Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1902-08-08

they had collected round two stage
coaches without horses. and that
somebody had been killed. After re-
ceiving this information we proceed
ed. but ] accompanied the command
I ing officer at trot ahead OF the regl-
ment. and quickly got amongst the
crowd. which we found were collect
ed around two dalS Charles (stage
coaches). TO our horror, we saw the
bodies of two British officers and sew
eral men of the native rebel cavalry
lying near the coaches
The headman of the village came
up at once, and said "This is the
work of Feroze Shah and his party
who came down the road about half
an hour ago from the Futtygurh di-
rection, and overlook these officers,
shooting both of them and a driver.
The party went straight towards the
Jumna" He added that the deceased
officers had made desperate resist
ance. having shot no less than eight
Of Feroze Shah's followers ami
three horses. These were all lying
dead on the road. We found out
later that the officers were travelling
from Cawnpore to Delhi to Join their
regiment, and that they had been
warned by the civil authorities at
Cawnpore that the road was not safe,
as the rebel cavalry were providing
about but the keeness of the poor
fellows to get to their regiment.
which was on active service, was SO
great that they made up their minds
to take their chance. Alas, such is
fate!
We were not long in starting after
Feroze Shah and the pace had to be
made pretty fast if we were to over
take and cut off the rebels before
they reached the Jumna; in fact. we
rode as if for our lives. Instead OF
going by the usual direct route we
took one across country, hoping
thereby to get first to the ford This I
we did not actually succeed in doing;
but we overlook the enemy crossing
the ford Then such a melee took
place as l had never seen before,
though ! had been through a good
deal OF severe fighting with Have .
and at the final capture of that city
under Outram
The river was only four feet deep
at the ford; but here and there deep
er. pools had been formed by the cur
rent, and in these many men and
horses on both sides were drowned.
The enemy dashed into the river at
gallop, and we followed close at
the same pace. In a few minutes
there was mass of glittering
swords, men slashing at each other
horses neighing, troopers shouting,
surrounded by wounded, dead and
riderless horses; in short, it was a
scene quite beyond my powers of de-
scription. The rebels were principal
ly on the defense, we on the attack;
and right well did our men do their
duty, though in the rebel ranks were
many Of their blood-relations.
Feroze Shah was cut down by one
of our native troopers named Azeem
Khan, who did not get off scot-frec,
az he had his sword-arm disabled by
a bullet; but that had no effect on
the brave fellow. as he still rode on
cheering his comrades to follow him.
7 am glad to say that he was award
ed the order of merit first class)-
the Indian Victoria Cross
The enemy suffered severely, and
so did we Amongst our losses was
our beloved second in command, who
was cut down by Feroze Shah just
before Azeem Khan got up to him.
However. / will not enter into de-
tailed account Of the casualties, for
the list would be heavy; but this brill
liant affair put a stop to any of those
who escaped ever assembling again
against the British government.
Having ridden over 80 miles in
three hours. and fought a hard bat
tie against great odds our command
ing officer decided that we should
bivouac for the night on the banks
of the river. and accept of the kind
hospitality offered by the inhabi-
tants of the surrounding villages
grain for our horses, and -four. rice,
milk and fowls for ourselves. We
certainly enjoyed what we could get,
and after refreshing the inner man
we lit our pipes, and talked over the
camp-fires of the events of the day.
as soldiers always do, until midnight,
when we wrapped our martial cloaks
around us and Slept the sleep of the
just
The next day we started back to
headquarters but we took three
days to get there. as our men and
horses had had enough of rapid
marching On arrival at Chuckmuck-
pur we found some more work. before
namely. the capture Of noted
dacoit, a Dick Turpin sort of chap.
and the breaking up Of his gang; but
4 + reserve my account of that affair
n for a future hQccasion,--Chamber's
Journal, .-.....,