Page:The tourist's guide to Lucknow.djvu/193

Rh by breaches with the Jail, Native Hospital, Martiniere Post and Cawnpore Battery, as well as the Judicial and Anderson's garrisons. Major Anderson, the Chief Engineer, whose head-quarters were at this place, and from whence he directed all engineering operations, died here, of dysentery on the 11th August, 1857.

This building, situated on the Cawnpore road, was two storied, on high ground, and formed the south-east angle of our position. It was defended by a party of the 32nd Regiment and Uncovenanted Civilians, under the command of Captain Anderson, 25th Native Infantry. It was surrounded by a trench, within which was a stockade bound with interlaced bamboos. This was one of the most exposed outworks in the place, as the enemy, throughout the siege, were only distant forty yards on the left, and from seventy to eighty yards on the front.

It was exposed day and night to the fire of the enemy's heavy guns, and when it is remembered how close these were planted, some idea may be formed as to the effect on the building. Among the foe's heavy ordnance was an 8-inch howitzer. This piece used to throw shells clean through the walls of the house, and right into the room where the Commander and Volunteers slept, eight in number. Later in the siege nine Europeans and at Sergeant of the 32nd joined the little garrison, making in all, with the Commander and a Subaltern Officer, only twenty men! Mr. Capper, of the Civil Service, had a narrow escape in this house, having been buried in the debris of the verandah. Corporal William Oxenham, 32nd Foot, saved the life of Mr. Capper, by extricating him from the ruins of the verandah while exposed to heavy fire.

On the 20th July the enemy advanced to the attack in force, led by a man carrying a green standard, who was shot, and fell into the trench, upon which the remainder lied. On the 10th August another attack was made with identical results. This, from its salient position, was one of the most important and dangerous of the out posts. It was two storied, and had also a tykhana, or subterranean room, from which the defensive mines were he gun. The upper storey was battered to pieces, but was a valuable look-out.

The enemy sprang a mine directed at this post on the 10th August. This immediately led to the construction of a series of countermines, which were eventually united. Through their agency, a mine of the enemy's was detected and destroyed on the 9th September.