The Western news., 1903-11-04
TALE OF THE
INDIAN MUTINY
BY JUNGUL wALLAfI
N December. 1857, Along with 20

N December. 1857. along with 20
members OF my corps, was deputed
by Sir James Outram to go from the
Alum-Bagh to Bunee Bridge distance
of 16 miles, for the purpose of ascer-
tanning how the garrison at that place
was getting on. Bunee was the only
position held by us on the main road
between Cawnpore and the Alum
Bagh. which were As miles apart
We got along very we'll until within
two miles Of Bunee when a horde of
mutinous cavalry suddenly appeared
out OF tope (clump) of mango trees
about quarter of a mile off, The Off
Ger commanding the party decided at
once that our only chance of escape
was to make the most of the distance
between us and the enemy's cavalry.
and scuttle. So off we went at hard
gallop. making for Bunee, followed up
by the enemy in full pursuit But, to
cut this part Of the story short, we out
paced them, got in safe and sound, and
were entertained to our hearts content
by the garrison
While we were enjoying our excellent
supper the Ohicer commanding at
Bunee sent an aide-de-camp to say that
he had most urgent information for Sir
John 1nglis, commanding at Cawnpore,
which he was anxious should be car
ried to him at once. The commanding
officer said he was we'll aware it would
never do to weaken Sir James Outram s
force by detaching number of men,
and they would not get through the
numerous vedettes the rebels had on
the road; but he thought two of our
men would probably succeed in sneak
Ing past any distractions they might
encounter. OF course he was fully
aware that the undertaking was dan
gerous one; STILL the risk must be
taken. So it was settled that two of
us were to go to Cawnpore The task
the officer commanding our party had
to tackle was 10 select those two, as
every man was anxious for the duty;
but, being a lone-headed fellow, he got
over the difficulty by deciding that we
should draw lots This was done, and
Sergt. Ra'er and were what we con-
sidered he rriZe-drawers. Poor But
Ter! he had been recommended for the
Victoria Cross; he never lived to OBJ
tain it. ing died at the Alum Baeh
In 1858 fronl the effects of blow he re-
ceived il the chest from a reboundine
round stng
At ter m. we left Bunee both Of
US havira 4 duplicate Of the dispatches,
which Ne in cipher, rolled into small
tin tube We got along all right for
about els niles. When we neared
the town : 7SSeerutgunge we saw by
the glow lmerous fires that large
parties q were encamped on both
TANKS, arG It the town was occupied
by some Ui en-, so we halted to con-
slider wha to be done. The conclu-
sion we a,r a. was that there would
be no u.s. 4 wing to get round either
flank, as not know the country,
and the tGa was surrounded by
sWampy E5arod So we decided that
we mus n choice of two courses
either retura Bunee, detected and dis
appointed probably to be chaffed
OF our htaf ~ the garrison, or male
a dash fot md gallop through Bus
seerutguDs hieh we knew was only
half MI g. The latter course be-
ing adopJea dismounted. hauled our
canvas hCfan lothing from under our
saddles, en- up and tied our horses
hoofs in a nds of canvas, so that
the patter, p3'er of their feet on the
hard road 1T be muffled Having
done this, Il e went, creeping up to
within 4Na wards of the town without
being olseE 4 and then we rode at
gallop. NJ g9ner had we entered than
We heard the challenge: "Who comes
there?" but a ing no notice of this,
we pressed our spurs into the horses
flanks, fyn4 or life Within two min
utes after F4 passed the sentry who
challenge ge hundreds of rebels turned
out and began to fire from all sides.
but the darkness of the night favored
us, and We g"t through scot-free. After
proceeding a&ept half mile we drew
rein and dtsmannted to remove the BAGS
from our bor 5 hoofs and to give the
nags a breatler This halt was neces-
sary, for We nd 16 miles farther to go
before we con'd reach Cawnpore. and
the odds We're we would have to make
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 quarter of an hour we heard
the enemy's cavalry coming down the
road, evidently following us up. OF
the road We went, and hid behind some
high bushes. relying for safety on the
darkness OF the night and on the horses
not neighing. The sensible creatures
remained perfectly mv:s. and we had
the satisfaction of hearing the enemy