service. Fulton excelled them all. The Report of the Defence only says of this precious man, that he “afforded the most valuable aid,” and “was indeed indefatigable.”

Footnotes

6. We should not deny to the Emperor Napoleon the debt due for his friendly forbearance during the war in India, because his present designs are inscrutable. He has hitherto done us no harm, and it is to be hoped that no policy of his will hereafter hurt our clever neighbours.

7. One of the defences was known as the “Sago Garrison,” because it had been used as a school house, prior to the siege, by Mrs. Elizabeth Sago. With the assistance of the king of Oudh, a school for the instruction of native female christians was established about twenty-five years ago by the Resident, General J. Low; and that amiable and most respectable widow lady undertook the arduous task of instructing them. She with difficulty survived the trials of the siege; lost all her property; and is now at South Warnbro, in Hants, endeavouring to live on the miserable pittance allowed by the Government of India, and the Relief Fund.

8. Lieutenant Hay, 48th Native Infantry.

This collection transcribed by Chris Gage
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