The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1906-02-15
TALE OF THE
INDIAN MUTINY
BY JuNGuL wALLAH

observation-disclosures
IN December. 1857. along with 20
members of my corps. I was deputed
by Sir James outram to go from the
Alum-Bagh tr 9unee Bridge, distance
OF is miles. ior 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 4s miles apart
We got along very well until within
two miles OF Bunee when horde Of
mutinous cavalry suddenly appeared
out Of tope (clump) Of mango trees
about 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 scuttle. So on 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
we're entertained TO our hearts content
by the garrison.
While we we're enjoying our excellent
supper the oficer commanding at
Bunee sent an aide-de-camp to say that
he had most urgent information for Sir
John fnglis. commanding at Cawnpore.
which he was anxious should be car
ried TO him at once. The commanding
oficer said he was well aware II would
never do to weaken Sir James Outram's
force by detaching n 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 II was settled that two OF
us we're to go to Cawnpcre. The task
the oficer commanding our party had
to tackle was to select those two. as
every man was anxious fog ire duty:
but. being a long-hesded fellow, he got
over the difficulty by deciding that we
should draw lots. This was done, and
Sergt. Butler and fwere what we con-
sidered the prize-drawers Poor But
Ter! he had been recommended for the
Victoria Cross. he never lived to OBJ
tain II, having died at the Alum Baeh
In 1858 from the effects OF blow he re-
ceived in the chest from a rebounding
round shot
At ten p. m. we left Bunee. both of
us having a duplicate Of the dispatches.
which were In cipher. rolled irto small
tin tubes. We got along all right for
about eight miles. When we neared
the town Of Busseerutgunge 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
- e .ss-!- trying TO get round either
iiank. as we did not know the country.
and the town was surrounded by
swampy ground. so we decided that
we must make choice of two courses
either return to Bunee, detected and dis
appointed. and probably to be chaffed
of our heads by the garrison. or make
a dash for It and gallop through Bus
seerutgunge. which we knew was only
half mile long. The latter course be-
ing adopted, we dismounted. hauled our
canvas horse-clothing from under our
saddles. cut II up and 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 to
within 400 yards OF the town without
being observed. and then we rode at 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
challenged US, hundreds of rebels turned
out and began TO fre from all sides:
but the darkness OF the night favored
US. aad we got through scot-free. After
proceeding about half a mile we drew
rein and ilsmounted to remove the bags
from our horses hoofs and to give the
nags a breather This halt was neces-
sary. for we had l6 miles farther 10 10
before we could reach Cawnpore, and
tho odds were we would have 10 make
another dash for II through onoa, a
village about eight miles on. II was
lucky for ne In more ways than one
that We did decide on this halt, as
within quarter OF an hour we heard
the enemys cavalry coming down the
road, evidently following US up. on
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 m,.e, and we had