"THE HIGHLANDERS ARE COMING."

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 79

"THE HIGHLANDERS ARE COMING."

(THE RELIEF OF LUCKNOW: STORIES FROM THE RANKS.

It is not always easy to induce the old soldiers who will either be present at the Indian Mutiny Golden Jubilee celebration dinner in the Albert Hall, London, or will jreceive a hamper to talk of the part that they actually bore in the proud task of saving India. Age {says the Daily Teleferaph) has sometimes blunted their memories ; many years of indifference to wheii splendidly- ione duty has made tbem

often imagine that no one cared for or was interested in things — So much more great than I 'ad guessed, An' m» like all the rest alone — But reaohin" out to all the rest.

At times, however, there is a clear and vivid narrative to be heard, and Mr Michiiel Duggan, Newcast^e-on-Tyne, 74 years of age, and still hale and hearty, COuld recall With muell distinctness the final relief of Lucknow under Sir Colin Campbell. He joined the 41st Regiment in November, 1853, and saw much service in the Crimea. Though Irish by birth, he succeeded in getting trarsfened to the 42nd, now known as the Royal Highlanders, ard in due course he retired with his pension. At the outbreak of the Mutiny this regiment was. of course, one in Sir Colin Campbell's command, and the old man derfaies thai nothing will ever efface from his memory the mai-ch to the relief. They faced the fatigues and hardships of marching with the greatest determination. The terrible fates of so many English women and children drove them forward, and he recalls how the expression, "Remember the Indies, remember the babies," would spur them, on to greater endeavours. He is yet another who bears testimony to the devotion of all ranks to Sir Colin Campbell.

■" The Highland Lassie."

Duggan is one of those whose belief in the story of Jessie Brown is unshakable, and his recollections on this point may be given in his own words: "The day before our arrival word was passed round that if within 24 hours relief did not come, the garrison must prepare for the worst, as there was but little ammunition, and only a few biscuits and some coffee left. The women — God bless them ! — attended upon their defenders night and day, keeping them supplied with biscuits and coffee. They never complained oi fatigue, but expressed their determination to die sooner than be captured by the enemy. Jessie BrcXvn, like some of the other women, lay down on the ground to rest a little, when suddenly she jumped up, and astonished those near her by exclaiming she had heard the slogan of the Highlanders, adding, 'We are saved .' we are eared !' Then she ran to the. batteries, and repeated her cry. Soon afterwards she again shouted, 'The Highlanders are coming !' and sure enough there was the sound of the pibroch playing 'The Campbells are coming.' When the* tale was told to the officers of the relieving force, her health was drank, end, in honour of her country, 'Auld lang syne' was played by the pipers." Time has not given Duggan any compunction for the Sepoys it was his grim fate to see blown from the guns, and of whom he say 6 they dreaded cold steel and the bayonet. Also, he holds a common bt-lief of the ranks that greased cartridges had far less to do with the Mutiny than had the plottings and machinations of the Nana Sahib. Duggan himself is the proud possessor of no fewer than seven clasps to his medal. One of his sons in the 7th Dragoon Guards was orderly to General 'Frenoh in South Africa, and he, too, wears seven clasps. Another son was ir the navy. — Relieving Lucknow. —

Another veteran whose reminiscences possess features of interest is Company Seroeant-major C. Green, who served as a drummer in the 78th Highlander, and was therefore in the race that brought the first relief to Lucknow. They landed from the Persian campaign, fresh, but rathr ragged, and were sent on with all speed to Barrackpore to disband the Sepoys. Green was with the companies that weie sent to Rancegunge and Benares, clearing some villages along the Grand Trunk road. On August 24 his company were sent on to Oawnpore, and even then there were grim relics scattered about the compounds in Bibles, Prayer Books, toilet requisites, and even parts of human bodies. Green's memories of the attack on the Alumbagh are clear and he says: — "As we came in sight of the Alumbagh the enemy opened fire with their big guns. We cleared off the road to allow the 'Hell Fire Jacks,' or Colonel Maude's artillery, to advance and engage the enemy's guns. The enemy were soon driven from them, and Alumbagh was captured. My regiment piled arms in line, and rested for the day, a few being on advanced picquet duty. During the day round shot from the enemy ended the careers of a few ol my comrades." The next day he followed his company, carrying the regimental colour, and "after marching over several fields we came to the road leading to the Ohaibagh Bridge, and there formed fours. On continuing the march a shower ot grape shot from the enemy's guns at this bridge came amongst us, wounding several. In no time cover was taken at the sides of the road, and up flew the artillery and into action, replying to the enemy's fire. Man after man I saw drop, killed outright or mortally wounded, and it was here that Sergeant Cruiks<hanks, of my company, handed me his 'fusee,' he having become possessed of an Enfield rifle through the owner being killed. The order to charge the bridge and capture the enemy's guxi6 was accomplished, and this episode has been frequently described far better than I can attempt to describe it. I, with others, ascended to the top of a _ flatroofed house, and fired away at any of

— The Enemy in Sight. —

In this manner we progressed up the the street, or bazaar, to a large house. There was very little shelter on this house. but for a coneideiable time we remained on top, firing away at the enemy. Our position, however, became too warm on account of the attentions of the enemy, and so I and the others crawled down. About this time a charge was made for the enemy's gun. This wis captured, brought back, spiked, and pitched into the canal. We continued to occupy the bazaar for a considerable time, and then, somehow, we learned that our main body had moved along the canal bank. With a few of the last who left the bazaar I travelled on. Now and then 9 round shot from the enemy did some

damage here. Our guide led about a dozen of us out into the streets, with the palace on our right. At the corner of one street a command or suggestion was made !to be ready to charge. The dozen or so of us prepared to charge, and charge and "shout we did. Two or three were disabled, but the chaise carried us through the archway. I believe it was here the bray© Briga<lier-Ger>ei-.-il -ct-os killed to the light of the arch. We soon afterwards got in touch with some of the o!d garrison. I soon found my regiment in the palace. Here I remember teeing our colonel, W. Hamilton, washing his shirt and other under-garments, Bugler Paddy Faulds bringing the water for him. '