A Diary Kept by Mrs. R. C. Germon, at Lucknow, Between the Months of May and December, 1857Germon, Maria
History
A Diary Kept by Mrs. R. C. Germon, at Lucknow, Between the Months of May and December, 1857
Germon, Maria
Germon, Maria; India -- History -- Sepoy Rebellion, 1857-1858; Lucknow (India) -- History -- Siege, 1857 -- Personal narratives
Tuesday, September 8th. Captain S----, of the Artillery, died at 4
A.M.; he had been severely wounded at Chinhut, and never recovered it.
No news from without!
Wednesday, September 9th. I was awoke by our great guns firing at the
clock tower; at 10 we sprung a mine at the Cawnpore battery. Mr. A----
came and had a long chat. Dear Charlie came while we were at dinner,
and was much amused at my enormous appetite. We had a dreadful night
with Mrs. B----'s youngest child, and poor little Bobby.
Thursday, September 10th. Tremendous firing at the mosque, by the
clock tower. Two or three 18-pounders at it, and shelling also, as the
enemy have lately occupied it with their sharpshooters, much to our
annoyance. All quiet afterwards. About 2,000 men were seen to leave
the City towards Cawnpore. In the evening, and at night, a number of
hackeries followed, it is supposed, with their baggage. Prices are
rising. Twenty rupees given for 2 lbs of sugar, and one rupee per leaf
for tobacco.
Friday, September 11th. A tolerably quiet day, but discoveries made of
"Light Infantry" where they ought not to be. Mrs. B----'s baby very
ill; it has large ulcers all over its body, and inflammation in the
throat. We destroyed two of the enemy's mines to day, and in one of
them men were heard to screech.
Saturday, September 12th. A noise was heard during the night--a
humming, as of Sepoys turning out of their Lines for a march; and many
were seen in the morning dressed in marching order; they say the Nana
is here, and is sending off his baggage to Fyzabad. Mrs. B----'s child
very ill; mortification must have taken place: I could not stay in the
room. Mrs. H----'s bearer wounded.
Sunday, September 13th. Capt. M----, 32nd, who commanded our guard,
died of cholera; he was taken at half-past 11 last night. We had
service at half-past 2, and Charlie came. Mrs. B----'s baby died in
the early morning; it changed immediately. A spy was caught in the
entrenchments, who said it was reported outside that several of our
regiments had crossed the Ganges at Cawnpore. A very quiet day.
Monday, September 14th. Another spy caught, who said the Nana was still
here, and that there is to be a grand attack to-morrow. Capt. F----
killed by a round shot, while examining the defences at Mr. G----s'; he
was an indefatigable engineer, and consequently a great loss.
Tuesday, September 15th. Some sharp firing, but no attack. Lieut.
F----, who was sick in hospital, and slightly delirious, walked over
the parapet of the portico; he died shortly after. In the afternoon a
large round shot came in through the top of the house, passing through
two walls and cutting a belt hanging there clean in two; it then rolled
along the roof, without doing any damage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account