The attack on Fort Ruhiya on April 15, 1858, gave an opportunity for
much display of courage and devotion. Among those who conspicuously
distinguished themselves was Private James Davis, of the 42nd
Highlanders. This gallant soldier, who had previously served throughout
the Crimean War, also saw much fighting during the Indian Mutiny, and
for his conduct at Fort Ruhiya was awarded the Victoria Cross.
The following is his account of the feat which won for him the
much-prized honour:--
I belonged to the Light Company, under the command of Captain
(now Sir John) Macleod. We got orders to lie down under some
trees for a short time. Two Engineer officers came up and asked
for some men to come with them to see where they could make a
breach with the artillery. I was one who went. There was a small
garden ditch under the walls of the fort, not high enough to
cover our heads. After a short time the officers left. I was on
the right of the ditch with Lieut. Alfred Jennings Bramley, of
Tunbridge Wells, as brave a young officer as ever drew sword,
and saw a large force coming out to cut us off. He said, "Try
and shoot the leader. I will run down and tell Macleod." The
leader was shot, by whom I don't know. I never took credit for
shooting anyone. Before poor Bramley got down he was shot in the
temple, but not dead. He died during the night.
[Illustration: "I RAN ACROSS THE OPEN SPACE."]
The captain said, "We can't leave him. Who will take him out?" I
said, "I will." The fort was firing hard all the time. I said,
"Eadie, give me a hand. Put him on my back." As he was doing so
he was shot in the back of the head, knocking me down, his blood
running down my back. A man crawled over and pulled Eadie off.
At this time I thought I was shot, the warm blood running down
my back. The captain said, "We can't lose any more lives. Are
you wounded?" I said, "I don't think I am." He said, "Will you
still take him out?" I said, "Yes." He was such a brave young
fellow that the company all loved him. I got him on my back
again, and told him to take me tight round the neck. I ran
across the open space. During the time his watch fell out; I did
not like to leave it, so I sat down and picked it up, all the
time under a heavy fire. There was a man of the name of Dods,
who came and took him off my back. I went back again through the
same fire, and helped to take up the man Eadie. Then I returned
for my rifle, and firing a volley we all left. It was a badly
managed affair altogether.