Sixty Years a Queen Part 21

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo by Bourne & Shepherd, Calcutta._}

THE CASHMERE GATE, DELHI.]

There is nothing in English history, at least during the last six centuries, approaching in horror to the ma.s.sacre of Cawnpore, and it is well that one is not often called on to witness--to share in--the fury, the wild cry for revenge, that rose from England when the tale came to be told there. Nana Sahib waited to encounter the victorious Havelock on July 16; he was completely defeated, fled from the field in the direction of Nepaul, and has never since been heard of. Of the twelve men who left the boat which floated down the Ganges, four escaped after extraordinary adventures, by favour of a friendly rajah--the sole survivors of the European community at Cawnpore.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _A. Pea.r.s.e._}

BLOWING UP OF THE CASHMERE GATE, DELHI.

This was one of the most daring exploits in a campaign remarkable for deeds of gallantry. Advancing across a broken drawbridge in broad daylight, in the face of the enemy's defences, Lieutenants Home and Salkeld, with native sappers to carry the gunpowder, succeeded in laying eight bags of powder against the gate. Home leaped into the ditch unhurt; Salkeld, who held a lighted port fire, was badly wounded and fell back on the bridge, handing the port-fire as he fell to Sergeant Burgess, who was immediately shot dead. Sergeant Carmichael then advanced, picked up the port-fire, and lighted the fuse, but fell mortally wounded. The gate was blown in, killing all its defenders but one, and the British entered without opposition.]

[Sidenote: Siege of Delhi.]

On June 8 General Wilson appeared before Delhi, but his force was far too small to attempt to invest a city held by 30,000 insurgents. General Nicholson reinforced him in August, and on September 20 the place was taken by a.s.sault, Nicholson falling dead at the head of the storming columns.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Sir F. Grant, P.R.A._} {_By permission of Messrs.

Graves._

FIELD-MARSHAL LORD CLYDE, 1792-1863.

Born at Glasgow; entered the army in 1808, and served with great distinction in the Peninsula, China, the Punjab, the Crimea, and was Commander-in-Chief in the operations for the suppression of the Indian Mutiny. For his services in this campaign he was raised to the peerage.

He is buried in Westminster Abbey.]

Seeing that it has been necessary to relate some of the many atrocities perpetrated by the rebel leaders, it would be unfair to keep regarding one that was enacted here by an English officer. A brave young fellow called Hodson, commanding an irregular force well-known as Hodson's Horse, asked General Wilson's permission to capture the King of Delhi and his family. Wilson consented, provided the old King's life should be preserved. The King and his sons had taken refuge in an immense enclosure, the tomb of the Emperor Hoomayoon, adjoining the city, where he was guarded by a strong armed force. Hodson quietly rode up with a small escort and called on the troops to lay down their arms. Believing, no doubt, that the English officer had ample force at hand to enforce his command, they instantly obeyed. The King's life was spared, according to orders, but, shameful to say, Hodson summoned the three Princes--the King's sons--before him, and shot them with his own hand.

It was a horrible act, but in the spirit of vengeance then prevalent, many were found to justify it, and Hodson was never brought to trial. He was killed in action at Lucknow not long after.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _T. Jones Barker._} {_By permission of the Corporation of Glasgow._

1. Sir Henry Havelock.

2. Sir James Outram.

3. Sir Colin Campbell.

4. Sir John Inglis.

5. Sir Hope Grant.

6. Major-General Sir W. R. Mansfield.

7. Sir William Peel.

8. Brigadier Hon. Adrian Hope.

THE RELIEF OF LUCKNOW, November 17, 1857.

This picture represents the meeting of General Sir Henry Havelock, Sir James Outram, and Sir Colin Campbell at the Mess House of the 32nd Regiment, in Lucknow, in November 1857. It was executed from sketches taken on the spot by Egron Lundgren.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _J. Lucas._} {_By permission of Messrs. Graves._

CAPTAIN SIR WILLIAM PEEL, R.N.,

In command of the Naval Brigade at Lucknow.]

While these events were pa.s.sing, General Anson, Commander-in-Chief of the forces in India, died on June 27. It was decided to send out Sir Colin Campbell to replace him. On being asked when he would be ready to start Sir Colin answered with characteristic prompt.i.tude: "To-morrow"; and he sailed the following day without waiting to prepare his outfit.

[Sidenote: The Relief of Lucknow.]

Sir Henry Lawrence,[G] Chief Commissioner of Oude, had fortified and provisioned the Residency of Lucknow where, on July 2, he was besieged, having with him a single battalion of Europeans and all the European inhabitants of the station. Lawrence was killed at the opening of the siege, but the little garrison held out with magnificent resolution till, on September 25, they were relieved by Havelock and Outram. But these generals were in turn hemmed in by immense ma.s.ses of rebel troops, and it was not until Sir Colin Campbell fought his way to Lucknow, on November 17, that the garrison with the women and children could be considered to be relieved. One of those who endured this long and painful siege was that Dr. Brydon, who had ridden alone into Jellalabad after the awful retreat from Cabul in 1842.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _A. H. Ritchie._} {_From an Engraving._

SIR HENRY HAVELOCK, 1795-1857.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _T. Brigstocke._} {_From the National Portrait Gallery._

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR JAMES OUTRAM, 1803-1863.]

[Sidenote: Death of Havelock.]

The Residency was evacuated on the 22nd, and Havelock, outworn with the heroic exertions of the past six months, died on the 24th. If Lord Canning's calm resolution and Mr. Montgomery's bold prompt.i.tude were the chief agents in checking the proportions of the rebellion, it was Havelock's masterly generalship and cool courage in face of overwhelming numbers that first broke the military spirit of the insurgents. Soon after Havelock's death, Sir Colin was obliged to suspend operations at Lucknow in order to repair a disaster which had overtaken General Wyndham, who had been defeated by the Gwalior rebel army at Cawnpore.

Having done so, and captured that place of dreadful memory, he rejoined Sir Hope Grant at Lucknow, which was taken by a.s.sault on March 19, 1858.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _From a Photograph_} {_by Bourne & Shepherd, Calcutta._

RUINS OF THE BAILEY GUARD, THE RESIDENCY, LUCKNOW.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _From a Photograph_} {_by Bourne & Shepherd, Calcutta._

THE TAJ MAHAL, AGRA.

This building, erected in 1629-1648 to serve as the Mausoleum of Arjamand Benu Begam, wife of the Emperor Shah Jehan, is reputed the most beautiful specimen of architecture in India, perhaps in the world. It is of white marble and precious stones, and possesses a feminine grace and charm which no photograph can reproduce.]

It throws some light on the magnitude of what is usually called the Indian Mutiny, that upwards of 2,000 of the enemy were killed in the final attack, and 100 of their guns taken. Those who had begun by putting down a mutiny had to end by re-conquering the greater part of India.

Sir Colin Campbell (now Lord Clyde) continued the campaign in Oude after the Fall of Lucknow, ably a.s.sisted by Jang Bahadur of Nepal, until that province was entirely subdued by the end of 1858. Sir Hugh Rose (afterwards Lord Strathnairn) was opposed to the last in Central India by the Ranee of Jhansi, a Princess of extraordinary character, who rode in battle like a modern Joan of Arc, and fell, sabre in hand, at the head of her troops. Tantia Topee, the former lieutenant of Nana, was the last to hold out, but at length he, too, was taken in April 1859, and hanged for his share in the horrors of Cawnpore.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

THE REGALIA.

1. Imperial State Crown, made for Queen Victoria, 1838. It contains the ruby given to Edward the Black Prince by the King of Castile, 1367, and 2,783 diamonds, besides pearls, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds.

2. The old Sceptre.

3. The Queen Consort's Crown, made for Mary of Modena, Queen of James II.

4. Top of Salt Cellar used at Coronation banquet.

5. (In centre of picture.) Monde of the old Imperial Crown.

6 and 7. The Sceptre with the Cross, and the Orb, both made for the Coronation of Charles II.

8. St. Edward's Crown, used at the Coronation of Queen Victoria.

The total value of the Regalia exceeds 3,000,000.]