Litchfield enquirer., 1858-02-04
The Relief of Lucknow.

StVc you tut lOluWNIS dCCOuHC Ol LUCK now, as described by lady, one of the rescu- ed party :" On 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 feel ing that unuttcrabe horror which must have been experienced by the unhappy victims at Cawnpore. We were resolved rather to die than to yield, and were fully persuaded that in twent -four hours all would be over. The engineers had said so, 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 pro visions, especially cups of coffee, which We prepared day aud night l had gone out to try and made myself useful, in company with Jessie Brown, the wife of a corporal in my hus- bands regiment. Poor Jessie had been in a state of most restless excitement all through the siege and had fallen visibly away ~ithin the last few days. A constant fever consum- ed her, and her mind wandered occasionally, especially that day, when the recolectons of home, seemed powerfully present to her. At last, overcome, with fatigue, she lay down on the ground wrapped up in her plaid. sat beside her promising to awake her when, as she said, her father should return from the plowing' She at length fell into a profound slumber motionless and apparently, breathless her head resting in my lap. Suddenly was aroused by wild unearthIy scream close to arms raised. and her head bent forward in the attitude of listening. A look of intense de- light broke over her eountenance. she grasped my hand, drew me toward her, and exclaimed "Dinha ye hear it dnna ye hear it /? dinna ye hear it? Ay. I'm no dream n, it's the slo- gan O the Highland IFS We're saved, we're saved ?" Then, flinging herself on her knees, she thanked God with passionate fervor. l felt utterly bewldered my English ears heard only the roar of artillery, and l thought my poor Jessie was still raving but she darted to the batteries and heard her cry incessant- ly to the men, Courage courage hark to the slogan--to the Mcgregor, the grandest of them a. Here's help at last" To describe the effect of these words upon the soldiers is impossible. For a moment they ceased firing, and every soul listened in intense anxiety In short time however, there arose murmur of bitter disappointment, and the wailing of wo- men who had hockcd to the spot burst out anew as the colonel shook his head. Our low land ears heard nothing but the rattle of mus ke'ry. A few moments more of this deati.- Exc suspelse, of this agonzing hope. and Jessie who had sunk oa the ground, sprang to her feet, aud cried i,l a voice so clear and piercing that it was heard along the whole liue- 'W,il ye no believe it moo! The slogan has indeed ceased, but the Campbells are comin'. Dye hear, dye hear?' A that moment we seem- ed indeed to hear the voice of God ia the dis tance, when the pibroch of the Highlanders brought us tidings of deliyerance, for now there was no longer any doubt of the fact That shrill, penetrating ceaseless sound, that rose above all other sonnds, could come neither from the advance of the enemy, nor from the
 work of he Sarpers. No, it was indeed the
 blast of the Scottish bagpipes, now shril and harsh as threatening vengeance on tho foe, then
 in softer tones seen ing to promise succor to their friends in need. Never surely was there such scene as that which followed Not a heart in the rasidency 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 murmured voice of prayer. Then all arose. and there rang out from thousand lips great shout of joy, which resoundcd far and wide, and lent new vigof to tl,at blessed pibroch. To our cheer of God save the Qaeen,' they replied by the well known strain that moves every Scot to tears, Should auld acquaintance be forgot After that, nothing made any impression on me. l scarcely remembered what followed. Jessie was presented to the General at his en- trance into the fort, and at the officers regi- mental banquet, her health was drunk by all present. while the ppers marched round the ta- ble playing once more the familiar air of Aud Lang Syne.'"