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Chapter 17

Naval guns and Lieutenant Young – A woman’s appeal of no avail – Assault led by Captain Da Costa – Da Costa killed – Impromptu seizure of the Kaisarbagh – British pluck under a steam engine – A Christian captive released – My plunder – The Palace sacked – The famed Residency captured – Reflections therein – Horse wounded – A frightened family saved from drowning – Captured an English gun – Sack of the City begun – Mrs. Orr and Miss Jackson rescued – Captain F. Middleton and Lord Clinton are shown some “ fun” – Sir James Outram disapproved of the sport – The Maulavi attacked by, and escaped from, Sir Edward Lugard – Murder of the Prime Minister – The last fight for the City

The naval brigade, under the command of Captain Vaughan, brought their heavy guns to bear on the temporary defences surrounding the large Mausoleum of the father of the Ex-King of Oudh; and Lieutenant Young, who carries an enormous heart in a little body, beat in an opening, which the enemy took small pains to prevent. Their second line of defences were massively built of earth, on the scarf of a great ditch, mounted by numerous guns, and occupied by a multitude of mutineers. But the poor men were exposed to the incessant explosion of large shells from both sides of the river, and dreaded that there was a diabolical plan to surround them and prevent their retreat. They were so disheartened that the enraged and disappointed Begum in vain appealed to them for some evidence of their

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boasted prowess, and at last, in despair, taunted them by an offer of breeches, which are worn in India by the gentle instead of the hardy sex. The Council that previously wanted the treasure guarded by the defenders of the Residency, assembled in great trepidation, and sent forth long proclamations inviting soldiers and citizens to co-operate in the extermination of the infidels, who, (praises to the Holy Prophet!) were daily diminishing, and all but vanquished, as manifested by the heads paraded in the city. The Council had no faith in their own statements, nor had anyone else; on the contrary, the more they boasted, the more the fear of the people increased.

When the breach was practicable a storming party of Sikhs, under the command of Captain Da Costa, of the Indian army, was brought forward, and I accompanied it as a guide. The enemy abandoned the Mausoleum as soon as we mounted the breach, and Captain Da Costa pursued them through the large archways of the enclosure, and, turning to the left, continued at a run, exposed to a heavy musketry and random artillery fire, till he reached the fortifications of the Raisin Bagh Palace, where he was stopped by a deep and broad ditch. He was brave and impetuous to excess, and his fine handsome face was lit up by that noble flame that burns so strong in British officers. His fiery spirit had already carried him too far, and he was ordering his twenty Sikhs to attempt to cross the ditch into the Palace defences, when I ventured to point out that it would be a useless sacrifice of life. He had advanced so fast that the storming party was not together, and the reserves far behind.

“Who are you, sir! to interfere in my duty?” The gallant fellow did not know who I was.

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“I do not wish to interfere, and am only here as a guide, willing to obey and follow you. Reflect whether it is prudent, with twenty men, to go unsupported into the midst of at least five thousand mutineers. Kavanagh is my name, which you may have heard before.”

Da Costa seized my hand, and, while warmly pressing it, expressed a willingness “to be guided by one already renowned as a guide19.” We then withdrew to a building known as “The Printing Press” to fire into a crowd of mutineers who were deserting the fortifications in our rear and on our right. His daring soul was excited again, and he would have rushed on the multitude of runaways had he not been stopped by a wound in the stomach which killed him during the day! This officer had joined the force as a volunteer, only a few days, and, at his earnest entreaty, he was attached to Brasyer’s regiment of Sikhs.

Brigadier Russell shortly after advanced with the reserves, and occupied the magnificent buildings overlooking the Palace defences, from which the rifles of the 90th Foot quickly dislodged the enemy. Brasyer’s Sikhs were again pushed forward with some of the 10th Foot, and, almost without opposition, entered the north quadrangle of the Palace in pursuit of the enemy, who abandoned all the fortifications towards the river. Some of them were surprised in the Steam Engine House by Captains Radcliffe and Francis, of the 20th Foot, who greatly distinguished themselves, and covered the enclosure with the bodies of three hundred mutineers.

I suggested to Brigadiers Russell and Franks that the

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Palace be forced by a passage known to me; and, to show its feasibility, I mounted to the roof of the shops in the street, and climbed over the parapet of the Palace walls. Captain Sir Henry Havelock came next, and, while he surveyed the proposed passage, a gun, a short distance on our right, attempted to disturb him. The assault soon followed, and the Sikhs and 10th Foot entered the Palace this side, while the 90th Foot forced an entry eastward. The advance was so rapid that before Sir Colin Campbell was aware that the first assault under Da Costa had succeeded, the British arms were fusillading the mutineers within the finest square of of the famed Palace. I followed the Sikhs into the principal building, and carried one of its large green silk window-curtains to the highest turret to shake at the enemy, who resented my audacity by trying to shoot me.

The tidings of the impromptu capture of the Kaisarbagh brought on large reinforcements with the Commander-in-Chief, and he quickly occupied all the fortifications of the enemy, who made great haste out where nobody detained them. Firing, fighting, plundering, and the destruction of valuable property, continued all day, the enemy obstinately defending only one square of the Palace, till the Queens and grandees retreated under cover of darkness. At the request of Sir Robert Napier, I accompanied Colonel Harness round the squares, to dislodge the enemy concealed in the chambers; and, in one of them, I found manacled a fair Christian drummer-boy, who had been ten months in captivity. I sent him to Sir James Outram, who has generously retained the lad in his service ever since.

The enemy artfully left loose powder in several

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burning buildings, that exploded and did damage to our troops, who incautiously ventured everywhere in search of plunder. On this occasion I picked up a silver mug, worth about six pounds, to work into a pretty memento recording the fact of my having been the first person to enter the Palace, and I took away the rich cover of the seat of a silver throne. The throne itself was pulled to pieces by the Sikhs before I was done flourishing the green curtain over their heads. I afterwards gave the cover to Lord Clinton, of the Naval Brigade, and the mug is lost. This was all I ever plundered, notwithstanding that very few of the assailants had as many chances of enriching themselves. Glory, not plunder, was my ambition: both seldom go together, for they are separate and antagonistic passions.

It was amusing to see the gallant fellows so eager for the fight in the morning, disguised by large protuberances all round their bodies, produced by the spoil. Some carried clocks, vases, trunks, pictures, and silver maces – others trailed rich silk quilts after them – many bound their heads and waists with gay shawls and satins – a few were completely clothed in Oriental Court dresses. The European soldier usually snatched up one article and was off; but the Sikh perseveringly tried every door, every box, every bundle, and every floor, and only ceased when gold and silver rewarded his exertions. The confusion and uproar in the chambers was very much heightened when thousands of camp followers pressed in to go again over the ransacked rooms, and add to the destruction of property too heavy to carry away. The licence of plunder has an injurious effect upon discipline, and reduces officers to the level of soldiers; but it is a right sanctioned by long usage,

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and is so consonant with the avarice of man, that it can never be entirely stopped, either by Provosts, or Prize Agents.

Sir Robert Napier and Colonel Harness examined the approaches to the Residency, and Sir James Outram came from the other bank of the river to conduct the operations for the entire dispersion of the enemy from the city. There were no more fortifications to be forced, but it was possible that the troops would be engaged in the streets, and arrangements were made for this by providing the assaulting columns with guides acquainted with the city. I was sent with a detachment of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, under the command of Major Bruce, who entered the Baillie Guard Gate at a run, and pursued the mutineers into the city towards the Kanhpur Road.

Once more I stood in the building where I had dwelt throughout the siege of 1857, and, as we lunched on the floor, I gave utterance to the feelings excited by the past. Those five months of trial had not been without joy, and the recollection of that unequal struggle will always be pleasant to all but the mourners. Here I had suffered sickness and want – been harassed by real and feigned attacks – had escaped from death by a miracle, for I always courted danger – mourned for the loss of good friends carried off in their prime, and endured unusual anxiety for the safety of my family. Here, too, I had seized the only chance ever presented of establishing a fair character for courage and devotion among so many devoted and courageous comrades; and it was from this spot that I had ventured on the enterprise which won the admiration of my countrymen.

When the defenders retired from the Residency it

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bore evident marks of the desperate character of the siege: many of the buildings were falling from the effects of the enemy’s shot, and all were more or less dilapidated. Now, most of the houses were level to the ground, and the rest were in a ruinous condition. The rebels had begun clearing the spot to build a “ Market of Victory,” so that the fame of their prowess in expelling the Infidels might descend to the end of time

I joined the advanced column in the afternoon, and at the request of Sir James Outram, conducted through the Machchi Bhawan Castle, the 1st Bengal Fusiliers, who, led by Major Salisbury, drove the enemy beyond the great Imambarah. I next proceeded up the Chouk, or main street, (through which I had passed on the night of my escape,) with a party of the 20th Foot, the enemy retiring down the streets as we approached. My horse was wounded in the shoulder while riding by the side of Captain Carnegie, the City Magistrate. The citizens precipitately abandoned their homes, leaving all they possessed behind. I ventured thrice among them, in advance of the troops, to dispel their fears, but they would not stay, and I narrowly escaped being shot by armed men concealed in the crowd. The rebel leaders had industriously circulated a rumour that the English intended to sack the city and destroy the inhabitants; and, as none of the enemy had ever escaped from us, and great licence had been permitted, the rumour was believed. Some families taken by surprise threw themselves into wells, and Major Carnegie and myself had the gratification of drawing up three females and a man from one which we reached in time to save them.

A fire of small arms was maintained all night on both

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sides, and in the morning we continued stationary, being contented for the present with the possession of nearly two-thirds of the city. With a Sergeant’s party of the 20th Foot I reconnoitred the streets in advance, to ascertain how far off the fears of the rebels had carried them, and during the search discovered a party gathered round an English nine-pounder brass gun. By a sudden rush we drove the gunners away, and brought it in to our lines.

The sack of the city now began, and when I returned to the same place the following day, (after witnessing the capture of the Musabagh, far on our right, and the occupation of the mansion of the Prime Minister, Shurf-ood-dowlah,) every house was literally turned inside out. A spectacle of ruin and wilful destruction of property presented itself everywhere. The mansions of the rich were ransacked over and over again, and the humble goods of the poor were thrown into the street, and the floors dug up for their earnings. How sad for the unfortunate wretches who dared not stay to guard them

The Goorkhas, finding that the enemy had retired from their front, pushed through the city and joined their advanced post with ours, after Lieutenants Bogle and McNeil had gallantly rescued Mrs. Patrick Orr and Miss Madeline Jackson from the house of Darogah Wijid Ali, who has since been rewarded by the grant of ten thousand pounds for preserving the two ladies from the massacre that deprived one of a husband, and the other of a brother.

The following afternoon I was starting with six Goorkhas to reconnoitre the west of the city when Captain Frederick Middleton, A.D.C. to Sir Edward

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Lugard, and Lord Clinton, of the Shannon, came to me with the hope of seeing some “ fun.” We proceeded about a mile beyond our posts unopposed, and forced our way into a large temple. Middleton and Clinton pursued some of the enemy round the inner building while I was engaged in a room with three swordsmen. I was so fortunate as to disable the first by a blow on the head, which broke my sword in two; the second, thinking me powerless, made a desperate cut at my neck; but I happily dealt him one across the face that rolled him on the floor. The third turned about. I pursued and stunned him by a blow on the head; and, as he fell, I stumbled forward in a gateway, and was instantly run over by several of the enemy, who were so frightened by Middleton’s desperate onslaught that they did not see me! The Goorkhas looked on, and it was not their valour that saved us.

We were suddenly checked in our adventurous career by loud voices calling to each other to go on; and, as we were not altogether without discretion, we turned homewards. The Goorkhas attempted to run off as the noise increased and occasional shots whizzed through them; but, as our safety existed in showing a bold front and in retiring as if strong in numbers, Middleton and myself held our fists in their faces, and made them check the enemy, who, luckily for us, were no better than themselves. We were uneasy about the spirited young nobleman, and to get him out of danger sent him back for reinforcements.

Two hours afterwards we returned with sixty Goorkhas and three of their officers, thinking that Sir James Outram would approve of the occupation of

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the Temple, as so much ground gained for the column which was next morning to attack the Maulavi Ahmud-oola, who was strongly posted in another large temple in the neighbourhood. The enemy slowly retired before us because we made little progress with the Goorkhas, who flew into every open door, and waited to be shamed out by Middleton and myself. They fired over the houses with wretched old muskets that took some seconds to go off, and then kicked violently. The officers were worthless, and the soldiers were of such bad stuff that they bodily rushed on the wounded as if they had only come out to go back with the first man hit. At last the Temple was reached and occupied. The enemy disappeared from the neighbourhood, and the Goorkhas were earnestly instructed to stay there till morning. Sir James Outram, however, disapproved of placing a force there, supposing it would alarm the Maulavi and cause him to retire from his position in the city, where there was a good chance of killing or capturing the miscreant. Had the Goorkhas not come home of their own accord long before midnight, perhaps their close proximity might have frightened Ahmud-oola and his gallant company, for among them the mountaineers had a prodigious reputation for valour.

With unaccountable pertinacity the Maulavi continued to stay in the city after the enemy had been driven from every position but the sacred Temple of Huzrut, Abbas. He had the character of being brave, and his present attitude was one or defiance. Sir Edward Lugard advanced against him in the morning, and was so unfortunate in his arrangements, that the whole column was drawn into a long narrow street, and bore onward without knowing whither they went.

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Major F. Middleton and myself; assisted by four Sikhs, endeavoured to discover the cause of a commotion on our left flank, and suddenly came on the enemy in a large square, apparently preparing for retreat. We killed some, and Middleton was on the point of being shot by a Sepoy whom he mistook for one of our Sikhs, when I undeceived him, and the mutineer fell dead by a bullet from his revolver. Before intelligence from us could reach Sir Edward some of the troops in the street were mowed down by grape from a couple of guns at point blank range, and the pressure backwards almost amounted to a panic. The column paused, and fired at men behind walls, who threw down bricks from the roofs of the houses. The noise and confusion was very great. A few of the houses were forced by the Sikhs and Highlanders, and from one of them I discovered a passage from the street into the Temple. Middleton, always thirsting for honour and glory, was again in front, and assisted by a Highland pioneer, we broke through two doors, and were beating at a third, when we heard sword cuts and the screams of women within the Temple. The thought occurred to us that the wretches were murdering their women! The blows at the strong door increased in force, the screams touching the heart of the generous Highlander; and, when it yielded to the hatchet, six of the 93rd, Middleton, and myself, pushed through the opening. The defenders who had not gone off with the Maulavi were shot, sabred, or bayonetted, and we found on the floor the warm but lifeless body of Shurf-ood-dowlah, the Prime Minister of the rebel government. He was suspected of corresponding with the English, and, refusing to buy his safety, was barbarously murdered by order of

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the Maulavi as he quitted the Temple; and it was this bloody deed that provoked the screams of the women.

This was the last fight for the city, and, by desire of Sir James Outram, I resumed my civil duties, to check plunder and other excesses, and to encourage the return of the citizens to their forsaken homes.

Footnotes

19. This little incident gave me so much pleasure that I venture to mention it at the risk of being thought conceited.

This collection transcribed by Chris Gage
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