The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-11-07

- IUNeuL 1881


~ December. 1857. along with 20
members Of my corps, was deputed
BY Sir James Outram to 60 from the
Alum-Bagh to Bunee Bridge, a distance
Of Is miles. for the purpose Of ascer-
tanning how the garrison at that place
WAS getting on. Bunee was the only
position hefd by us on the main road
between Cawnpore and the Alum-
Raeh. which were AS miles apart.
We got along very wen until within
two miles Of Bunes when a horde Of
mutinous cavalry suddenly appeared
out 81 q tOpe (clump) Of mango trees
about q quarter Of mile on. 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 scuttie. So on we went at a 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 officer commanding at
Bunee sent an aide-de-camp to say that
he had most urgent information for Sir
John IRglis, commanding at Cawnpore,
which he was anxious should be car
ried to him ct once. The commanding
officer said he was well aware it would
never do to weaken Sir James Outram's
force by detacbing a 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 a dan
gerous one; still, the risk must be
taken. So It was settled that two Of
as were TO SO to Cawnpore. The task
the officer commanding our party had
10 tackle was to select those two, as
every man was anxious for the duty;
but, being a long-headed fellow, he got
over the difficulty by deciding that we
should draw lots. This was done, and
Sergt Butler and I were what we con-
sidered the prize-drawers. Poor But
lerl he had been recommended for the
Victoria Cross; he never lived to OBJ
tain 81 having died at the Alum Bagh
ga 1883 from the effects Of a blow he re-
ceived in the chest from a rebounding
round shot
AT ten p. m. we left Bunee, both Of
Us having q duplicate Of the dispatches,
which were in cipher, rolled into small
tin tubes. We got along all right for
about eight miles. When we neared
the town Of Busaeerutgunge we saw by
the glow Of numerous fires that large
parties Of rebels were encamped on both
tanks. and that the town was occupied
by some of them, SO we halted to con-
slider what was to be done. The conclu-
sion we arrived at was that there would
be no use in trying to get round either
flank, as we did not know the country,
and the town was surrounded by
sWampy ground. So we decided that
we must make a choice Of two courses
either return TO Bunee, detected and dis
appointed, and probably to be chaffed
oil M heads By the garrison. or make
a dash for It and gallop through Bus
seerutgunge, which we knew was only
halE a mile long. The latter course be-
ing adopted, we ~dismounted, hauled our
canvas horse-clothing from under our
saddles, cut it mp and tied our horses
boots in four folds of canvas, SO that
the patter patter OF their feet on the
hard road might be muHled. Having
done This. on we went. creeping up to
within 400 yards Of the town without
being observed, and then we rode at a
gailop. NO sooner had we entered than
we heard the challenge: WHO comes
thers2 but taking no notice Of this.
we pressed our spurH into the horses
TANKS, dying for life. Within two min
uies after we passed the sentry who
challenged us, hundreds of rebels turned
out and began to fire from an sides;
bht tie darkness Of the night favored
us. and va got through scot-free. After
proceeding about half q mile we drew
rein gnd dismounted to remove the bags
irQm our horses hoofs and to give the
Mays 3 breather. This halt was neces-
rv Ton $50 had rs miles farther to 20
ore We could reach CaWnpore, and
The ODDS were we would have to make
snplher dash for It through Onoa, a
village about eight miles Of. It was
lucky lor rs ~ more ways than one
I'VE did decide on this halt, as
Rithi1 quarter OF an hour we heard
he enemy cavalry coming down the
scad evidently following us up. on
.ht road We went, ana hid behind some
bushes relying fof ssfety GA the
tfsness ol che night ane on the horses
1t 1hc sensible creatures
aed pcffeetly mute and We had
aclaen el bearing the enemy