hardly have hoped to count this fine commandant
amongst the living. Rothney's 4th Sikhs almost
emulated the Guides in the rapidity of their march.
Green's Punjab Infantry since went to Delhi. The
4th (Wilde's) was also there by the storm. The
march of the Guide Corps* was one of the most rapid
on record ; some thirty miles a day from Murdan to
Delhi, and the force charged up to its walls in the
* For the constitution of this famous corps, vide Appendix.
44 FORT OF KANGRA SECURE.
battle. Alas ! that the gallant and well-loved
young Quintin Battye, who, too early stricken, died
on the field of battle murmuring in the ear of a
friend " Well, old fellow, 'tis the old saying, ( duke
et decorum est pro patria morV" alas! that such
youth and promise had not lived to win the ever
fresh renown reaped in each fresh contest by his
heroic corps.
Gratifying intelligence had been received on the
1 7th of May of the quiet extrusion of the 4th N. I.
from the important hill fortress of Kangra by Young-
husband's " Sheredil." None knew of it beforehand.
The sepoys looked what they felt, but said nothing.
Subsequently they expressed themselves satisfied, on
an explanation by Major Lake, the Commissioner ;
and recently they have distinguished themselves at
Noorpoor, when the order for disarming came out, and
when no coercion could be employed, by collecting
the arms, and conveying them, of their own accord,
to the house of Major Wilkie, a mile from the fort.
Thus early were all the great military positions
rapidly secured one after the other.
Also on the same date the accompanying bulletin
was issued : " Orders have been received from the
Chief Commissioner to add 400 men to 18 Punjab
and Police Corps recruiting has commenced. Re-
cruits are pouring into Lahore. The country through-
RECRUITING IN THE PUNJAB. 45
out the Punjab perfectly peaceable r and tranquil."
It was now manifest who was ruler in Israel. In a
totally opposite direction, at Jhelum, the 39th N. -I.
(since disarmed) were removed from dangerous pro-
pinquity to the 14th N. I. (since mutinied, but of
whom more anon), and marched quietly to the Siberia
of the Poorbeah; the, to him, cheerless unsocial regions
of the Derajat. They were amused into the idea that
they were going on service. Further mention of this
will appear in a future chapter.
Internal precautionary measures having thus far
advanced satisfactorily, the telegraph of the Chief
Commissioner, himself well cognizant of Delhi, next
" urges the Commander-in-Chief to unite the Umballa
and Meerut forces, and advance on Delhi, stating
east of the Sutlej we can hold our own" In another
telegram from Sir J. Lawrence, in answer to a mes-
sage from the Commander-in-Chief as to what course
to pursue, the Chief Commissioner (who was at whist)
replied shortly, " When in doubt, win the trick.
Clubs are trumps, not spades." General Anson had
entertained the project of fortifying his camp at
Umballa. At the same time the Commander-in-
Chief penned a most elaborate minute for the late
Lieutenant-Governor, Mr. Colvin, specifying exactly,
from his own intimate knowledge of the notabilities
46 sra JOHN LAWRENCE'S PROCLAMATION.
of the Imperial city, who were loyally disposed and
who not, with various valuable suggestions. In reply,
Sir John received a cold telegraphic message to the
effect that " Mr. Colvin had made his arrangements,
and that Mr. Greathed, the Commissioner with the
army, was apprised of them." " De mortuis nil nisi
bonum."
On the 1st of June the annexed proclamation was
not without effect as a stay; and it might have rung in
the ears of many with prophetic solemnity, for the
day of the sepoy army has gone by never to return.
The true colours under which they fought have now
long since been shown ; they were simply armed tools
of a Mahomedan insurrection. More than a gene-
ration may pass before their folly, as much as their
infamy, can be fairly appreciated by their posterity.
FBOM THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF THE PUNJAB TO THE
HlNDOOSTANEE SOLDIERS OF THE BENGAL ARMY.
Dated 1st June, 1857.
SEPOYS, You will have heard that many sepoys and sowars
of the Bengal Army have proved faithless to their salt at
Meerut, at Delhi, and at Ferozepore. Many at the latter place
have been already punished. An army has assembled, and is
now close to Delhi, prepared to punish the mutineers and
insurgents who have collected there.
Sepoys, I warn and advise you to prove faithful to your salt,
faithful to the Government who have given your forefathers
and you service for the last hundred years. Faithful to that
Government who, both in cantonments and in the field, has
been careful of your welfare and interests , and who, in your
SIR JOHN LAWRENCE'S PROCLAMATION. 47
old age, has given you the means of living comfortably in your
homes. Those who have studied history know well that no
army has ever been more kindly treated than that of India.
Those regiments which now remain faithful will receive the
rewards due to their constancy. Those soldiers who fall away
now will lose their service for ever. It will be too late to
lament hereafter, when the time has passed by ; now is the
opportunity of proving your loyalty and good faith. The
British Government will never want for native soldiers. In a
month it might raise 50,000 soldiers in the Punjab alone.
If the " Poorbea" sepoy neglects the present day, it will never
return. There is ample force in the Punjab to crush all
mutineers. The chiefs and people are loyal and obedient, and
the latter only long to take your place in the army. All will
unite to crush you. Moreover, the sepoy can have no con-
ception of the power of England. Already from every quarter
English soldiers are pouring into India.
You know well enough that the British Government have
never interfered with your religion. Those who tell you the
contrary say it for their own base purposes. The Hindoo
temple and the Mahomedan mosque have both been respected
by the English Government. It was but the other day that
the Jumma Mosque at Lahore, which had cost lakhs of rupees,
and which the Sikhs had converted into a magazine, was
restored to the Mahomedans.
Sepoys, My advice is that you obey your officers. Seize all
those among yourselves who endeavour to mislead you. Let
not a few bad men be the cause of your disgrace. If you have
the will, you can easily do this ; and Government will consider
it a test of your fidelity. Prove by your conduct that the
loyalty of the sepoy of Hindustan has not degenerated from
that of his ancestors.
(Signed)
JOHN LAWRENCE, Chief Commissioner.
In the passage here italicised, the wish was father
to the thought. Ten thousand overland, then, was
worth one hundred thousand round the Cape.
48 MAJOR CRAWFORD CHAMBERLAIN.
Thus mutiny in embryo was being stifled at almost
every station. Perhaps the disarming, par excellence,
was that conducted under Major Crawford Cham-
berlain at the important post of Mooltan. There
was no imposing European force present ; there
was possibly not sixty available European soldiers.
The brigade, of which Chamberlain had to assume the
command over the heads of senior officers, consisted
of an European company of artillery under Lieut.
Smallpage ; a troop of native Horse Artillery, under
Lieut. DeBude ; the 6th N. I., under Captain Denniss;
the 69th N. I., under Colonel Hicks ; the 1st Irregular
Cavalry, under Captain Hickey; the 1st Punjab
Irregular Cavalry, under Captain Hughes ; and
Punjab Infantry, under Captain Greene.
Various sources of information combined in
proving that the lives of the European residents
were not safer here than elsewhere, so long as
the native infantry regiments remained armed.
The defences of the fort were not in good repair;
and circumstances of the highest suspicion had been
elicited.
Sir John Lawrence directed that Major Crawford
Chamberlain should take command, and perform that
most delicate operation of disarming. The arrange-
ments were perfect, and the highest credit is due to
IMPORTANCE OF MOOLTAN. 49
Major Crawford Chamberlain and his coadjutor,
Captain Tronson, of the Katar Mookee Police. Let
the critical importance of Mooltan be remembered,
containing munitions of war to the amount of 15 lakhs
of rupees, commanding the river communication with
Bombay, from whence alone reinforcements could
arrive to replace the vast exodus of troops from the
Punjab, and its position of the last importance, as a
check on the Bahawulpoor Chieftain, will be evident.
No European aid, even if to be spared, could possibly
come 206 miles all the way from Lahore. The
Scinde Government was crippled for want of steamers
in consequence of the Persian war. The Bombay
troops were at Sukkur, 500 miles away.
Here, then, when the first shock of the mutiny
was felt, and its extent and character at once com-
prehended by those in command, eleven-twelfths of
the garrison of Mooltan were of Hindoostanee origin I
In fact, one European Company of Artillery was at
first sight the whole counterpoise to two full regi-
ments N. I., the 62nd and the 69th, the 1st Irregular
Cavalry, and the 4th Troop, 3rd Brigade of Horse
Artillery. Here, as elsewhere, the cartridge question
had been freely canvassed. The Post Office was
thronged in an unusual manner every morning by
inquisitive sepoys, soon after the disbanding of the
p. E
50 MOOLTAN STRENGTHENED.
34th N. I. at Barrackpore, which shows a keen
anticipation of impending events. Gold mohurs,
which can be easily carried in purses of fine cord,
were at a premium among them, and family remit-
tances began to be diverted from the usual Govern-
ment channel to private money-dealers.
These manifestations did not escape the watchful
eyes of Major Hamilton, the Commissioner, and
Major Crawford Chamberlain. The confidence of
the latter in his fine regiment, the 1st Irregulars,
was confirmed by information received from a native
officer of rank, that the infantry were trying to
tamper with his men. The 69th N. I. were most
suspected, the 62nd were less so. As to the native
troop of artillery (in which favourite service, even
before Delhi, few could be drawn from their allegi-
ance), there was every hope of their proving staunch.
Captain Spencer, however, did not allow the golden
moments of sepoy hesitation to glide by profitless,
but set to work, improved the defences of the fort,
mounted several pieces of ordnance, organized a
battery of two field pieces, and quietly stored pro-
visions for six month's consumption, which had been
collected w r ith the utmost despatch by Majors Voyle
Hamilton.
The ferries were now more carefully guarded, and
DISAFFECTION OF THE TKOOPS. 51
the native correspondence more strictly scrutinized.
The contents of one letter led to the execution of the
addressee. Suspicious parties were arrested, and
the officers in command of the frontier posts of Derah
Ghazee Khan and Asnee warned to be in readiness.
Captain Hughes, commanding at the latter, seeing
the imminent posture of affairs, on his own respon-
sibility at once set out for Mooltan.
By the 9th of June there arrived the 1st Kegiment
Punjab Cavalry, and a wing of the 2nd Regiment.
The disaffection of the 69th, at least, was increasing
in intensity, and admitted not the shadow of a doubt.
The hour for the disarming was ripe, and on the 10th
of June the orders came from the Chief Commissioner;
who, as above narrated, exercising his usual sagacious
discrimination of character, had selected Chamber-
lain for the delicate and critical operation. The
night was occupied in anxious and secret consultation
as to the plan. At morning dawn, the Colonel of
the 69th was apprised of the momentous step to be
taken, and was directed to parade all the troops in
garrison. The admirable operations which ensued,
and which called forth the eulogium of Government,
cannot be better described than by an eye-witness.
The parade being organized, " The Punjab Cavalry
and Infantry marched to cantonments by two sepa-
E 2
52 MOVEMENTS FOR DISARMING.
rate roads. The cavalry on the road to the right,
debouching on to the grand parade, so as to cut off
fugitives should the troops about to be disarmed
have dispersed before the whole force had assembled;
whilst the infantry moved direct on to the parade
from the city, and remained concealed until it made
its appearance from the rear of the irregular cavalry
lines. The troops arrived at their destination most
opportunely, and took up their position at the proper
moment in the order shown in the annexed plan.
(See p. 53.)
" The Horse Artillery were masked by a position
of the 1st Punjab Cavalry, and supported by the
European company of artillery, the Punjab infantry
being on the left flank. The 62nd Regiment N. I.,
in quarter-distance column, originally occupied the
ground to the left of the 1st Irregular Cavalry, but
were advanced to the front, the Punjab cavalry
taking their place. At the same time, the 69th
Regiment Native Infantry, also in quarter-distance
column, were marched from their own parade to the
grand parade, and halted in contiguous close columns,
with the 62nd in front of the masked battery. The
whole of these movements were executed without
the slightest confusion or hesitation."
So much for the military details, which seem to
POSITION OF THE TKOOPS.
53
69!?N.I. 62??N.I.
SQUADRONS
PUNJAB
CAVALRY
WING 2?? PUNJAB
INFANTRY IN LINE
4?^ TROOP
3?? BRIGADE
H .A
(NATIVE)
54 THE DISAKMING.
defy criticism. After perusal of a general order to
the native infantry, Chamberlain rode forward and
demanded immediate surrender of their arms, under
penalty of consequences. As these words were
pronounced, by preconcerted signal, the 1st Punjab
Cavalry, by a flank movement to the left, unmasked
the Horse Artillery, and six field pieces, loaded with
grape, their port-fires lighted, were seen. Each
piece, though manned by natives, was supported by
eight sturdy Europeans with loaded fuzils. The 62nd
piled arms at once. The 69th wavered ; the guns
menaced; they yielded. The day was won. The
disarming of detached bodies, search of the bells-of-
arms, and other supplementary acts followed in
ordinary course.
The same success attended Captain Tronson, who,
with a party of mounted police and some Kuttar
Mookhi Police, disarmed a strong party of the 69th
at the Treasury.
The self-reliance of the English oflicer and soldier
was never exhibited on a more critical or more
bloodless occasion. Though satisfactory, it is nothing
to the point, that it was discovered afterwards that
the native artillery had without orders laid their
pieces with unerring precision full upon the devoted
regiments. With such a preponderance of uncertain
TRANQUILLITY RESTORED. 55
materials as he had to work with, and such a mere
handful of Europeans, this operation managed with
consummate tact and resolution by Chamberlain and
his gallant coadjutors, stands unique among similar
events in the crisis. The inhabitants, who had left
the city, at once took heart and returned; their
buried treasures were exhumed, and their ordinary
occupation recommenced ; deputations of the princi-
pal inhabitants waited on the Commissioner to express
their gratification at the renewal of security and
peace.
The general political management of the Mooltan
Division, with its varied hosts of warlike clans and
tribes, was secure in the grasp of Major Hamil-
ton; and the apparent willingness shown by the
chieftains to furnish levies and horses, testify at all
events to his own influence, and the general respect
for the British power which his administration in-
spired. In the wild district of Googaira, nothing,
up to the date to which this work extends, had
occurred. With infinite coolness and determination,
at the commencement of the outbreak Lieutenant
Elphinstone had promptly disarmed the company
of the 49th N. I., who acted as treasury guard, by
the aid of the ordinary disciplined police. Subse-
quently, in July, a daring attempt at outbreak in
56 DISTURBANCES PUT DOWN.
the Googaira gaol was as sternly suppressed by the
same officer.
Strange enough also, since the fall of Delhi, a
\
fierce insurrection broke out in this district, almost
as it were in the hour of victory and success, and as
if to tax the mental and physical resources of the
Chief Commissioner to the utmost. Even this has
been extensively, though not without some hard work,-
quelled and crushed, and the country once more
resumed its attitude of sustained activity in prepa-
ration for the armies of England, and of stern
vigilance against the faintest indicative movement in
the chequered drama of Punjab politics.
57
CHAPTER III.
THE FRONTIER DOINGS THERE.
VERT early in the crisis, Rajah Sahib Dyal, an old
and faithful adherent of the Government, asked the
writer how matters looked at Peshawur ? The reply
was satisfactory. " Othenvise " said the ques-
tionist, and he took up the skirt of his muslin robe,
and rolled it significantly up. The mines, hoAvever,
had been carefully laid. All that was wanting in the
infernal machine, was success in the simultaneous
explosion. A rise at Peshawur, and the arrival
of some fourteen thousand fanatics, with pillage
and murder in their van, was counted upon luckily
" without the host." At Lahore, the cry has always
been Peshawur is up, and vice versa. With men
like Nicholson, and Cotton, and Edwardes on the
frontier, small dread could be entertained. Diffi-
culties, however, are apt to be under-estimated, or
forgotten, where the victories are those of talents and
influence, and the peace and security around are
58 FRONTIER TRIBES.
derived from the maturest precautions having been
taken against disturbance. For eight hundred miles,
thirty or more savage intractable tribes cluster among
the wilds and hilly fastnesses from north to south
along the frontier. In the hands of Nicholson and
Edwardes their political management was safe.
Separate interests, separate dialects, and often sepa-
rate habits and customs, formed elements of political
capital, which they were well versed in moulding
and wielding. Had the capabilities of these tribes
for combination been at all equal to the results which
might have accrued from a simultaneous demon-
stration of one hundred thousand armed and fighting
men arrayed, the valley could never have been held.
But so stern a retribution had ever been visited on
the priest-ridden fanatics by Chamberlain and Cotton,
Coke and Nicholson, that they were completely
overawed. Moreover, amalgamation between Hindoo
sepoys, who formed the majority, with the tribes was
(as it turned out to be) full as impossible as the
mingling of oil and vinegar. The cartridge question
was nothing to the Hill Mussulman. Notwith-
standing these favourable dispositions, a critical con-
juncture was approaching, and the first note of what
had been passing was sounded at the capital, Lahore,
as follows :
MUTINY OF THE 55TH N. I. 59
"The 55th N. I. have been attacked at Hote
Murdan (about 40 miles from Peshawur), officers all
safe. One hundred of the men remained true ;
artillery and cavalry gone in pursuit of the rest,
who went away with their colours. Lieut. Law,
10th Irregulars, wounded in the neck. Colonel
Spottiswoode committed suicide."
It appears that the first symptoms of disaffection
in the valley were exhibited by the 55th N. I. at
the bridge guard at Attock ; and a portion of the
regiment, together with two troops of the 10th Irre-
gular Cavalry, were sent over to Murdan to replace
the Guide Corps, which had already marched to
Delhi. The reasons for this move are sufficiently
clear by the light of recent events. They were
utterly in the dark as to the real object ; so much
so, that when crossing the bridge of boats at Now-
shera, they gave vent to their delight in loud cries.
Whether this was mere affectation or not, it is
impossible to say, but the next morning the regiment
taunted the Colonel with having brought them to the
fort, as a prison. Colonel Spottiswoode, whose belief
in the loyalty of his corps was dearer than life itself,
assured them to the contrary, and promised to forward
to General Anson any petition they might draw up.
The petition was drawn up, and by far the most
60 FATE OF A MUTINEER.
prominent of all the grievances was the breaking
up in practice, though not in name, of the Invalid
Establishment. The recent abolition of the European
establishment gave colour to the supposition that the
native one would meet the same fate.
Meanwhile, the bridge guard under a subadar
came into Nowshera in a mutinous state, having
refused to obey the orders of Lieutenant Lind, and
even threatened to shoot him. It is worthy of
record that this very subadar, by name Soodeen
Doobey, was a cousin of the subadar-major of the
3rd Light Cavalry, at Meerut, the first appointed
generalissimo of the rebel army of Delhi. The
cousin had doubtless been selected as prime mover and
leader of the hoped-for insurrection in the Peshawur
valley. His fate was worthy of his deserts. After
heading the mutiny of his corps, he fled to the
great Valley, and so wretched an existence did he
drag on, that he was fain to give himself up to
Major Becher, Deputy-Commissioner of Huzara,
with abject supplications for mercy. He was blown
away from a gun forthwith.
Major Verner, with a portion of the 10th Irregular
Cavalry, went out to meet the bridge-guard, and
after disarming, brought them into cantonments. He
found the depot of the 55th " skirmishing " all over
THE 64TH N. I. DEPORTED. 61
the place and firing. They had broken into the
magazine, and had their havresacks full of ammu-
nition. He ordered his men to charge, instead of
which they adopted a retrograde movement. Matters
remained thus until the next day, when the remainder
of the 55th went off to Murdan, and joined the rest
of the regiment there. A sullen disrespectful manner
had been detected among the sepoys previously, and
reported. The 22nd of May was the day fixed upon
for the general rise. In preparation for which, they
had sent their wives and children out of the lines.
A suspicious circumstance also had occurred in
the 64th N. L, a regiment that had before shown an
insubordinate spirit in reference to pay ; and the
officer commanding the artillery put a picket over
his guns, which lay contiguous to it. This regiment,
the worst dispositioned of all, on the requisition of
Colonel Nicholson (then Deputy Commissioner), was
deported (ostensibly) to reinforce the frontier posts
of Peshawur. They were marched out, divided into
detachments, and stationed under the guns of the
three forts held by the Khelat-i-Ghilzies at Michnee,
Abozaie, and Shubkudr. Twenty-five lakhs of
rupees were in the Treasury, and Nicholson quietly,
on the 18th of May, removed them to the fort.
This sum, originally destined as a subsidy for Dost
62 DISARMING AT PESHAWUR.
Mohammed, had most opportunely arrived; otherwise,
in the financial paralysis which succeeded, it would
have been impossible to pay the commissariat ex-
penses.
On the 20th, a letter was intercepted from the
51st at Peshawur (since entirely destroyed), in-
viting the 64th to come in. The 24th and 27th had
had a midnight meeting. Nicholson, bravest of the
brave, " bold, resolute, determined," then strenuously
urged General Cotton to disarm. The 27th was
Nicholson's own corps. The General was not at
first convinced of the expediency, until Col. Edwardes
arrived at Peshawur from Calcutta, and added his
voice to the counsel. Once decided upon, the dis-
arming was carried out with masterly address.
The force was divided into two brigades, each
comprising one European regiment, one battery of
artillery, and half the troops to be disarmed. The
want of English cavalry was so much felt, that
Major Barr's troop of Horse Artillery had to
be employed as dragoons. At four o'clock in the
morning, orders were sent to commanding officers of
the native regiments to be disarmed, to hold a parade
each on his ground, and while ordinary parade was
being held, the Europeans and artillery of each bri-
gade marched down. The order was given, "Pile
GATHERING OF AFFGHANS, ETC. 63
arms," and they were at once taken possession of and
carried off by the Europeans. Colonel Nicholson had
opportunely called in the chiefs of the valley, and as
the disarming was being carried on, clouds of
Affghan horsemen darkened the horizon. So also