Page:The tourist's guide to Lucknow.djvu/204

Rh was made on the 10th August: the enemy's fire was incessant, especially from the 8-inch howitzer lost at Chinhut, which played on this post with fatal effect, bringing down beam after beam of the roof, and making a great many breaches in the wall. Captain Graydon was shot while superintending some works on a mound in front of the outpost. In September this place, after having sustained such a severe cannonading, was pronounced unsafe, two sides having fallen in, and nearly burying the sentries in the ruins.

The following account of the post and its defence has been kindly supplied by Mr. E. Bickers, who 'received a severe wound at this place :—

"Innes' House was situated at the extreme end of the intrenchments and towards the north of the Church. It was regarded as an outpost, and very indifferently protected. On the south side there was a masonry wall six feet high. In this post there were a few out-offices and a wooden barricade. On the north there was also a range of out-offices, and here and there bare walls scarcely five feet high. The east of the house almost faced the Residency. There was no cannon at this post, but one was obtained for three days, with the permission of the Brigadier-General, and directed towards the enemy's gun, near the Iron Bridge, which did considerable damage to the house as well as the Residency building. But our gun only served to increase the fire of the enemy, and the General ordered it to be withdrawn, as the post was greatly exposed, and it was feared the enemy might attempt to take possession of it. The 20th July was a memorable day to the beleaguered garrison, as on that day the enemy made a most desperate attack (see page 49).

"They sprang a mine at the Redan Battery, which was the signal for a general attack that lasted the whole day. About 2,000 of the enemy assembled towards Innes' post, which they endeavoured to storm, making every effort to burn down the barricade, but we kept up a galling fire from the out-offices and shot several of the leading men, when they were compelled to retire. Our loss, on that occasion, in killed and wounded, was about four; and it was fortunate we were protected by the out-ofﬁces, or the casualties on our side would have been far greater. The Brigadier-General was so pleased with our exertions that he came to the post and thanked us in person. There was another sharp attack on the 12th August and afterwards on two or three occasions, but nothing compared to the desperate assault of 20th July."