Page:The Lucknow album 1874 by Darogha Ubbas Alli.djvu/39

 the unprecedented boldness, the reckless bravery of that gallant soldier, General Neil, has already rilled the world with astonishment. With a small force, he traversed the country, and, in all the terrible engagements he fought, never knew defeat. His name struck terror into the hearts of the rebels, the mere mention of " Neil" caused trembling and flight. That resolute soldier, in his unbroken career of conquest, saved station after station, relieved Allahabad, and, to the amazement and consternation of the enemy, pursued them so rapidly, that they had the greatest difficulty to escape. In pursuance of the inexorable determination and energy which characterized him, he advanced to the relief of Lucknow, and while leading his numerically diminutive, but valiant, followers through the gate, shown in the view, to the rescue of the beleaguered Garrison, in which he knew there were not only British soldiers in danger, but ladies and little children ; a. shot from a battery of the enemy's in Kaiser Bagh struck him, and deprived England of as intrepid and successful a soldier as she ever possessed.

To mark the spot where he fell, there certainly ought to be a monument, or something better than the wretched little arch, seen in the view ; however, General Neil was not the man to claim honors from his country ; his pride lay in the knowledge of having done his duty ; and he did it well.

Beyond this spot, is the ground on which formerly stood the barracks of a Police Battalion, under command of Captain Adolphus Orr. This Battalion rebelled, and in their pursuit poor Thornhill, of the Civil Service, a son-in-law of Sir Henry Havelock, received a wound, which proved mortal.