the following day, shortly before daybreak. The
palace walls, some sixty yards from the Residency, and separated from
it by an unfordable moat, were loop-holed, and soon a fierce fire was
opened on the attackers. Mrs. Grimwood sought shelter in the little
telegraph office, but bullets were soon crashing through it, and her
position was one of extreme danger, but after the first fright she
settled down to help the doctor attend to the wounded.

The British attack on the palace was not, however, successful, and the
Manipuris crept round to the back of the Residency, and made an attack
upon it. They were beaten off, but the British force was soon in a
critical position; for, shortly after 4 o'clock, some big guns opened
fire on the Residency, where the whole of the force was now
concentrated. Mrs. Grimwood states in her book, _My Three Years in
Manipur_, that the first shell fired at the Residency made her
speechless with fear; but others who were present state that a few
minutes later she was hard at work attending to the wounded under fire.
The cellars under the Residency were used as a hospital, and terrible
were the sights which the brave woman witnessed. Every hour the
position of the British became more desperate. Men were falling
quickly, and the ammunition was running out.

At last a message was sent to the jubraj asking on what conditions he
would cease firing on the Residency. His reply was to the effect that
the British must surrender unconditionally. Finding that the British
would not agree to this, he sent word that if the Chief Commissioner
would come to the palace gates he would discuss terms with him. His
excellency and Mr. Grimwood went forward, but as they reached the gates
they were pushed inside the palace enclosure, and the gates closed
behind them. Then the Manipuris shouted that the white men were
prisoners, and again opened fire on the Residency. The British troops
replied, but their position was now critical. Very little ammunition
remained, and shells were bursting over the Residency. One burst near
to Mrs. Grimwood's feet, but fortunately she only received a slight
wound in the arm.

At midnight the British officers decided to evacuate the Residency and
retreat to Cachar.

Mrs. Grimwood being the only person who knew the way to the Cachar
road, acted as guide, and led the retreating force through hedges, over
mud walls, and across a river. Looking back when they had gone four