Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/495

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OUR ANGLO-INDIAN ARMY.
471

a strong chain of sentries and patrols. In this state of affairs Sir Edward Paget arrived. Two native regiments, besides the 47th, were stationed at Barrackpore, preparatory to their proceeding on service; but both of them were infected in some degree with the mutinous spirit which had taken entire possession of the regiment last mentioned. It was necessary, therefore, to seek the means of overawing the mutineers elsewhere; and his Majesty's Royals and 47th regiments, with a battery of light artillery and the Governor-General's body-guard, promptly arrived from Calcutta.

The force intended to act against the mutineers having taken position, the Commander-in-Chief deputed the Quartermaster-General and the Adjutant-General, accompanied by Captain Macan, of the 16th Lancers, as interpreter, and by the commanding officer of the regiment in rebellion, to give on his part an answer to a paper which had been forwarded by the malcontents, as well as to explain to them their situation, and the consequence that must result from their adhering to the course which they had adopted. Their fate, they were informed, would depend on their obedience to the command which they were about to receive from the Adjutant-General.

The word to order arms being given, was instantly obeyed. The next order was to ground arms; with this only one man complied, while the silence which had hitherto been maintained was now broken by loud and continued murmurings. These were silenced by a few discharges of grapeshot from a battery in their rear, when the rebel troops speedily broke, and fled in every direction, throwing away their arms and accoutrements, and, whenever practicable, divesting themselves of the military dress altogether.

A few of the mutineers were killed by this painfully necessary proceeding; and the fugitives being hotly pursued, many were taken prisoners. These were forthwith brought to trial before a court-martial. A considerable number were found guilty, and sentenced to death; but a