AN ACCOUNT

OF THE

MUTINIES IN OUDH.

CHAPTER I.

THE FIRST ALARM OF MUTINY AT LUCKNOW.—APRIL.

Month of April at Lucknow.-Uneasiness respecting the allegiance of the native soldiery.-News of their repugnance to the new cartridges, and of the mutiny of the 19th N. I.-Accounts from Amballa of the disaffection there.-Sir Henry Lawrence's arrival.-His conciliatory demeanour and general affability to the natives.-Untoward occurrence in the 48th N. I. hospital from Dr. Wells' mistaken conduct.-Dr. Wells' bungalow fired.-Disaffection of the 48th N. I. becomes suspected. Sir Henry Lawrence concentrates his military resources.— Their previous faulty disposition explained.-Position of the Residency. -Financial and Judicial Commissioners' residences, Bailey Guard.— Location of H. M.'s 32nd Foot.-Powder magazine.-Lines of the military police.-Tara Kotee.-Position of the Dowlut Khana and Sheesh Muhul.-Head-quarters of the Oudh Irregular Force.-Military magazine.-Position of the Oudh Irregular Infantry Regiments at the Moosa Bagh.-The Muriaon cantonments described.-Artillery lines, Regular, and belonging to the Oudh Irregular Force.-The cavalry cantonment at Moodkeepoor.-Troops quartered in both cantonments.-Position of the 2nd Regt. of O. I. Cavalry at the Chukker Kotee.-Necessity for this faulty distribution.-Alterations made in itby Sir Henry Lawrence.-Condition of Oudh at this time.-General tranquillity. Police.-Revenue arrangements.

In the month of April, 1857, uneasiness first began to be felt by the authorities at Lucknow respecting the allegiance of the native soldiery quartered at that capital. During the two preceding months, the

newspapers had made known the general repugnance felt by the sepoys to the use of the new cartridges. We had heard of the mutiny of the 19th Regt. of Native Infantry at Berhampoor, and its disbandment at Barrackpoor. The feeling of the disbanded soldiers was known to be anything but friendly; and, as many of them resided in Oudh, no good effect was expected to result from their return to the Province. It was known also, that serious disaffection prevailed in other regiments at the Presidency. We were aware that the feeling of the native troops at Amballa was far from good. At that station a school of musketry instruction had been formed, where the sepoys were to be taught the use of the Enfield rifle cartridge. Detachments from a large number of regiments were there collected, including those quartered at Lucknow. And from the officers so detached, the accounts which reached us of the disaffection of the soldiery, particularly of the 60th N. I., and the alarm manifested by them at the introduction of the new fire-arms, were nowise calculated to allay the apprehension which had been aroused in Bengal.

Towards the close of March, Sir Henry Lawrence arrived at Lucknow, in the capacity of Chief Commissioner; and the influence of his kind and conciliatory demeanour towards the native community was soon felt. No one was more calculated to win the esteem and regard of the native gentry than Sir Henry Lawrence. Affable, and easily approached, deeply sympathizing with all who had lost consideration, or the means of respectable maintenance by the British annexation of the Province, he was eminently calculated to soothe the public mind. The native gentry hastened to wait upon him; all returned from the interview satisfied and hopeful. All congratulated