Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 42.djvu/379

 dying Havelock, who was buried on the 25th at the Alam-bágh.

After the evacuation of the residency, Sir Colin Campbell determined to leave Outram with a field force at the Alam-bágh position to hold the city of Lucknow in check until Sir Colin had placed his convoy in safety and disposed of the Gwáliár mutineers, and circumstances should admit of its capture. For three months Outram's division, consisting of about five thousand men and twenty-five guns, kept in check 120,000 organised troops with more than 130 guns. Holding the Alam-bágh with a small detachment and a few guns, Outram pitched his camp in the open about half a mile behind it. He occupied a position across the road to Cawnpore, and covered it by batteries, trenches, and obstacles. The leader of the rebels at Lucknow was the famous Moulvi known as Ahmad Shah. He made determined efforts to sever Outram's communications, and continually harassed his outposts. On 22 Dec. 1857, on 12 and 16 Jan., and on 15 and 21 Feb. 1858, sharp engagements were fought, in which Outram's troops were successful. The last and most desperate attack was made by the rebels on 25 Feb., and it was not till the dawn of the 26th that they were completely routed and fell back on Lucknow. On 1 March 1858 Sir Colin Campbell returned to take Lucknow. Outram was placed in command of a large force of picked troops on the north side of the Gúmti, and he had an admirable second-in-command and leader of his cavalry in Sir James Hope Grant. Outram, crossing the river on 6 March, pitched his camp near the Faizabad road. On 9 March he made his attack; himself leading the left column across the Kokrail stream, he seized the Chakar Kothi, or yellow house, the key of the enemy's position in that quarter, and, driving the rebels to the river, threw up batteries on its bank to keep down the enemy's fire and explode the works in rear of the Martinière. On 10 March he strengthened his position, repelled the attack of the enemy, and kept up the fire of his batteries upon the Kaisar-bágh and main street. The Kaisar-bágh fell to Sir Colin Campbell on the morning of the 14th. On the 16th Outram, having recrossed the Gúmti, advanced through the Chattar Manzil and carried the residency. On the morning of the 19th Outram attacked the Músa-bágh, held by five thousand men and thirteen guns, and carried it, capturing twelve guns. So ended the capture of Lucknow.

Outram was appointed military member of the governor-general's council, and, handing over the charge of Oudh to Robert Montgomery, left Lucknow on 4 April and joined Lord Canning at Allahabad. Many important matters, such as the reorganisation of the Indian army, were under consideration during Outram's tenure of office, and he left many wise and carefully prepared minutes recording his views. For his services at the Alam-bágh he received the thanks of parliament, and he again received them at the close of the Oudh campaign and the fall of Lucknow. A baronetcy was conferred upon him by the queen, and the House of Commons voted him an annuity of 1,000l., to be continued to his immediate successor. In June 1858 his friends in Bombay presented him with a silver shield, designed by H. H. Armitstead, R.A., and called the Outram shield. It has been on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington. On 16 July Outram was promoted lieutenant-general. In October the city of London resolved to confer upon him its freedom and to present him with a sword of honour.

In July 1860 Outram's health gave way. He resigned his seat in the council of the viceroy, and, after a public entertainment at Calcutta, left India for good. An equestrian statue of him by J. H. Foley, R.A., was erected on the Maidan in Calcutta by public subscription. On the institution of the order of the Star of India in 1861, Outram was one of the first to receive the honour of K.S.I. In October 1861 he went to Egypt for the winter. In June the following year he received the honorary degree of D.C.L. from the university of Oxford. In July a deputation, headed by the Duke of Argyll, of subscribers to the London testimonial of silver plate waited upon him at his residence in Queen's Gate Gardens to make the presentation. He died at Pau in the south of France on 11 March 1863. His remains were honoured with a public funeral and buried in Westminster Abbey. The grave is near the centre of the nave, marked by a marble slab bearing the words, ‘The Bayard of India.’ Over the doorway on the south side of the nave is a bust of Outram by Matthew Noble, R.A., erected by the secretary of state for India in council. A statue by Noble has also been erected on the Thames Embankment. There is a portrait by Brigstocke in the Oriental Club, London. It was taken late in life, when Outram was a confirmed invalid, and the portrait is feeble and uncharacteristic. There is also an unfinished head in the National Portrait Gallery done by the same artist. Outram sat for his portrait also to A. Buxton at Sir Joseph Fayrer's request.

Outram was a good soldier and a skilful diplomatist. Filled with ambition, he was