Memories of the Mutiny Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 Excerpt: ...they were actually delivered. In this way we heard of the expected advance of the poor fanatic, who was dressed up to imitate Hannooman, the Hindu Monkey-God, and who came on, at the head of a few hundred followers, in really gallant fashion. But a very large number of them were slain, and the poor Monkey-God, hideously wounded, fell into our hands. The Alum Bagh was a sort of Oudh Ehren-breitstein, as far as its impregnability and commanding position were concerned. Its heavy ordnance searched the surrounding country in every direction; and, whenever the enemy showed themselves in sufficient numbers to make it worth while wasting ammunition upon them, we inflicted heavy slaughter. Even during our two months' sojourn in the Residency, when its garrison (under Maclntyre) did not number 300 men, the enemy refrained from an assault, although they continually bombarded it. The total losses, during this period of 49 days, had only amounted to one soldier killed, and two wounded: although the camp-followers and cattle suffered severely. On one of these so-called " attacks," I happened to have a couple of guns in our picquet on the left (or North-West) front; where, it being the post of danger, of course Outram was conspicuous. It was growing dusk, and the General was getting a little cross, as the enemy, while keeping up a provoking, desultory fire, showed no intention of coming to closer quarters. Besides, it was near dinner time; and, although there were rarely any gastronomic delicacies in our camp, the fare was by no means of the despised proportions with which we had to pacify our stomachs in the preceding months. The earthwork had been constructed by the Engineers, and neatly finished off, with fascines and gabions, in the most approved style. As ...