As senior
officer he might have assumed the command; but with generous chivalry
the "Bayard of India" waived his rank in honor of Havelock.
On September 20th General Havelock crossed the Ganges into Oudh at the
head of twenty-five hundred men. The next day he defeated a rebel army
and put it to flight, while four of the enemy's guns were captured by
Outram at the head of a body of volunteer cavalry. On the 23d Havelock
routed a still larger rebel force which was strongly posted at a garden
in the suburbs of Lucknow, known as the "Alumbagh." He then halted to
give his soldiers a day's rest. On the 25th he was cutting his way
through the streets and lanes of the city of Lucknow--running the
gauntlet of a deadly and unremitting fire from the houses en both sides
of the streets, and also from guns which commanded them. On the evening
of the same day he entered the British intrenchments; but in the moment
of victory a chance shot carried off the gallant Neill.
The defence of the British residency at Lucknow is a glorious episode in
the national annals.
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