Page:The tourist's guide to Lucknow.djvu/187

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In the upper room, on the east side, above the tykhana, Miss Palmer, the daughter of Colonel Palmer, 48th N. L, was wounded in the leg, on 1st July, by a round shot, which caused her death. On the second story, at the east angle of the main building, on the following day, Sir Henry Lawrence was mortally wounded, and died on the 4th, in Dr. Fayrer's house. No sooner had the siege commenced, than the exposed position of the Residency (in front of which treasure to the amount of twenty-three lacs of rupees (£230,000) was buried) began to be severely felt, and the ladies and children abandoned the upper stories. The Mess of the 32nd kept possession of a centre room, on the first floor, until several casualties occurred, when they, too, were obliged to abandon it.

About the 8th August a 24-pound shot entered the centre room of the building and wounded Ensign Studdy of the 32nd, in the arm, from the effects of which he died; and, on the 11th of the same month, a gust of wind struck the north-east wing, part of which fell, burying six men of the same corps. On the 24th August, the entire length of the verandah along two stories on the west side fell, and buried seven of the 32nd men. On this date Mr. Ramsay, Assistant in charge of the Telegraph, was shot, and died instantly. The death rate, for many days, averaged 20. By the end of July 170 casualties had occurred in the 32nd only.

On the arrival of Sir Colin Campbell's army on the 17th November, orders were received to prepare for leaving. The women, children, and the sick were ordered to the Dilkusha encampment, but the men were obliged to stay behind for several days to guard the various posts. Only a certain amount of baggage was allowed to each person, and many valuable things were left behind. Such a scene as the Residency then presented was really sad to behold. Women's apparel, children's clothes, rich dresses, men's clothes, and all kinds of cooking utensils and plated-ware, bedding, &c., were left behind. The guns were removed from most of the batteries, and other guns, formerly the property of the King of Oudh, were burst. The ordnance stores and treasure, and State prisoners, were removed at the same time. Many delicate ladies had to walk six miles, over very rough ground, exposed at one place (between the Moti Mahal and Shah Najaf) to the fire of the enemy. By a General Order, dated 23rd November, the Commander-in-Chief describes this movement of retreat, by which the final rescue of the garrison was effected, as a model of discipline and exactness. The enemy was completely deceived, the force retiring by a narrow, tortuous lane without molestation.