With hopes of an evacuation firmly off the cards for the time being, Sir James Outram, who had taken command the moment he set foot into the Residency, would now begin the onerous task of whipping the Lucknow garrison into shape and consolidating his position. The land held by the British had now been extended, during the advance, to include buildings outside the Residency grounds and the rebels had been pushed back from the main walls. What Outram needed to do now was hold it all until the final relief would arrive, but that would not be for another two months. In the meantime, there was work to be done. There was, however, one pivotal point – the Alambagh. Covering the road to Cawnpore was the Alambagh. Although wildly undermanned, the force that remained behind would prove to be the Residency’s lifeline to the outside world.
By November, it was clear that Sir Colin Campbell was on the way and with that, Lucknow would be saved – but at what price?
Mutiny Reflections 