Litchfield enquirer., 1876-07-06
kg Adyegture. with Sepoys.

It was the 2od of February, and the United States sloop-of-war Advance, at anchor in the magnificent harbor of Rio, was dressed in countless yards of bright bunting, which futtered from her gilded trucks to the waters edge. 44.. .... The officers were entertaining their friends from shore in the ward-room, whence issued shouts of laughter min gled with the clink of glasses and the popping of corks. ~ s' as In the cabin the commander, . gray haired, middle-aged man, surrounded by afew gentlemen friends of his own age, were more quietly amusing them selves. ..... ..-. -..
 He was fine-looking officer, with strongly marked features, and no gentle man in the service was more deservedly popular among all grades than Tom Haywood, as his friends call him.
 'Let me see, Haywood" remarked one of the guests, If my memory serves me right you were married in India, were you not?'
 "Yes, Cfockett; and it was owing to the Sepoy rebellion, too" s -
 ''To the rebellion. How is that?" ,..
 "Wen, it is ssomething of a yarn, which, if you all have the patience to listen to, will relate." ............. .... ...
 "Tom, you could not suit us better and allow me, all of us, in golden Mono- pole, to drink long life and health to the lady of your choice" e..
 Thanks, gentlemen. would she was here this minute with our two little ones that is, they will always seem little to to me. But we who wear the livery of our country are obliged to make many sacrifices of which. you land-lnbbers are profoundly ignorant. See that you have full allowance of Monopole on the ice, Steward, for, gentlemen, even the recol- lections of that adventure makes me dry. And now for it: II ss.!.
 Eighteen years ago was on the East Indian station, and through the kindness of the commodore I was appointed to the command of Banshee, large schooner-yacht that had once been pi- rate in the China seas, and had fallen in- to the clutches of one of our cruisers by. some fortunate circumstance.
 "The Banshee. was manned by picked men, every one of whom took a pride in our beautiful craft, which acted as ten- der and dispatch boat to the fhg-ship.
 "The great revolt in India was yet un- developed, but the indications were un- mistakable; so much so, that I was or dered to drop up the Ganges, just below Rampore, where a number of Americans were located, and to bring them to Call cutta before the tempest which was brewing should burst upon their devoted heads. ...... .... e "My crew had been reduced by drafts made upon me by the flagship, where the cholera had waged sad havoc, SO started on the expedition short handed.
 "It was 2 strange and novel sight, an eyer-changing panorama, sailing up the mighty Ganges the. sacred river which the poor Hindoos believe to flow from the root of the bujputra tree, and which, for over twelve hundred miles. rolls down through vast plains teeming with verdure, through forests, where the savage tiger and leopard prowl, the abode of gaunt fever, the deadly cobra and the sacred alligator.
 "We passed ruins of Notifications built beyond the memory of man, graceful temples graded with marble slabs to the banks of the river, where, at sunrise, the pretty Hindoo girls 'bathe like so many naiads or syrens; then some stupendous column would rise from amid mass of luxurious foliage, raised in memory to some potentate long since passed away. Mosques, pagodas and variegated temple met my eyes continually until an- chored, close in shore, ata point sup posed to be occupied by the imperiled Americans. gEaHo~ 'Fss 1"u3@t#E #ETsf14te4 "A few houses were discernible, half concealed by groves of palm and tama- lrind trees, but no sign of s-umanI be- ing could discover through the glass.
 'The thunder of the sunset gun failed to rouse any one out, so on the morrow ' resolved to go onshore and explore for myself; but I was saved the trouble.
 'That night ten of my best men were taken down with chills and fever, which the assistant surgeon told me might re- suit in something worse unless great care was exercised. v 3a1 51i4'4+at2 @
 '>'T had just men enough left now to : man the pivot gun. and work ship afte a1 fashion, so you may imagine how anx- ious was to drop down the river again to a healthy location. .naed5 aa aaa ] Fl was eating breakfast, when the rat tie of an irregular ,volley of muskstry caused me to start. to my feet 1t the same time my executive officer, . passed midshipman, reported to melthat dozen, or so of Sepoy cavalry were in hot pur- suit of white man, who was riding di- rect for the vessel.
 "The country was perfectly level, the view unobstructed, so when long tom was reported ready I had fair chance to throw grist of grape at the copper colored devils, who refined in their horses with jerk. uttered few yells, shook their fists at the Banshee. in, . fit. of rage. and turning, galioped of at | furious pace. 44as1a eoaA "A boat was sent in for the fugitive.