The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-02

and their allies upon reaching the scene
at Cawnpore vas uncomfortable and
spies having brought in word that a
BODY of the Sepoys. with a few SowarS:
were making but slow Roadway laden
down as they were with loot from the re-
| captured city accompanied by a host OF
fugitive ruflians-the rabble Of the Ba-
Ear. who had committed numberleSs
atrocities could possibly be overtaken
by forced marches. a number OF yolun-
teers, many belonging to the Irregular
regiments were permitted to set out IN
pursuit. None but the best mounted
could be accepted, for obvious reasons
and although their number could be aug
mented largely, only some 400 mount
ed men were finally accepted as an
%avenging force.
But these represented the flower Of
the army. Rank was ignored, officers,
soldiers and several non combatants form
ing the chosen few. No baggage, not a
s%uDer1uous article to be taken. Their
arms consisted of swords and pistols, and
a haversack, with a few ~ratlons, being
their only encumbrance. Many of them
had lost their friends and relatives, and
were burning with desire to overtake the
miScreants who had dealt SO mercilessly
by them. Their horses, powerful, we'll
bred chargers, were well calculated to
bear them bravely. Night had all but
fallen as they filed away from the canton
ments, and, under the guidance of a ma
tive spy. sped rapidly forward.
The CLEANS of the morning sun found
them still in their saddles, and so they
sped until a hat, near MONDAY, was
called, beneath the friendly shade Of a
tope of trees. The almost intolerable
noon-tide heat rendered a short stay in
evitable, but horses and men were re-
freshed, and the march again resumed.
Another night found them still in me-
ton, and the signs became abundant
that their prey was not beyond reach.
the route being remarked by many
tokens of their plumber Of the Europeans.
which they found too cumbrous in their
flight. Beneath the gray walls OF a dis
mantled fort a shelter from the suns
rays was had. with renewed vigor, but
in almost sad silence, the devoted band
renewed the pursuit. The hours OF an
India night passed rapidly, and, as the
first lurid rays of the unheralded sun
swept over the plain, the CLEAN ofhostile
arms in the distance discovered the foe.
The recognition was simultaneous, and
the loud, derisive cheers of the rebel
horde, as they saw the handful of troops
in pursuit. was borne on the morning
breeze. They even fred a few shots,
but soon found the distance was too
+ great for execution. 1t took them but a
/ short time to form a square, and they
awaited the inevitable onslaught of the
British, who, on their side, made rapid
!, preparation for the onset.
II IL; n,nrptoI anl r,yn n four mo
ments to see that girths were secured,
arms and brides in trim, and then pro-
ceeded to determine upon their mode OF
/ attack. Had they rushed upon the enemy
in order of battle the little band would
have suffered such losses from the fire
of the Sepoys as would seriously cripple
; them, it it did not ensure defeat. 1t "a
! finally resolved to charge the enemy, not
in line as was usual, but i'll a column of
'threes,' which in the onset, would
offer the least front to the bullets of the
J foe. The leaders were selected-where
: all were brave-for the size and spirit of
: their charger, and their ability to plunge
upon or over the ront rank of the mutt
! neers, who We're already preparing to
receive cavalry. "their front ranks kneel-
, inc. The resolve was a desperate ne,
OuI liz OhAN oliN vi III lllsIuC lllll
1 square of rebels the onslaught of a body
of men and horses at racing speed would
scatter it TO the winds of heaven. The
: leading files were composed of the most
powerful men and horses, with orders
! to break the enemy's formation at all
hazards. The order to mount was given,
6 and after a moments final glance, to be
assured that all were in readiness, the
final words of command were given and
the little column advanced rapidly on
the foe. who, the instant the range was
= ascertained, opened a heavy fusilade,
which emptied a few saddles, but did
not impede the advance, who, with
~plungipg horses amidst ominous silence,
} reserved itself for the final rush.
Suddenly the clamOrous notes of the
| trumpet sounding the charge burst upon
r the morning air, and with one wild hurrah
the devoted band rushed desperately
upon the foe, and amidst a tumult of re-
sonant yells and belching volume of fire
and smoke, the leading horsemen reached
the projecting bayonets of the kneeling
Sepoys. Horses and men went down, but
| nothing could resist the im~petuosity and
fury OF such an onset. The leader abso>
3 lutely leaped his charger over the barrier
of death. His Immediate companions
right and left, had ther horses disable
by the terrific jump, but cluug to the stir
rup feathers of their leader, and we're
borne pell NELL into the surging mass.
The way had been opened, and, like
avenging Fate, the whole remaining col
umn poured in, spreading out as they en-
tered, and the whole band ofSepoys we're
fleeing wildly from the scene of carnage,
but in vsip. The horses of the rebellious
Sowars were seized, each by flying fugi
tives, as many as three or four c%linging to
saddle, ssirrup, name and even tail of each
horse of the now terrified rooper. But
the arid plain offered no protection to the
fugitives, and Sowar and Sepoy fell be
fore the sabers and pistols of the aveng-
ing few.
Of the GO rebels who that morning Dc.
~risively tainted the British not one man
escaped. No. not one and the sands Of
that desert plain were Grim 'cned with
their blood. They were left as they fell,
add with the loss of forty of their brave
palons in arms, the English were
masters of the field. Vast quantities Of
loot was recovered, caskets of diamonds.
rings, brooches, jewelry of all hinds-sad
mementoes of the wretched victims of the
massacre of Cawnpore.