New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-14
THE GREAT MUTINI.
A HIGHLANDER'S RECOLI.ECT1ONS.

"REMINISCENCES OF THE GREAT MuTINY'
1873 BY William Forbes Mitchell late Ser
geant Ninety third Hghlanders. LIMO, PIP 81.
Macmillan & Co.
No one of the many books describing the great
Indian Mutiny Of 1851 has a better right to ex-
isence than this It is the thrilling record Of the
experiences of a brave sergeant of the famous
"\inetv-third" who marched with Sir Colin
! Campbell to the relief of Lucknow. and who was
in active service thereafter till the struggle
ended His story is told with rare simplicity.
modesty and unconscious dramatic force. ana
also with what is not often evicent in such
remnscences-an effort to be just to the enemy.
, He has made attempt 10 set forth con-
nected history Of the Mutny; but his rough
diary of events and his anecdotes of personal
adventure give a remarkably vivid idea of the
tragedy The book is full of tales Of generous
courage and unsefsh herosm. such as may
well make the reader proud Of whatever drop
Of Scotch or English blood may run in his
American veins.
The old Ninety-thjrd the never-to-bc-for
gotten Thin Red Line" Of Balaklava. was
when hurried to India by news Of the Mutny
a splendid regiment OF thousand big Scotch
men. 700 Of whom wore on their breasts the
Crimean medal for valor They were Of the
Cromwellian type, temperate praying fellows,
often going into battle with Presbyterian
hymn on their lips. The regiment was Il mill
! tary Highland parish minister and elders com
pete-the latter being selected from among the
men of all ranks--two scrgeants. two cOrporals
and two privates. They were as submissive to
discipline any regiment in the service; never
theess. as Sergeant Mitchell shows they used
their reasoning powers like true Scots. and
offered suggestions in the heat Of conflict to Sir
Colin Campbell-suggestions which that true
soldier not at all above taking. Another
curious illustration Of the relationship between
| regiment and commander-in-che was the fact
that Sir Colin in explaining proposed move
ments to his officers sometimes did in
voice ulible to the men. thereby acquainting
the latter with his intentions and breaking no
rule Of military etiquette He felt unbounded
trust i'm the obedience and courage OF his Thin
Red Line: be it recorded that they rever failed
him. Ninety third.' he called to them before
Lucknow, you are my own lads; | rely on you
to do the work. Up went a ringing cheer from
the lads and shout: cay. ay. Sir Colin yc
ken u; and we ken you: we'll bring the women
and children out o Lucknow or die wi you in
the attempt" While making their way to the
Resdency, and exhausted with constant fight
ing they besought their leader to remain be-
hind while they went to storm The Shah
Nujeef. 1--WE can be replaced" they exclaimed.
but you can't You must remain behind-we
can lead ourselves" Lead themselves they did
in many cases-oftcn with judgment as good as
their daring great. "All right Sir Colin;
Wen do it," they shouted. a fortnight later,
when he explained to them why they must make
forced march to Cawnpore; and they did 1t.
though for seven-and-twenty fighting days and
nights they had not taken off clothes and ac-
coutrements and their bodies round their waists
he hold tiCbt b, baIt
raw flesh. Sergeant Peter Gillespie. the posses
Of the Crimean Medal with the four clasps
for Alma, Balaklava. Inkcrman and sebastopol.
asked by the London "Times's" correspond
ent when they expected 10 be in Lucknow
well, dinna ken. sir" said Peter, nut when
Sir Colin likes to give the order. We'll just ad-
vance ard take IT,"
Mitchell describes the advance and capture
with "A vigorous pen. The march made By
way of Cawnpore. where, three months before
the terrible massacre Of the English ladies and
children had taken place. the bodies being thrown
into well in the garden. The floors Of the
observation-disclosures" were still covered with con-
gcaed blood. and Uttered with torn garments
and slippers OF women and children and locks
of long hair evidently severed by sword cuts
Most pteous Of all a sight which brought
tears streaming down the cheeks Of stern SOL I
diers and which may be mentioned here as an
instance Of the hideous cruclties that evoked re-
lentless reprisals from the English forces;
ct iron hook fixed into the wall Of one Of |
the rooms of the house, almost six feet from the |
floor could not possibly say for what purpose
this hook had originally been fixed in the wall |
examined it carefully and 1t appeared to have
been an old fixture which had been seized on as
a diabolic and convenient instrument Of torture
by the inhuman wretches engaged In numbering
he women and children. This hook was covered
with dried blood and from the marks on the
wall it was evident that a little
hid had been hung on to 1t by the neck with
is face to the wall. where the poor thing must
nave struggled for long. perhaps in the sight Of
ts helpless mother. because the wall all round
he hook on a level with II was covered with the
and below the hook with the foot
PRINTS. in blood Of a little child" Some Of the
vretches tried and found guilty Of having
listed at this massacre were punished In way