Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-09-11
VERMONT TELEGRAPH,
BRANDON, SATURDAY SEPT. :, 1899
LETTER FROM srsTER eRo,vN

nahk those to whom the following letter was
addressed, for fayoring the Telegraph with a sonv
of it. ny
SADIYA, Feb. 9, 1889.
My beloved Parents, Brothers and Sis
terS:-l once more sit down to address
you' and to communicate sad tale of dis
tress and changes through which we have
been mercllully and almost miraculouslv
preserved. We have often heard of the
horrors OF war, but now it has been our
lot to pass through enough OF the painful
reality to fill US with the utmost dismav
and terror On Monday morning, the
2oth OF January, about 8 o'clock, we
were suddenly aroused from our quiet
slumber by dreadful yell and out.ry at
Canionment At first, we were at loss
to know what it might mean, but were
not long IN coming to the conclusion that
the place was attacked. The noise and
confusion continued to increase-fres
were breaking out among the buildings
the guns and cannons commenced a fear
tul roar-and in a lew minutes the whole
OF cantonment and numerous buildings
around were in flames. We knew not
but party of enemies were Turk ng
about our house TO massacre Us and sci
fire to the house; and where to fy for
safety and protection in this dreadful hour
we knew not. At first we thought we
would run and hide ourselves in the
woods, but after moment of reflection.
and lifting up fervent calculations to God
for guidance and deliverance, we caught
a few articles of clothing, a canister Of
biscuit, and with our two infant children
we ran to the bank of the river, and, get
ting into a small canoe, pushed out into
the stream, where we remained with
company OF fishermen, feeling ourselves
every moment in the most imminent dan
ger, fearing that company of Khamtis,
or Abors, were lying in wait to rush up
on and murder us, or sell US for slaves,
which would have been more dreadful to
Us than death. The work of destruction
seemed rapidly going on, so that we ex-
pected the whole place would fall into the
hands OF the enemy. After passing some
time In this state of CONSERVATION and
fear, we endeavored by prayer to commit
ourselves into the hands of a covenant
keeping God, and quietly and resignedly
to wait his dispensation concerning U.S.
The night was dark, and the time we
spent here in this awful state of suspense
was dismal in the extreme. About day.
break our ears were saluted with the
morning bugle. This was the most joy
ful sound ever heard, being a signal
that our troops were in possession of the
stockade, to which place we then made
our way, as fast as possible, for protection.
was carried by one of the. fishermen
from long sand bank in the middle of
the stream to the opposite shore; but oh !
the shocking sight that met our eyes as
we passed over the field of battle The
mangled corpses, the cries of the dying
and wounded, were sights and sounds too
shocking 10 be described. After getting
inside the stockade, and having seated
ourselves amid the croud of Sepoys and
their suffering women and children, who
had been burned out of house and home
we learned from the officers that remain
ed, the following particulars
The attack was made by large party
of Khamtis, who took the place complete
ly by surprise, and cutting down the sen.
tries at the first approach, entered and
took possession Of the Magazine which
contained all the ammunition and arms
At the same instant, four or Eve binds at
tackled the place in different directions
firing the buildings, and numbering indis
criminately all they met-men. women &
: children. Capt. and Mrs. Hannay, Lieut.
Marshall, and Apothecary Pingall am
!, wife were reused from their beds by tn
ltumultuous war-cry of the enemy. an
e coming out of their houses found them