Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-11-23
HE CAPTURED THE GUNS,
Sir George Campbell Describes q
Crisis In His Military Career,


Sir George Campbell dcvotcs one
chapter Of his Indian Memoirs" to the
Sepoy mutny. and in the course Of his
narrative gives Il lively account of
what he calls Il crisis in his military
career The rebels had been put to
flight and the British were in hot Dur
suit. Sir George, who seems TO have
been serving as volunteer, was fresh
~ mounted upon an Arab horse. and
easily kept in the front ranks of
the pursuers, who were constantly be-
coming fewer and fewer The rebels,
meanwhile, had become entirely dis
ordered. Then came Sir Georges adj
venture. which he thus describes:
L fancied that l saw among the
crops. away at one side of the road,
something like the CLEAN of large
wheels. and thought it might be the
encmy's guns trying to escape by Il by
road. l could not at the moment get
any one to attend to my view. and.
having no force OF my own, l thought
it best to sallop in that direction and
see for myself
approaching the spot where I sus-
pectcd the cncmy's guns to be retreat
ing | had to go through a high field of
standing millet. and when l came out
on the other side l saw right before
me- only a little way off, crowd Of
rebels with Il train of guns which they
were urging along in hasty retreat.
Naturally, being quite alone, l tried
TO pull up my horse, but he was great
~ excited and I could not manage it.
lie carried me straight on toward the
enemy
1.-THE situation was desperate. 1
could do nothing but wave my sword
and Shout, partly in the hope of bring
ing assistance to my side and partly to
brighten the enemy. I was never more
relieved than when l saw that the men
with the rearmost Of the enemy's guns
taking me for an officer leading the
pursuit, fed ut once and disappeared
in the crops beyond
'"The splendid bullocks with which
the guns were horscd came to stand
still, and I found myself in possession
OF the guns-these guns, with all their
equipments. That was a proud mo-
ment. Bat with victory came embar-
rassmcnt. ! looked around and found
mat l was entirely cut off by the high
crops from all communication with my
own people. The enemy had disap-
peared on the other side Of the field,
but for aught 1 knew might be watch
ing for me there.
Il did not like to shout very much,
for fear of showing my embarrass-
ment. An idea occurred to me- I
would shoot one Of the leading bull
locks in each gun, and. leaving him en-
tangled, would go to fetch assistance.
There was no time to be lost I put
my pistol to the ear of the first bull
lock. 10 this day remember the look
Of that very fine animal as he turned
his mild eye on me, unsuspicious of
my murdcrous intent. My heart rather
sank within me, but 1 had become
habituated to deeds Of blood and per-
severed. I pulled the trigger; the pis-
toll snapped. I pulled another barrel
and another. The wretched pistol
snapped all around and was helpless.
1T was painful situation, but there
was nothing for it. gallopcd wildly
back to ask for assistance. I met.
Maj. Turner Of the artillery, and he
gave me a corporal and five men. re-
turned with them as quickly as posi-
BILE, found that the enemy had not
come back and we secured the guns"