REVOLT OF THE MILITARY POLICE. 417 BOOK IX. 1857. June 11. army prior to the annexation had carried with them to their homes their military pride and their Chapter II. fidelity to their masters, he summoned by circular to Lakhnao all of their number who would care to re-enlist for the cause of order. The The response to this summons was very remarkable. About and the penfive hundred pensioned sepoys hastened to Lakh Amongst them were the gray-headed, the halt, the maim-even the blind-some on crutches, -all anxious to evince their loyalty. Sir Henry gave them a kind and cordial reception. He selected about a hundred and seventy of them for active service, and placed them under separate command. The number of the native brigade was thus brought to nearly eight hundred. That night the whole of the cavalry of the military police remaining at their head-quarters at Lakhnao broke into revolt. The cavalry were under the special command of Captain Gould Weston, and he at once rode down to their lines, situated near the Dil A'rám Kothí on the left bank of the Gúmtí, followed only by his two native orderlies. He came upon them as they were starting and exhorted them to listen to the voice of duty and of honour. But his efforts proved unavailing, and they galloped off into darkness. sioners. The military police cavalry revolt; The next morning (the 12th of June) the 3rd and the Regiment of Infantry of the Military Police infantry. mutinied at the Motí Mahal about a mile and a half from the Baillie Guard. Captain Adolphus Orr, who, although he had removed his family into safety at the Residency continued to occupy BOOK IX. Chapter II. 1857. June 12. Captain ton. Owes his life to his daring. his house near his men, fortunately escaped uninjured, and riding in hot haste to the superintendent reported that the regiment had gone off in the direction of the Dil Kúsha Park, and was in full march towards Kánhpúr. Weston was engaged at the time with Mr. Ommaney, the Judicial Commissioner, but on hearing the evil tidings he instantly, without one moment's hesitation, rushed from the house, mounted the first horse he could find from the picket of the 7th Cavalry, and galloped after the mutineers. He overtook them about five miles from the Residency. It is impossible to over-estimate the danger of his position. There he was-a solitary European-in the presence of about eight hundred men who had mutinied, and who fully intended to join in the attempt to drive the English out of India. One shot would have sufficed to lay low the daring Frank. But it was that very daring that saved Weston. The bolder spirits were captivated by it. Dashing aside the muzzles already pointed towards their English commander they declared in reply to his appeal to them to return to their duty that they must go-they were committed to it-but that his life should not be taken. They then fell in and marched onwards. A few men of the 2nd Regiment of Military Police who had been on guard at Weston's house but who had joined the mutinous 3rd Regiment, determined to remain with him, and they returned to the Residency that night to tell of Weston's escape from death, which, bearing in mind the force of evil example, and the fact that scores of officers had already THE MUTINOUS POLICE ARE PURSUED. 419 fallen victims to their men, was well nigh miraculous.* BOOK IX. Chapter II. 1857. June 12. The muti followed up. nous police On their way back they were met by the cavalry and the two guns of the little force despatched in pursuit, under Colonel Inglis, and which had far outstripped the two companies of Her Majesty's 32nd intended for their support. But the ground was broken and difficult, and although the artillery did some execution and the native troopers cut up a few stragglers, a fair blow was not struck at the main body. Meanwhile a considerable number of the mutineers had occupied a village on the further side of some ravines, our infantry had not come up, and the day was fast closing. Colonel Inglis, therefore, wisely determined to desist from further pursuit, and brought back his men much exhausted after a long and trying march in an exceptionally hot day. The enemy lost about twenty killed and had many more wounded, whilst some ten prisoners were captured. Two of our troopers were killed, and others were wounded, including their gallant native officer; two of the Europeans succumbed to sun-stroke, and Mr. Thornhill of the Civil Service, a man of Mr. Thorngreat, even remarkable, daring, was twice seriously wounded. hill, C.S. made to Since the mutiny of the 30th of May efforts to Attempts make the Residency defensible had been pushed on with extraordinary vigour. The outer tracing had been connected by breastworks; ditches had * Hutchinson's Narrative; see also Rees's Siege of Lucknow. render the defensible; Residency BOOK IX. Chapter II. 1857. June 12. and the Machhí Báwan. 420 THE RESIDENCY IS STRENGTHENED. been excavated in front of them, and parapets erected behind them; at certain points ramparts had been thrown up and embrasures had been pierced; slopes had been scarped; stakes and palisades fixed; some houses had been demolished; the roofs of others had been protected by mud walls; windows and doors had been barricaded; walls had been loop-holed. All the ordnance belonging to the ex-King of Oudh that could be found in the city was brought within the defences. Some houses outside the walls of the Residency were left solely because time had not remained to level them, as had been intended. They thus afforded shelter to the enemy, who not only made them points of observation to watch the garrison, but kept up from them a heavy fire on the defences. Nor was the Machhí Báwan neglected. Sir Henry Lawrence had originally resolved to hold this post in conjunction with the Residency, only to concentrate on the latter when threatened in overwhelming force. With this view he had strengthened it and made it habitable for Europeans. He then stored it with food and ammunition. On the 13th of June, Sir Henry Lawrence was able to write to Lord Canning in the words already quoted: "We hold our ground in cantonment, and daily strengthen both our town positions, bearing in mind that the Residency is to be the final point of concentration." Sir Henry continued to strengthen the Machhí Báwan till the very last, believing that the preparations made would be greatly noised abroad, and would affect the morale of the enemy. SIR HENRY'S ANXIETY ABOUT KA'NHPU'R. 421 BOOK IX. 1857. June 13. A terrible anxiety which preyed upon Sir Henry Lawrence about this time, was caused by his inabi- Chapter II. lity to assist Sir Hugh Wheeler, then beleaguered at Kánhpúr. The scission of communication with Sir Henry's that station on the 6th of June had made it clear anxiety about Kánhpúr. that the native troops there had mutinied. That they had gone further, and, under the leadership of Náná Sáhib had besieged the British general in his barracks, had been shortly afterwards made known. Then there came from General Wheeler earnest appeals for help. Mr. Gubbins, generous, sympathetic, strong-willed, and eager, urged him to comply with these appeals. But it was, in point of fact, simply impossible. How it was so cannot more fitly be expressed than in Sir Henry's own words. Writing to Sir Hugh Wheeler on the 16th of June the Chief Commissioner said: "I am very sorry indeed to hear of your condition, and grieve that I cannot help you. I have consulted with the chief officers about me, and, except Gubbins, they are unanimous in thinking that with the enemy's command of the river, we could not possibly get a single man into your intrenchment. I need not say that I deeply lament being obliged to concur in this opinion, for our own safety is as nearly concerned as yours. We are strong in our intrenchments; but by attempting the passage of the river, should be sacrificing a large detachment without a prospect of helping you. Pray do not think me selfish. I would run much risk could I see a commensurate prospect of success. In the present scheme I see none." A week His reasons moving to for not its aid. |