We shelled the enemy heavily during the forenoon, throwing them far into the town and across the river. Lieutenant Bryce was badly wounded in the thigh early this morning; and later in the day, Lieutenant O'Brien of the 84th was shot through the arm. In the evening the enemy kept up a heavy fusilade, and we shelled them smartly; they fired a shell which narrowly escaped falling into our bhoosah stack. At half-past 11 o'clock, they fired a good deal on the Cawnpore battery, and made a feint of attacking, but finding us well on the alert did not do so. Our wheat-grinding operations continued, and we now had hand-mills sufficiently well worked to grind twenty maunds of atta daily. During the night we threw up a stockade and traverse, as a protection against the musketry which swept the entrance of the Residency.
July 17th.—The heat excessive. A very heavy fire during the night, and the garrison kept on the alert, preventing rest and greatly fatiguing all. Several cases of cholera and deaths of children occurred. Twenty-two maunds of wheat were ground.
To-day a bad accident occurred: Lieutenant Alexander, of the Artillery, and Captain Barlow, 50th Native Infantry, in firing a mortar, were most severely burnt by the piece going off at the time of loading. The enemy sent two shells into the Residency which exploded, but fortunately caused no loss of life. The stench from putrid animals was most offensive. Painful boils about the head were very prevalent. The wounded doing well. The prisoners and main guard removed to another place, in order to give more room at the hospital.
The enemy were busy making more batteries and intrenchments. In the night about 12 o'clock, the enemy made an attack on Mr. Gubbins's position, but were received with a steady fire, and soon driven back.
July 18th.—Rain began falling about 4 A.M. and continued to do so till 8 A.M., when the heat became insufferable. The enemy fired several round shot, which hit the brigade mess; and they also took up an annoying position in one of the towers which remained of the Ferad Buksh gate. They were, however, speedily dislodged by a few exceedingly well-directed shots from Lieutenant Bonham, from an 18-pounder in the Post-office. Two children died of cholera. In the evening the enemy fired many round shot into the Post-office, Dr. Fayrer's, Mr. Gubbins's and the brigade mess house: they evidently had been reinforced in guns. At night, Brigadier Inglis, Captain Wilson, Lieutenant Innes, and Ensign Birch, proceeded to the gate with eight Europeans, and dragged in a body that was seen lying near the gate, and which it was supposed might be the body of one of our spies shot coming in. It was safely brought in, and found to be the corpse of a woman. Nothing was found on the body. The enemy got into the turret on the top of Mr. Johannes' house, and fired into the Cawnpore battery: fortunately no casualties occurred, and the night, which was fearfully oppressive, passed away with a heavy fire from the enemy.
July 19th.—Dreadful heat: cloudy, but no rain. Enemy fired round shot all the morning. About half-past 9 a large shot passed through a room in the Residency, in which the officers were at breakfast, fracturing the leg of Lieutenant Harmer, 32nd Foot, but providentially injuring no one else; about the same time Lieutenant Arthur, 7th Cavalry, was shot dead (through the heart) in the Cawnpore battery. Our 18-pounder fired several shots, and we threw several shells. The enemy seemed to be at work at the Muchee Bhawun, probably looking for shot which had been buried in the ruins.
About 12 o'clock to-day the enemy sounded the advance, and threatened an attack on the Redan. A few shells, however, soon made them give up all idea of coming on. They got into Johannes' house in force, and fired steadily into the cook-house of the brigade mess.
Much drunkenness prevailed amongst a few of the garrison, who had stolen quantities of liquor, which could not be discovered. From the commencement of the siege, the large quantities of liquor in the hands of the merchants caused much anxiety, and every possible endeavour was made to get it all into safe custody. One or two alarms during the early part of the night. Mr. Polehampton (wounded and in hospital) died this day from cholera.
July 20th.—From midnight the enemy remained unusually quiet, and at daylight all seemed much as usual. About half-past 8 A.M. it was reported that a very large body of men could be seen marching about in different directions within a few hundred yards of our position. A sharp look-out was kept, and the garrison stood to their arms. At a quarter-past 10, the enemy sprung a mine inside the water gate, and about twenty-five yards from our inner defences: the explosion was great, and was evidently intended to have blown up our Redan battery, and also to act as a signal; for immediately the dust and smote subsided, a very heavy fire of round shot was commenced from every gun that the enemy possessed, followed immediately almost by a terrific fire of musketry, under which the enemy made an attempt to storm the Redan and Innes' house. The garrison were ready, and every one at his post, and the attack was coolly met and repulsed; however the enemy advanced boldly and came up within twenty-five yards of the battery in immense force, but were unable to withstand the fire of our men.
They made a similar attempt on Innes' house, but were similarly repulsed by the garrison, consisting of twelve men of the 32nd, twelve of the 13th Native Infantry, and a few uncovenanted gentlemen, under Ensign Loughnan (who distinguished himself greatly): very great loss was inflicted on the enemy, who repeatedly tried to advance, but were driven back each time with much slaughter. Finding their efforts useless, the enemy fell back, and contented themselves with throwing in a terrific storm of musketry; from which we shielded our men as much as possible, by keeping them laid under our defences. Almost at the same time an attack was made on the Cawnpore Battery, but the enemy's standard-bearer (who advanced bravely) being shot in the ditch of the battery, the rest fell back. The enemy now moved towards Lieutenant Anderson's house and Captain Germon's post, with scaling-ladders, but were well received and fell back with much loss. The attack was now over, though for the rest of the day, until 4 P.M., the enemy threw in a heavy fire; when it gradually subsided: the attack was mostly confined to the points above noted.