The Story of the Indian MutinyMoncrieff, A. R. Hope (Ascott Robert Hope)
History
The Story of the Indian Mutiny
Moncrieff, A. R. Hope (Ascott Robert Hope)
India -- History -- Sepoy Rebellion, 1857-1858
Foremost among so many heroes was Captain Moore of the 32nd, who
seems to have been looked on as the soul of the defence, ever present
at the sorest need, and never seen but to leave "men something more
courageous, and women something less unhappy." We recognize another
Greatheart of a different order in Mr. Moncrieff, the chaplain,
unsparing of himself to cheer the living and soothe the dying with
words to which none now could listen in careless ease. Few and short,
indeed, were the prayers which that Christian flock could make over
their dead, stealthily buried by night in an empty well without the
rampart. Another well within proved more perilous than that of
Bethlehem, from which David longed to drink. This was the garrison's
one supply of water, and the ruthless enemy trained guns upon it,
firing even by night as soon as they heard the creaking of the tackle.
When the Hindoo water-carriers had all been killed, or scared away,
soldiers were paid several rupees for every pail they drew at the risk
of their lives. A brave civilian named Mackillop, declaring himself no
fighting man, undertook this post of honour, held only for a few days.
In the heat of June, on that dusty plain, no fainting woman or crying
child could have a drink of water, but at the price of blood. Washing
was out of the question--a severe hardship in such a climate.
Water was not the sole want of our country-people, to many of whom the
Indian summer had hitherto seemed scarcely endurable through the help
of ice, effervescing beverages, apartments darkened and artificially
cooled. After a week, the thatched roof of their largest building was
set on fire by night, its helpless inmates hardly saved amid a shower
of bullets poured on the space lit up by the flames. With this was
destroyed the store of drugs and surgical instruments, so that little
henceforth could be done for the sick and wounded. Another time the
wood-work of a gun kindled close to the store of ammunition; then young
Lieutenant Delafosse, exposing himself to the cannon turned upon this
perilous spot, lay down beneath the blazing carriage, tore out the
fire, and stifled it with earth before it could spread.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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