Page:List of inscriptions on Christian tombs and tablets of historical interest in the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh.djvu/237



Note.—Almost all the Lucknow tombs belong to the Mutiny period. The operations in and around Lucknow are necessarily complicated. Fighting went on almost without cessation from June 1857 to the end of March 1858, and during that time six scenes of the great drama were played out all on the same stage, viz. (1) Lawrence’s and Inglis’s defence of the Residency, (2) Havelock and Outram’s so-called relief (really no more than a reinforcement), (3) Havelock and Outram’s second defence of an extended position; (4) Sir Colin Campbell’s second relief, (5) Outram’s operations at the Alambagh, (6) Sir Colin Campbell’s capture of Lucknow. If the tombs are to be presented in some intelligible form and not as a mere jumble, passing from one to another of these scenes in the most confusing way, it is necessary that a sort of key, in the shape of a chronological skeleton of the operations should be given. This seems to be the easiest method of attaining lucidity without sacrificing the ordinary arrangements of the tombs by localities.

26th May 1857.—The English residents were housed in the Residency.

30th May—Mutiny of the 13th and 71st N. I. and destruction of the cantonments by fire.

31st May—Mutiny of the rest of the troops (48th N. I., Oudh force and cavalry); pursuit by British troops and faithful native troops.

1st June—Sir Henry Lawrence took up his quarters in the Residency.

30th June—Battle of Chinhat, and commencement of the siege of the Residency.

1st July—Destruction of the Machi Bhawan by its garrison.

2nd ,, —Sir Henry Lawrence mortally wounded.

4th ,, —Death of Sir Henry Lawrence. Succeeded by Brigadier Inglis in military command, and Major Banks as Chief Commissioner.

7th July—Sortie against Johannes’ House.

20th ,, —First assault. Mining operations commenced and went on regularly to the end of the defence. (There were 37 mines, of which only one was successful, between this date and the 25th September).

10th August—Second assault.

12th. ,, —A vigorous cannonade rendered the Cawnpore Battery untenable. Two sorties under General Inglis and Lieutenant Hutchinson.

17th August—Destruction of Johannes’ House.

18th ,, -—Successful mine, and 3rd assault on Sikh Square.

5th September —Fourth assault.

6th ,, —-Fulton’s sortie.

23rd ,, —Havelock and Outram’s battle of the Alambagh.

25th September—First Relief.—A running fight began at the Alambagh, which ended at the seizure of the Char Bridge, which was held by the 78th Highlanders. The route was then along the canal as