Extracts.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 509, 19 September 1857, Page 3

Extracts.

CHRONOLOGICAL NARRATIVE OF

THE MILITARY INSURRECTION IN BENGAL. [From the Madras ' Spectator.']

January 22nd : the earliest reported symptoms, of incipient disaffection was an attempt on the night of the 22nd January to burn down the Cantonment of Raneegune. Fires were lighted in various parts of the station; but owing to the exertions of the men, who worked obediently when called on, the fires were all put out without having effected much damage. It was at the same time supposed that the incendiaries were to be found among the thatchers and builders of the place, anxious to create work for themselves; but the identity in manner of these incendiary proceedings with instances that followed leaves no doubt of their real nature. January 24th: The Telegraphic office at Barrack pore burnt down. The fact of the discontentment of the sepoys at Barraukpore known, and that they had communicated with other regiments, particularly in the north west, on the subject of the new cartridges, to which they objected, on account of a difference in colour. The difference in question arises from the fact that, the new cartridge allows less windage, and consequently a thinner paper is necessary, possessing however the same strength as.the thicker sort formerly used. January 28th: Fires now became frequent at Barrackpore, and were occurring every night. Some incendiaiisms also occur at Serampore. It was now believed, in fact almost established, that the moving cause of the incendiarism was in the 34th, who were in a very defective state. They openly declared they would not use the new cartridge, which they assert to be made -up with the fat of pigs stud cows.

February 2nd: A threatening letter appeared in the Calcutta ' Englishman,' denouncing what the writer believes to be a spirit of proselytism gaining strength in thoße in power.

February 7th: A serious fire at Serampore, evidentij incendiary. Fires continue nightly at Barrackpore. It is certain that the 34th are at the bottom of it; but they cannot be directly detected. A reward of 1000 Rs. offered to any person giving information leading to the conviction of the incendiaries. About this time the GovernorGeneral, seeing that the Sepoys suspected that there was something wrong about the cartridges, ordered their use to be for the present discontinued, till measures had been taken to remove that suspicion.

February 10: Major-General Hearsay harangued the native troops at Barrackpore, pointing out t*e absurdity of the pretended or entertained suspicion that unfair and secret measures of proselytism were being taken by Government. For a few nights afterwards no fires occurred.

February: The Government in consequence of the growing discontent among the soldiers at Barrackpore telpgraphed to the school of musketry, Sealqwote, that the cartridge was not to be placed in the hands of the Sepoys, who were merely to learn the manipulation of the new rifle (Enfield) and watch the use of the cartridge by the Europeans.

February 10th—20th: Nightly meetings held in the native Hoes at Barrackpore, and dark rumours afloat of a determination on the part of the troops to organise a general rising against the Christians, and especially the European Christians, in India.

February 18th: A frantic faqueer appeared in the city of Fyzabad, followed by a gang of armed followers, declaring that it was the mission of himself and his people to extirpate Christianity in India, and to destroy all foreigners. He continued for days to harangue the people in most inflammatory language. He was subsequently put down by force of arms. He and his followers fought desperately, and there was much bloodshed. The military, police, and the sepoys also, in obedience to orders, attacked and captured. him and his surviving servants. Three of the sepoys were killed, and the officer commanding the guard was wounded. ; February 20th: Rumours of the BarrackIpore disaffection having spread to Midnapore j confirmed. : February 25th: Open mutiny of the I 19th Regiment at Burhampore. The men refused to use the cartridges served out to ; them; these cartridges had been used by ; their predecessors there, the 27th N. 1,, and ; had, up to that date, been used even by the j 19th. The men were expostulated with, but in vain, and they remained mutinous. •In the evening they learned that the cartridges would be issued formally nest morning, and every man refusing to take them would bs tried by court martial. This occurred at

8 p.m. Consultations were held among the men. At ten o'clock they forced open the place where their arms were kept, armed themselves, and rushed into the lines. On this, the Irregular Cavalry and some Artillery were ordered out against them. The 19th loaded, and threatened to massacre their officers. Ultimately they consented to give up their arms if the Cavalry and 'Artillery were withdrawn. This was conceded them and they submitted. March 2nd : Rumours in Calcutta of mutinous tendencies having been exhibited by the native troops in Meerut. March oth : Mutiny at Barrackpore now beyond doubt. The 34th seem to be on the eve of a regular outbreak. There is a regular interchange of communications between them and the 19th, who are said ,to be under orders to march to Barrackpore for punishment. March 6th: Steamer Bentinck sent to Rangoon for the 84th Queen's regiment. j Fires at Meerut. Mutinous symptoms increase daily. It is hoped that the. 6th (H.M.'s) Dragoons, en route there from Chiusurah, will soon quiet the station. For some time, so secret were the councils of the sepoys, it was believed the fires were the work of the grassmen *nd thatchers in the neighbourhood ; but suspicion soon fell on the sepoys, and those suspicions were soon confirmed. The Carbineers were about this time fully mounted ; horses being taken from native regiments for the purpose. March 10th: The earliest tidings of mutinous symptoms at Lucknow. March 16th : The sepoys at Fort William exhibited sullenness and discontent. They pretend to complain that Lord Canning has promised the Queen that they shall be converted. They do not not scruple to express sympathy with the 19th, and say that the 34th are not to be blamed. They are looked on with suspicion. Some of them have been arrested. March 20th : The 84th (H.M.'s) Regiment arrived at Calcutta from Rangoon. Great excitement evinced at Barrackpore by the native soldiers. The 84th are sent on to Chinsurah, within ton minutes railway distance of Barrackpore.

March 24th : The ' Dacca News ' reports a riot on a small scale by the Sepoys there, directed against a certain Brahmin who was supposed to be a Christian, and to entertain a wish to convert his countrymen.

March 21st: News reached Calcutta of the open mutiny of the Ist M.NJ., at Vizianagram. The sepoys disobeyed their officers, and treated orders with sullen contempt. They assumed, and succeeded in it, to dictate to their officers the time at which they should march, and with how much baggage, and the manner of their march, with other matters of detail. As at Burhampore, a most dangerous concession, was in this instance made to mutineers with arms in their hands.

March 28th: The native troops at Barrackpore for the preceding week have been becoming more and more mutinous. Meetings were held almost nightly, plans of resistance to Europeans discussed, and it was reported that correspondence with other regiments on the subject of a general rise was carried on. On this day one of the 34th N. 1., Mungul Pandy, aimed himself, and went on the parade ground, and called on his comrades to follow him. He shot at Lieutenant and Adjutant Baugh, and killed the horse. While' Lieutenant Baugh was disengaging himself from his fallen horse the sepoy attacked him with his bayonet, and wounded him severely. A SergeantMajor, coming up to render assistance, was also severely wounded. This happened in presence of the guard, under the command of the Jemadar. The jemadar ordered the guard not to obey the command given them to assist the officers and trrest the murderous mutineer. Another guard from the 43rd was brought; on their appearance the sepoy threw himself down upon the ground and shot himself, but not mortally. He was arrested. Active measures at. length adopted by the Government, who sent the bodyguard out to Barrackpore, ordered "the 84th. down from Chinsurah, a wing of H.M.s 53rd,and two field batteries from Dum Dum. Barrackpore deserted by Europeans not in the service. Many of the mutinous sepoys placed in arrest. March 31st: The 19th Regiment disbanded in presence of 34th N. 1., and the 70th N. 1., and the 43rd N. 1., and the Grenadiers-Sepoys. A strong body of Europeans and Artillery was on the ground. April: Colonel Wheeler, of the 34tti, turns out to have been> in the habit of' vehement proselytism at Barrackpore., and is severely censured by the press, as having by his fanatical conduct fostered the mbti-! nous disposition of the men. .Fire's,, at Agra, in the Sepoy lines of 44th N.H -The Sepoys would not labour to put it down. A

of wind alone, saved the magazine.•; Little loss was sustained, but that is to be attributed to the exertions of the 3rd Europeans. April 'Bth: The "Lahore Chronicle" reports that a mutinous letter.from Barrackpore was found in the parade of the musqtietry depot at Sealqwote. It invited the Sepoys to passive resistance for the present, until further advices. April 9th : Disturbances on the cartridge question reported at ITmballa. The com-mander-in-chief reviewing the men had taken occasion to address them on the baselessness of the falsehoods they had been led to believe. The Sepoys presented a petition, praying |that they might not be compelled to use the cartridges except with their regiments. April 1-3 th : Continued reports of incendiary fires at Agra. Dr. Well's bungalow burnt"'down, because one of the medicine bottles had been allowed by him to touch his lips. The bottle and its contents were destroyed before the Sepoys. The same evening the house was burnt down. April 17th: News'of an alarming nature arrived from Benare, where there are no European troops. The Sepoys threatened to rise, and murder every European. The •cartridge business is still the cry. April 21 st; The execution of the officer commanding the guard at Barrackpore when the murderous attack was made on the officers. He had ordered the guard to render no assistance to the officers. April 23rd: The "Delhi Gazette," states, decidedly mutinous feelings have been j exhibited at Umballa. They were ordered to use the new cartridges; on the same evening the European Barracks and the N. I. Hospital were burnt down. May 3rd: At Lucknow the conduct of the 7th Irregular N. 1., and indeed of some others of the native soldiery,'had been for some weeks observed to indicate growing disaffection. Sir Henry Lawience had from the first determined to act with energy on the first act of overt mutiny. On the afternoon of the 3rd instant, the 7th mutinied, threatened the lives of their officers, armed themselves, and declared their determination to die ere they submilted. A letter from the mutineers of the 48th N. I. had been intercepted, sufficiently showing the state of the regiment. This took place during evening service in the Cantonment Church. Instantly the 48th BL L, 71st N. 1., 18th, 32nd European 1., the cavalry, and a European battery of eight*guus, were ordered off at once. The lines of the mutineers were situated a few miles off. So rapid was the movement that the first tidings the mutineers had of the prompt measures against them were the clash of arms and the,.'rattling of artillery wheels in their lines. When the troops /were drawn up, and the artillery loaded and pointed, the mutineers were ordered out in front of them ; they obeyed, but sudden movement of the cavalry, and the accidental lighting of a port fire so scared them that they fled in confusion, They were brought back by the cavalry, disarmed, and are now prisoners in their lines.

May 6th : Alarming news from Umballa. Incendiarism every night. The troops seemingly on the eve of open mutiny. It is becoming evident that the mutinous feeling has spread far and wide. At Meerut vigilant measures are called for. May 9th : All the men of the 34th who were in the lines when., Lieutenant and Adjutant Baugh was wounded disbanded at Barrackpore. —The mutineers at Meerut and Delhi fully reported on elsewhere. —Umballa, Allahabad, Benares, and Nidnapore threatened, and in dadger.