Major Paterson and the Brandy

It was the havildar major of his own regiment that hid Major Paterson of the 54th BNI in the ice pits outside the city, and another sepoy then sent him food and water for another three days. Among the supplies sent was a box of cheroots and a bottle of brandy. Thinking that the brandy, unless diluted with water, might render him “incapacitated”, sitting as he was with barely any clothes under a hot sun, he requested the bringer of the goods to procure him a bottle of champagne instead!

“..and to the great delight of the major, he espied in the distance the faithful messenger returning with three bottles under his arm. He was not long in opening one and, with the avidity of one whose parching thirst had almost driven him to despair, greedily drank its contents to the last drain. He was not destined, however, to enjoy a second draught, for the noise of the bottle being open attracted the notice of some workmen, who proceeded to the spot, and forthwith regaled themselves with the exhilarating wine when they again resumed their occupation…”
Tanked up with Dutch courage, Major Paterson commenced his journey to Karnal. He met with luck on his road in the form of a yogi who, under the promise of ample reward, consented to dress the major in his own clothes and conduct him safely to Amballa. Thus disguised, with ash sprinkled in his hair and his skin darkened with dye, the journey continued without mishap – until the fourth day. Reaching a village where they hoped to find some refreshment, the party was set upon by armed men who very quickly had realised the Paterson was, in fact, a European. Stripping him of his clothes and finding to their disappointment that he had no money, they proceeded to beat him violently with sticks, striking him viciously on the head. The poor yogi faired no better. The attack over, Major Paterson managed to drag himself to Balghur. Taken in and cared for, he received a note from Mrs Peile, inquiring about her husband.

On the 18th of May, the party resumed their journey to Karnal, which they reached on the 22nd, having met with no further trouble but were showered with kindness in the villages they passed through. Upon arriving, the hound news that Mrs. Paterson’s wife and family had reached Simla safely and the Peile’s little son was alive and well in Meerut. It would be two months before it was safe enough for him to be sent to his parents. Doctor Wood survived his injury, although much disfigured. Like the doctor, Captain Peile obtained a sick certificate – for them, at least, the mutiny was over. They remained in Simla until it was safe to travel to England. Some were not so fortunate. Lieutenant Willoughby, who had survived being blown up in the Magazine, would be murdered in the village of Koondhera with four of his companions – on the same road Lieutenant Vibart would escape with his party, as they crept away from Metcalfe House on the 11th of May. Their tale will take us back to Harchandpur and the interesting story of how Meerut finally came to the rescue.