be attempted, and every thing was done to carry it out. By telegraphic signals from the tower, shown in the picture, communications were at length established, and the order was transmitted to the commanding officer, “Blow up the fort and come to the Residency at twelve o'clock to-night. Bring your treasure and guns, and destroy the remainder.”
That night was anxiously looked for, and many an earnest prayer went up to God that every movement might be made safely and well, so that the retreat of the retiring force might not be intercepted. To distract the attention of the enemy the batteries opened fire, especially toward the iron bridge, by which the column must pass. The movement was most successfully accomplished, and so noiseless was the march, favored by the darkness, that the head of the column was at the Residency gate at fifteen minutes after twelve. There was a little delay here, as, not being so quickly expected, the gate had not been made ready. It was dark, and a very serious accident had almost occurred, for the leading men finding the gates closed, cried out, “Open the gates.” This the artillerists at the guns above, which covered the entrance, mistook for “open with grape.” They flew to their guns and rammed in the grape, when an officer rushed up and set them right. The whole force came in without a shot being fired by them or at them. The distance is fully one third of a mile, and the enemy was on their left hand, within fifty or sixty yards of them most of the way. The explosion had not yet occurred, the fuses having been left extra long to give time for the rear to be quite clear of danger; but soon a shake of the earth, a volume of fire, a terrific report, and an immense column of black smoke shooting high into the air, announced to Lucknow that the Muchee Bawun was no more. All the ammunition that they could not remove—two hundred and fifty barrels of powder and several millions of ball cartridge—was destroyed, together with the buildings and their contents. The shock resembled an earthquake.
How gladly the garrison greeted their comrades as they entered! The junction of the two forces was an incalculable gain, for the
