The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-11-06

Il
/ and the town was suTrc-aead os
swampy ground. 50 We decided tha'
We must make a choice q TWO courses
either return 10 Bunee. detected ans dis
appointed. and probably 70 be ehaneC
on our heads by the garrison. or make
dash for it and gallOp through Bus
seerutgunge. which We knew was only
half a mile long. The latter course be-
ing adopted. we cismounted, hauled ON
canvas hOrse-elOthing from under onE
saddles. cut Il up ard tied our horses
hoofs in four folds Of canvas. so that
the patter. patter OF their feet on the
hard road might be mufied. Having
done this. OF We went creeping up 10
within 400 yards of the town without
being observed. and then we rode az a
gallop. No sooner had we entered than
we heard the challenge: Who comes
there?" but. taking no notice Of this.
We pressed our spurs into the horses
TANKS. flying for life Within two min
utes after We passed the sentry who
challenge. VS., hundreds of rebels turned
out and began to FIRE from all sides;
but the darkness OF the night favored
rs. and we got through scot-free. After
proceeding about half a mile we drew
rein and dismounted to remove the bags
from our horses noofs and to give the
nags a breather. This halt was neces-
sary. for re had 16 miles farther to so
before We could reach Cawnpore, and
Il -.
another dash for it through Onoa. a
village about eight miles off 1t was
lucky for us in more ways than one
that we did decide on this halt, as
within a quarter of an hour we heard
the enemy's cavalry coming down the
road. evidently following us IN OF
we could not see them-gallop on To-
wards Cawnpore, shouting TO each
other: Eve have them! They are not
far ahead" Fortunately we were not
discovered, so again We had to decide
what was to be done, knowing our aWh-
ward position between the rebels al
Busseerutgunge and those on the ROAD
to Cawnpore.
But we were bound TO face the mu-
SIC" After resting tor an hour we pro-
ceeded, and got through Onoa without
being in any way molested. Iheh al
Munglewar, which was only eight miles
from our destination, we were told by
native traveller from Cawnpore that
a large body of rebel cavalry had passed
the town about an hour before
most of them squabbling with one an
other at the stupidity of allowing TWO
Englishmen to outpace them and es-
cape. He also added that he had seen
them leave the road about half mile
off and make for a tope of trees Un
hearing this Butler proposed that we
should set off and ride as hard as we
could for the BANKS of the Gauges op-
posite Cawnpore. But that would not
do; as, if the rebels should see us (ano
it was very probable they would, as
.eylight was breakingD, or II they over
took us (Which they would do unless
the horses were fresh), our end would
not be far off. Therefore we made up
our minds to proceed at walk for the
rest of the journey, and that in the event
of being waylaid or chased we would SIT
down in our saddles and ride as we had
never ridden before.
We got along unmolested within
three miles of our destination. when at
sunrise we heard numerous trumpet
calls on our left. "Ah! ah!" both of us
exclaimed almost simultaneously; so
there you are! Well, you beggars you
shall ride for it. Our horses are fresh,
and by the time you get into your sad
dies and form up we will have had
good start; and, if the worst comes to
the worst, the odds are that all that
can happen is that we may have 10 swim
our horses across the Ganges." Away
we went at a ripping gallop, and on
came the rebel cavalry in hundreds.
They chased us for over mile, but
never got within 500 yards; and they
gave up the pursuit when the Cawnpore
garrison, seeing the fix we were in,
oosed off few shells in the midst OF
them, making them retreat pretty
sharp. On arrival at the banks of the
Gauges we found a large flat-bottomed
boat waiting for us W.. party of
armed men; and withip quarter of an
hour were landed safe and sound at
1awnpore, where we were entertained
Tor a week like kings,
1t was considered by Sir John Inglis
loo risky to let us return to the Alum
8agh alone; therefore we were ordered
% await the departure of a convoy that
was to leave for that place in few
lays; so we had to stay. This weeks
absence made Gen. Outram decide that
we had fallen into the hands of the
enemy and been killed, which was the
ate of nearly all those who were cap
ured by the rebels You can picture
10 yourself how we were welcomed on
our return.
| cannot conclude without bringing to
notice the heroic conduct of Sergt.
Butler during the trying night we spent
ogether and also the fate of his poor
horse. Butler was very stout man,
ind when he began to ride fast, when
chased by the cavalry, his weight be-
gan to tell on the animal Butler felt
his and said: Ride on and save your
SELF leave me to my fate. There is no
r., 1..4L - 80 -, ~, oo,,I,+