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 CHAPTER XX.

THE RELIEF OF LUCKNOW.

the 6th of November, Captain Peel with five hundred of his gallant bluejackets marched from Cawnpore, taking with them the heavy siege guns. Three days later they joined General Grant's column, which was encamped at a short distance from the Alumbagh, and in communication with the force holding that position. On the 9th Sir Colin Campbell, who had come out from England with all speed to assume the chief command in India, arrived in camp, and his coming was hailed with delight by the troops, who felt that the hour was now at hand when the noble garrison of Lucknow were to be rescued.

The total force collected for the relief were—Her Majesty's Eighth, Fifty-third, Seventy-fifth, and Ninety-third Regiments of infantry; two regiments of Punjab infantry; and a small party of native sappers and miners. The cavalry consisted of the Ninth Lancers, and detachments of Sikh Cavalry and Hodgson's Horse. The artillery comprised Peel's Naval Brigade, with eight heavy guns, ten guns of the Royal Horse Artillery, six light field guns, and a heavy battery of the Royal Artillery. A total of about twenty-seven hundred infantry and artillery, and nine hundred cavalry.

On the morning of the 10th, Mr. Kavanagh, a civilian, came into camp. He had, disguised as a native, started the evening before from the Residency with a native