The Cannons of Lucknow
Read The Cannons of Lucknow Online
Authors: V. A. Stuart
HE
C
ANNONS OF
L
UCKNOW
BY
A
LEXANDER
K
ENT
Midshipman Bolitho
Stand into Danger
In Gallant Company
Sloop of War
To Glory We Steer
Command a King's Ship
Passage to Mutiny
With All Despatch
Form Line of Battle!
Enemy in Sight!
The Flag Captain
SignalâClose Action!
The Inshore Squadron
A Tradition of Victory
Success to the Brave
Colours Aloft!
Honour this Day
The Only Victor
Beyond the Reef
The Darkening Sea
For My Country's Freedom
Cross of St George
Sword of Honour
Second to None
Relentless Pursuit
BY
D
UDLEY
P
OPE
Ramage
Ramage & The Drumbeat
Ramage & The Freebooters
Governor Ramage R.N
.
Ramage's Prize
Ramage & The Guillotine
Ramage's Diamond
Ramage's Mutiny
Ramage & The Rebels
The Ramage Touch
Ramage's Signal
Ramage & The Renegades
Ramage's Devil
Ramage's Trial
Ramage's Challenge
Ramage at Trafalgar
Ramage & The Saracens
Ramage & The Dido
BY
D
AVID
D
ONACHIE
The Devil's Own Luck
The Dying Trade
A Hanging Matter
An Element of Chance
The Scent of Betrayal
A Game of Bones
BY
D
EWEY
L
AMBDIN
The French Admiral
Jester's Fortune
BY
D
OUGLAS
R
EEMAN
Badge of Glory
First to Land
The Horizon
Dust on the Sea
BY
V.A. S
TUART
Victors and Lords
The Sepoy Mutiny
Massacre at Cawnpore
The Cannons of Lucknow
The Heroic Garrison
BY
C. N
ORTHCOTE
P
ARKINSON
The Guernseyman
Devil to Pay
The Fireship
Touch and Go
BY
C
APTAIN
F
REDERICK
M
ARRYAT
Frank Mildmay
OR
The Naval Officer
The King's Own
Mr Midshipman Easy
Newton Forster
OR
The Merchant Service
Snarleyyow
OR
The Dog Fiend
The Privateersman
The Phantom Ship
BY
J
AN
N
EEDLE
A Fine Boy for Killing
The Wicked Trade
BY
I
RV
C. R
OGERS
Motoo Eetee
BY
N
ICHOLAS
N
ICASTRO
The Eighteenth Captain
Between Two Fires
BY
W. C
LARK
R
USSELL
Wreck of the Grosvenor
Yarn of Old Harbour Town
BY
R
AFAEL
S
ABATINI
Captain Blood
BY
M
ICHAEL
S
COTT
Tom Cringle's Log
BY
A.D. H
OWDEN
S
MITH
Porto Bello Gold
BY
R.F. D
ELDERFIELD
Too Few for Drums
Seven Men of Gascony
of
Lucknow
V. A. STUART
The Alexander Sheridan Adventures, No. 4
M
C
B
OOKS
P
RESS
I
THACA
, N
EW
Y
ORK
Published by McBooks Press 2003
Copyright © 1974 by V. A. Stuart
First published in Great Britain by Robert Hale Limited, London 1974
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher. Requests for such permissions should be addressed to McBooks Press, Inc.,
ID Booth Building, 520 North Meadow St., Ithaca, NY 14850.
Cover painting:
Sir Henry Havelok at the Relief of Lucknow
.
Courtesy of Peter Newark Military Pictures
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stuart, V.A.
The cannons of Lucknow / by V. A. Stuart.
p. cm. â (Alexander Sheridan adventures ; no. 4)
ISBN 1-59013-029-4 (alk. paper)
1. Sheridan, Alexander (Fictitious character)--Fiction.
2. British--India--Fiction. 3. India--History--Sepoy Rebellion, 1857-1858--Fiction. 4. Great Britain--History, Military--19th century--Fiction. 5. Lucknow (India)--History--Siege, 1857--Fiction. I. Title
PR6063.A38 C36 2003
823'.914âdc21
2002012358
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.
Printed in the United States of America
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is for Dale L. Walker,
of the University of Texas at El Paso, in gratitude for his
kindness and encouragement and in the hope that he may find it
as factual as we both like our historical fiction to be
.
“One hundred years,” the Moulvi said
.
The Sadhu agreed with nodding head
.
“And we have served an alien breed
.
The hour is comeâHind shall be freed!”
The runners sped throughout the landâ
The Sign was passed from hand to hand
.
From every ghat and every khud
There came the call for British blood
.
Night's horror gone, the peacock loud
Proclaims the waning star of Oudh
.
The vulture, gruesomely replete
Sees blood-red dawn invade the street
.
Here riven shako, bloodied sash,
Half-buried in the shrouding ash
Bear evidence that, once begun,
Treachery's cost is five to one
.
Now day's reluctantly begun
As though, in shame, the very sun,
Seems in the mist to hide his head â¦
And over Oudh the dawn is red!
Delhi Rebels
by W. B. Lindsay.
By permission of the author
ONTENTS
A
UTHOR'S
N
OTE
BASED ON published letters and accounts of the Indian Mutiny everything recounted in this book actually happened.
The only fictional characters are Alex Sheridan and his bearer, Mohamed Bux; all others are called by their correct names and their actions are on historical record although, of course, conversations with the fictitious characters are imagined. As far as possible, however, such conversations are based on their known views or actions. Sergeant Mahoney, of the famous “Blue Caps” serving with the Volunteer Cavalry, was awarded a V.C.; Timothy Cullmane of H.M.'s 64th was killed in action. No award of a Victoria Cross was made to any of the survivors of the heroic siege of Cawnpore, although repeated recommendations were made on behalf of Lts. Mowbray Thomson and Henry Delafosse. Both continued to serve in the Indian Army; Henry Delafosse retired as a major-general, after commanding the Blue Caps, Mowbray Thomas reached the honorary rank of general.
Gunner Sullivan died of wounds and cholera, after his escape: Private Murphy served with Havelock's Force and, on leaving the army, was made gardener in charge of the Cawnpore Memorial Well and garden, which post he held until his death. Lousada Barrow retired as a major-general, C.B., and General Havelock's son Harry was awarded a V.C. and he too, became a general.