town, and spread in a semicircular form over an extent
of six miles along the banks of the river. On the highest ground in the
cantonments stood the church and the assembly rooms, and on another part
a theatre and a cafe, supported by public subscriptions. Round them
were scattered, amid gardens and groves, numberless bungalows, the
residence of officers, with barracks for troops, and a separate bazaar
for each regiment; while numerous tents for the troops kept under canvas
increased the picturesque effect and animation of the scene. The native
town at the time of the mutiny contained 60,000 inhabitants. In
cantonments there were 3000 sepoy troops, and, including officers, 300
European combatants, and upwards of 700 European civilians, merchants,
railway officials, shopkeepers, and women and children. General Sir
Hugh Wheeler was the commandant of the division. It was not till the
middle of May that full credit was given to the fact that the great
sepoy army of India was in revolt.

A spot was then selected, in which the Europeans intrenched themselves.
In the centre was the old dragoon hospital, and round it a mud wall was
thrown up four feet high. Ten guns were placed round the intrenchments,
three commanding the lines on the north-east, and three on the south to
range the plain which separates the cantonments from the city. Of the
other four, one was a 3-pound rifled gun, and three were brought by
Lieutenant Ashe, of the Bengal Artillery. Supplies of food were also
laid in, but very inadequate to the wants of so large a number of
people. The outbreak of the troops commenced on 6th June, when the 2nd
Native Cavalry deserted their post, taking with them their horses, arms,
colours, and regimental treasure-chest. Some few, but very few, of the
natives proved true to their oaths. Among them was the old
subadar-major of the regiment, who defended as long as he had the power
the colours and treasure, which were in the quarter guard. The old man
was found in the morning severely wounded, and lying in his blood at his
post. He remained with the British, and was killed by a shell in the
intrenchment.

The native commissioned and non-commissioned officers and a few privates
of the 53rd Regiment of Native Infantry also remained faithful. The
British troops who defended the intrenchments of Cawnpore for so long a
period, and against such fearful odds and so treacherous an enemy,
consisted of 60 men of the 84th Re