Worcester daily spy., 1858-01-06

]
Lucknow, in letter published in the Lon
don Times
To give it its due effect, it should be re-
membered that Gen. Havelock was not an
hour too soon in his relief, as the advance of
the enemys batteries and mines had settled
the iate OF the garrison; and it should be
known, that, IN the continual Uproar Of the
canhonade and the obstructions ef military
works and buildings, the beleaguered and de
voted garrison did not hear or see ANYTHING of
the advancing relief, until the battle had been
fought outside, and the relieving force was
marching up to the gates.
son every side death stared us in the face
No human skill could avert it any LONGER
We saw the moment approach when we must
bid farewell to earth, yet without feeling that
unutterable horror which must have been ex-
perienced by the unhappy victims at Gavin
pore We were resolved rather to- die than
to yield, and were fully persuaded that in "a
hours all would ee over. The engineers had
said so, and all knew the worst. We women
stroye 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. had gone out
with Jessie Brown, the wife of corporal in
my husbands regiment Poor Jessie had
been in state Of restless excitement all
through the siege, and had fallen away visi-
bly, within the last few days. A constant fe-
yer consumed her, and her mind wandered
occasionally, especially that day, when the
recollections of home seemed powerfully pres
ent to her. AT last, overcome with fatigue,
she lay down on the ground, wrapped up in
her plaid. sat beside her, promising to
awaken her when, as she said, s'her father
should return from the ploughing.' She fell
at length into profound slumber, motionless
and apparently breathless, her head resting in
my lap, Il myself could no longer resist the
inclination to sleep, in spite of the continual
roar Of the cannon. Suddenly Twas aroused
by wild unearthly scream close to nv ear.
my companion 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 counntenance. she
grasped my hand, drew me toward her. and
exclaimed, 'Dinna ye hear it? dinna We hear it?
Ay, I'm no dreamin', it's the slos an O. the
Highlanders! We're saved, we're saved! then
finging herself on her knees, she thanked
God with passionate fervor. l felt utterly
bewildered; my English ears heard only the
roar OF artillery, and thought my poor Jessie
was still raving; but she darted to the bat
teries, and heard her cry necessarily to the
men, Courage courage! bark to The slogan,
to the Macgregor, the grGndest of them all,
Here's help at last !! To describe the effect
OF these words upon the soldiers would. be
impossible. For moment they ceased firing.
and every soul listened in intense anxiety.
Gradually, however, there arose a murmur of
hitter disannointrnaDF - r
women, who had focked to the SPOT burst
out anew as the Colonel shook his head.
Our duh Lowland sears heard nothing but
the rattle of the musketry. A few mo-
ments more Of this death-like suspense of
this agonizing hope, and Jessie, who had
again sunk on the ground, sprang to her feet,
and cried, in voice so clear an piercing that
1t was heard along The whole line. Will We
no believe it moo? The slogan has ceased in
deed, but the Campbells are comm Dye
hear, d ye hear! AT that moment we seemed
indeed to hear the voice of God in the dis
tance, when the pibroch of the Highlanders
brought US tidings of deliverance, for now
there was no longer any doubt of the fact
That shrill, penetrating, ceaseless sound,
which rose above all other sounds, could come
neither from the advance of the enemy. nor
ttom the work of the Sappers. No, it was
indeed the blast of the Scottish bagpipes, now
shrill and harsh as threatening vengeance
Oh the foe, then in softer tones, seeming
to promise succor to their friends in need
Never surely was there such a scene as
that which followed. Not heart in the
residency Of Lucknow but bowed itself before
God All, by one simultaneous impulse, fell
upon their knees, and nothing was heard but
bursting sobs and the murmered voice of
prayer. Then all arose, and there rang out
from thousand lips great shout Of Joy
which resounded far and wide, and lent new
visor to that blessed pilbroch. To our cheer
OF God save the Queen, they replied by the
well known strain that moves every Scot to
tears, should auld acquaintance be forgot
&c. After that, nothing else made any i'm
preston on me. 1 scarcely remember what
followed. Jessie was presented to the Cen
eral on his entrance into the fort,s and at the
officers banquet her health was drunk by all
present. while the pipers marched around the
table playing once more the familiar air of
'Auld lang syne. y