"There was a constant alarm that the enemy would undermine the Redan successfully, and the-ground immediately in front of it was twice reconnoitred and sounded for mines, but none were discovered; and, as was known subsequently, none were made that really approached the Redan sufficiently near to endanger it."
Z.—INNES' HOUSE.
This post was separated from the churchyard by a low mud wall. It was a commodious, lower-roomed house, having a sloping pucca roof, with a verandah to the east and north, and consisted of four large and several small rooms; in the centre room there was a staircase leading to the roof. It was only very slightly protected by palisades and the ordinary mud compound wall. At the end of one stockade existed a mud shed, with a flight of stairs leading to an upper room called the cockloft, commanding the Iron Bridge. The position was defended by a party of the 32nd, a few sepoys of the 13th Native Infantry, and some Uncovenanted Civilians,[1] under the command of Lieutenant Loughnan, 13th Native Infantry, and subsequently Captain Graydon, of the 44th Native Infantry.
This extreme outpost was on the north-west, a most commanding position. On the 20th July a most fierce assault was made on this post; the enemy came close under the walls with scaling ladders, but so hot a fire was kept up from our position that they were unable to plant them against the wall; after repeated futile efforts the foe was forced to relinquish the attempt. While this was going on, the cockloft mentioned above was in the most imminent danger of being taken: Mr. Erith, Corporal of Volunteers, seeing the peril, advanced amidst a shower of bullets, but was struck in the neck and fell. Meanwhile another part of the outpost was resolutely held by George Bailey (also a Volunteer) and a couple of sepoys, which resulted in the Volunteer receiving a dangerous wound in the chin. This little party was, however, reinforced, and they held their own.
Another assault, accompanied by an explosion of mines,
- ↑ Mr Gubbins writes:— "Sufficient justice has scarcely been done to the clerks and Uncovenanted Service. The admirable conduct displayed by this class, which contained such men as Kavauagh and Williams, during the seige, surprised us all. Several of them rendered excellent service in the Volunteer Cavalry. All behaved well during the seige, and were often very conspicuous in repelling the fiercest attacks of the enemy. They deserved better at the hands of Government than they have received, or had at least received, when I left India."
