The Cannons of Lucknow Read Online Free PDF Page A

their way from Allahabad at the beginning of June. A handful did reach us and General Wheeler sent them on to Lucknow, on receiving their assurance that Colonel Neill’s column was behind them. Wheeler constructed the entrenchment within sight of the Allahabad road so as to enable Neill to get to us without having to fight his way through the city. When the Nana betrayed us and led the sepoys back here to attack us, it was too late to leave the entrenchment … and too late even to destroy the powder and ordnance stores in the Magazine. The Bithur troops seized them and handed the whole lot over to the mutineers who, of course, used them against us. But for all that, Lou, the old general’s decision was a logical one, in the circumstances. The Magazine was six miles north of the Allahabad road and—”
    â€œDid you consider it a sound decision?” the older man demanded.
    â€œNo,” Alex was forced to concede. “A number of us didn’t. But we thought we could hold out until Neill’s column reached us. We were daily expecting its arrival.”
    â€œBut Neill did not come.” Lousada Barrow’s expression was inscrutable.“Well, he had his problems, as you’ll have realised by now—he had to deal with mutinies at both Benares and Allahabad.”
    â€œI do realise that, Lou. Indeed it was I who brought the message from Lucknow that Neill was held up in Benares—”
    â€œYou brought it?”
    â€œYes, by road—the electric telegraph wires had been cut between here and Lucknow. Sir Henry Lawrence sent me, and his warning was the first intimation poor old General Wheeler had that any delay was likely. We expected no prolonged delay—ten days, perhaps, or even a fortnight—because we knew that Neill had been fully informed of our plight. I …” Alex hesitated, choosing, his words carefully before he went on.“No one has yet been able to explain the length of that delay, Lou, or to give me an entirely satisfactory reason for it. Lack of transport has, of course, been mentioned, as well as insufficient troops, and I’m aware that Neill had to ensure the safety of Allahabad, as well as that of Benares, before he could move to our aid.”
    â€œYou mean,” Barrow offered shrewdly, “it’s been suggested that Neill spent more time than was strictly necessary hanging mutineers—and those suspected of being in sympathy with the mutineers—when he should have pushed on to Cawnpore at any hazard?”
    Alex inclined his head. “Yes,” he answered, tight-lipped. “Between ourselves, that has been suggested. He certainly appears to have behaved like the wrath of God in Allahabad. Estimates are at variance, but I’ve been told that he hanged over six hundred natives, some without trial. I don’t know if that’s true, of course, but I do know that he only despatched the advance force, under poor Renaud, on the thirtieth of June … three days after his failure to relieve us compelled our surrender. Spurgin’s steamer left the same day, I believe.”
    Lousada Barrow settled himself more comfortably in his saddle. He took a cheroot from the case in his hip pocket and lit it, the lucifer cupped between his palms. Puffing smoke, he observed dryly,“James Neill has been promoted to brigadier-general in recognition of his services, Alex. Did you hear that?”
    â€œNo, I did not.” Alex’s tone was deliberately noncommittal. He offered no comment and Barrow frowned.
    â€œDo not misunderstand me. I cannot approve of his drumhead courts martial or, indeed, of some of his other methods of stamping out rebellion—I’ve been a civil magistrate for too long. “But,”—his broad shoulders rose in an elaborate shrug—“our new general did avert what could have been a very ugly situation in Allahabad and the surrounding district and he apparently did the