Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-01-18
The Relief of 'LucIsnow-A Thrilling

Scene.
Scarcely out of Scott's novels can scene
be found more dramatic, touching and pic
turesqne, than that described by lady, the
wife of an officer at Lucknow, in letter pub
lished 10 the London Times.
To give it its due effect, it should be remem-
bered that Gen. Haveock was not an hour
too soon in his relief, as the advance of the
enemy's batteries and mines had settled the
fate Of the garrison; and it should be known
that in the continual uproar of the cannon
ade. and the distractions Of military works
and buildings, the beleagured and devoted
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:
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 feeling that
unutterable horror which must have been ex-
perieuced by the unhappy victims at Gavin
pore. We were resolved rather to die than 70
yield, and were fully persuaded that in "a
hours all would be over. The engineers had
said So, and all knew the worst. We women
strOve to encourage each other, and to per-
TO Us, such conveying orders to the batter
les and supplying the men with provisions es-
peci1lly cups of coffee, which we prepared day
and night. l had gone out TO try and make
myself useful, IL company with Jessie Brown,
the wife of a corporal in my husbands regi-
ment. Poor Jessie had been in a state of rest
less excitement all through the siege, and had
fallen away visibly within the last few days
a constant fever consumed her, and her mind
war f|AFaI Ilry oionv tlot
when the reccllections of home seemed power
fully present to her. AT last, overcome with
fatigue, she lay down on the ground, wrapped
uPin her plaid. sat beside her, promising to
awake her when, as she said, "her father should
return from the ploughing." She fell at length
into II profound slumber, motionless, and, ap
parently, breathless, her head resting in my
lap. myself could no longer resist the incli-
nation TO sleep, in spite of the continual roar
OF tbe cannon. Suddenly / was aroused by a
wild unearthly scream close to my 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 cOuntenance, she |
grasPed my hand, drew me toward her, |
and exclaimed, Dinna ye hear it,
Ginna ye hear it2 Ay, I'm no dreaming. it's |
the slogan O. the Highlanders We're saved,
were savedp Then fiDging herself on her |
knees, she thanked God with passionate fervor.
l felt utterly bewildered; my English ears
heard only the roar of artillery, and l thought
my poor Jessie was still raviDg; but she dart
ed to the batteries, and heard her cry inces-
sanity 70 the men, 'Couragei courage! bark
to the slogan, Ito the MacgregOr the grandest
of them a.. Here's help at last! y To describe
the effect of these words upon the soldiers
would be impossible. For a moment they
ceased hiring, and every soul listened in intense
anxiety. Gradually, however, there arose a
murmer OF bitter disappointment, and the
|allng OF the women, who he'd flocked to the |
spot burst out anew as the colonel shook his
head. Our dull Lowland ears heard nothing
but the rattle of the musketry. A few mo-
ments more of this death-ike suspense, of this
agoniziDg hope, and Jessie who had again
sunk on the ground, sprang to her feet. and
crled, IN voice so clear and piearcng that it
was heard along the whole line-sWiil Won no
believe IT noo2 Tie slogan has ceased indeed.
but The Campbells are cominY Dive hear
G3e Hear! AT that moment we seemed in
Cted 10 hear the voice of God in the distance.
when the Pibroch OF the Highlanders brouobt
Us tdIngs of of deliverance for now tbere
was no longer any doubt of the fact. That
shTlI', penetrating, ceaseless sound, which rose
above all other sounds, could come neither
from The advance OF the enemy nor from the
WORK OF the Sappers. No. it was indeed the |
Dlast OF the Scottish bagpipes, now shrill and |
iiDI ~ us IhTeateIlbS vengeance on the foe, |
theh III softer tones, seeming to promise succor |
10 Their friends In need. Never surely was |
th're such scene as that which followed. |
Not heart in the residency of Lucknow but |
bowed itself before God. All, by one eimul- |
tansous impulse, fell upon their knees, and |
nothing was heard but bursting sobs and the |
ihutmured voice of prayer. Then all arose,
ana thtFe rang out from thousand lips a |
sieaI snout OF JOY which resounded far and |
vice. and lent new vigor to that blessed pi-
proch. 10 our cheer of God save the Queen" |
they replied by the well-known strain that |
NOV s every Scot 10 tears, SHOULD auld ao- |
quAiniapce be forgot" &c. After that, moth
II eIse made any impression on me. l scare
ely remember what followed. Jessie was |
presented To the General on his entrance into |
the fort, and at the officers banquet her health
was drunk by all present, while the pipers |
marched round the table playing once more |
The familiar air Of Aud lang syne'"