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Chapter 10

Mutiny remarkable for deeds of individual daring – A spy from Sir Colin Campbell – Arguments fur despatching a European to guide the relieving force – A struggle for life – Proposal to Colonel Napier – Sir James Outram’s reasons for consenting – A painful parting, and an affectionate heart – Disguise – Denied by Friends – A black painting, by General Outram – A brave parting – Captain Hardinge – You WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

Although my place in the garrison was very humble, the measures necessary for its defence, and for our succour, gave me as much concern as anybody in it.

was constantly reviewing in my mind the circumstances of our position in Lucknow, and imagining the probable state elsewhere. Mine is a temper that is little disturbed by the ordinary affairs of life, and my best energies were evoked by the amazing events of the time. It was a period when the power and glory of England were maintained by individual exertion more than by a combination of strength, and it will, hereafter, be proudly pointed to as affording the most remarkable evidence of the zeal and devotion of Britons when separately tried. The record of the mutiny is replete with examples of heroism, and, when the New Zealander surveys the ruins of London, he will wonder that such a fate should have overtaken so great a nation, if the events of this year, with all its wailing and clangour,

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pass through his thoughts. The battles of India will bear no comparison with the great contests in which the follies and passions of men have, to the latest period, involved the fairest countries of the world, and the ablest of mankind; but for those deeds of courage and self-devotion which have exalted England among nations, nothing so grand as the story of the mutiny will be found in her history.

On the morning of the 9th of November, 1857, I was apprised of the arrival of a spy, who effected an entry during the night, with a despatch conveying intelligence of a force coming from Kanhpur. I had some days previously witnessed the drawing of plans by my young friend, Mr. James May, which were pre. pared, by direction of Sir James Outram, to assist the Commander-in-Chief in his advance upon the Residency. It then occurred to me that some one of intelligence, with the requisite local knowledge, ought to attempt to reach His Excellency’s force beyond, or at the Alum Bagh, because the plans would be of little use without some one to explain them. The arrival of Sir Henry Havelock on the 25th of September might have been the destruction of the besieged, for he forced his way, believing that our supplies were nearly exhausted, and was himself en-, dosed! It was a grave fault, a very grave &tilt, misleading that officer as to the extent of our supplies, and Havelock is not to blame for his impetuous and chivalrous zeal to reach us. But the loss of life that day might have been far greater, and the result even less favourable, were it not for the presence of the Volunteer General, who did know something of the city, though little of the position of the enemy.

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The enemy were stronger in November, and it was to be expected that the obstacles, along the route to be forced by Sir Colin Campbell, would be greater now than when General Havelock passed. I learnt from the spy that His Excellency’s force was not large, and conjectured that caution which that would oblige, combined with imperfect information, might delay the relief, which the movements of the Gwalior troops rendered urgent. If they succeeded in surrounding the little entrenchment at Kanhpur, or, if his communication over the river Ganges, were imperilled before we could be rescued, what was the Commander-in-Chief to do? Our supplies were nearly exhausted; our sick and wounded were perishing for the want of absolute necessaries; and every day added to our calamities and endangered our position. One failure anywhere would have destroyed us, we were so greatly outnumbered. It was not improbable that a leader might suddenly be found, with the required spirit and influence, to conduct the rebels and mutineers to victory: for the valour of the defenders was not so great a security as the cowardice of the besiegers. The history of wars and revolutions show how capricious is fate in the production of successful chiefs; how they may suddenly emerge from a shrinking people to infuse courage, and lead them to victory. Sir James Outram had certainly furnished the Commander-in-Chief with plans and specifications, which had been devised with much care; but they were for a certain route. Circumstances might render that route impracticable – a contingency of war, common enough in the open field, and much more likely to occur in an immense city; or a better route might be unexpectedly opened to him by the folly of the enemy,

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which Sir Colin might not be able to use for the want of accurate information as to the nature of the ground, and the position of the enemy with reference to it.

Full and precise information is at all times valuable, but when every moment’s hesitation costs a life it is priceless. The chances and accidents of war no general can always foresee, and he who engages an enemy, ignorant of his whereabouts and of their resources, is sure to be embarrassed if compelled to alter his plan of attack.

Swayed by these facts and reflections, I imparted to the spy, Kunoujee Lal, (who before the outbreak, had been a Nazir, or Bailiff, in one of our courts in Oudh), my desire to venture in disguise to the Alum Bagh, where he was to return in the night with a despatch for Sir Colin Campbell. I had not seen him before, but his shrewd intelligence and previous good service as a spy, at once secured my confidence. He made no attempt to frighten me by exaggerating the dangers of the road, but at first positively declined to incur the additional risk to which the company of a second person, and he a European, was sure to expose him. A couple of hours afterwards I persuaded Kunoujee Lal to run that danger, by holding out to him the prospect of an unusually good reward, and explaining to him the great public service he would thereby render to the British garrison. He then strongly urged that we should leave the defences by different roads, and meet outside the city; but he gave it up on learning that I knew too little of the intricacies of the city to venture alone, and on hearing a specimen of my Hindustani, which, though good, might not have stood the test of a too long examination under the crushing sensations of death.

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I now sought a lonely spot where I could commune with myself, for until I secured a proper companion I would not prepare myself for the worst. I sat amazed at my boldness, unable to concentrate my thoughts, which came and went with a vehemence I had never felt before. Gradually, as the awfulness of death crept into my bewildered mind, the perturbation extended to . the heart, and it beat violently against my side. The feelings of both overpowered me, and came pouring aut in large drops through my eyes, as I sat with a flushed face buried in my hands. This precious effort of nature relieved me, but the attempts made, over and over again, to think calmly of the enterprize, only brought back the agitation; and I was obliged, at last, to seek the company of my comrades to compose myself. Whilst conversing with those fine fellows, I deliberated in my mind, and by two o’clock in the afternoon, resolved to volunteer my services through Colonel Robert Napier. I was impelled to the step I now took only by a sense of duty.

Colonel Napier expressed surprise at the offer, and at once pronounced the attempt impracticable, his features relaxing into a smile as he said so, for he evidently regarded the proposal as most absurd. He was, however, so much pleased with this further evidence of the zeal of his protégé, that he went into the Chief Commissioner to mention it, followed by me. Sir James Outram listened as I disclosed the reasons for wishing to go out, and figuratively placed them in one hand, and my life in the other, and asked whether the advantages were not weighty enough to overbalance his scruple to adventure a single life. He was not less astonished than Colonel Napier; but, in the true spirit

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of chivalry, he at once conceived and appreciated the motives of my proposition, and reasoned with me upon the probability of success. He frankly confessed that he thought it of the utmost importance that a European officer, acquainted with the localities and buildings intervening between the Dilkooshah and the Residency, should be provided to guide the relieving force, should its commander determine on advancing by that route; but that the impossibility of any European being able to escape through the city undetected, deterred him from ordering any officer to go, or even seeking volunteers for such a duty. He observed that my services as a guide would be very valuable, and that he, therefore, with difficulty resisted the temptation to accept my disinterested offer, of which he thought he ought not to avail himself. I was, however, so earnest in my entreaties to be allowed to go, that he yielded, provided he was satisfied with the disguise, and that I was of the same mind when the hour for departure arrived. After Sir James had explained to me his plans and the course which he advised Sir Colin Campbell to follow, he pressed me not to hesitate abandoning the adventure, if I wished to do so on further consideration. It was fortunate that such an officer as Sir James Outran’ was in command, as it required a man of more than ordinary capacity to understand and appreciate my motives, and to consent to so hazardous an enterprize. The friends of that able officer will understand how his chivalrous and generous heart suffered while doubtful of the fate of “ the Guide,” who deemed it no small honour to be engaged in executing his plan for the relief of the Lucknow garrison.

I was satisfied that the matter had so far progressed

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well. I had secured an active guide – had made up my mind to die – and obtained the sanction of the General to go. The most difficult task that remained was to part from those who were most dear to me in the world! I lay down on the bed with my back towards my wife, who was giving her children the poor dinner to which they were now reduced, and endeavouring to silence their repeated requests for more. I dared not face her; for her keen eye and fond heart would have immediately detected that I was in deep thought, and agitated. She called me to partake of a coarse cake, but, as I could no more have eaten it than have eaten herself, I pleaded fatigue and sleepiness, and begged to be let alone. Of all the trials I ever endured this was the worst! The most kind and affectionate of women had been my companion for nearly thirteen years, through which she had patiently and courageously endured much trouble and discomfort for my sake. We were happy and contented to go on together the whole tenure of our lives surrounded by our family. The efforts I made to suppress all outward manifestations of distress swelled my heart, and so pressed on my brain, that I had suddenly to leave the room, pretending I was wanted at the mines.

I walked to an unoccupied building adjoining the Terhee Kothee, (which was outside the original defences,) and concealed in one of the cellars, I vainly struggled to convince myself that it must be done, till the convulsions of my heart were relieved by tears. 0 my God, what a trial! I could have faced death in its most appalling form without a tremor, but this separation from my family, who would be utterly destitute by my death, weakened my resolution, and I sorrowfully

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resolved to stay. The sacrifice might involve me, and them, perhaps; for if I fell in the hazardous undertaking, who would think of the family of him whom the world would call a fool? The disinterested motives which had influenced me would doubtless be impugned, and my family gain little by their relationship to me. I could not stipulate for a reward for myself, or a provision for them, because it would have stripped my devotion of all its unselfishness.

Instead of returning home I went into the apartment near the Great Gate of the Residency, where Major North and Lieutenant Sewell were busy preparing Enfield ammunition. There the coming relief was the topic at once introduced. Strange to say, that in a quarter of an hour I left them, resolved to do my duty, without their perceiving that, while joyously conversing with them, I was in reality deliberating upon the fate of my family, and deciding between life and death!

I endeavoured, without exciting suspicion, to discover whether a permanent dye was procurable in the retrenchment; and, luckily for my little beauty, there was none. I obtained a complete Oriental suit by borrowing each article from separate natives; and, tying them in a bundle, took them home. I remained quite composed till six o’clock in the evening, when, as was customary with me, I kissed the family, and left, pretending that I was for duty at the mines, and that I might be detained till late id the morning. I carried my bundle to a small room in the slaughter-yard, and was there dressed by that good, steady young man, Mr. F. Quieros, whom I enjoined to keep it a secret for the present. I was amused at my own ugliness as I carefully surveyed each

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feature in the glass to see that the colouring was well spread. I did not think that the shade of black was quite natural, and I felt somewhat uneasy about it, till we talked over the chances of detection, and came to the conclusion that the darkness of the night was favourable to me. Kunoujee Lal now joined us, and seemed to chuckle at the ridiculous appearance of the metamorphosed Sahib, as we walked over together to the quarters of Sir James Outram.

Natives are not permitted to go into the house of a European with shoes on, nor to take a seat uninvited. In order to draw particular attention to myself I did both, and the eyes of the officers, who sat at the General’s table, were at once turned angrily and inquiringly upon the queer man who did such impudent things. Questions and answers were exchanged without detecting the disguise, although my plain features were known to every one of the outraged officers; who called in the General, and he took some time to recognise me. I regarded this first step in the adventure as presaging success, and was glad to lay hold on any little thing to keep up my confidence. I was daubed once more by the General himself, and, considering where I was going to, there was extraordinary hilarity in the whole proceeding, which was most beneficial to my nerves. My turban was readjusted; my habiliments subjected to a close inspection; and my waistband adorned by a loaded double-barrelled pistol, (belonging to the gallant and amiable Captain Sitwell, A.D.C.), which was intended for myself should there be no possibility of escaping death at the hands of the mutineers, who would have done it in their own particular way.

At half-past eight o’clock our gaiety ceased, for that

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was the time appointed to leave. The kind-hearted and chivalrous Sir James, and my good friend Colonel Napier, pressed my hand, with a few encouraging words; the rest, with many earnest prayers for my success, shook hands; and I started with Kunoujee Lal, in the company of the brave Captain Hardinge, who came down to the picquet, on the river Gumti, to pass me out. As I parted from him he tightly squeezed my hand, as if much affected, and slowly observed, that he would give his life to be able to perform what I was doing. His last encouraging and cheering words were feelingly addressed to me, “Noble fellow! You will never be forgotten!”

This collection transcribed by Chris Gage
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