mess-house

Shah Najaf, the mess-house, and, above all, that glorious memorial of almost superhuman courage and endurance, the Residency, ruined, roofless, and riddled by round shot and bullets.

Forty-one years in India From Subaltern To Commander-In-Chief Frederick Sleigh Roberts

Kaisarbagh and mess-house were brought to bear upon us.

Forty-one years in India From Subaltern To Commander-In-Chief Frederick Sleigh Roberts

In the meantime a heavy fire from Peel's guns had been opened on the mess-house -- a double-storied building, situated on slightly rising ground, surrounded by a ditch 12 feet broad, and beyond that at some little distance by a loop-holed wall.

Forty-one years in India From Subaltern To Commander-In-Chief Frederick Sleigh Roberts

Reinforcements were hurried forward, the troops holding the Sikandarbagh and the Shah Najaf were ordered to act in concert, and before nightfall the Kaisarbagh, the mess-house, and the numerous buildings situated between those places and the Residency, were in our possession.

Forty-one years in India From Subaltern To Commander-In-Chief Frederick Sleigh Roberts

As the party moved off to attack the mess-house, Sir Colin, who, on his white horse, was interestedly watching the proceedings, ordered me to procure a regimental colour and place it on one of the turrets of the building, that Outram might be able to judge how far we had advanced.

Forty-one years in India From Subaltern To Commander-In-Chief Frederick Sleigh Roberts

Thousands of the enemy had collected in the Kaisarbagh, and for the protection of the mess-house, the Tara Koti, about 200 yards to the south-west, was seized and held, as from this position a flanking fire could be brought to bear upon any enemy advancing from the Kaisarbagh.

Forty-one years in India From Subaltern To Commander-In-Chief Frederick Sleigh Roberts

He at once complied, and I galloped with it to the mess-house.

Forty-one years in India From Subaltern To Commander-In-Chief Frederick Sleigh Roberts

The next day, the 10th, Outram's camp was moved close up to the Gumti, and batteries were constructed from which fire could be poured on the mess-house and the Kaisarbagh.

Forty-one years in India From Subaltern To Commander-In-Chief Frederick Sleigh Roberts

Havelock, the hero of a hundred fights, on the contrary, looked ill, worn and depressed, but brightened up a little when Norman told him he had been made a K.C.B. Sir Colin waited to receive these two heroes on the ground sloping down from the mess-house, and it was there that the meeting between the three veterans took place.

Forty-one years in India From Subaltern To Commander-In-Chief Frederick Sleigh Roberts

From the mess-house we could see the British flag flying on the top of the engine-house, only a short distance beyond the Moti Mahal, which satisfactory piece of intelligence Norman went down to report to Sir Colin, who, with his Chief of the Staff, had just arrived.

Forty-one years in India From Subaltern To Commander-In-Chief Frederick Sleigh Roberts