Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 40.djvu/183

 mand-in-chief to Sir Colin Campbell (afterwards Lord Clyde) [q. v.], wrote a friendly letter to Neill, impressing upon him the necessity of loyally supporting his immediate superiors. Unfortunately Neill did not act upon this advice. He opened a correspondence with Outram, who was coming up with reinforcements to take command, and expressed his opinions as freely to him as he had done to Grant. Havelock and Neill were essentially unlike both in character and disposition, and neither sufficiently appreciated the other. But despite Neill's attitude of disloyalty to Havelock, which is the one blot upon Neill's fame, Havelock was magnanimous enough to take Neill with him in the advance to Lucknow, with the rank of brigadier-general to command the right wing of the force. On the 15th, on Outram's arrival, the arrangement was confirmed, and orders issued, the right wing consisting of the 5th and 84th foot, the Madras fusiliers, and Maude's battery of artillery.

The advance commenced on 19 Sept. On the 21st the enemy opened fire, but were driven off the field. Then it rained incessantly, but the column marched on until half-past three, when the troops were quartered in a small serai. It rained all night and all the 22nd, when a similar march was made without any fighting, and on the arrival of the force at their bivouac the guns at Lucknow were distinctly heard. On the 23rd there was a bright sun, and the men felt the heat greatly. On approaching the Alambagh, where a considerable force of the enemy was posted, fire was opened by the British force advancing in line as soon as they came within range. While crossing a deep watercourse Neill's horse plunged and nearly fell, and as he did so a round shot grazed the horse's quarters, passing a few inches behind Neill. The line was exposed to a heavy fire, and many fell. Neill rode in front of the Madras fusiliers, and cheered on the men, waving his helmet. The enemy were driven back a mile beyond the Alambagh, and the force occupied the Alambagh for the night. The baggage had not come up, and a pouring rain for an hour caused discomfort to the force. Neill at once got permission for an extra dram for the men. On the morning of the 24th the enemy's fire was annoying, and the force was ordered to move a thousand yards to the rear, to be more out of range of the enemy's guns; but in executing the movement there was much confusion among the baggage animals and carts, and the rebel cavalry charged the rearguard and baggage-guard, killing a good many men. Neill ordered up two guns and the volunteer cavalry. The rebel cavalry galloped off again, leaving fifteen of their number dead. Then Havelock's force rested, and arrangements were made for the attack. On the morning of the 25th Neill marched off at 8 A.M. with the first brigade in advance. The brigade consisted of Maude's field battery of artillery, the 5th fusiliers, a detachment of the 64th regiment, the 84th foot, and the Madras fusiliers. They had not advanced two hundred yards when they were met with a murderous cross-fire from the rebel guns, and also with a heavy musketry fire. Neill pushed on, telling Maude to do his best to silence the guns. Neill directed his infantry to clear the walled enclosures on each side of the road, whence came the enemy's musketry fire. On turning into a village they were met by two guns firing straight down the road. Neill, at the head of the Madras fusiliers, charged the guns. Numbers of Neill's men were mowed down, but the guns were captured. Neill then led his men round the outskirts of the city with very trifling opposition until they reached the road along the bank of the Gúmti towards the residency. They halted once or twice to let the guns come up, and thought the worst was over. But as they approached the Mess-house and the Kaisar Bagh a sharp musketry fire was opened upon them. The fire was returned, but for some two hundred yards the column was exposed to an incessant storm of bullets and grape shot. It was now nearly sunset. As they passed out of the lane into a courtyard, fire was opened from the tops of the houses on each side. Neill was on his horse giving orders, trying to prevent too hasty a rush through the archway at the end of the court, when he was shot dead from the top of a house. Spurgin, of the Madras fusiliers, saved his body, and, putting it on a gun-carriage, carried it into Lucknow. As the churchyard was too exposed to the enemy's fire to admit of funerals in the daytime, he was buried on the evening of the 26th.

Great was the grief of the brigade for the loss of their commander, and both in India and in England it was felt that the death of Neill was the loss of a very resolute, brave, and energetic general, who had been the first to stem the torrent of revolt, and who had, when in command for a short time, shown a capacity for the position, a fertility of resource, and a confidence in himself that had been equalled by few. Lord Canning, in publishing the despatches on the relief of Lucknow, wrote: ‘Brigadier-general Neill, during his short but active career in Bengal, had won the respect and confidence