New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-17
ii.
THE DRAMA OF THE MtTINY.

Lord Roberts was at Peshawar when the
news of the Mutiny arrived, and he left 10 at
tach himself TO the famous column which ad-
yanced to the relief Of Delhi Military critics
will read with avidity his minute account OF the
progress of the column. The general reader is
more interested in. the broad outlines of the mar
ratve. Sir John Lawrence was resolved to
make short work of Delhi" and the British
moved on the city rapidly as possible. though
| in numbers pathetically small when the magni-
tude Of the task is remembered. Lord Roberts
shows thrilling state of affairs in the North
west at this time. More and regiments
were becoming disanected every day; ii was
necessary to disarm and dsband some of them
under circumstances in the last degree delicate.
the English officers and men being outnumbercd
by the natives and not daring to let the latter
know Of their disgrace until the troops were
actually on the parade ground Treachery
arose not only in garrison towns but among the
native troops accompanying the column ordered
to Delhi and Lord Roberts describes court
martial on the way to that city. in which two
men were condemned to be blown from guns It's
interesting to note at this point that the court
was composed Of native officers. showing that
there was still loyalty among the native troops.
In fact there were splendid examples Of heroic
steadfastness shown all over the country by the
native soldiers, and Lord Roberts pays hearty
tributes to the Sikhs and Ghurkas especially, who,
in many actions. proved themselves to be among
the most loyal and useful troops in the service.
Heroism. indeed. was the order Of the day when
once the mutinous storm broke and its counter
storm Of devotion was loosed. Lord Roberts
is one of the most modest soldiers who ever
wrote memoirs, and when he wins the Victoria
Cross for gallantry In saving life In action
and for capturing sepOy standard he just
mentions the fact in a footnote. But he en-
bodies in his text nearly all his stories Of the
deeds OF other men. and the long stretches of
minute military description, calculated to appeal
to the specialist alone. are enlivened by touches
which bring the human side Of the wildly
before us. There is. for example the anecdote
OF an ensign OF the c0th Rifles. Napier by name
who hit in the leg in an engagement during
the campaign against Delhi. The moment he
was brought into camp the limb had to be am
putated. When the operation over Napier
was heard to murmur, I shall never lead the
Rifles again, shall never lead the Rifles
again" His wound he thought little of.
What grieved him was the Idea of having 10
give up his career q soldier. and to leave the
regiment he was proud of. Napier was taken
TO Meerut, where he died few days afterward"
Lord Roberts tells US all that heroism not
confined to officers alone. even to their men.
He speaks of the daring Of the native servants
and followers generally. When Sir Colin Camp
bell appealed to the troopers Of the 9th Lancers
asking TO whom they thought should be given
the Victoria Cross. they unanimously advised
it's bestowal upon the head "bhistie." or water
carrier.
Al the siege Of Lucknow. when the British had
made an opening three feet from the ground and
about three feet wide in the wall Of the Sikandar-
bagh. one Of the outlying defences. the emula-
ton among the troops as to who should go first
through the deadly breach into an enclosure
held by some two thousand sepoys was as Lord
Roberts says "a magnificent sight. a sight never
TO be forgotten" The prize to the winner OF the
race certain death but "Highlanders and
Sikhs. Punjabi Mahometans. Dogras and Pa
thans. all We'd with each other in the generous
competition" Highlander cleared the breach
first and was shot dead a Punjabi nfantryman
next met the same fate. Then Lieutenant Cooper
made the passage in safety and the British
poured In behind him. A drummer-boy OF the
93d must have been one of the first IA pass that
grim boundary between life and DEATH says
Lord Roberts. "for when got In found him
just inside the breach lying on his back. quite
dead-a pretty. innocent looking. fair haired lad
not more than fourteen years OF age" 1t was n
Punjabl Mahometan who set the climax to this
drama OF the Ska ndarbagh. THE enemy hay.
ing been driven out Of the earthwork. made for
the gateway. the heavy doors Of which were IN
the act Of being closed when the Nahometan
!lMukarrab Khaa By nance pushed his left arm.