— FYZ
476
an endeavour to re-establish the discipline of the two regiments and, in the midst of the difficulty by which they were surrounded, an order arrived from Lucknow, directing the immediate arrest of their This ill-timed step was carried out by influential friend, Man Singh. Colonel Goldney, the superintendent and commissioner of Fyzabad, in opposition to the earnest remonstrances and written protest of the assistant commissionei", who, after the indignity had been perpetrated, obtained per-
for support in
mission to release the prisoner, just in time to ensure the safety of the ladies and children, by sending them, under his protection, to a fortified residence belonging to him at Shahganj. Three ladies Mrs. Colonel Lennox, her daughter (Mrs. Morgan, wife of Captain Morgan, 22nd Regiment), and Mrs. Major Mill alone remained with their husbands at Fyzabad.
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On the 3rd of June it was reported to the civil authorities that the mutineers of the l7th Regiment from Azamgarh were approaching Fyzabad, and a council was at once held M'ith the officers in command of the troops, that measures might be adopted to meet the emergency. Colonel Lennox, as senior officer in charge of the station, immediately summoned the officers commanding, with their respective staffs, and the senior native officers, to a conference, when the latter declared themselves true and loyal, and ready to act in resisting the advance of the mutineers. Such precautions as could now be taken were adopted for the defence of the lines from outward attack. At length, on the 7th of June, as the mutineers had not yet arrived, and the troops in cantonments expressed great impatience, it was proposed by Colonel Lennox that they should march out to a village called Stirajkund, about five miles from the cantonments, and give battle to the rebels. To this, however, the native officers objected, alleging that they had their families and property in the lines, and they intended to protect both by remaining in the cantonments. At the close of this consultation, the native officers shook hands with Colonel Lennox and his officers with apparent cordiality, and left, saying " are all of one heart." Thus ended the military council of the 7th June.
We
Towards evening of Monday, June 8th, a messenger arrived at the cantonment with intelligence that the mutineers of the 17th Regiment would march into Fyzabad early on the following morning, and active preparations were immediately made for their reception. Colonel Lennox, in "
At 10
command
of the station, writes as follows
P. M. an alarm was sounded in the lines of the 6th Irregular Infantry, and taken up by the 22nd regiment of Native Infantry. The battery prepared for action, loaded, and fusees lighted; when the two companies in support of the guns immediately closed in and crossed bayonets over the vents, preventing the officer of the artillery from approaching the battery. This was reported to me by Major Mill, commanding the artillery. I then went to the guns, and explained to my men that the bugle sound was a false alarm, and ordered them to return to their respective posts, and leave only one sentry over each gun. I then returned to the lines of the 22nd, with a view to dismissing that regiment, I found
Oudh
