566 
STUBBS DIARY. 
right, and went on while we again formed battery to the front and left; 
the latter to shell the town. Another advance brought us to the bridge 
over the river at the southern end of the town, where I was ordered to 
bring the howitzers and mortars into action to shell the town. Did so 
for a couple of hours, and got through a good deal of my ammunition. 
About 2 p.m. two companies of the 79th went into the town, so we got 
some rest and shade, both much wanted. The enemy’s force seemed 
to be chiefly in cavalry, plenty of whom were not far off. Some men 
kept potting at us from houses across the river, behind thatched roofs, 
but the place was not prepared for defence. 
Later in the afternoon the infantry, Carabiniers, and Austen’s guns 
went on through the town and, as we were left quite alone, I packed up 
my goods and followed until we got to a tope clear of the town where 
the General was, and he gave me a tremendous blowing up for moving 
without orders. 1 Shortly after we moved on through cantonments to 
the parade-ground near the gaol, where the wing of the 82nd had been 
besieged for eight days; they were short of food. The artillery are a 
detail of my old Ferozepore Company (4-6), under Lieutenant H. 0. 
Hitchins. The Rifles and 79th suffered severely from the sun (about 
40 deaths I hear), but I think they had nothing to eat, whereas Austen 
and I had our mens’ breakfast cooked while the shelling was going on, 
and though they had a greater share of exposure to the sun than the 
former, only one of Austen’s men went into hospital in the evening; 
none of mine. 2 
May 12 th .—Arranging our camp. Getting uncomfortably hot, but 
nights still cool. Hume sent down to the city with two 9-prs. of 
Hitchins’, who has got three days’ leave, leaving me subalternless. 
May 13th .—Went down to look over the city with Wake and 
Girardot, of Austen’s battery. 
May 14th .—Went down with H. A. Brownlow of the Engineers, who 
is inspecting the defences, and looked at the fort, which is surrounded 
by many buildings capable of holding Europeans. Enemy are reported 
to be making arrangements to attack our camp in rear to-morrow after 
they had said their prayers. 3 We were called to the General’s tent 
and got our orders along with a cheroot and a glass of brandy and 
water. The Avenger’s cigars are always good. 
May 15th .—Moved out and took up our position to the rear of camp 
at 2 a.m. As soon as it was light a gun and howitzer were sent to a 
tope of trees opposite a village on our left (Mau); the other two pieces 
about 400 yards nearer the centre. Our position extended along the 
road which went past the church and Magistrate’s office and fronted to¬ 
wards the Khanaut river. A picquet occupied a fortified garden near 
the latter building and guarded the bridge on the Sitapur road, which 
passed through the village of Lodhipur. Half a company of the Rifles 
and half of De Kantzow’s Horse were with the two left heavy pieces; 
1 After this I got from Major Cureton a couple of mounted orderlies to enable me to communi¬ 
cate with others. 
2 Our men not haying rides and ammunition to carry, had that in their favour. 
3 It was customary among the Muhammcdan’s to attack after one of the times of prayer, which 
they observed very regularly. 
