THE INDIAN MUTINY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 20, 18 May 1907, Page 14

THE INDIAN MUTINY.

The following account sent Home from India at the time by Lieut. G. R. Brown is all the more interesting in view of recent events in the Punjaub;—

The discontent over the Enfield rille cartridge question spread gradually from Calcutta to Peshawur, without exciting any very great degree of apprehension on the part of our Government until the 10th and 11th May, 1857. when the massacres at Meerut an 1 Delhi opened the eyes of all to the alarming extent to which the mutiny had spread. It is now well known that the 22nd May was to have been the day for a general rising of all the native troops in Bengal; but, by the will of Providence, their evil intentions were frustrated before arriving at maturity. Early in May a Court Martial assembled at Meerut, for the trial of eighty-three troopers of the 3rd Cavalry, who had on parade mutinously refused to take the cartridges—the same as they had been for years in the habit of using. These men were senteneed to various terms of imprisonment, and sent to the gaol; and on the 10th May, the day of their removal to the gaol, their brother troopers and all

the Native Infantry at Meerut rose, released all the prisoners, murdered as many European officers, ladies, and children as they could lay hands on, and then marched to Delhi, where they were joined by all the native troops and inhabitants, massacred all the Europeans that came within their reach, and possessed themselves of the large magazine, but part of which (along with himself) had been blown up by that heroic young officer. Lieutenant Willoughby, of the Artillery. The mutinous then destroped the telegraph lines, so no intelligence of these events reached the Punjaub and Peshawur until the 13th of May, nine days previous (as it has since turned out) to the intended general rising, and to the confusion of our enemies in these parts, who, of course, w-ere not as yet aware of what had occurred below, and of the precipitation of affairs at Delhi. Immediate and energetic measures were adopted by the authorities at this station (Peshawur) to prevent our being so taken by surprise. The critical nature of the position in which we were placed at Peshawur may well be imagined from the circumstance that, in the loyal days of the Sepoys, it was never considered that there were more than sufficient troops to keep our hostile hill neighbours in check, and when our native troops, about 1000 in number. had turned traitors, our position became doubly critical; but a bold stroke of policy was immediately adopted by Colonel Edwardes, Commissioner of Peshawur. in enlisting into our service our old enemies, the warlike in-

habitants of the surrounding hills: the Khyberrees. the Shah Moosah Kheibees. Mooltanes, &c., &c., only excepting the Khokeekhail tribe of the Khyber Pass, who had lately committed too great an act of atrocity (by murdering a British officer) to be, even in this emergency, honoured with employment in our service. The call was immediately responded to, and thousands of wild horse and footmen are now fighting in our cause before the walls of Delhi. The 22nd .May. the last day of the Mussulman Fast (Ramedan), was intended for the general rising. The Native Infantry Regiments occupying the surrounding forts were that evening to have marched into cantonments, and join their comrades in the massacre of the hated Feringhecs. Of their intentions the authorities were perfectly aware, having intercepted all the native letters; and General Cotton, commanding at Peshawur, prepared for their reception. by first disarming the native troops in cantonments, which was admirably managed, without bloodshed. bv sunrise on the morning of the 22nd ; but intelligence was quickly carried by mi five spies to their brethren occupying live of the forts in the district, which pre vented their march into cantonments. But the Fort of Murdan, about thirtyfive miles from Peshawur. and occupied by the 55th Native Infantry and part of tiie 10th Iregular Cavalry (the 10th

Cavalry has been since disbanded), were not equally lucky in their intelligence, for they broke out into open mutiny, possessed themselves of the Fort of Mur dan. made prisoners of their officers, and plundered the treasury. A force was sent against them, under the command

of Colonel Chute, consisting of three horse artillery guns, two 24 pounder how itzers. four mountain train guns. 150 men of her Majesty’s 70th. 150 of her Majesty’s 87th. 400 Punjaub Irregular Infan

try, and about 150 of our wild horse levies ami jroliee. This forte arrived in sight of Murdan on the morning of the 25tt>, at sunrise, when the mutinous 55th N.I. bolted from the fort, taking their arms, ammunition, and treasure with them, and made for the hostile Swatt Hills, which were elose at hand, and by the inhabitants of which they were to be received with open arms. They got a good long start; but a hot pursuit was immediately made by the horse artillery and cavalry, by whom about 120 of the mutineers were killed, and 150 prisoners taken with arms in their hands, after a stout, resistance, having killed and wounded a number of their pursuers. The remain der escaped into the hills, where they are now wandering about in a most wretched condition, having since been plundered by their friends the Swatees. The prisoners were brought into Peshawur, and upwards of 50 of their number executed as represented in the accompanying sketch — a spectacle such as has never before been witnessed, and onec seen, never to be forgotten. The British nation may well be proud of the small body of 3000 Europeans, under their gallant commander (who so well knows how to handle I hem), who have so successfully defeated the bloody-minded intentions," thrashed into awe, and kept under subjection, a force of more than than three times their own number consisting of the 21st, 24tli, 27th, 51st, 64th, 55th, and Kelat I. Ghilzies Regiments of Native Infantry, the sth Native Cavalry, 7th, 10th. and 18tl> Irregular Cavalry, besides the disaffected spirits of the turbulent city of Peshawur, and the haughty Afghans, by whom the British are viewed with anything but friendship, for the military possession of the brightest portion of their inhospitable country.

Another of the pictures is thus described by the “Illustrated London News” correspondent of the time: “We had been out lighting nil day in the beat of the sun, clearing Subseemundee of mutineers. and had at last finished the business, when, quite exhausted, our men lay down to rest. Two of the Fusileers and a little Ghoorkah were sitting by a window, when one of the enemy, who had concealed himself in a dark corner, finding all was quiet, gently popped out his head to see what was doing, lie happened to look first the other way, when the little Ghoorkah, as quick as thought, whipped out his koorkierie, and sliced his head off in an instant, to the great delight of the Fusiliers, who could not for ten minutes shoulder their muskets for laughing.