Page:The tourist's guide to Lucknow.djvu/194

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This battery was commenced in the early part of June, under the directions of Lieutenant J. C. Anderson. It was defended by a party of the 32nd Regiment, under the command of Captain Radcliffe, 7th Light Cavalry. It mounted an 18-pounder facing the Cawnpore Road, a 9-pounder commanding Johannes' house, and another 9-pounder to sweep the road leading towards Golagunj, in front of La Martiniere Post and Brigade Mess.

The platform on which the guns were placed was protected by a stockade and trench leading past Anderson's Post.

The battery was of little use, seeing that the men could not stand by their guns on account of the heavy musketry fire directed at them from the turret of Johannes' house. Many of its defenders were shot daily in their endeavours to keep the enemy out; and even thus it must frequently have been lost, but for the flanking fire kept up from La Martiniere Post, and the rifles of the everwatchful defenders of the Brigade Mess.

At this post were killed, on 9th July, Mr Bryson, of the Volunteer Cavalry; on 19th, Lieutenant Arthur, 7th Light Cavalry: and Lieutenant Lewin, of the Artillery, on the 26th. Captain Radcliffe, the Commander, was severely wounded, on 25th September, from the effects of which he died.

Was a lower-storied building, with a verandah, having a sloping room protected by a mud wall pierced for musketry. It overlooked Johannes' wall and contained three large rooms, with a tykhana beneath, having the same number of rooms. There was another tykhana under the verandah. A mud wall, about nine feet high, was constructed leading in a straight line to the wall of the next house, La Martiniere Post, protecting very imperfectly a little yard with a well in the centre.

By the 10th of August this house was nearly reduced to ruins by the incessant fire of the enemy. The verandah first came down, then the outer wall was demolished. In this house were placed the valuable library of Captain Hayes, and other property belonging to Officers, Which was totally destroyed.

In August a large quantity of small picks, phowrahs and tarpaulins were discovered stored on the roof.