The Story of the Indian MutinyMoncrieff, A. R. Hope (Ascott Robert Hope)
History
The Story of the Indian Mutiny
Moncrieff, A. R. Hope (Ascott Robert Hope)
India -- History -- Sepoy Rebellion, 1857-1858
The next two days were spent in pushing back the enemy, who had soon
discovered Outram's movements; and by the morning of the 9th, he had
established himself on the left side of the river, with a battery
enfilading the rear of the first defensive line running from its right
bank. Just as the guns were about to open fire, it appeared that the
rebels had not stayed for any further hint to be off. On the opposite
side could be seen a detachment of Highlanders waiting to carry the
abandoned wall. Shouts and gestures failing to attract their attention,
a brave young officer volunteered to swim over the river to make
certain how matters stood; and presently a dripping figure was seen on
the top of the parapet, beckoning up the Highlanders, who rushed in to
find the works here abandoned to them without a blow. The Martinière,
close by, was carried with almost equal ease, the Sepoys swarming out
like rats from a sinking ship; and thus quickly a footing had already
been gained in those elaborate defences. Before the day was over, we
held the enemy's first line of defence.
For another two days, the operations went on without a check, Outram
advancing on the opposite side as far as the bridges and bombarding
the works in the city from flank and rear, while Sir Colin took and
occupied, one by one, the strong buildings, some of which, already
familiar to his companions in the former attack, were found still
tainted by the corpses of its victims, but this time gave not so much
trouble. Jung Bahadoor now arrived with his Goorkhas, enabling the line
of assault to be extended to the left. Two more days, Sir Colin sapped
and stormed his way through fortified buildings on the open ground
between the river and the city, choosing this slow progress rather
than expose his men to the risk of street-fighting. On the 14th, the
third line of works was seized, and our men pressed eagerly forward
into the courts and gardens of the Kaiser Bagh, which at once fell into
their hands with some confused slaughter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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