CHAPTER XXIV.
THE STORMING OF LAKHNAO.
The army concentrated by Sir Colin Campbell before Lakhnao consisted of the troops which, as I have told, he had massed in the plains between Unáo and Banní, of the Nipál troops, of Franks's division, and of the men he had left in the Álambágh under the command of Outram. Of the three first I have written in the three chapters immediately preceding. It remains now to say a word regarding the last.
Outram had been left, on the 26th of November, with between three and four thousand[1] men of all arms, twenty-five guns and howitzers, and ten mortars, to occupy a position which should remind the Lakhnao rebels of the presence of British troops. He did not locate all these in the Álambágh, but occupying that royal garden — a square of about 500 yards — with a sufficient number, he ranged the remainder in the open about half-a-mile behind it. He thus occupied a position across the Kánhpur road, touching the fort of Jalálábád with his right. Where this position was not naturally covered by swamps he placed batteries, dug trenches, and planted abattis to protect it.
The rebels in Lakhnao had been so severely handled by Sir Colin in his relief of the Residency that for some
- ↑ The number was close upon 4000, but of these about 500 had been sent to guard the Banní bridge.
