L.—THUG JAIL.
Used as a convalescent depot, was a well ventilated, lofty Barrack, divided into four equal sized compartments, with grated doors and spacious out—offices. The Cawnpore Battery was on the south: the Post Office on the east; and the Martiniere Post and Native Hospital on the west.
M.—MARTINIERE POST.
This was a native building belonging to Sah Beharie Lal, a banker. It was a single-storied house, with a good parapet, protecting its flat roof. It was separated from the Brigade Mess by a broad road which was closed by a strong palisade and bank extending along the outside front of the Martiniere Post. The Martiniere building Constantia, being too remote, the boys were moved into the Residency on 13th June, and this building allotted for their quarters. It was defended by a party of the 32nd Regiment—Masters and students of the College under command of Mr. Schilling, Principal of La Martiniere College.
On the 10th August a. mine was sprung by the enemy in front of Johannes' house, which entirely blew down the outer room of the post, destroying also upwards of fifty feet of palisades and defences. The room adjoining, in which were the sick and wounded boys, became thus completely exposed; the outer room, which was providentially unoccupied at the moment, being blown away. The doors connecting the inner room with the room blown up were, however, open, and through these doors the enemy, who swarmed in Johannes' house, could be plainly seen. For some minutes they neither fired, nor made any attempt to advance. so that Mr. Schilling and the boys had time to close the intervening doors securely. The enemy soon after commenced firing, and a private, who had accompanied Brigadier Inglis to the scene of the disaster, was killed by a bullet passing through the door-panels. The rebels soon occupied in force all the surrounding buildings from which they commenced a furious fusilade; they made several attempts to get into the Cawnpore Battery, but a steady musketry fire made them beat a hasty retreat. They managed, however, to get into the cellars of the rooms in which the guard of the 32nd was located and made it very uncomfortable in the courtyard by firing through the grating; and as it was dangerous to step forward to fire upon them, it seemed as if one of the posts was really lost. Captain McCabe, of the 32nd Regiment, however, came to the rescue with a few hand grenades,[1] which
- ↑ See note on page 176.
