Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-06-19

The concentrated grief and sadness
Nnlcn seized upon the English forces
ano tneir allies upon reaching the scene
o. cawnpore Was uncontrollsble, and
spies having brought in word that q
oooy OF the Sepoys. with a few Sovars
we're making bat slow headvay. laden
ooSn As they were with loot from the
recaptured city, accompanied by a host
of fugitive rufiians-the rabble of ths
bazar, Who had committed numbeYiess
strocitIes-could possibly he overtaken
oy foreed marches, a number of volun-
teers, many belonging to the irreeu uiar
regiments, we're permitted to set out in
pursuit. None but the best mounted
could be accepted. for obvious reasons,
and although their number could be aug
rneutet largely only some 400 m UNITED
men we're finally accepted as an aveny
ing force.
But these represented the flower of
the army. RANK was ignored: offisers,
sJldisrs and several non combatants
forming the chosen few. No baggage,
not a superfiuous article to be taken
Their arms consisted of sw ords and pis-
tols; and a haversack, with a few ra-
tlons, were their only encumbrancs
Many of them had lost friends and rel
atiyes, and were burning with desire to
overtake the miscreants who had dealt
30 mercilessly by them. Their horses,
powerful, weli-bred chargers, were we'll
calculated TO bear them bravely. Night
had almost fallen as they filed away
from the cantonments, and, under the
guidance of a native spy, sped rapidly
forward.
The CLEANS of the morning sun found
them still In their saddles, and 30 they
sped until halt WAS called, near noon
day, beneath the friendly shade of tope
OF trees. The almost intolerable noon
tide heat rendered a short stay inevita-
BILE. but horses and men were refreshed
and the march again resumed.
Another night foGnd them still in mo-
ton, and the signs became abundant
that their prey was not beyond reach;
the route being marked by many to
kens of their plumber of the Europeans,
which thew found too cumbrous in their
hight. Beneath the gray walls of a
disanantled fort shelter from the
suns rays was had, and with renewed
vlgor, but In almost sad silence, the
cevoted band resumed the pursuit. The
hours of an India night passed rapidly,
and, as the first lurid rays of the un-
heralded sun swept over the plain, the
gleam OF hostile arms in the distance
discovered the foe. The recognition
was simultaneous, and the loud, d-risive
cheers of the rebel horde, as they saw
the. handful of troops in pursuit, Was
borne ON the morning breeze. They
even fired few shots, but soOn found
the distance was too great for execution.
Ii took them but short time to form a
square, and they awaited the inevita-
bic onslaught OF the British, Who, on
their side, made rapid preparations for
the onset.
ALI dismounted and gave a few mo
ments to see that girths were secured,
bits and brides in trim, and then pro-
ceeded to determine upon their mode of
attack. Had they rushed upon the enc
my in order of battle, the little band
would have suffered such losses from
the fire of the Sepoys as would seri-
ously cripple them, If it did not ensure
defeat. TWAS finally resolved to charge
the enemy, not in line, as was usual,
bat In q column of "threes," which, in
the onset. would offer the least front to
the bullets OF the foe. The leaders
were selectsd--where all were brave
for the size aud spirit of their chargers,
and their ability to plunge upon or over
the front rank of the mutinetrs, who
were already preparing to receive
cavalry, their front ranks kneeling.
The resolve was a desperate one. but
the only one; for. once inside. that
square of rebels, the onslaught of a
body of men and horses at racing speed
would scatter 1t 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, and after moments final
glance, to be assured that all were in
readiness, the tiaai words Of command
were given and the little column ad-
vanoed rapidly on tue foe, who, the in
stant the range was ascertained, opened
n heavy tusilade. which emptied few
saddles but did not impede the advance,
who, with plunaing horses and amidst
0minous silence, reserved itself for the
fin u rusk.
Suddenly the clamorous notes Of the
trumpet sounding the charge burst upon
the morning air, and with one wild hur
rah the devoted band rushed desperately
spon the foe, and, amidst tumult Of
resonant yells and belching volume of
Acc and smoke, the leading horsemen
reached the projecting bayonets of the
kneeling Sepoys. Horses and men went
down, but nothing could resist the i'm
petuosity and fury of such an onset.
The leader absolutely leaped his charger
over the barrier of death. His immedi-
ate companions, right and left, had
their horses disabled by the terrific
jump, but chung to the stirrup feathers
of their leader aud were borne pell NELL
into the snrsing mass. The way had
been opened, and, like avenging Fate,
the whole remaining column poured
in, spreading out as they entered, and
the whele band of Sepoys were wildly
fleeing from the scene OF carnage. bat
in vain. The horses OF the rebellious
Sowars we're seized. each by flying fugI-
tives, as many rs three or four clinging
TO saddle, stirrup. name and even tail OF
each horse Of the nov terrified troopers.
But the arid plain offered no protection
10 the fugitiyes, aud Sowar and Sepoy
fell before the sabers and pistols of the
avengiug few.
OF the $40 rebels who that morning
derisively taunted the British, not one
man escaped. No. not one; and the
sands of that desert plain were crim-
soned with their blood. They were
left as they fell, and, with the ioss OF
forty OF their brave companions In
arms, the English we're masters OF the
field. Vast quantities of loos were re-
covered-caskets Of diamonds, rings,
brooches, iswelry of all kinds-sad me-
mentoes of the wretched victims of the