September 18th.—Nothing new to record. Each day passed away much like its predecessor, with the same amount of cannonading and musketry fire.
Throughout the siege, a regular system of look-out was organised from the top of the tower in the Residency, which commanded a view of the river, the three bridges, and the open country beyond; and also from the roof of the Post-office, from which a great part of the city and the road to Cawnpore could be observed. At the former post the officers were relieved every two hours, and at the latter hourly. At each post a book was kept, in which whatever had been observed was noted down, and if anything unusual, or any new work of the enemy was seen, a report of it was instantly forwarded for Brigadier Inglis's information. A new truck was constructed to enable us to fit out another mortar as a howitzer, for it would be impossible to say how greatly we felt throughout the siege the want of a couple of 8-inch howitzers. To-day, the enemythrew in (evidently from a 13-inch mortar) a piece of wood of very great weight, which measured twelve inches in diameter and eighteen in length! It made a prodigious noise as it passed through the air.
In consequence of the very small stock of rum left in store, all the Europeans were reduced to one dram each per day. This was perhaps the quietest day of the siege up to this date, as we had nothing but a few stray cannon shots and a slight musketry fire throughout the twenty-four hours. About 11P.M.a very considerable noise was heard in the town, together with much bugling and shouting.