Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-01-14
TALE OF THE
INDIAN MUTINY :

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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. a distance
OF 16 miles. for the purpose OF ascer-
tanning how the garrison at that place
was getting IN. 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 well until within
two miles OF Bunee when a horde OF
mutlnous cavalry suddenly appeared
out OF a tope (clump) OF mango trees
about a quarter OF a mile OF. 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 OF 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
we're entertained to u hearts content
by the garrison.
While we were enjoying U excellent
supper the officer commanding az
Runee sent an aide-de-camp to say that
he had most urgent information for Sir
John Inglis, commanding at Cawnpore,
which he was anxious should be car
ried TO him at once. The commanding
officer said he was well aware il would
never do to weaken Sir James Outram $
force by detaehing a number OF men
and they would not get through the
numerous vedettes the rebels had on
the road; but he thought W OF our
men would probably succeed in sneak
ing past any distractions they might
encounter. OF curse he was fully
aware that the undertaking was a dam
gerous one; still. the risk mus be
taken. So II was settled that two OF
us were to 40 to Cawnpore. The task
The oficer commanding our party had
to tackle was to select those two, as
every man was anxious for the duty;
but. being a ~long-headsd fellow. he got
over the difficulty by deciding that we
should draw lots. This was done, and
Sergt. Butler and | were what we con-
sidered the p~riDe-drawers. 0 But
lerl he had been recommended for the
Victoria Cross; he never lived TO OBJ
tain II. having died at the Alum Bagn
in 1858 from the effects OF a blow he re-
ceived in the chest from a rebounolne
round shot.
Al ten D. m. we left Bunee, both of
rs having a duplicate OF the dispatches,
which were in cipher. rolled INTO small
lin tubes. We got along all right TOT
about eight miles. When we neared
The town OF Busseerutgunge we saw by
he glow of numerous fires that large
~narties OF rebels were encamped on both
tanks. and that the town vas occupied
by some of them. so we halted to con-
,ider what was to be done. The conclu'
lion We arrived at was that there Woulc
be no use in trying to get round either
tank. as we did not know the country
md the town was surrounded py
,wampv ground. So we decided tina
ve must make a choice Of two courses
.ither return TO Bunee. detected and dis
,ppointed. and probably to be chaffe'
. III our heads by the garrison, OF max
dash for IL and gallop through Bus
,e-erutgunge, which we knew was onl.
n ,alf a ME long. The latter course be
ng adopted. we dismounted. hauled GU
Z .anvas horse-elothing from under on
is adde's. cut II up and tied our horses
+ ,oofs in four folds Of canvas. so tina
y he natter. patter of their feet on tn
h lard road might be mufied. HaVini
Is lone this. of we went. creeping up 4
d within 400 Yards Of the own withou
being observed. and then we rode al
+. raIlop. No sooner had we entered ina
er We heard the challenge: Who come
9 here7" but. taking no notice of this
is 20 messed our spurs into the horses
tanks, flying for life. Within two min
j.. ties after we passed the sentry VIII
,hallenged rs. hundreds Of rebels turne'
ant and began 10 fire from all sides
mt The darkness of the night favore
3 and we got through scot-free- Afte
proceeding about half a mile we dre'
rein and dismounted TO remove the bag
r, rom our horses hoofs and to give N
aags a breather. This halt was neces
sarv. for we had 16 miles farther to 6
before we could reach Cawnpore. an
[, he odds were we would have TO max
~,nother dash for it through onoa,
n, village about eight miles on. 1t wa
lucky for us in more ways than OF
Mt hat we did decide on this halt.
= within a quarter of an hour we hear
3 The enemy's cavalry coming down n
, road. evidently following us up. Q
,s he road we went. and hid behind SON
q high bushes. relying for safety on q
e darkness Of the night and on the hors'
/. not neighing. The sensible creature
!, remained perfectly mute. and we ma
a. -,tt-footgnn NJ hearing the enemy