The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-13

news reached Gen. Haveloek at the close OF
a successful campaign, ending with the re-
covery of Cawnpore July IL. Cawnpore
was the nearest British station to Luck
now, and forty-two miles distant. Have
lock set out at once with l 500 men.
The rebelIiotss sepoys did not purpose to
allow Havelock simple march between
Cawnpore and Lucknow He fought two
battles successfully, and then that sum-
mer pest Of India, the cholera, set in, and
in few days his effective force was re-
duced to 600 men. On the 18th Of August
he attacked and routed an overwhelming
force of rebels that were lying in wait to
attack him. The victory cost him 40 men,
ana, warned by his experiences on the first
ten miles of march, he decided to return to
Cawnpore. On the 10th he fought large
body of sepoys under the chief rajah Of the
district, Mana Sahib, drove them off, and
then gave his army months rest. Dur
ing this interval Cawnpore was placed in a
state of defense, so as to be held by small
garrison while the main army was march
ing upon Lucknow.
Meanwhile the situation at Lucknow
was critical IN the extreme. The besieged
at the residency numbered 900 Europeans
and 100 loyal natives. They occupied the
resIdency and outbuildings and were COM
pletely surrounded, the rebels mastering
about $4,000. The latter maintained a con-
tinual fire upon the residency, and in time
compelled the evacuation of the upper por-
ton. They also ran mines beneath the
outbuildings and occasionally stormed the
intrenchments. These tactics were adopted
by the willy rebels in order TO wear out
the endurance of the imprisoned men. In
addition TO overwork, fighting, exposure
and insufficient food, the besieged went
through a season of cholera and other dis
eases.
For some days at the begi ming of the
siege the sepOy fire caused an average loss
TO the besieged of ten daily. Intrenching
tools were scarce in the British camp and
the few that could be seci&-ed were ulti-
mately carried off by DESERVING lsborers.
On the oath of July a spy from Havelock'S
camp reached the residency with intelh-
genCe that relief force was marching UP
from CawnPore, and for thirty-five days an
anxious vigil was maintained to note the
approach of succor. The lookout was sta
toned on the tallest building within the
British Enclosure, and in the range of
course, of hostile fire. The unequal con-
test ragged without intermission for weeks,
or until the coming of Havelock on the
rebel rear. Then large force was drawn
from the ranks of the beSiegers to form a
line facing the other way.
On the 22d of September Havelock ar
rived within cannon sound of Lucknow,
and ordered a royal salute fired to an
nounce his presence, and it was heard by
the beleaguered garrison with JOY. But
the entrance to Lucknow was not to be
cheapiy won. The sepoys had placed can
non to sweep every bridge and exposed
crossing and the buildings swarmed with
sharpshooters. The 23d, 9th and 25th
were passed in continuous fighting in the
streets and outlying villages rad on the
evening of the last day the head of column
rested under the shelter of an Indian pal
ace, 500 yards distant from the British In
closure around the residency.
The Seventy-eighth Highanders were
ordered TO advance. The roadway had been
trenched crosswise by the rebels and cum
bered with Instructions. Sepoy marksmen
were in hiding in front and alongside
Cannon blazed across many a square,
sometimes lighting up the roadway and
guiding the brave Highlanders toward the