The force marched from Cawnpore and made their way first to the Alambagh – after a swift flight, the position was secured and a route of advance to Lucknow was decided upon. However, without sufficient intelligence on the ground and with the misguided idea that the Residency garrison was starving to death, a sense of urgency enveloped the entire affair, leading to one of the most frantic battles of the Indian Mutiny – the fight for Lucknow.
When Havelock finally arrived at the Residency, however, it would become abundantly clear that this would hardly be a relief but more of a reinforcement instead. What ensued was a blockade that would last two months, and it would take another army to relieve not just Havelock but the Lucknow Residency.
The Lucknow VCs
By October, it was clear to Sir James Outram that there would indeed be no relief of Lucknow at this juncture. Instead, with some disappointment, the relief force would now become part of the besieged garrison and settle into a blockade.
Mutiny Reflections 