led the
garrison nothing, as the next day the enemy brought fresh guns into
position. In vain did they look for relief. So completely were the
roads closed by the rebel sepoys, that news of their condition did not
reach Lucknow, only fifty miles distant, till near the termination of
the affair.

The 23rd of June 1857 was the centenary of the battle of Plassy, and the
sepoys believed on that day they should finally throw off the British
yoke. On the night of the 22nd, the barrack held by the British under
the command of Captain Mowbray Thomson was threatened with a grand
attack. Numbers of rebels were seen gathering from all directions at
this barrack, and Captain Thomson, believing that he should be
overpowered, sent to the intrenchments for reinforcements. The answer
was that none could be spared. Captain Moore, however, shortly after
came across to see how affairs stood. He proposed that they should
themselves sally out as if they were about to make an attack. He
himself had but a sword, Lieutenant Delafosse an empty musket. Captain
Moore vociferated to the winds, "Number one to the front"; and hundreds
of ammunition pouches rattled on the sheaths as the astonished foe
vaulted out from the cover afforded by heaps of rubbish, and rushed for
shelter to the barrack walls. The gallant little party, which consisted
but of 13 privates and 3 officers, fired a volley, and with bayonets at
the charge followed the enemy, who dared not face them. The party
returned to their barrack, laughing heartily at the success of their
feint.

All night long a series of false charges and surprises were made on the
barrack, and not a man for an instant left his post. Towards dawn, the
enemy being more quiet, Mr Mainwaring, a cavalry cadet, one of Captain
Thomson's picket, begged him to lie down, while he kept a look-out.
Scarcely had the captain closed his eyes when Mainwaring shouted, "Here
they come!" The enemy, with more pluck than they had hitherto shown,
advanced close up to the doorway of the barrack. Mainwaring's revolver
despatched two of the enemy. Stirling, with an Enfield rifle, shot one
and bayoneted another. Captain Thomson fired both charges of his
double-barrelled gun, killing two more.

The defenders of the barrack consisted of but seventeen men, while the
enemy left eighteen corpses lying outside the doorway. At the same time
the mutineers surrounded the intrenchments on all sides with cavalry and
infant