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SIR COLIN CAMPBELL.

'Scarcely had Sir Colin Campbell begun to rest after the excitement of the Crimean War,' says an eminent writer, 'when a still more important event summoned him into the field. This was the terrible Indian mutiny of 1857, by which the loss of our empire in the East was regarded as all but certain. The natives had risen in open rebellion; the Sepoys, whom we had trained to war, had risen against their instructors; and while General Anson, the commander of the British forces in the East, had sunk and died under difficulties too great for him to surmount, our Indian generals, with their armies reduced to companies, were everywhere making head against the universal tide, and attempting with scanty means to suppress, or at least to hold in check, the overwhelming masses of the insurgents.

'In this difficulty, all eyes at home were turned upon Sir Colin Campbell; it was felt that he and he alone was adequate for such a crisis; and the satisfaction was universal that hailed his appointment by our Government to be commanderin-chief of the British armies in India. He readily responded to the new call of duty, and

in less than twenty-four hours after his appointment he had left London on his way to the East. Travelling by express, he was in time for the Indian mail at Marseilles, and arrived at Calcutta on the 29th August, only thirty-one days after he had left London; so that he was the first to bring the tidings of his own appointment.

"The great interest of the Indian war had now concentrated at Lucknow. The rebels had obtained possession of that most important city, whilst a mere handful of British soldiers, with a crowd of civilians, women, and children, had taken refuge within the Residency. This building was closely invested by the rebels, and would have been reduced by them but for the opportune arrival of General Havelock, who, after a series of victories almost without a parallel in Indian warfare, had broken through Lucknow and entered the Residency. This diversion, however, instead of raising the siege, was only sufficient to strengthen the all but overpowered garrison, and protract the resistance of the Residency, under the able generalship of Outram and Havelock. Meanwhile they were cheered by the news of Sir Colin's arrival in India, and the prospect of his coming to their relief.

'Sir Colin Campbell, however, could not set out on his critical enterprise before the arrival of reinforcements from England. It was not till the 12th of No

vember that he started. His undertaking was one that demanded consummate judgment; for a single false step or disaster in the attempt would have fearfully imperilled the loss of our Indian army, and our hold on India. He began his march from Cawnpore, where he had concentrated his forces, and advanced upon the Alumbagh, an isolated building with grounds and enclosures about three miles from the Residency, to the south-east of Lucknow, which Havelock had captured and garrisoned in his approach to the city. He reached the Alumbagh in the evening, after a sharp attack of the rebels upon his vanguard, in which they were routed with the loss of their guns.

'Sir Colin Campbell now resolved on making a detour to the right, crossing the canal on the east side of Lucknow, and reaching the Residency by a deflection round the north-east corner of the city. His plan was the perfection of caution; and it was executed in all its parts with courage and daring. He commenced his route for the Residency on the 14th of November, and advanced upon Dilkoosha. Soon they met with a heavy fire and desperate resistance from the rebels; but they defeated them, and surmounted the first difficulty in their path. The next feat that had to be accomplished was the assailing and carrying of the Secunderbagh, a plantation,

surrounded by a high wall of strong masonry, a hundred and twenty feet square, occupied by the rebels in strong force, and loopholed all round. This was done; and the desperate nature of the enemy's resistance may be gathered from the fact that more than 2000 of their slain were found within the walls. After the storming of the Secunderbagh, it was necessary to carry the Shah Nujjeef, a domed mosque, which the enemy had converted into a strong fortress. "The storming of the Secunderbagh and the Shah Nujjeef," says Campbell in his order of the day, "has never been surpassed in daring, and the success of it was most brilliant and complete."

'No further obstacle interposed between the besieged garrison and their countrymen coming to their aid, except a mess-house of considerable size, defended by a ditch and a loopholed mud wall; and this was attacked and stormed on the following day, after an hour of desperate conflict. And now the communication between the victorious army and the Residency was so complete, that Outram and Havelock came out to welcome Sir Colin before the mess - house was carried. It was a proud moment to the latter when he saw the relief of the garrison accomplished, after so long a period of agonizing suspense and so many desperate conflicts.'

Let us conclude this chapter

with an ode written by the poet She there shall dress a sweeter sod Collins in 1746 :—

'How sleep the brave who sink to rest,

By all their country's wishes blest! When Spring, with dewy fingers cold, Returns to deck their hallow'd mould,

Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.

"By Fairy hands their knell is rung, By forms unseen their dirge is sung! There Honour comes, a pilgrim grey, To bless the turf that wraps their clay;

And Freedom shall awhile repair
To dwell a weeping hermit there.'

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'I love the sailor-his eventful life

His generous spirit-his contempt of danger.'-COTTON.

SIR ANDREW WOOD SIR FRANCIS DRAKE

SIR WALTER RALEIGH ADMIRAL BLAKE-SIR GEORGE ROOKE-ADMIRAL RODNEY-LORD HAWKE-EARL HOWE-ADMIRAL DUNCAN-LORD NELSON.

OUR first example of the warrior | hazardous service, informing on land was a Scotchman-Sir the council that no ten ships William Wallace. The noble of Scotland would dare to ashistory of the northern division sault his two vessels, such was of our island also furnishes the his strength in men and artillery, first example of the naval hero. and such his maritime and miliHe was the famous tary skill.

SIR ANDREW WOOD.

Sir Andrew Wood received a grant of Largo from James III. in 1483, which was confirmed by James Iv. in 1488 and 1497. He was early celebrated for his courage and naval skill. When the council of James Iv. wished to punish Wood, who had been strongly attached to the unfortunate prince James III., they applied to the shipmasters of Leith to seize him and his vessels. But they declined the

The barrenness of naval transactions in Scottish history renders the deeds of Wood not a little singular and interesting; for which reason, the minute relation of Lindsay will be followed here:

'Five English vessels had entered the Forth and despoiled some mercantile ships belonging to Scotland and her allies. James IV. and his council, irritated by the indignity, eagerly desired vengeance, but could not prevail upon any masters of ships to proceed against the enemy,

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till they applied to Sir Andrew Wood of Largo, whom they incited by large offers of men and artillery, of royal favours and rewards.

chant vessels to Flanders, expecting that peace was established in England. The English captain seized some fishing boats, and retained the mariners, that by their information he might not mistake his object.

'Being furnished with an ample provision of men, cannon, and arms, Wood proceeded with his 'On a summer morn, a little two ships, the Flower and the after dawn, one of the English Yellow Carvel, against the Eng- shipmasters descried two vessels lish, who were also not deficient coming under sail by St. Abb's in artillery; and finding them Head. The prisoners were oropposite to Dunbar, an obstinate dered to the tops, that they and sanguinary conflict ensued. might declare whether these Wood's extreme courage and vessels were Wood's or not; naval skill at length procured him and upon their hesitation, freethe victory. The five English dom being offered in case this vessels were taken and brought was the expected prey, they anto Leith, and the commander pre-nounced the Scottish admiral. sented to the king and council. Bull, with the exultation of The spirit and conduct of Wood English courage, ordered the were recompensed by honour- preparations for battle; and able rewards, by the favour of after distributing wine, comJames and the nobles, and also manded all to their stations. by the loud voice of public fame.

'Henry VII., concerned at the unusual disgrace of the English flag inflicted by a power unknown in the annals of the sea, offered a large yearly sum to any commander who should capture Wood. But the skill, valour, and fortune of the Scottish leader were now so celebrated, that fear repressed avarice. At length Stephen Bull, an English officer, engaged to seize Wood dead or alive, and was provided with three stout ships, completely equipped for war. Bull passing to the Forth, anchored behind the Isle of May, where he awaited the return of Wood, who had escorted some mer

'Wood advanced, unconscious of foes, till he perceived the three ships under sail and attired for combat. He instantly prepared, and addressed his men in the plain and boisterous phrase of the sea: "There, my lads, are the foes who expect to convey us in bonds to the English king; but by your courage and the help of God they shall fail. Set yourselves in order, every man to his station; charge, gunners; let the cross-bows be ready; have the lime-pots and fire-balls to the tops; two-handed swords to the fore-rooms. Be stout, be diligent, for your own sakes, and for the honour of this realm." Wine was then dealt round, and the

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