30 OCTOBER 1909, Page 14

• [To rim EDITOR OF TIN "SPECTATOI1.1 SIR,—Amongst the heroic

men already mentioned in the Spectator, perhaps I may be allowed to record the feat of

lady, as it was told to me soon after the Indian Mutiny. A party of women and children was retreating from one post to another with a small British escort. They had just encamped under the embankment of a tank for the night, when an order arrived for the whole of the escort to march at once to join a larger contingent for an imminent battle, its return to the party to be effected as soon as possible. As it was well known to the fugitives that there were numbers of the enemy about in the neighbourhood, the situation may be imagined. The order had to be obeyed, and the men marched off soon after dark and before the moon rose. Before they left, a tall, brave woman—Miss Scott—got an officer to procure for her the complete outfit of a private soldier, and having put it on, fixed her bayonet, and with shouldered arms she did "sentry go" on the bank of the tank throughout the ..moonlight night to give the impression that the escort was still present, knowing that she was all the time a conspicuous

mark for a "sniper." The escort returred in due time, and all were brought to a place of safety. The lady was the sister of an officer who greatly distinguished himself in the Mutiny, though he was not I believe, present with the party in question.—I am, Sir, &c.,