CHAPTER XIV.

FINAL RELIEF OF LUCKNOW.

New Difficulties-Outram and Havelock resolve to remain with the Garrison-Havelock pushes his Line of Defence further towards the City-His Troops occupy a Palace-Havelock finds Lucknow undermined-An Incident illustrating Havelock's CharacterScarcity of Provisions-Havelock countermines-Campbell's approach-Reviews the Army-The Highlanders-Campbell encounters the Enemy-Massacre at Secunderabagh-Severe Fight around a Mosque-Havelock advances to Meet Campbell-Garrison Relieved-Havelock taken Sick-His Last hours-Closing Scene-Is Buried in the Alumbagh-His Character-Campbell falls back on Cawnpore.

SOON as the "army of relief" effected a junction with the garrison, Havelock's separate command, which Outram had so generously allowed him to retain, ceased, and the latter became commander-inchief of all the forces. But at this juncture a new and unexpected difficulty arose. Although Havelock and Outram had cut their way through unparalleled difficulties to their comrades and countrymen, and had reached the goal they had struggled so nobly to win, they still found themselves involved in the most serious embarrassments. One thing was certain, if unencumbered with baggage, it had cost them a

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DILEMMA OF THE ARMY.

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third of the entire force to advance, it would be impossible with the other two-thirds to retrace their steps, and carry with them all the sick and wounded and between 400 and 500 women and children. The attempt would provoke the very massacre which they had made such great sacrifices to prevent, and must not be thought of, until every other resource had failed. Only two courses then remained open-either to leave a reinforcement with the garrison, and cut their way out as they had fought their way in, or to remain together until another army could arrive, and, in the meantime, by their greater force, conquer and occupy a larger space than that now inclosed by the defences. The objection to the first, was, that it would be impossible to leave over 300 behind, and yet hope to force their way once more into the open country. But 300 would not be sufficient to enlarge the present area of the garrison while they would only add so many more mouths to be fed from the already scanty supplies. It was therefore resolved to let the baggage and sick remain at Alumbagh under charge of the escort there, and with the main army stand by the garrison and at least free it from its precarious dependence on the natiye troops. They were more inclined to adopt this course from the knowledge that troops were on the way from England and China, and must soon reach India.

The very next day after the arrival of Havelock, a singular incident occurred. Three prisoners were being tried by drum-head court-martial, when a round-shot from the enemy's batteries, came and killed the trio on the spot.

Immediately after the commanders had come to a

decision, Havelock was directed to clear the palaces in front of the Residency, and occupy them with his column, while Inglis, who retained the command of the garrison, was reinforced by the brave Madras fusileers. These palaces stretched from the Kaiserbagh across to the Goomtee River, and were splendid specimens of Eastern architecture. They were surrounded with gardens embellished with fountains, fairy-like domes and bridges, while the solid wall that inclosed them furnished an excellent protection to troops. These Havelock carried in rapid succession, with comparatively but slight loss. The three most important were the Kothe, Furred Busch, and Chuttuh Munzil, which lay in a row along the river.

Into the gorgeous apartments of these palaces, Havelook's hardy soldiers took up their quarters and strolled carelessly through marble corridors or reclined on luxurious cushions. The costliest China was used by the Highlanders for their scanty meals, while silks and cashmere shawls, and elaborate ornaments lay scattered about, unheeded and uncared for. Around the sparkling fountains of the gardens, and along the shaded gravel walks, lay dead Sepoys, festering in the sun, while to complete the scene of strange contrasts, came the crash of cannon and blazing shells of the enemy. In the Residency there was no safe place for the multitude of the wounded, and for a long time many of them had to lie out of doors, unattended to, and filling the air with their suppressed groans and sighs of suffering.

A few days after Havelock entered the Residency, there occurred one of those little incidents so illustra

A CHARACTERISTIC INCIDENT.

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tive of his character. Outram wishing to inspect the earth-works near the Thuggee jail, took with him his staff and Generals Inglis and Havelock, and repaired thither. He walked between Inglis and Napier, clad in the rich undress uniform of a major-general-the blue frock coat profusely braided, and pantaloons to match-while Havelock followed behind in the plain undress of a staff-surgeon without any of the gold and braid that indicate the uniform of a brigadiergeneral. After Outram had finished his inspection he harangued the troops, but Havelock had nothing to say, and a mere spectator would never have dreamed that the slight, plainly-dressed figure which kept so completely in the background, was the conqueror of Oude-the hero of Lucknow. Unobtrusive in his manner on all ordinary occasions, as he was conspicuous when the stormy tide of battle wavered -silent when there was nothing for his troops to do, yet trumpet-tongued when summoning them to the final charge, he was at all times a man of deeds, not of words, of facts and not of symbols. In relieving Lucknow, he had accomplished the great mission on which he was sent had performed his duty, and was satisfied.

Havelock, in clearing and occupying the ground in front of the Residency, had made a startling discovery; he found six mines constructed under the defences of the garrison, one 200 feet long, directly beneath them and ready for loading. The firing of these, which his timely arrival alone prevented, would have left the brave garrison entirely defenceless.

Havelock took up his quarters in Mr. Ommaney's

house, the judicial commissioner of Oude, who had been killed in the siege; but every morning he made on foot the entire circuit of the palaces and gardens occupied by his troops, two miles in extent, and reported to Outram. He did not, at this time, complain of feeling ill, but the loss of flesh and increased pallor of his face caused anxiety in those who were intimately acquainted with him. The mental and physical strain he had been under for the last three or four months was too severe for one approaching his threescore and ten, and he now needed healthful diet and pure air. The pestilential atmosphere arising from the cattle that lay putrifying in the open grounds, and the scanty, unhealthy food to which he was reduced, were fast preparing his system for the disease that finally laid him in the grave.

The history of the garrison, up to the time of its final relief by Campbell, would be but a recapitulation of its experience during the long summer months. Havelock entered it on the 25th of September, and remained closely blockaded until the 17th of November, nearly two months.

The communication with their provisions at Alumbagh being soon cut off, food became scarce for horses and men, and they both grew gaunt and thin, till their bones stuck out of their flesh. Casualties constantly occurring-cannonading, musketry, bugling, and shouts by day and night; solemn services on the Sabbath amid the roar of guns; sad prayermeetings, sickness and death made up the weekly record of the suffering garrison. So accustomed did every one become to this monotony of danger and