Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-03-13

A lady Of the rescued party has given
Q most interesting description Of the
events In Lucknow, prior to and at the ar
rival of HavelOck's forces. She says:
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 carth-yet
without feeling that unutterable horror
which must have been experienced by the
unhappy victims at atCawnpore. Wewere
resolved rather to die than to yield, and
were fully persuaded that in twenty. four
hours all would be over; the engineers
had said 30, and ali knew the worst. We
woman Str0ve to encourage each other,
and to perform the light duties which had
been assigned to US, such PC conveying
orders to the batteries and supplying the
men with provisions, especially cups Of
coffee, which we prepared day and night.
! had gone out to try and make myself
useful, in company with Jessie Brown,
the wife Of corporal in my husbands
regiment. Poor Jessie had been in a
state Of restless excitement all through
the siege, and had fallen away visibly
within the last few days; a constant fe-
yer consumed her, and her mind wander
ed occasionally, especially that day, when
the recOllectiOns of home sceNed power
fully present to her; at last, overcome
with fatigue, she lay down on the gronnd,
wrapped up in her plaid; had sat down
beside her, promising to awake her when,
as she said, her father should return from
the plowihg.' She fell at length into a
profound slumber, mOtionless and appa-
rently breathless, her head resting upon
my lap. myself could not resist the in
clinatiOn to sleep, in spite Of the cOntin-
ual roar Of the cannon. Suddenly was
aroused by . wild, unearthly scream
close to my car; my companion stood
upright beside me, her arms raised, and
her head bent forward in an attitude of
listening; look of intense delight broke
over her cOuntenance; she pressed my
hand, drew me towards her, and exclaim-
ed, 'Dinna ye hear it? dinna ye hear il?
Ay, I'm no dreamin' - its the slogan of
the Highlandersl we'er saved = we're
saved - we're savedi" Then flinging
herself on her knees, she thanked God
with passionate fervOr. felt utterly be-
wildered; my English ears heard only
the roar of artillery, and l thought my
poor Jessie was still raving; but she ddr-
ted to the batteries, and heard her cry
necessarily to the men-'Coufage cOur.
agel Hark to the slogan-tO the McGreg-
or, the grandest Of them al Here's last!
10 describe the effects Of these words up
on the soldiers wou d be impossible. For
moment, they ceased firing, and every
soul listened in intense anxiety; gradu-
ally, however, there arose murmer Of
bitter disappointment, and the wailing Of
woman, who had flOcked to the spot,
burst out anew AZ the Colonel shook his
head. Our dull lowland ears heard no
thing but the hemusketrv. A few moments
more of the death-like suspense, of this
agoniziUg hope, and Jessie, who had
sank on the ground, sprang to her feet,
and cried, in voice SO clear and 81 pirc
ing that it was heard along tho whole
li1e-'Will ye no believe it nooP The
slogan has ceased, indeed, but the Camp
bells are COMMIT Dye hear-d'ye hear!
At that moment, we seemed to hear
the voice of God In the distance, when
the pibroch Of the HighIanders brought
uS tidings Of dcliVerance, for now there
was no longer any donbt of the fact. The
shrill, penetrating, ceaseless sound which
rose above all other sounds, could come
neither from the advance of the enemy
nor from the works of the sappers. No,
it was indeed the blast of the Scottish
bagpines, now shrill and harsh, and
threatni' 6 vengeance on the foe, then III
softer tones, seeming to promise Succor
to their friends in need. Never, surely,
was there such scene as that which fol-
lowed. Nota heart in Lucknow but bow
ed itself to God. All, by one simultane-
GUS impulse, fell on their knees, and no.
thing was heard but bursting sobs and
murmured voice Of prayer. Then all
arose, and there rang out from thousand
lips great shout Of joy which resOund-
ed far and wide, and lent new vigOr to
that blessed pibroch. TO our cheer Of
God save the Queen, they replied by the
well known strains that moves every
Scot TO tears, Should auld acquaintance
bc forgot &c. After that, nothing made
an impression on me. scarcely remem-
bered what followed. Jessie was pre-
scented to the General on his entrance in
to the fort, and at the officers banquet her
health was drank by all present, while
the pipers marched around the table play
ing once more the familiar air of Auld
Lang Syne.