Page:The Indian Mutiny of 1857.djvu/273

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And enter the Residency.
243

found the clearing of the Chárbágh garden more serious than he anticipated, and who had come up after the bridge had been stormed, then proposed that the force should halt where it was — at the Chatr Manzil — to await there the arrival of the rearmost guard, of which they had no tidings, and of those it was escorting. There were many considerations in favour of such a plan, and there was only a sentimental reason against it. But Havelock considered that the importance of joining the beleaguered garrison outweighed every other consideration. So they pushed on through the Khás bazaar, crowded with the enemy. From an archway in this bazaar Neill was shot dead in the act of giving an order to his Aide-de-Camp. Still the British forced their way, despite the continuous musketry fire, until at length they emerged from the bazaar. Then they were gladdened by the sound of cheering from the Residency. The 78th, and others who had pushed their way through other streets, appeared on the scene directly afterwards and joined in the cry. They were not yet, however, within the Residency. The night was dark, and a way had to be made for them before they could enter. At last the defences which had so long bidden defiance to the rebels at the Baillie guard were removed, and there was no obstacle to a joyful union between the relievers and the relieved.

Not all entered that night. Many of the men lay on the ground between the Baillie guard gateway and the Farhatbakhsh palace, and rejoined their comrades early in the morning. It remains now to recount the course of the 78th. That regiment had had a hard time of it. Directed by Havelock to see to the safety of the heavy guns, it had diverged from the main body, and reached a point indicated on the Kánhpur road. There, for a time, the men remained unmolested,