The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-17

BRAVE KAVANAGH.
An Incident Of the Indian
Mutiny.

performed which has scarcely any paral-
lei in the annals of modern wars. The
hero of it was a gentleman belonging to
the Uncovenanted Civil Service OF In
dia, named Thomas Henry Kavanagh,
who is still living, and holding a high
official position at the scene of his won
derful exploit. A generation having
sprung up since the eventful time OF the
Indian Mutiny, we make no hesitation
in recalling and offering to our readers
the story of the exploit itself.
India trembled in the balance; and the
empire was thrilling with horror over the
massacre of women and children at
Cawnpore, when the news came that a
gallant little band of devoted men were
defending themselves in the Residency at
Lucknow against the hordes of a savage
and relentless enemy. From the begin
ming to the end of this remarkable siege,
Kavanagh-civilian Though he was-ap-
pears to have figured conspicuously
in the defense, for no sooner was the
Residency invested by the mutineer
forces, than he set to work to arm and
drill all the civilians in the place; and,
in spite of much ridicule from the mill
itary men, succeeded in organizing a
corps of volunteers that did splendid SER
vice for the state.
Tall and handsome, with an evident
"empressement" for military life, Kavan-
agh proved himself the "beau-ideaP of a
hero; and in book published by him in
1860, entitled: "How l won the Vic
toria Cross" he describes the yearnings
of his heart for distinction, and the feel
ings of exultation with which, when he
rose from a sick-bed in which he had
been prostrated by brief illness, he
heard that the siege was not yet raised,
nor the mutiny over.
The march Of Havelock and his brave
column to relieve the devoted band
cooped up in the Resdency was watched
in Great Britain step by step with in
tense eagerness; but, through the losses
sustained on the way thither by battle
and disease, it became impossible to com
pei the mutineers to raise the siege; and
even after the entrance of the relief col
umn, it was conducted as vigorously as
ever.
During five long months the little gar
rison was put to its wits end to meet
the constant and ever-recurring attacks
of the enemy. Repelling sorties, mining
and counterming, repairing breaches,
ETC., was the work that was always going
on; and none was more willing and
brave that the gallant Kayanagh, who,
though wounded several times. was eve,
to be found at the post Of danger. We
should also mention an interesting fact
that Kavanagh's wife was also wounded
during the siege and laid up for several
weeks. At length, in November, came
the welcome tidings that Colin Campbell
-afterward Lord Clyde-was advancing
with strong force to the relief of the
garrison; and on the ninth of that month
Kavanagh learned that a spy had come
in from Cawnpors, and that he was going
back again to the Alum Bagh with dis
patches for Sir Colin. Indeed, it had be-
come necessary that Sir Collins march
should be FASTENED, and that he should
be guided to the city by the least haz
ardous route. But who was to be the
guide? Sir James, Outram says in 6
letter on the subject, dated about year
after the event: "The almost impossi
bility of any European being able to
escape through the city undetected, and
the certainty Of his murder if detected
deferred me from ordering any officer
or even seeking volunteers for such a
duty" ....
A volunteer for this extraordinarily
dangerous adventure did, however, pre-
sent himself in the person of Kavanagh
He had sought out the spy, whose name
was Kunoujee Lal, and, finding him in
telligent, he expressed his desire to pro
ceed with him in disguise to the Aim
Bagh. The spy at first hesitated, and
urging that there was more chance of de
lection by two going together, proposed
they should take different roads and NEE
outside the city. This Kavanagh objected
to and then proceeded to finish some
business he had in hand, his mind, how
ever, still dwelling upon the accomplish
ment of his object. At last he made W
his mind and proposed the enterprise tt
Colonel Napier, the chief Of Sir jane
Outrams staff. The Colonel considered
the noble offer of Kavanagh to be fraugh
with too much danger to be accepted
but promised to inform Sir Jane
Outram of it, considering that such yea
deserved notice.
Outram was at once surprised ant
pleased by Kavanagh's OFFER but III
pointed out the extreme danger Of sucl
an attempt, and endeavored to dissuad
him from it, while at the same time stat
ing how valuable such assistance woul'
be to Sir Colin Campbell. Kavanagl
was, however, 80 earnest in his entreatie
that the General at length consented
with the proviso that if Kavanagh shoul
think the risk too great, and wished t
withdraw from the enterprise, he wa
quite at liberty to do so. Kavanagh wa
However, formed of the stuff of whic
heroes are made; and having made hin
self acquainted with Sir James Outram
plans, he proceeded to disguise himse
for the journey. This he had secretly a
ranged, as he did not wish his wife
know ANYTHING of the undertaking unit