Throughout the siege, a regular system of look-out was organised from the top of the tower in the Residency, which commanded a view of the river, the three bridges, and the open country beyond; and also from the roof of the Post-office, from which a great part of the city and the road to Cawnpore could be observed. At the former post the officers were relieved every two hours, and at the latter hourly. At each post a book was kept, in which whatever had been observed was noted down, and if anything unusual, or any new work of the enemy was seen, a report of it was instantly forwarded for Brigadier Inglis's information. A new truck was constructed to enable us to fit out another mortar as a howitzer, for it would be impossible to say how greatly we felt throughout the siege the want of a couple of 8-inch howitzers. To-day, the enemy threw in (evidently from a 13-inch mortar) a piece of wood of very great weight, which measured twelve inches in diameter and eighteen in length! It made a prodigious noise as it passed through the air.
In consequence of the very small stock of rum left in store, all the Europeans were reduced to one dram each per day. This was perhaps the quietest day of the siege up to this date, as we had nothing but a few stray cannon shots and a slight musketry fire throughout the twenty-four hours. About 11 P.M. a very considerable noise was heard in the town, together with much bugling and shouting.
September 19th.—This morning, almost before daylight, we commenced a heavy cannonade from the Post-office on the battery in the square house opposite. During the morning the enemy kept up also a heavy fire all around; particularly on the Residency, which now wore a most desolate tumbledown and dilapidated appearance, from the effect of round shot which had been steadily poured into it daily from the commencement of the siege. About 10·30 A.M. the enemy's battery in the square house, opposite the Post-office was set on fire by our shot, and a pretty sharp fusillade and cannonade was kept up by us to prevent the enemy from distinguishing it; the fire however soon died out. An auction was held this day in the Residency of the property (clothes, &c.) of deceased officers, and the prices that all useful articles fetched was enormous: for instance, a new flannel shirt was knocked down for forty rupees, while five old ones were sold for 112 rupees, and a bottle of brandy brought twenty rupees. A man of the 84th was shot dead at Sago's post early this morning. During the day the enemy threw into our position, probably from an enormous mortar, six pieces of wood about the size and shape of a large oyster barrel; they were thrown up in the air to an enormous height, and came down with almost incredible force.
September 20th.—At 1 A.M. a smart musketry fire and cannonade took place, which lasted for about half an hour. At daylight discovered two new batteries, which the enemy had very nearly completed, and one of which contained a 32-pounder. We opened on them with a howitzer and an 18-pounder, but did them little mischief; the batteries having been made excessively strong, with enormous beams of wood and earth. We however, entirely prevented them from working at either battery during the ensuing night. The Cawnpore battery was repaired, and the centre mine from the brigade mess was connected with the one we had previously run out from the left. The guard-room at Anderson's house was lowered by digging out the floor, so as to keep the guard clear of the round shot which passed through it; the 13th mine was also worked eighteen feet further. A very considerable noise was heard in the city for some hours after dark. During the day nearly as many men as usual seen moving about. A private of Her Majesty's 32nd at Innes' post was killed by a round shot.
September 21st.—Between 12 and 1 o'clock A.M. the enemy suddenly began a very smart musketry fire all along the city side of our position, and opened from their guns. We threw a few shells amongst them; and their fire soon subsided into the usual steady fire which had gone on every night of the siege.
About 4 A.M., we had very heavy rain which lasted till about 11 A.M. The heavy rain seemed to keep the enemy quiet, and there was little firing on either side till 1 P.M., when one of our 18-pounders at the Post-office opened on the enemy's new 32-pounder battery, and knocked their parapet about, leaving the gun greatly exposed; which enabled Captain Saunders's garrison to pick off two of the enemy's gunners at the gun, and keep it silent for the rest of the day. In the afternoon, the enemy battered down a great portion of the wall enclosing the building occupied by the Martiniere school-boys, and killed a water-carrier who was drawing water at the time, and who was knocked dead into the well; which was a great misfortune, as none of the natives would again use it. The body was got up soon after. Not many armed men were seen in the morning beyond the enemy's regular relief of guards and pickets. At 10 P.M. heavy rain came on. About 11 P.M. the enemy were reported to be in unusual strength near the Seikh square, on which all were kept well on the alert. A shell was thrown among them, but nothing further took place.
September 22nd.—Continued heavy rain, which fell without cessation till about 3 P.M. The garrison were in a great state of discomfort, as little shelter was to be had anywhere; the roofs of all the buildings were so injured from eighty-four days' constant cannonading that but few could boast of a waterproof residence. Lieutenant Cunliffe of the Artillery, died early this morning from fever; he had previously been wounded. A Seikh sepoy of the 13th, a native artilleryman, two private servants, and three grass-cutters deserted during the night; and in the course of the morning four cook boys contrived to desert during the heavy rain. The rain did considerable damage to various parts of our defences, washing down many of the fascines in the batteries, and causing several parts of the defences at Mr. Gubbins's and Innes' post to fall down. A great part of the outside wall of the brigade mess also fell from the same cause. Towards evening the enemy opened their guns, and we dismounted one of their 9-pounders by a shell, which fell on the top of one of them and killed two gunners. About 11 P.M. Ungud, pensioner, returned, bringing us a letter containing the glad tidings that our relieving force, under General Outram, had crossed the Ganges, and would arrive in a few days. His arrival, and the cheering news he brought of speedy aid, was well-timed; for neither our fast diminishing stores, the vague and uncertain rumours of the advent of reinforcements, nor the daily sights and sounds by which we were surrounded, were calculated to inspire confidence and check desertion among the servants and camp followers. All the garrison were greatly elated with the news, and on many of the sick and wounded, the speedy prospect of a change of air and security exercised a most beneficial effect. Heavy rain fell about 11 P.M.
September 23rd.—About 3 A.M. the rain cleared off, and at 11 A.M. the sun came out and the clouds dispersed, and gave promise of fair weather. A smart cannonade was heard in the direction of Cawnpore; several imagined they also heard musketry, and the sound was listened to with the most intense and even painful anxiety by the garrison, who felt assured it must be their friends advancing to their assistance. But it was hardly expected that our force could have advanced so far, owing to the heavy rain which had fallen, and the state in consequence that the roads and country were in; however at 5 P.M. another distant cannonade was heard which lasted for half an hour, and which appeared much nearer than before: this elicited many and divers opinions, and created the greatest possible excitement.
Throughout the day, large bodies of troops with guns and ammunition waggons were seen moving about in the city, in the early part of the day to the right, and later, in large bodies to the left. In the afternoon, the enemy placed a gun in position facing down the Kass bazaar street, with what object it was impossible to say. We threw many shells into the city during the day among the parties of the enemy seen moving about. At 9 P.M. heavy rain began and fell for two hours.
September 24th.—Everything most unusually quiet throughout the night, and only one or two cannon shot were fired early in the morning. A considerable body of cavalry were seen moving to the right through the city, and about 8·30 A.M. a distant cannonade was heard, which continued nearly all day.