In total, 855 British soldiers, 712 Indian soldiers, and 153 volunteers were defending 1,280 civilians in the Residency against a rebel force of almost 8,000. In November 1857, the defenders and civilians were evacuated from the Residency, which was then abandoned.
There was extensive damage to the Residency, evident when Karl observed the bullet holes and buildings falling to ruin in 1901. Today, most of the buildings are ruins, and the complex is now a historical site by the Archaeological Survey of India. In addition to being able to visit the buildings, there is also a cemetery for the 2,000 soldiers who lost their lives during the siege.
It was a fascinating historical site, and I’ve laid out a virtual tour for you dear reader, with some of the notable buildings of the Residency:
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