BEES AND OTHERS ON THE SIEGE OP LBO-KNOW.

WITHOUT any reference to the strictly military questions connected with the defence of Lucknow, its siege will ever be memorable as another example of the superiority of the European over the Asiatic as shown in every fair encounter from the battle of Mara- thon to the present day. Nor, whatever might be the case in antiquity, or with Clive and his immediate successors, was there any such inferiority at Lucknow in the arms of the Natives or their dexterity in using them as perceptibly to turn the advan- tage against them. Many of the assailants had been thoroughly trained by English discipline, and exhibited its results at the ac- tion of Chinhut as well as during the siege. Their excellence as marksmen was very great, as well with small arms as with artil- lery; they were tolerably well skilled as engineers, and patiently labgious in the execution of the works. In dogged unflinching courage—the determination to " do or die," they were not equal to the British—for it is perhaps in that particular quality that our essential superiority consists ; but they exhibited many spe- cimens of individual bravery, and the masses fought desperately with any cover, such as a strong house, or in street fighting. It is said too, but this is rather report or suspicion than actually proved, that the mutineers were commanded by European ad- venturers—or abandoned Angl3-Indians, who not only directed their operations, but even led them in person. On the other hand, the Asiatics had no great engineering ob- stacles to overcome. The Residency was not a fortress at all; and the attempts at defensive works were often imperfect from want of time and paucity of workmen, while for a similar rea- son various buildings which overlooked the place and furnished great facilities to the besiegers, had been left standing. Neither was there any surpassing display of military genius on the British side. It would appear that the action at Chmhut—which really ended in disastrous defeat—should never have been attempted. Both Captain Anderson and Mr. Rees intimate that the expedition was undertaken against Sir Henry Lawrence's own opinion, in compliance with the wishes of those around him. The garrison it- self was anything but efficient in a martinet's sense. The European soldiers, who alone were at once disciplined and trustworthy, were comparatively few in number. The Natives were disciplined, and as brave at all events as the assailants ' • but they could not have been thoroughly trusted at the outset, if ever. A large portion of the defenders were volunteers consisting of European and half- caste civilians, some apparently of a low class of mind and manners, and whom Captain Anderson rather gratuitously holds up to ridicule ; though many, after training, became very efficient soldiers. The encumbrance of the women and children was a great drawback upon the garrison's efficiency, though no doubt the main motive of the determined defence. This large civilian element caused, at least in the outset, a scene of confusion as re- markable as anything else in this memorable siege. The follow- ing description of the Residency a few days after the battle of Chinhut, and the day after Sir Henry Lawrence was wounded, is by the Staff-Officer. July 3d.—It is difficult to chronicle the proceedings of these few days, for everywhere confusion reigned supreme. That unfortunate day of Chinat precipitated everything, inasmuch as we were closely shut up several days before anything of the kind was anticipated. People had made no arrange- ments for provisioning themselves : many indeed never dreamt of such a necessity ; and the few that had were generally too late. Again, many ser- vants were shut out the first day, and all attempts to approach us were met by a never-ceasing fusilade. But though they could not get in, they suc- ceeded in getting out ; and after a few days, those who could boast of ser- vants or attendants of any kind formed a very small and envied minority. The servants in many instances eased their masters of any superfluous article of value, easy of carriage. In fact, the confusion can be better imagined than described.

"The head of the Commissariat had, most unfortunately for the garrison, received a severe wound at Chinfit, which effectually deprived them of his valuable aid. His office was all broken up ; his goomastahs and baboos were not with us, and the officers appointed to assist him were all new hands. Besides all this, the first stores opened were approachable only by one of the most exposed roads, and very many of the camp-followers preferred going without food to the chance of being shot. Some did not know where to apply, so that for three or four days many went without rations ; and this in no small degree added to the number of desertions. Owing to these de- sertions, the commissariat and battery bullocks had no attendants to look after them, and went wandering all over the place looking for food ; they tumbled into wells, were shot down in numbers by the enemy, and added greatly to the labour which fell on the garrison, as fatigue parties of civi- lians and officers, after being in the defences all day the enemy's attack, were often employed six and seven hours burying cattle killed during the day, and which from the excessive heat became offensive in a few hours.

• A Personal Narrative of the Siege of Lucknow, from its CommenceiFnt to its Relief by Sir Colin Campbell. By L. E. Runts Rees, one of the surviving De- fenders. With a Plan of Lucknow, and the Residency, and a Portrait of Sir Henry Lawrence. Third edition. Published by Longmans and Co. The Defence-of Lucknoto. A Diary Recording the Daily Moots during the Siege of the European Residency from 31st May to 25th September 1857. By a 8taR-Of5- cer. With a Plan of the Residency. Published by Smith and Elder. A Personal Journal of the Siege of Lucknow. By Captain R. P. Anderson, 25th Regt., N.I., commanding an Outpost ; Author of the " Translation of thereool-i- Bakawali," &c. Published by Thacker and Co. The artillery and other horses were everywhere to be seen loose, fighting and tearing at one another, driven mad for want of food and water ; the garrison being too busily employed in the trenches to be able to secure them.

"Poor Sir H. Lawrence suffered somewhat less today, but was sinking fast, and at times his mind wandered."

Yet spite of all the odds against them, with climate, cholera, and insufficient food, with the " hope deferred that maketh the heart sick" fighting for the enemy, and nothing but the activity of the engineers and the indomitable pluck of the mass to support them, did the worn and reduced garrison triumph at last. Not unexampled as regards endurance, for perhaps at Londonderry and Saragossa as much, or more, was suffered ; not without parallel as to the fearful future, for at one time the idea of making Lucknow a Numantia, was according to Mr. Rees a topic of discourse, but we think it sui generic as the triumph of civi- lized European character, mind, and heart, over the Asiatic. And the peculiarity consists in this, that the Greeks, the Mace- donians, the Romans, and the modern Europeans fought with the advantage of perfectly trained soldiers. on their side, whatever odds in number might be against them. But many of the defenders of Lucknow had just been called from the desk, and are thus described by Captain Anderson, not with the best taste.

"Sir Henry Lawrence deemed it expedient to enrol all the European and Eurasian writers in the public offices as volunteers, and he directed arms and ammunition to be served out to them. Some of these men were taken into the volunteer, (cavalry, which was also composed of officers, civil and military,) and the remainder were drilled as infantry.

"At the commencement, when these men were first brought together, (to be regularly drilled by sergeants from her Majesty's Thirty-second Regi- ment,) the chance of ever making them act in a body seemed almost a hope- less task. There were men of all ages, sizes and figures. Here stood a tall, athletic Englishman—there came a fat and heavy Eurasian, with more width across the waist than about the chest. Next to the Eurasian came another of the same class, who looked like a porter-barrel, (i.e., short and squat,) and the belt round his waist very closely resembled a 'hoop. Not far off you observed an old, bent-double man, who seemed too weak to sup- port the weight of his musket and pouch. " Such, dear reader, to a casual observer was the general appearance of our volunteers ; but we must not always judge by appearances. Amongst this awkward-looking body there sprung up, during the siege, bold, intrepid, and daring men ; and I may say, in fact, that the whole of them, more or less, did excellent service ; and, had it not been for our volunteers, we should never have been able to garrison the place. It was very creditable to these men that they so soon fell into military ways' and finally. became a willing and obedient body, and fit for most ordinary duties required of a soldier. Of course there were some instances where, for marked bad con- duct, punishments were absolutely necessary to keep up discipline, but such was not to be wondered at, when we remembered that most of these men had never been subject to any kind of restraint." &e. &c.

Of the three books before us by persons practically engaged, .4 Personal Narrative of the Siege of Lucknow, by Mr. Rees, is by far the fullest and most spirited. He does not confine his at- tentien to military matters or to what may be called siege oc- currences, but exhibits the feelings of himself and others, narrates anecdotes, tells stories, gives "reports," and unrestrained by the sense of professional responsibility, which seems to weigh upon the Staff-Officer, passes a free judgment upon the conduct of the au- thorities. Mr. Rees also writes with facility and 'vigour ; and his narrative conveys a very life-like idea of the siege as it appeared to the civilian mind.

The Defence of Lucknoto, by a Staff-Officer, is a more curt and professional account, matter-of-fact in its style, limited in its to- pics to things that bear upon military business, and cautious in passing an opinion upon the military authorities. For in- stance, no judgment is offered as to the policy or conduct of the battle of Chinhut; and not only is the account of the action dry and colourless, but no one would infer from his pages the im- portant moral consequences that flowed from it, and the en- couragement which it afforded the mutineers to undertake the siege. The Staff-Officer's narrative, however, is very real and suggestive ; his jottings often conveying to the mind as distinct an idea of the skill of the enemy and the courage and sufferings of the besieged as the more expanded account of Mr. Rees. The Personal Journal of Captain R. P. Anderson is a slighter affair than either of the other two works. It gives more prominence to the author's perceptions than to the facts themselves, and thes3 perceptions are chiefly directed to the ludicrous and the common. Each book supports the accuracy of the other, either by its de- scription of the same or similar incidents. The differences are

those of circumstances arising from the difference of the writers' minds, and not in the main facts.

The skill, determination, and courage of the enemy—save in the determined thorough rush which never stops till its end is reached —are illustrated in the following extracts from the Staff-Officer. As they extend over a lengthened period the dates are affixed to each ; attacks upon the Residency began on the 1st of July, the

day after the battle of Chinhut, though the formal investment might be a little later.

" July 12th.—The heat still excessive, and the fatigue of the garrison was eery great. Enemy were most persevering, and loopholed every place within fifty or sixty yards of our defences. They were evidently deter- mined to do their beat to get into the position, and had closed in on every side. We had no intelligence from any quarter ; for though we had sent out many messengers, not one returned. '

" July 13th.—The heat was dreadful, and garrison were greatly fatigued. The enemy reoccupied Johannes's house, and fired smartly down the street, killing two Sepoys and wounding a conductor ; they also pushed close up under the redan and greatly annoyed our outposts. * * * * Several shells were fir fined into Johannes's house, and the walls of the house opposite to it were loopholed. Nevertheless, we could not dislodge them, and they an-

noyed us greatly. The havildar-major of the 13th was wounded through the thigh today. " The enemy possessed many excellent marksmen, and fired so many shots from every point that it was exceedingly dangerous to be seen any- where, even for an instant."

" July 30a.—The enemy had many riflemen, and some of them were most expert shots, firing through our loopholes."

" Augustl3th.—Our mine near Sago's house was pushed on all night with the greatest possible speed. Every possible means was adopted by the enemy to prevent our miners working; and as only a wall and a few feet of ground divided the two parties, they resorted to squibs, rockets, brick- bats, and lights at the end of bamboos, to annoy our workmen. As the latter were thrust forward with the hope of setting fire to our tiled out- houses, the ends were successively cut off by us."

" August 14th.—Most of our outpost houses were now so riddled with round-shot that it was a wonder how any of them stood up at all; indeed most of them were in ruins ; and at Mr. Anderson's house part of the gar- rison had been twice pulled out of the ruins which had suddenly fallen on them ; nevertheless, these posts, in spite of many casualties, were held with the same courage and devotion as was displayed the first day of the siege."

The Natives displayed the wonted skill of the Orientals in mi- ning, having according to Mr. Rees ran no less than twenty mines against the place. On more than one occasion they slightly mis- calculated their distance and the mine exploded short. This was of course a subject of congratulation, but the real safety of the garrison lay in the aversion of the bulk of the Natives to come to close quarters. Here are two of the most important explosions. " August 18th.—When the smoke had blown away, we discovered that a clear breach had been made into our defences, to the extent of thirty feet in breadth. One of the enemy's leaders sprung on the top of the breach, bran- dishing his sword and calling on others to follow, but he fell dead instantly from the flank fire of the officers on the top of the brigade-mess. Another instantly followed and shared the same fate ; when the rest of the force de- clined making a home rush."

" September 5th.—Providentially, the enemy had miscalculated their dis- tance in both instances, and were just short of our defences, and neither ex- plosion did us any barns. As soon as the cloud of dust and smoke had cleared away, they advanced under cover of a tremendous fire on several points particularly at Mr. Gubbins's post,—where they came on reso- lutely and planted an enormous ladder against the bastion to mount it. Several reached the top, but were so steadily received with musketry and hand-grenades that none could gain a footing ; and after several leaders had fallen the rest fell back to the cover of the neighbouring houses, where they kept up a tremendous fire. Their loss was very heavy, as they showed themselves well ; particularly in the garden close to the brigade-mess and Sikh square, where they fell rapidly to our rifles and muskets. Long after the action they could be seen carrying away their killed and wounded over the bridges."

Mr. Rees also bears testimony to the skill of the Natives as well as to the laborious character of their works.

"It must be confessed that the enemy's artillerists, taught by ourselves, were excellent marksmen. With incredible rapidity, with-remarkable in- genuity, and with indomitable perseverance, they had, in the very first week, made batteries in p.ositions where one would have fancied their erec- tion impossible, some having actually been moved to the tops of houses, and others placed most cleverly in places where our own batteries could not ef- fectually open on them, and which were well protected from musketry fire.

"It is also probable that their artillery was commanded by European officers, wretches for whom no punishment would be ignominious or severe enough. One of these was seen several times laying a gun and giving orders, apparently like one having authority.

"A young man, whose name I do not wish to mention, on account of his family, was most probably the person who had commanded the enemy's cavalry at Chinhutt. Two of his cousins were fighting valiantly against the rebels in the Residency ; another was massacred at Futtygurh, after combating for us ; a fourth was wounded in action against the Agra rebels ; and a fifth had accepted a military appointment under Government, and distinguished himself, as I afterwards learnt, in several engagements against the mutineers. The apostate himself had long been disowned by his relatives. But it is also likely that some Russian officers had entered the army of the insurgents.

" How we ever escaped is something I cannot comprehend even now.

" In my numerous walks round our old intrenchinents and into our new positions. I could never withhold my admiration at the enormous labour the insurgents had undergone, not only in their offensive but in defensive operations. Before their batteries, deep trenches, some twenty feet deep and three feet wide, were excavated. Ladders were placed at intervals for sentries to go down and see that our mines did not go under their batteries. Deep trenches intersected one another all round us, along which the rebels could crawl unperceived to the very edge of our intrenchment. Some of the batteries were within forty yards of us, and all were well and stoutly made. How we resisted all these ii truly a wonder. The right hand of the Lord is manifest in all this plainly enough, for in spite of all our courage, we could never have kept them out."

The inevitable evils of a siege from wounds, diseases, and limited supplies, were aggravated at Lucknow by scanty at- tendance, cholera, the excessive heat, and something probably peculiar to the climate, which appears to be propitious to fly- breeding.

"July 19th,.—The inside annoyances are dreadful. The stench from human ordure, from decaying horses, dogs, and men, assails the olfactory

nerves most awfully, and little is done to mend matters. Before the siege commenced, there was a sanitary commissioner appointed, and his uncom- promising zeal and activity effected a great deal of good. Now, however, he, too, no longer can command the same labour as before. WeEuroran: were so incessantly harassed, and our sweepers deserted daily. * "The hospital at this time was always full ; and the spectacle which it presented was heartrending. Everywhere wounded officers and men were lying on couches, covered with blood, and often with vermin. The apothe- caries, hospital attendants, and servants, were too few in number, and with all their activity could not attend to everybody ; and as for a change of linen, where was that to come from ? We had one or two dhobhies, it is true, who at most exorbitant prices now and then washed,—badly, insuffi- ciently, and without soap, of which there was a great dearth in the garri- son ; but they were overwhelmed with labour, and would do little ; and be- sides, there was very little linen. This was, indeed, a luxury which few were permitted to enjoy. There were not even bedsteads enough for all.

"Many of the wounded were lying groaning upon mattresses and cloaks only. Everywhere cries of agony were heard, piteous exclamations for water or assistance. The fumigations to which recourse was had were not sufficient to remove the disagreeable, foetid smell which pervaded the long hall of the sick, and the cur in it was pestilential and oppressive. Owing to the unceasing fire of the enemy, the windows had to be barricaded, and it

was therefore only by the doors facing the Residency, and those fronting the Bailey-guard wall at the back, that light and air could penetrate the building. The upper story was quite untenable ; and, indeed, the lower was far from safe. *

"To one nuisance, the flies,' I have already alluded ; but they daily in- creased to such an extent that we at last began to feel life to be irksome, more on their account than from any other of our numerous troubles. In the day flies, at night musquitoes. But the latter were bearable, the former intolerable. Luoknow had always been noted for its flies, but at no time had they been known to be so troublesome. The mass of putrid matter that was allowed to accumulate, the rains, the commissariat stores, the hospital, had attracted these insects in incredible numbers. The Egyptians could not possibly have been more molested than we were by this pest. They swarmed in millions, and though we blew daily some hundreds of thousands into the air, this seemed to make no diminution in their numbers. The ground was still black with them, and the tables were literally covered with these cursed flies."

It was remarked by the late Lord Ellesmere that if any his- torical action or character was inquired into with close minute- ness, its greatness would be found dashed with something in con- duct or motive that diminished its lustre. The siege of Lucknow Will not be found exempt from the inherent earthliness of human nature. Plunder of stores and intoxication are noted by the Staff- Officer and Mr. Rees; the latter indicates traits of selfishness, greediness, and ingratitude in small things ; but these were only occasional and exceptional traits. The pervading spirit was one of resolute determination, and a lofty sense of duty which put aside privation, labour, pain, and even life itself, as nothing in compari- son with the fulfilment of their task. And this was done without bravado, or display, or unmanly repining, even when death over- took the young and with ties that bound them to life, or snatched away the beloved ones dearer than life itself. Here is an instance recorded by Mr. Rees in the case of a friend, but very very many have passed away without record.

"Then he talked to me of his boy Herbert ; how he was attacked with cholera, and feared he was very. ill ; and how, instead of being able to watch by his bedside, he had been all night digging at Captain Fulton's mine ; and then how his child next night was convulsed, and what little hope he had of his darling being spared to them—how heartrending his sufferings were to his parent's feelings—how even his iron constitution was at last giving way—how he had neither medicine, nor attendance, nor proper food for the child, and how the blowing up of the mine so close to his sick couch had frightened him. And then today he told me with tears in his eyes, that yesterday—the anniversary of his birthday, when he was exactly twenty-nine years of age, his poor child was called away. God's will be done ! ' said he, ' but it is terrible to think of. At night we dug a hole in the garden, and there, wrapped in a blanket, we laid him. Oh, my God !' Lawrence's case is not singular. Many another poor parent's heart is thus torn. These episodes, alas ! occur daily."