vanced position, till prepared to act against their second line of defence. Only a desultory fire, therefore, was kept up on the building-probably more to mask our real intentions than for any other purpose.

On the evening of the 5th we were ordered to be in readiness to move at 2 A.M. of the day following, and as all baggage was to remain behind, we concluded that we should be actively employed on the morrow. We marched as directed, moving towards the Dilkhoosha, but keeping to the right of that building; just before daylight, as we marched very slowly and were frequently halted, we reached the river Goomtee, which was passed by one of the excellent bridges constructed by the engineers the day before; we then turned to the right, thus moving away from Lucknow, and having marched a short mile were halted until daylight. Just as the grey of the morning made things indistinctly visible, I was struck by the appearance of a most powerful horse, and so taken up with the animal was I that I forgot for a minute to look at the rider. One glance, however, told me that the Bayard of the East was there. Yes, there sat the gallant Outram, quietly inhaling the fragrant weed, and looking as unconcerned as though he was out for a morning ride, and proud were we to form part of the force under such a leader. The men were now ordered to breakfast, each having a day's rations with him; as it chanced, we were standing in a pea-field, so of course the opportunity for a laugh was too good to be lost by a wit of the 23d:"Ah!" said he, "if the General would only send the ducks, we have got the pease convenient! After the men were refreshed we advanced, but more to the north, so that we were in fact moving round Lucknow, and we were able to see that we formed part of a corps-d'armée, composed of the Rifle Brigade, 23d, 79th Highlanders, 2d Sikhs under Green, 9th Lancers, Queen's Bays, Probyn's Horse, and, I think, some other irregular cavalry, with a formidable train of light artillery. It was a magnificent sight, the Rifles in green, the gallant 23d Fusiliers in their admirable dress, looking so ready for

work, the old 1st in their blue caps and tunics and clean white belts, the 79th, with waving plumes and tartans, the well-tried Sikhs, the gorgeous Bays, and the Lancers, the glorious 9th; who so glad to see the old dirty-shirts! Many were the greetings as they passed in the morning's uncertain light; "Good morning, Fusiliers ;" and "What! is that the old 1st once more?" "And where is and ?" were the frequent questions as they rode along, responded to with hearty good-feeling by our men. Truly the force which crossed the Goomtee was a choice one, and of which any soldier might be proud to form a part.

The ground was undulating, so that the movements could be seen as each regiment marched along, and in the cool morning it was most exhilarating. As the day advanced, however, the sun became extremely warm, and the want of a good supply of water made this the more felt; the men, too, marched with fixed bayonets, and carried arms the whole of the morning after breakfast, and were, therefore, a good deal tired when the report of heavy guns and the firing of musketry about 12 o'clock told us some part of our force was engaged. Just then we were making our way through some rhuha khets (fields of a grain growing on a long stalk) and young mango-trees, and these being above our head we were unable to see what was going on. Getting free from this sort of cover, we entered an open space with the dry bed of a river running down its centre; here we saw our cavalry in front with the artillery, and on these the enemy were firing; but their position being under trees they could not be very distinctly made out; for if Delhi is green with many gardens, Lucknow is still more verdant; and until you get absolutely within the city, or quite close to it, you see but parts of the buildings peeping out from the surrounding greenery. Lieut. Money's definition, when asked what Lucknow was like, is probably as good a description of the place as can be given in a few words: "It is the greenest city in the world;" "and very becoming, too, considering that it is a

Mohammedan city, and green their holy colour," put in Cunliffe. As I said before, we came upon the open plain, and moved down to the bed of the stream, where we halted; and we could not have been very far from the enemy, since while here three round shot passed over the column, fortunately without injury to any one in the rear. One or two guns of our light artillery now opened on the enemy from our left, seemingly with the intention of ascertaining the weight and number of their cannon, as very shortly after we moved off to the right, and about 1 P.M. took up a position in an enclosure shaded by large mango-trees. Here we rested, strong pickets being sent out in advance; for we were only about one and a half mile from the enemy's works. Our tents and baggage came up so late at night that we were all sound asleep before they arrived, and preferred sleeping on the ground to pitching the tents in the dark. On the morning of the 7th we moved out of our resting-place, the camp marked out, and tents pitched; men and officers were then sitting down to breakfast, when the report of several cannon-seven shot from which fell into our men's tents, wounding two of the Fusiliers and one camp-follower- told us the enemy were close, and must have advanced very rapidly. The regiment fell in at once, and was ordered with other corps to the front; the enemy retired as quickly as they came out, pounded by our artillery. The 1st never fired a shot. The villages in front were then strongly occupied, the main body returning into camp.

Here I must mention the conduct of Lance-corporal Maclean, No. 4 Company, as illustrative of the spirit pervading the 1st Fusiliers. This man had lost four of his fingers by a musket-ball at Puttialee, our Doctor, who used to make a great fuss about having kept the thumb, talking no end about conservative surgery, or some such stuff, as if Maclean would not have been much better with a whole wooden hand than with one flesh thumb; however, the man himself, strange to

say, seemed to have more pride in this odd digit than many in their whole five, and on this day nothing would please him but he must go out; and as he could not carry a musket, he took a sword: and this is the stuff the old 1st was made of in 1858.

During the 7th and 8th the enemy continued to annoy our pickets by a fire from guns, to which we were unable to reply effectually with our field - artillery; but it was quite astonishing to see how beautifully the Rifles, taking advantage of every particle of cover, kept them in check, and, by preventing their observing our arrangements, rendered their fire almost useless. On the 8th nothing was done, but all were aware that the final contest would not long be deferred, and few were without that restless sort of excitement usually felt, though perhaps not acknowledged, before engaging in mortal strife. By the evening it was known throughout camp that operations would commence on the right, and that Outram's division would advance to the attack after the batteries of the enemy were silenced by our heavy guns, which had now come up. The particular duty assigned to the 1st European Bengal Fusiliers was to protect the heavy pieces, which were to be moved into battery at 2 A.M. Shortly, then, before that hour, on the 9th of March, we were drawn up before our tents, and as the elephants slowly drew their load along the sandy road, we left our parade-ground and advanced with them. Thus we marched about a mile, when we reached the advanced picket; here the main body halted, two companies only going on with the guns to the battery. It was a moonlight morning, so we could make out the line of trees in which the enemy were sheltered, and the noise in their camp could be distinctly heard; we were therefore surprised that the trumpeting of one of the elephants, and the clanking of the chains attached to the artillerywaggons, did not draw down on us the kind attentions of their gunners, for that we were well within range was proved by the state of the trees

on the road-side. All, however, passed off quietly; every arrangement was complete, and at daylight the whole of the 1st, except those who were on picket, moved down immediately in rear of the guns. The work then commenced by our heavy battery opening on the line of the enemy's works. No reply was made, except from one light gun, which was not fired more than thrice; it was evident therefore that the enemy must have withdrawn their guns, or were afraid to use them. In the mean time the troops on the right belonging to our division were sweeping through the cover to their front, acting against the left flank of the enemy. Our battery now began to search the entire front with grape, and then the order was given to the 1st Fusiliers, with two companies of H.M.'s 79th, to advance. Numbers 1, 2, and 3 companies were sent out to skirmish under Captain Cunliffe, Captain Hume having joined and assumed command on the 7th. The remainder of the regiment moved in support, with the light artillery on our left. We crossed the Kokrail, a small stream, and marched up a gentle rise of a short distance, when the word "charge' was given; on rush the Fusiliers over a long tract of heavy sand with a cheer, and are quickly in the trench cut by the enemy for their musketry. The large house, coloured yellow, in the centre of their position, was also quickly entered and occupied by our men. Just then Outram came up, and directed our colours to be fixed on the top of a small summer-room, which had been constructed on the second storey of the building. This had been much shattered by our shot, nevertheless young Battye mounted, and fixed the colours there. This was the signal of our success to Sir Colin, who was awaiting the result of our operations at the Dilkhoosha. Meanwhile the body of the regiment pushed on resolutely after the enemy, following them up the river until we met the Rifles, who had advanced from the right; we then halted, Occupying the houses and breastworks on the banks of the stream, and keeping up a fire of musketry upon the enemy, who held the walls

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and gardens on the city side of the Goomtee. In the mean time those of the regiment who had been left at the yellow house found that, though the second storey and upper rooms had been cleared of the enemy, yet on the ground-floor there were many Sepoys, and these men made a most desperate stand. Keeping behind the doorways, they were able, without being exposed, to shoot any one attempting to enter; and to reach them, excepting by entering the door, was impossible. Lieutenant Money was ordered with a company to clear out the place, but in making the attempt three or four of our men were killed, and several wounded. Straw was then brought to the doorways, and, being ignited, such a smoke produced as must have suffocated any but a native. The party upon the top of the house, not aware of these proceedings of their friends below, were somewhat taken aback when they saw flames and smoke bursting from the second storey, particularly as knowing the way in which powder is usually left about on these occasions; they instantly thought that there must be loose powder upon the premises; they therefore made a precipitate retreat, and were very glad to find themselves out of the building.

After the straw had ceased burning, some of our men again attempted to enter the lower storey; but another casualty told them that Pandy, though singed, was still active. Holes were now cut through the floor of the second storey, and live shell dropped from above; these exploded, but seemingly without injuring the lodgers; for Captain St George and Lieutenant Magniac entering one of the rooms, the former was shot through the body. Captain Hume, commanding the regiment, had also a very narrow escape; and Captain Anderson, of the Sikhs, was shot dead. Artillery was now brought to the house; and the Pandies, seeing now that their time was come, made a rush for the river; all were quickly killed, except two-one of these ran nearly 300 yards before he was hit; the last reached the stream and plunged in; he was a very strong muscular man, doubtless the

pulwan (champion wrestler) of some native regiment, and he swam bravely; though the bullets whistled round him, he seemed to escape injury. He had reached the shallow water, and was almost out of danger, when Hospital-Serjeant Wilson, who had gone to bring in some wounded men, borrowed a musket, took a steady aim, and the Pandy fell forward upon his face, never more to rise.

The above occurred about 2 P.M., at which time companies 3 and 10 were directed to move to the left, to protect the heavy guns sent to enfilade the enemy's second line of defence, and against which the force directly under Sir Colin Campbell, having captured the Martinière, had now advanced. This party was under command of Captain Sallusbury, and going down the stream, they soon came to that part of the enemy's batteries which touched upon the river. Here the Pandies had made a deep cut, communicating with the Goomtee and the canal, for a little below this point the Lucknow canal runs into the river. The heavy guns were unlimbered, and Major Nicholson of the Royal Engineers commenced his work, observing, at the same time, that the lines seemed deserted. Captain Sallusbury proposed getting boats and crossing a party of the 1st, but as Major Nicholson considered that it might be hazardous to leave the guns, this was not done. Lieutenant Butler, 1st Fusiliers, and four men, however, volunteered to go down to the river and call to the Highlanders, who were about six hundred yards on the other side. They reached the bank, but being unable to make the infantry hear, Lieutenant Butler took off his coat and entered the stream, which runs there strongly, and is perhaps sixty yards wide, swam across, and entered the works from their rear; then, mounting the parapet, quickly attracted the attention of our troops. After a short delay, a staff officer rode down to where Butler stood, and was informed as to the state of matters, and urged at once to send men to occupy the deserted batteries; he, however, seemed to consider that this would not be correct without having received orders, so cantered off for instructions. Mean

while Butler began to feel rather uncomfortable: first, he was wet and cold; and next, he saw some natives, who, though distant, might return, and who, in fact, fired at him twice; lastly, although he had taken his fort, yet a garrison of one is rather a small force to hold even a strong place; moreover, he had no arms; he therefore began to telegraph again. This time a Highland officer advanced; he at once saw the importance of securing the fort, and ordered his company on without delay-the rest of the Highlanders and Sikhs following. Lieutenant Butler having thus delivered over his fort, again entered the river, and swam safely to our side. This act speaks for itself, had a great object in view, and was well performed. It must not be fancied that because Butler was only fired at from a distance, he therefore ran no risk; whoever has seen fighting at Lucknow knows the danger of entering seemingly deserted places. The party under Captain Sallusbury returned at night to the place where we bivouacked.

"All was over, day was ending,
As the foeman turn'd and fled.
Gloomy red

Glowed the angry sun descending;
While round Hacon's dying bed
Tears and songs of triumph blending,
Showed how fast the warrior bled.
Hacon's Last Battle.

Though doubtless most of those who peruse these pages have some idea of the general appearance of Lucknow, its palaces and mosques, from the plans, maps, and daguerreotypes which have been before the public in England for some months, yet, to make myself intelligible to all, I must now give a brief description of the place, and the preparations made by the enemy for our warm and uncomfortable reception when we should attempt to enter the city.

Let the reader then imagine a plain with a triangle described in the centre, the two sides being about four miles in length, the apex pointing to the east, and the base about three and a half miles in length towards the west; let him further fancy the northern boundary to be formed by the river Goomtee, winding indeed, but still proceeding pretty