About Siege Of Lucknow
The city of Lakhnao (Lucknow) stretches, in an irregular form, on the right bank of the Gomti River. Lucknow was the seat of prime importance during the ongoing sieges of Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Since the era of Muslim Maharajas, the place has served as an imperial fortress, girded with enormous bulwarks. Sir Colin Campbell had served as the chieftain of the British troops, perfectly assisted by his other trusted officers. The native fighters who had rebelled against British opposition, had authorised themselves to successfully siege Lucknow and bring it to their dominion. However, English efforts, under the gallant Havelock had completed their positionings by the Gomti River. The city now was waiting in anxious breath for the siege to become victorious, by the best-laid plans of British forces.
The strong positions held by the rebels within the city were the Kaisarbagh. It is a palace approximately 400 yards square, containing several ranges of buildings. Kaisarbagh had been completed only in 1850, and was not originally fortified. The rebels, however, had greatly strengthened it. To the east of the Observatory, overlooking the river, were the Farhatbakhsh palace and the palaces adjoining. These consisted of the Residency, the ruins of the Machchi Bhawan, the great Imambarah, the Jamaniabagh, the Sheesh Mahal, All Nakis house, extending to the west along the banks of the river, the Musabagh, a mile and a half beyond it, the little Imambarah, and a range of palaces stretching from the Kaisarbagh to the canal. Beyond the canal, towards the east of the city, was the Martiniere. Overlooking this and the eastern suburbs, on the top of a table-land, stood the Dilkhusha.
The rebels had greatly benefitted by their experience of the British action in the previous November. Consequently, they had greatly strengthened the line by which Sir Colin had then advanced. They too had, formed three lines of defence. The first rested on Hazratganj, at the point where the three roads into Lakhnao (Lucknow) converge. The right of the second line rested on the little Imambarah. From there, the line embraced the mess-house, and joined the riverbank near the Moti Mahal. The third covered the Kaisarbagh. These defences were protected by a hundred guns. All the main streets were likewise protected by bastions and barricades. Every building of importance, besides being loopholed, had an outer work shielding the entrance to it.
In the process of protecting the city on three sides, the rebels had neglected the northern side. Sir Colin detected this error, and resolved, in his plan of attack, to take full advantage of it.
He determined to cross the Gomti with his main force, marched by the Hazratganj towards the Kaisarbagh. He would thus employ a strong division, under Outram, to turn those defences. He could not, with the force at his disposal, completely besiege the city. But Colin hoped that, as he pushed on the main body in the line indicated, Outram would be able to move round the angle on one side while Jang Bahadur and the force at the Alambagh would close in round the corresponding angle on the other.
Having resolved on this plan, Sir Colin advanced, with his main body, on the Dilkhusha Park and captured it. While he erected batteries there to keep down the rebels` fire, he continued to bring up his troops. By the 4th of March, Sir Colin had assembled there the whole of the siege-train, and had the bulk of his force, Franks`s division and the Nepalese battalion. That force now occupied a line which touched on the right the Gomti River, at the village of Bibiapur. Then, intersecting the Dilkhusha, the line stopped at a point nearly two miles from Jalalabad. The interval was occupied by Hodson`s Horse, 1600 strong. Outram still continued to occupy his former position. On the 5th, Franks and the Nepalese arrived.
During the night of 4th March, Sir Colin had directed the throwing of two bridges over the Gomti near Bibiapur. One of these was completed by the morning of the 5th. Across it a picket had been sent to cover the completion of the remaining works. These were finished by midnight on the 5th March. Sir Colin then sent Outram and his division across the river. He was very anxious for the success of the movement he had consigned to that officer. Sir Colin had resolved not to stir a step until Outram would have charged to turn the rebels` position and to take them in reverse. In doing so, Outram would march beyond, and thus would be successful to turn the first line of defence.
Outram crossed and marched up the Gomti for about a mile. The river makes a sharp bend at that point. So Outram left the curves of the river, and marched straight on in the direction of the city. He encamped that evening about four miles from it, facing it, his left resting on the Faizabad road. The exact position was about half a mile in advance of the village of Chinhat.
The following day and the 8th of March were spent in skirmishing. But on the 9th, Outram made his leap. With a prelude of heavy fire from the batteries he had constructed, he sent Walpole to attack the rebels` left. Meanwhile, he led his own left column across the Kokrail stream. Waiting there till Walpole had completed the task allotted to him, Outram then stormed the Chakar Kothi, the key of the rebels` position. He turned the combat and rendered useless to them the strong line of entrenchments the rebels had thrown up on the right bank of the Gomti.
In the attack on the Chakar Kothi, Anderson of the Sikhs and St. George of the 1st Fusiliers greatly distinguished themselves. While, in opening communications with Adrian Hope`s brigade on the opposite bank, young Butler of the 1st Fusiliers performed a deed of cool intrepidity. The result of the day`s operations was that Outram occupied the left bank of the Gomti as far as the Badshahbagh. His position took the rebels completely in reverse.
Sir Colin had waited the three days, the 6th, 7th, and 8th of March, while Outram was making his preparations. But, on the 9th, he too advanced, carrying the Martiniere. He moved Adrian Hope`s brigade from the vicinity of Banks`s house to a point from where, some six hundred yards from the river, it could communicate with Outram on the opposite bank. Sir Colin completed the operation the next day by storming Banks`s house. The two army corps were then in total communication.
During the night of the 10th of March, Outram erected batteries to cover his projected movement of the following day. When that day dawned, he carried all the positions leading to the iron bridge-the bridge leading to the Residency-and positioned batteries close to it. In this operation he lost two most gallant officers, Thynne of the Rifle Brigade, and Moorsom of the Quartermaster-General`s department. Outram continued to carry out the operations entrusted to him on the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th of March. He established himself in a position which enabled him, during those days, to rake and attack. The attack was made by artillery fire in flank and rear, in the positions which Sir Colin was assailing in front.
Meanwhile, Sir Colin, having stormed Banks` house on 10th March, occupied without opposition Sikandarabagh on the 11th. Owing to the tremendous audacity of three engineer officers, Medley, Lang, and Carnegy, he could also take possession of the Kadam Rasul and Shah Najaf mosque. But the Begum Kothi foretold to offer a fierce resistance. It erupted forth fire and flame, and it was so strong as to seem capable of rebuffing a direct attack. Lugard, however, who commanded the force in front of it, resolved to attempt one. The troops he employed were those companions in glory, the 93rd Highlanders and the 4th Punjab Rifles, led by the chivalrous Adrian Hope. The assault was made at four o`clock in the afternoon. Though it was opposed with a fury and discipline almost equal to that of the assailants, it was successful. Six hundred corpses testified to the unerring force of the British and Sikh bayonet.
The capture of the Begum Kothi gave to the Chief Engineer, Brigadier Napier, the opportunity of pushing his approaches, by means of sappers and heavy guns. He pushed through the enclosures, towards the mess-house, the little Imambarah and to the Kaisarbagh. Some changes, however, were made in the disposition of the troops. Franks`s division relieved that of Lugard as the leading division, and the Nepalese troops were brought into line. They were placed on the extreme left, so as to hold the line of the canal beyond Banks`s house. On 13th March, the Nepalese were moved across the canal against the suburb to the left of Banks`s house. The move was made so as to attract the attention of the rebels to that quarter. By the evening the engineers` work was completed. All the great buildings to the left, up to the little Imambarah, had been sapped through. By nine o`clock the next morning, the heavy guns had resulted in a breach in its walls. Franks was then directed to storm it. He carried out the operation with brilliant success.
The siege of the little Imambarah had whetted the martial instincts of the men. Following up the rebels as they evacuated it, they forced their way into a palace which commanded three of the bastions of Kaisarbagh. From there, the British troops brought to bear on the rebels below them so heavy a fire that one by one they deserted their guns. Their flight left the second line of defence literally at the mercy of the British. It was turned. A daring advance alone was necessary to gain it. The rebels, realising this, had no thought but to save themselves. They ran then for security into the buildings between the little Imambarah and the Kaisarbagh. But the 90th and Brasyer`s Sikhs, who were in the front line of stormers, had equally recognised the advantages of their position. Led by young Havelock and Brasyer, they forced their way under a terrible fire, into a courtyard adjoining the Kaisarbagh, driving the rebels before them.
At this juncture, young Havelock saw with a soldier`s eye the extent of the possibilities before him. He thus ran back to the detachment of the 10th in support and ordered it to the front. Annesley, who commanded it, led it forward with readiness. Nor did his men halt, till driving the rebels before them. Annesley`s men had penetrated to the Chini bazaar, to the rear of the Tara Kothi and the mess-house. They could thus turn the rebels` third line. The rebels, congregated in the Tara Kothi and mess-house, numbering approximately 6000. Realising their position, they evacuated those buildings, and made as though they would re-enter the city through an opening in the further gateway of the Chini bazaar. In this process, they thus cut off the Sikhs and the 90th.
However, Havelock, with great presence of mind; advanced with some Sikhs to the support of Brasyer. Seizing two adjoining bastions, he turned the six guns found upon them with so much effect against the rebels that their attempt was checked. The rebels abandoned it. By this time the fourth note sent by young Havelock had reached Franks. That gallant officer pushed forward every available man in support of the advance. The results already achieved far surpassed in importance those which had been contemplated for the day. The question arose whether the advantage should be pursued. After a brief consultation, Franks and Napier decided in favour of pushing on.
Some necessary rearrangement of troops followed. Then, those on the right advanced and occupied in succession, the Moti Mahal, the Chatar Manzil, and the Tara Kothi. Franks sent his men through the court of Saadat Ali`s Mosque into the Kaisarbagh itself. The resistance there was fierce, but of short duration. The stormers were wound to a pitch which made them irresistible. One after another, the Britons stormed the courts and the summer-houses which made up the interior of the palace. They drove the rebels headlong into the garden. Those who failed to escape were soon put to rest forever.
Preparations for Siege of Lucknow
After suffering deluges from every section of the country, the British troops had resorted to final attempts to siege Lucknow to the hilt. As such, officers were assembled from every part of India to this garrisoned city for ultimate preparations. Sir Colin had been the master of this manoeuvre, assisted ably by other competent English officers. Outram, the distinguished officer from the other sieges had also aided in the preparations. Rebellious attempts were being made from every angle of Lucknow by native fighters, with all kinds of possible ammunitions. However, in order to curb such activities, British battalions had prepared themselves at all reachable places in Lucknow, with heavy stores of armoury. Sepoy Mutiny was thus, gradually spreading its wings to infiltrate the whole country.
Outram had been left, on 26th November, with approximately three to four thousand men of all arms, twenty-five guns and howitzers, and ten mortars. He had to occupy a position which should remind the Lakhnao (Lucknow) rebels of the presence of British troops. He did not locate all these in Alambagh. But occupying that royal garden with a sufficient number, he arranged the remainder in the open about half-a-mile behind it. Outram thus occupied a position across the Kanhpur (Kanpur) road, touching the fort of Jalalabad with his right. Where this position was not naturally covered by swamps, he placed batteries, dug trenches, and planted abattis to protect it.
The rebels in Lakhnao (Lucknow) had been so severely handled by Sir Colin in his relief of the Residency that for some time they made no attempt to agitate Outram. But as time passed, the memory of the losses they then sustained faded. On 22nd December they made a skilfully conceived attempt to sever Outram`s communications with Banni. But the British general was well-served by his spies. Catching the rebels while marching to execute their plan, he inflicted upon them a very ruthless defeat.
About a fortnight later Outram despatched to Kanhpur (Kanpur) a convoy of empty carts, guarded by 530 men and four guns. The rebels soon obtained information of this movement. Believing that the force resting on the Alambagh had been severely crippled, they determined to make a supreme effort to destroy Outram. Accordingly, on 12th of January, they issued from Lakhnao (Lucknow) a regiment comprising 30,000 men. The rebels amassed this body opposite the extreme left of Outram`s position. They then gradually extended it so as to face Outram`s front and left. To the front attack Outram opposed two brigades, the one consisting of 733 English troops, the other of 713. He directed the ever-daring Olpherts to take four guns. Supported by the men of the military train, Olpherts was ordered to dash at the overlapping right of the rebels. He fell on them just as they were developing their overlapping movement. By this move, he not only compelled the rebels to renounce it, but also to retreat in confusion. The two brigades operating against the centre were equally successful. They not only drove back the rebels, but also foiled a menacing movement which their leader was planning against the right of the British position. By four o`clock the rebels were in full flight. Their losses were profound.
But the famous Maulavi, one of the chief authors of the rebellion, was in Lakhnao (Lucknow). The Maulavi had avowed that he would capture the convoy despatched with empty carts to Kanhpur (Kanpur). Accordingly, on the night of 14th January, he quitted Lakhnao (Lucknow) with a considerable force, in very light marching order. He passed the British camp, and occupied a position from where he could fall upon the convoy as it marched. Fortune seemed to favour him, for a violent dust-storm concealed his presence from the leader of the covering party. The cover party leader, moreover, had no warning of the Maulavi`s presence. But the careful watchfulness of Outram frustrated him. Noting how the weather favoured an attack, he despatched Olpherts, with two guns and a detachment of infantry. The detachment was supported by others troops, to aid in bringing in the convoy. Olpherts cleared the ground of the Maulavi and his troops, and the convoy reached the camp in safety. On the 16th, another attack made by the rebels was rebuffed with loss. From that date till the 15th of February they made no sign.
Then, directed by the Maulavi, they made an attack in force, only to be rebuffed. They followed it up by a second the following day, with a similar result. On 21st February, they made a third, and on the 25th a fourth and very severe one at that. In all, the rebels were completely crushed. The last defeat apparently convinced them that it was hopeless to attempt to dislodge Outram.
Thus did Outram, maintain, with a fairly small force, the position assigned to him by the Commander-in-Chief. In his endeavour, Outram was aided by his umpteen capable officers. Towards the end of February his force had been increased. But it never equalled 5000 men. It was calculated, on the other hand, that the rebels had at their disposal no fewer than 120,000 men. Most of them there were trained sipahis and trained cavalry soldiers. The remainder consisted of were new levies, Najibs, or men drilled and armed in the native fashion. Others belonged to the camel corps. On the other hand the armed followers of the talukdars numbered 20,000.
Effects of Siege of Lucknow
Lucknow was a place of foremost importance in the ongoing Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Various attempts had been made previously to storm and capture the regal state. But, native fighters had thwarted every move made by the British vigorously. Sir Colin Campbell along with his band of trusted battalion, including the still-loyal Punjab Rifles and the Sikh Regiment, had started out to relief the Lucknow Residency twice before. He had succeeded partially.
In the meantime, Lord Canning had arrived from Calcutta to these provinces, extremely alarmed by the state of affairs. Lucknow was a place, which had completely baffled the ruling class. Yet again, Sir Colin had charted out a plan to oust Lucknow, commencing from the siege of the Residency. His route, meandering by the Gomti River, Kaiserbagh, Alambagh, Moti Mahal, Imambarah, Dilkhusha, Chatar Manzil, had led him to the last lap of victory. Owing to the city`s extremely fortified structure, both the warring sides found it difficult to plunder in a whole. Although, under the able guidance of Outram, Franks, Adrian Hope and Havelock, the rebels were forced to retreat towards the outskirts of the city. During the last nights of March, the British had successfully seized the palaces of Kaiserbagh, Farhatbakhsh and Shesh Mahal.
The plundering which followed the capture of this newest of the palaces of Kings of Oudh, were tremendous. In the morning of that 14th of March, the British line had stretched from the Shah Najaf to Hazratganj. That evening it ran from the Chatar Manzil to the Residency side of the Kaisarbagh. Two strong defensive lines of works, including the Citadel, on which the second line rested, defended by nearly 40,000 men, had been stormed.
The complete destruction of the rebels, and whole of Lakhnao (Lucknow) lying helpless the next morning at the feet of Sir Colin would easily have been feasible. However, that did not come about but for a sole cause. The situation had every chance of possibility, if Outram had crossed by the iron bridge and cut off those who escaped from the several places as they were stormed. Franks and Napier were storming the Kaisarbagh during this time. That this did not happen was no fault of Outram. He realised the advantage to be gained, and applied during the day for permission to execute such a manoeuvre. The reply was the most extraordinary ever received by a general in the field. It consisted of a short note from Mansfield, chief of the staff, telling him he might cross by the iron bridge. However, that was permitted on the condition that the move would not result in the loss of life of any soldier. Such a proviso was a prohibition. Not only were guns posted there to defend the bridge, but the bridge also was commanded by a mosque and several loopholed houses. The loss, then, would have greatly exceeded that of one man. The ultimate pursuit of the rebels, who escaped because Outram did not cross, would have caused an infinitely greater loss of men to the British army. It would amount to a severe loss compared to the storming of the bridge and taking of the rebels in rear would have occasioned.
On the right bank Gomti River, Sir Colin devoted the 15th of March to the consolidating of the position he had gained. On the left bank, he despatched Hope Grant with his cavalry, and Campbell, with his infantry brigade and 1500 cavalry, to pursue the rebels on the Sitapur and Sandila roads. But the rebels had taken neither of these roads. The pursuit, hence, was fruitless. It was not till the 16th that Sir Colin directed Outram to cross the Gomti, near the Sikandarabagh. He was also ordered to join with Douglas`s brigade, at the Kaisarbagh. Walpole was retained with Horsford`s brigade, to watch the iron and stone bridges. Outram crossed as directed, was joined by the 20th and Brasyer`s Sikhs, and was then ordered by Sir Colin in person to push on through the Residency. Then, he was to take the iron bridge in reverse, and then, advancing a mile further, storm the Machchi Bhawan and the great Imambarah. Outram carried both places without much opposition. But, before he had accomplished his task, the rebels, with the design of retreating to Faizabad, had made a strong attack on Walpole`s pickets. They had been unable to force these. But, Outram`s force held them in check, while the bulk of their comrades made good their retreat on to the Faizabad road.
The rebels attempted another diversion on 14th March, by suddenly attacking the Alambagh. But Franklyn, who commanded, Vincent Eyre, with his heavy guns, Robertson, with the military train, and Olpherts completely disappointed them.
Jang Bahadur and the Nepalese had, meanwhile, on the 14th and 15th of March, moved up the canal and taken in reverse the positions which, for three months, the rebels had occupied in front of Alambagh. Jang Bahadur performed this task with ability and success. One after another the positions held by the rebels, from the Charbagh up to the Residency, on that side, fell into his hands.
On 17th of March, Outram, pursuing his forward course, occupied without resistance the Huseni Mosque and the Daulat Khana. In the afternoon, he caused to be occupied a block of buildings known as Sharif-ud-Daula`s house. The rebels evacuated it hastily. But an accidental explosion, caused by the careless unpacking of gunpowder found there, caused the death of two officers and some thirty men. On the 18th, Outram proceeded to clear the streets in front of the position he had secured. But suddenly, he received Sir Colin`s orders to drive the rebels from the Musabagh. While he was to march against that place, Campbell of the Bays was to take 1500 cavalry, and a due proportion of guns, and be ready to pounce upon the rebels as Outram should drive them from the Musabagh. The Nepalese were likewise so placed as to disrupt their retreat in the other direction.
Outram, as usual, did his part thoroughly. He captured All Naki`s house and the Musabagh. The rebels fled from Musabagh by the road which Campbell should have guarded. But Campbell was not to be seen. He had engaged a part of his force in a small operation which had given Hagart, Slade, Bankes, and Wilkin, all of the 7th Hussars, an opportunity of displaying courage of no ordinary character. But as to the main object of his mission Campbell did nothing. It was officially stated that he had lost his way. The rebels, consequently, escaped.
Not all however could accomplish this feat. Outram was there to repair Campbell`s error to a certain extent. Noticing that the rebels were preparing to escape from the Musabagh, he had despatched the 9th Lancers to cut them off. The Lancers were followed by some infantry and field-artillery. These killed approximately 100 of them, and captured all their guns.
This was the concluding act of the siege of Lucknow. The following day Lord Canning`s proclamation was issued confiscating the entire proprietary right in the soil of Oudh. Six comparatively inferior chiefs were excluded from this confiscation. To rebel landowners who should at once surrender, exemption from death and imprisonment was promised. However, they had to prove the condition that they were guiltless of unprovoked bloodshed. To those who had protected British fugitives, special consideration was promised. The principles embodied in the proclamation were just. When the time came, they were acted upon with such consideration as to secure the loyalty which had been alienated by the enforcement of the stern code which had immediately followed the annexation. At the moment the effect was to poison the hearts of those against whom the proclamation was directed.
It had been determined that the famous Maulavi was still in Lakhnao (Lucknow), and from Shadatganj, he still bade defiance to the conqueror. Hence, Lugard was sent, on the 21st of March, with the 93rd and 4th Punjab Rifles, to attack him. The Maulavi and his followers were effectively dislodged, and were pursued by Campbell, this time without delay. But the Maulavi escaped. Two days later Hope Grant was sent after the rebels who had fled by the Faizabad road. He caught a considerable number of them at Kursi. Grant injured many mortally, and captured thirteen guns. Lakhnao (Lucknow) finally had fallen, and seized by the British.
