Our defences progressed, but labour was not so easy to procure as it had been some days before.
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The enemy being in strength so near, it was deemed advisable to withdraw the troops from cantonments, which was quietly done at sunset; and it being expected that the enemy would march on Lucknow, Sir Henry Lawrence thought it advisable to move out with a strong force, hoping to meet and oppose them before they entered the suburbs of the city. In order to prevent any notice reaching the enemy of the intended movement, the orders were not given out publicly till 3 o'clock on the following morning, and at the same hour twenty Seikhs under Lieutenant Birch were to be sent to the Iron Bridge, in order to prevent any one crossing over with intelligence of the movement to the enemy.
June 30th.—Pursuant to orders, a force, comprising 150 of the 32nd from the Muchee Bhawun, 130 of the 13th Native Infantry, forty Seikhs of the 13th Native Infantry, the 48th, numbering fifty bayonets, the European cavalry thirty-six strong, the Oude Irregular Cavalry, about ninety men, four of the guns of Kaye's battery (Europeans), two of Alexander's guns (natives), two of Bryce's guns (natives), and an eight-inch howitzer, found in the town a few days ago, and which was drawn by two elephants, assembled at the iron bridge at 5·45 A.M. The advance guard was composed of twenty-five Seikh Cavalry, and fifteen European Cavalry; twenty Seikh Infantry, and twenty of the 32nd Regiment, the whole under the command of Captain Stevens of the 32nd Foot.
The eight-inch howitzer, two guns of Alexander's battery, two of Kaye's battery, the 13th Native Infantry, two of Bryce's guns, and the detachment of the 32nd Foot, formed the main body, and marched in the above order. The rear guard was composed of the 48th Native Infantry, under Colonel Palmer; the whole force being under the personal command of Sir Henry Lawrence. It was the Brigadier-General's original intention only to proceed to the end of the Pucka road, to the village of Kocaralee; and on their arrival there, our force was halted, and the Brigadier-General, with the advanced guard, proceeded about a mile to the front, whence no one was to be seen. The force was on the point of being ordered to return, when it was decided to make a further reconnaissance; and soon after the enemy were fallen in with, in overwhelming numbers, and the force was compelled to retire with the loss of the eight-inch howitzer, and three 9-pounders.
The enemy came boldly on, and invested us on all sides, firing from all the houses round, which they rapidly loopholed; they also erected a hasty battery for the eight-inch howitzer across the river, from which they threw several well-directed shells; and they began to collect boats for a bridge across the river, the iron bridge being under fire from the Redan.
July 1st.—The enemy threw in a very heavy fire of musketry all day and night. Early in the morning they advanced to attack, but were repulsed on all sides with considerable loss from our shells, guns, and musketry. Mr. McRae, of the Civil Engineers Department, and Lieutenant Dashwood, 48th Native Infantry, were wounded, while assisting in working an 18-pounder in the Post Office Battery.
During the day attempts were made to get messengers to cross over to the Muchee Bhawun fort; two or three men started, but as their success was very doubtful, it was determined to work the telegraph on the top of the Residency. This had been previously arranged by the engineer in concert with one on the Muchee Bhawun; it simply consisted of one post with a bar at the top, from which were suspended in one row black stuffed bags, each having its own pulley to work it. After having attracted the attention of the Muchee Bhawun Garrison, the greatest difficulty was found in working the telegraph, from various causes; the chief of which was the tremendous fire which the enemy opened on the spot directly they saw our people on the flat open roof of the Residency. It rained rifle balls, principally from the top of the jail, and some few of the ropes of the bags were actually cut by them; then the pulleys went wrong, and twice the whole machine had to be taken down, and after readjustment put up again. After three hours' hard work under a broiling sun and a heavy fire, the transfer of messages was at last completed.
The message was simply an order to blow up the place and come to the Residency at 12 P.M., bringing the treasure and guns, and destroying as much as possible all spare ammunition. The night was anxiously looked for, as the retreat of the retiring force might be intercepted, and the enemy had the advantage of position. To help the movement, the Brigadier-General gave orders that shortly before 12 P.M., the different mortars and guns from our batteries should open fire, in order to distract the attention of the enemy. This was carried out; especially towards the iron bridge, by which the force must pass.
The movement was most successfully performed; and so quick and noiseless was the march, that at 12·15 the head of the column was at the Lower Water Gate. Here there was some little delay, as the force not being so quickly expected, the gates had not been opened. A very serious accident had nearly happened in consequence of this, for the leading men, finding the gates closed, shouted out "Open the gates," and the artillerymen at the guns above, which, loaded with grape, covered the entrance, mistook the words for "Open with grape," and were already at the guns, when an officer put them right. The whole force came in without a shot being fired.