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Regiment of O. I. Cavalry, commanded by Major Gall, of the Madras army. This was at the Chukker Kotee, or old King's Race-course, on the left bank of the river nearly opposite to the Secunder Bagh, and about three miles from the Residency.

This very faulty and irregular distribution of troops and military stores had mainly arisen from the necessities attending our first occupation of Oudh at an advanced period of the year 1856. The hot weather was then rapidly setting in: there was not time to erect new buildings, and therefore the most suitable ones which were found ready to hand were appropriated to our several requirements, although often inconveniently placed. Sir Henry Lawrence lost no time in addressing himself to arrange matters so as to place. the British force in a more effective military position. He moved up four of Simonds' guns from the Muriaon cantonment to the lines of H. M.'s 32nd, and anxiously looked about for a place of strength in which he could collect together in one his scattered military stores.

At this time the condition of the Province of Oudh was perfectly tranquil. No breeze ruffled the serenity of the still waters. The single proclaimed robber who had given us any trouble, and whose previous deep-dyed offences under the native Government had excluded him from pardon, had been destroyed. There was in Oudh no more of heavy crime than was found in the best-managed districts of the North-Western Provinces. The country had been distributed into four divisions and twelve districts, the former presided over by a Commissioner, the latter each by a DeputyCommissioner. The police arrangements appeared to give satisfaction to the people. The revenue system certainly did so, in so far as the limitation of its amount is concerned. The land revenue of the dis

tricts of two divisions, Khyrabad and Bareytch, had been admirably settled by the intelligent exertions of the two experienced Commissioners, Messrs. G. J. Christian and C. J. Wingfield. In the two remaining divisions the assessment, originally fixed too high, had been carefully revised and reduced. The reduction had been notified to the people by public proclamation, which appeared on the 1st of April, and had given general satisfaction.

CHAPTER II.

THE MONTH OF MAY.-THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF

MUTINY.

Mutiny of the 7th Regt. of O. I. Infantry.—Objection taken by them to ordinary cartridges.-Attempt to tamper with the 48th N. I.-Military arrangements to quell the mutiny.-Mutiny quelled.-Court of inquiry held. Sir Henry Lawrence endeavours to conciliate the native soldiery. Attempt of emissaries from the city to tamper with the 13th N. I. discovered.-Men of the 48th and 13th N. I. rewarded at a public durbar. Sir Henry's address.-Demeanour of the native officers.Remarks by the soldiery.-Anxiety respecting the conduct of the 3rd Light Cavalry at Meerut.-News of the outbreak at Meerut reaches Lucknow. Sir Henry disposes of the mutineers of the 7th O. I. Infantry. What punishment was awarded.—A second telegraphic message received, announcing the fall and mutiny of the troops at Dehli. -Anxiety felt about the Residency Treasury.-Captain Hayes and Mr. Gubbins recommend that a European guard be placed over it.— Sir Henry Lawrence consents.-Delay.-European Infantry and Artillery placed over the Treasury on the 16th.-The rest of the 32nd Regt. move to cantonments.-Their position described.-European officers residing near the abandoned European lines leave their houses.Regular payment of land revenue.

SUCH was the state of things at the beginning of May, 1857. The state of the soldiers now became daily the subject of more and more anxiety. On the 7th of May mutiny first appeared in one of our regiments, the 7th O. I. Infantry, stationed at Moosa Bagh. Captain Graydon, the Commandant, had gone on sick leave to the hills, and the regiment was temporarily commanded by Lieutenant J. T. Watson. The recruits of this regiment refused to use their cartridges, objecting that the sepoys of their regiment declared that the cartridges had been tampered with. In effect nothing could have been more groundless than the objection. It was blank cartridge which

they were using, of precisely the same make and appearance with that which they had always used. Their officers endeavoured to persuade the men to return to obedience, and hoped at first that they had succeeded. Some of the native officers promised to set the example next day of firing the obnoxious cartridges. Next day, however, when the men were drawn out for this purpose several of the sepoys called out to the native officer, who was preparing to fire, that it was useless, for even if he used the cartridge they would not. Hearing this he also desisted, and the whole corps being manifestly in a state of mutiny, the fact could no longer be concealed, and came to the knowledge of Sir Henry Lawrence. Immediately Brigadier Gray received orders to parade the regiment, make every possible explanation, and induce the sepoys, if possible, to return to their duty. This was done, but the attempt failed. When called upon to state what was their objection to use the cartridge, the men replied that other regiments had taken objection to them and so must they.

All attempts to restore the regiment to obedience having failed, Sir Henry Lawrence resolved to employ force against them, and to disarm them. This was the more necessary, for the mutineers lost no time in seeking the aid and support of the 48th N. I. in cantonments. On the morning of the 16th they addressed a missive to that regiment, and sent it to one of the soobahdars. It was stated in the Hindoo letter that they had taken this step from religious considerations, and they called on the 48th as their "elders" or "superiors" to support them. Fortunately no one was found immediately who could read the note; and it fell into the hands of the young sepoy who was writer in the office of the Adjutant Lieutenant Smith.

Per

ceiving its seditious import he told the soobahdar that it could not be read aloud, and then both proceeded to deliver it up to the adjutant and commanding officer. It was now evidently necessary to act with decision. Accordingly Sir Henry Lawrence ordered the European Infantry and guns, two regiments of N. I., and the 7th Light Cavalry, with Gall's Horse, to march upon the mutineers. The orders were issued late on Sunday, the 10th of May, and it was not till past nine o'clock at night that the force assembled at the lines of the mutineers. These, after proceeding to the extreme of insolence, threatening their officers with violence, and arming themselves, had afterwards lowered their tone, when they learned the preparations which were being made to coerce them.

We found them drawn up by a bright moonlight in line. The guns were placed opposite to them, and they and the European Infantry were so disposed as to be able to turn their fire upon the regular native regiments should they fail in their duty. Sir Henry Lawrence with his staff occupied the space between the guns and the mutineers. Some little delay occurred while the lastarrived corps were closing into their place, during which, by some mistake, one of the artillery serjeants lighted a port fire. The guns were loaded, and standing as we were with Sir Henry Lawrence between them and the mutineers, our position was not exactly comfortable. In the uncertain light of the moon some mistake might have occurred. Certainly so thought the mutineers, for not many moments elapsed after the lighting of the port fire before they were seen to be running. Gaps first appeared here and there in the line, and then the great mass of the regiment broke and fled. About 120 men stood still. A squadron of the 7th Light Cavalry galloped off to

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