Then the pent-up feelings of the garrison burst
forth in deafening cheers; and wounded men in hospital crawled out to
join in the chorus of welcome. Then followed personal greetings as
officers and men came pouring in. Hands were frantically shaken on all
sides. Rough-bearded soldiers took the children from their mothers'
arms, kissed them with tears rolling down their cheeks, and thanked God
that they had come in time to save them from the fate of the sufferers
at Cawnpore.
Thus after a siege of nearly four months Havelock succeeded in relieving
Lucknow. But it was a reenforcement rather than a relief, and was
confined to the British residency. The siege was not raised; and the
city of Lucknow remained two months longer in the hands of the rebels.
Sir James Outram assumed the command, but was compelled to keep on the
defensive. Meanwhile reinforcements were arriving from England. In
November Sir Colin Campbell reached Cawnpore at the head of a
considerable army. He left General Windham with two thousand men to take
charge of the intrenchment at Cawnpore, and then advanced against
Lucknow with five thousand men and thirty guns.
Pages:
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695