At night the officers buried a horse which had died close to the brigade square; the night was intensely hot and close, and the labour was excessive:—the horse having died on the Pucka road, had to be dragged to a considerable distance before a grave could be dug. A great many of the stores were also brought up from the church by the assistance of a fatigue party of officers, who had all the carts to load and unload. Two of the 32nd Foot were killed during the night, which passed off with a heavy fire.
July 12th.—The heat still excessive, and the fatigue of the garrison was very great. Enemy were most persevering, and loopholed every place within fifty or sixty yards of our defences. They were evidently determined to do their best to get into the position, and had closed in on every side. We had no intelligence from any quarter; for though we had sent out many messengers, not one returned.
About 8 o'clock in the evening the enemy made an attempt to attack the Baillie Gate; but fell back, on being received with shells and musketry. About 12 P.M. they renewed their efforts on Mr. Gubbins's side with similar effect. They repeatedly sounded the advance, and were frequently heard abusing each other for not advancing. In half an hour they retired, and for the rest of the night they contented themselves with a heavy fire on the Cawnpore battery.
July 13th.—The heat was dreadful, and garrison were greatly fatigued. The enemy reoccupied Johannes's house, and fired smartly down the street, killing two sepoys and wounding a conductor: they also pushed close up under the Redan, and greatly annoyed our outposts. Lieutenant Charlton of the 32nd Foot was shot through the head in the church, and very dangerously wounded. Several shells were fired into Johannes's house, and the walls of the house opposite to it were loopholed. Nevertheless we could not dislodge them, and they annoyed us greatly. The Havildar-major of the 13th was wounded through the thigh to-day.
The enemy possessed many excellent marksmen, and fired so many shots from every point that it was exceedingly dangerous to be seen anywhere, even for an instant: they fired several logs of wood bound with iron, and were evidently at this period hard up for round shot. In the evening they fired several carcases, and succeeded once in setting the Residency on fire; but it was soon extinguished. All the European officers laboured hard to get the supplies out of the church.
July 14th.—Heavy rain, thunder and lightning, and night intensely dark. No alarms, and less firing than usual. Heavy rain at daybreak, which cleared off at 9 o'clock, when the enemy assembled in force. They were apparently undecided how to act, for they moved about in various directions, and in about half an hour retired altogether; but they fired many carcases, shot, and logs of wood shod with iron, and displayed several new batteries. We threw up a traverse near the Post-office gate, in order to save our people from the fire from Johannes's house, which was very sharp. Our sharp-shooters killed four of the enemy in Johannes's house. Four Seikhs of the 13th deserted, leaving their arms and accoutrements. Still no information of any kind.
Enemy erecting new batteries; one of which opened about 5 P.M. with a 9-pounder on the gable end of the brigade mess, occupied by the ladies and children, and the roof of which was held by a party of officers, assisted by six men of the 32nd. At the first discharge, a soldier of the 32nd had his thigh fractured, rendering amputation necessary. They fired several iron shot, which tore away the parapet; but fortunately no one else was hurt. The night was very dark, and the enemy fired a great deal; more particularly on Mr. Gubbins's post, where Lieutenant Lester was mortally wounded: towards daylight the fire abated. Several cases of cholera. The enemy's fire to-day destroyed a 9-pounder of ours, smashing the axle tree all to pieces.
July 15th.—The enemy opened fire from their 9-pounder battery, situated about fifty yards from the end of the brigade mess, and fired many shots; but the garrison laid close, and up to 3 P.M. no casualties occurred. Towards the middle of the day, the enemy's fire lulled to a greater extent than it had ever done since the siege commenced.
The stores out of Anderson's house got in; the house being entirely destroyed by round shot; though still nobly held by the garrison. A mortar moved down to the gate of the Post-office, behind the traverse, and several shells were thrown into Johannes's house. All much as usual. The enemy fired three rounds of grape into the Redan battery during the night, but fortunately hit no one.
July 16th.—The heat during the night was fearful. A slight alarm about 2 A.M., but it was soon over. The enemy fired smartly throughout the night, and in the morning sent several round shot through the roof of the brigade mess, and hit the Residency. They were busy, besides, making batteries in the garden of Johannes's house, and opposite the 13th and the Cawnpore battery.