At each angle batteries were placed, and as soon as the head of the column appeared in view the iron storm came drifting down the street, piling it with the dead. The rattling of grape- shot and musket-balls against the walls and on the pavement was like the pattering of hail on the roof of a house! From out those deep avenues the smoke arose as from the mouth of a volcano, while shouts and yells rending the air on every side made still more appalling the night, which had now set in.
Between those walls of fire, through that blinding rain of death, Havelock walked his horse composedly as if on parade, his calm, peculiar voice, now and then rising over the clangour of battle. That he escaped unhurt seems a miracle, for in the previous eleven hours he had lost nearly one-third of his entire force, while of the two other generals one was dead and the other wounded.
At length the gate of the Residency was reached. A little time was spent in removing the barricades, during which the bleeding column rested, while the moon looked coldly down on the ruins by which they were surrounded. When the passage was cleared, the soldiers, forgetting their weariness, gave three loud cheers, and rushed forward.
Cheers without and cheers within, cheers on every side, betokened the joy and excitement that prevailed, while over all arose the shrill pipes of the Highlanders. The "column of relief " and the garrison rushed into each other"s arms, and then the officers passed from house to house to greet the women and children. The stern Highlanders snatched up the children and kissed them, with tears streaming down their faces, thanking God they were in time to save them.
- J. T. HEADLEY
NOTES
① The anxiously-waiting garrison.-The mutiny broke out at Luck now, the chief town in Oude (Ood ), on the 30th of May 1857. As many of the English as could reach it, took refuge in the Residency, which the rebels began to besiege on 1st of July. The garrison was relieved by Out-ram and Havelock, as described in this lesson, on the 26th of September. Havelock then retired, leaving Outram in command, and the siege by the rebels recommenced. Sir Colin Campbell (Lord Clyde), accompanied by Havelock, attacked the rebels in Lucknow on the 18th of October, and, after a week"s fighting, succeeded in finally rescuing the garrison. Havelock died of dysentery at a suburb of Lucknow on October 25th, aged 62.
② Outram and Havelock.-Outram was Havelock"s superior officer, and was entitled totake the command of the relieving force; but, with true generosity and nobleness of character, he waived his claim, in consideration of the strenuous exertions, Havelock had already made to reach the garrison. He therefore accompanied the force as a civilian, and fought under Havelock as a volunteer!
③ The Sikhs-natives of the Punjab, Northern India, who were conquered by the Britishin 1849. During the mutiny of 1857 they remained faithful to the British, and helped materially to subdue the rebellion.
④ The gallant Neill-General Neill, who had in June suppressed the mutiny at Bena"res,and afterwards gained many successes over the rebels.
QUESTIONS
How far had Havelock"s force fought its way to rescue the garrison of Lucknow? By what signs did the garrison know that relief was approaching? When did their excitement burst forth in cheers? What was Outram"s opinion of what should be done? Why did Havelock differ from him? What was at last agreed upon? What general was shot in the advance? How had the rebels obstructed the passage through the streets? What proportion of his force did Havelock lose before he reached the Residency? What took place when the "column of relief" got inside?
