The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-01-27
Yarietp.
a Thrilling Moment at Lucknow.

A Thrilling Moment at lucknow.
The war in India has been attended
With many scenes Of thrilling interest, and
there have not been wanting pens to pic.
ture them with startling effect. The + l.
lowing graphic description of the scene at
the moment Of the arrival of the relief, so
long, SO painfully awaited by the beleag-
ured inmates of Lucknow, written by a
lady of the rescued party, equals in dram
attic intensity the best decriptive passages
Of Sir Walter Scott:
death stared US in the face. We were
fully persuaded that in twenty-four hours
had said 20, and all knew the worst. We
women strove to encourage each other,
and to perform the light duties which had
been assigned to US, such as conveying
orders to the batteries, and supplying the
men with provisions, especially cups of
coffee, which We prepared day and night.
I had gone out to try to make myself use
full, in company with Jessie Brown, the
wife of a corporal in my husbands regi-
ment. Poor Jessie had been in q state
of restless excitsasnt all through the
siege. and had fallen way visibly within
the last few days. A constant foyer con-
sumed her, and her mind wandered occs-
sionally, especia ly on that day, when the
recollectioDs of home seemed powerfully
present to her.
Sat last, overcome with fatigue, she
lay down ON the ground, wrapped up in
her plaid. l sat beside her, promising to
awaken her, when, as she said, her father
should return from the pioughing.' She
.--kI ell IT. --of,.1 lnr,har
motionless and apparently breathless, her
head resting on my lap. l myself could
no longer resist the inclination to sleep,
in spite of the continual roar of cannon
Suddenly ! was aroused by a wild, un-
earthly scream close to my ear my COM
panion stood upright beside me- her arms
raised and her head bent forward in the
attitude of listening. A look of intense
delight broke over her countenance; she
grasped my hand, drew me towards her,
and exclaimed, sDinna ye hear it? dinna
yehear it7 Ay, Pm no dreamin,' it's
the slogan o. the Highlanders. We're
saved, we're saved ~ Then, hiDgiDg her.
self on her knees, she thanked God with
passionate fervor.
"I felt utterly bewldered my English
ears heard only the roar of artillery, and
l thought my poor Jessie wal still raying,
bat she dartcd to the batteries, and |
heard her cry incessantly to the men.
Courage bark to the slogan-to the
Macgregor, the grandest of them ALL
Here's help at last To describe the
effect of these words upon the soldiers
would be impossible. For a moment they
ceased firing, and every soul listened in
intense anxiety. Gradually, however,
there arose a murmur of bitter ~disappoint-
ment, and the wailing of the women who
had focked out, began anew as the Col
onel shook his head. Our dull lowland
ears heard nothing but the rattle of the
musketry.
IA few moments more of this deathlike
suspense, of this agonizine hope, aud Jes-
sic. who had again sunk ON the ground,
spraDg to her feet aad cried, in q voice SO
clear and piercing that it was heard along
the whole lins-sWill ye no believe it
moo ETha angan has caased indeed, but
the Dampbells are cominI Dye hear !?
dye hear Z AT that moment We seemed
indeed to hear the voice of God in the
distance, when the bagpipes of the High
brought rs tidings of delivsrance;
for roH there was no longer any doubt of
the fact. That shrill, penetrating, cease
less sound, which rose above all other
could come neither from the adj
vance of the enemy, nor from tho work of
the sappsrs. No, it was indeed the blast
Of the Scottish bagpipes, now shrill and
harsh, as threatening vengeance on the
foe then in softer tones, seeming to pro-
mise snccor to their friends in need
Never surely, was there SUCH scene as
that which followed. Not a heart in the
Rssidency Of Lucknow but bowed itself
before God AL, by one simultaneous
fell upon their knees, and moth
was heard but bursting sobs and the
voice of prayer. Then all arose,
there rang out from a thousand lips
) great shout Of joy, which resounded far
wide, aud lent new vigor to that
5agpipe. To our cheer of God
ave the Queen r. they replied in the
we'll known strain that moves every Scot
to tears-sShould anld acquaintance be
&c. After that, nothing else
made any impression on me. 1 scarcely
what followed. Jessie was pre-
.snted to the General on bis entrance in
10 the fort, and at the officers banquet
her health was drank by all present, while
Ihe pipers marched round the table, play
ing once more the familiar air Of Aud
lang syne."