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EXPLANATORY NOTE.

THE following pages contain a direct and simple account of the Indian Mutiny, down to the Taking of Delhi, as set forth in extracts from Colonel Keith Young's diaries, in letters from and to friends both in India and in England, in official letters and telegrams, but principally in a series of daily letters written to his wife. The first mention of the rumour of a mutinous spirit shown by the Native soldiers is given in an extract from the diary dated the 24th of February 1857, with which the first chapter begins.

Colonel Keith Young's letters to his wife, which commence on the 25th of May, follow each other, without specially distinctive headings, in almost daily succession till the end of the volume. Most of the other letters and telegrams are placed under the dates when they were written; some, for reasons which explain themselves, appear under the dates when received. Colonel H. B. Henderson's letters from London are placed together at the end of each month.

With the exception of some of the official letters and telegrams, none of the correspondence has ever before been published.

At the end of the book is a Condensed Diary of the principal events of the Siege; also a Glossary, an Index to Regiments and Corps, and a General Index. These, it is hoped, will enhance the value of the book for purposes of reference.

The present volume is confined to the year 1857, and contains the Siege, Assault and Capture of Delhi. Should it be decided to publish more of Colonel Keith Young's Diaries and Letters, Volume II. will give an account of the Siege of Lucknow and the general progress and final suppression of the Mutiny during 1858-59.

M. K. I.

UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA

DELHI-1857.

EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE AND
DIARY OF COLONEL KEITH YOUNG.

CHAPTER I.

OUTBREAK OF THE MUTINY.

(Diary) Umballa, 24th February 1857.-At home all day, except a walk to Chester's * to speak to him about the Barrackpore † disturbances. Sepoys there dissatisfied with the glazed paper used for the Enfield rifle cartridges, saying that there's pig's or cow's fat in it.

Simla, Ellerslie, 18th March.-The case of the 19th Native regiment to report upon this afternoon.

22nd March.-Write warrant for General Hearsay.§

General ANSON, Commander-in-Chief, to Colonel KEITH YOUNG,
Judge-Advocate General.

UMBALLA, 22nd March.

MY DEAR COLONEL,-I think I cannot well demur to delegate my authority to Major-General Hearsay: Article 73 gives me the

* Colonel Chester, Adjutant-General of the Bengal Army.

The 34th Native Infantry and the 19th Native Infantry were disbanded at Barrackpore on account of their mutinous conduct in connection with greased cartridges. See notes on pp. 2, 5, and 6.

The 19th Native Infantry mutinied at Berhampore; they were marched to Barrackpore, and there disbanded by General Hearsay.

§ General commanding Presidency division. This warrant gave General Hearsay powers to deal at once with the mutinous Sepoys without referring to Head-Quarters.

2

THE GREASED CARTRIDGES.

power. I have not yet seen the warrant; when I have, I may perhaps find it necessary to ask you to come up to me.-Yours truly, GEORGE ANSON.

(Diary) 23rd March.-More papers about the 19th mutiny affair. Had Mitchell * possessed the confidence of his men, or had he acted judiciously in the first instance, there would have been no row. I am clear for letting the corps, if repentant, volunteer for Persia; but both the Chief and Chester say 'no.'

General ANSON to Colonel KEITH YOUNG.

UMBALLA, 23rd March.

MY DEAR COLONEL,-The warrant to Major-General Hearsay has been forwarded to him to-day. The Governor-General had informed me of the attempt of the 2nd Grenadiers to seduce the Mint guard into the Fort,† but not of the delinquencies of the 70th, which have occurred since he wrote. There has been such an uneasy feeling in the depot here that I thought it right, after I had inspected it this morning, to address the Native officers and detachments on parade. It is a difficult and delicate subject to handle, but I trust that the course I have taken will produce some good. I am not surprised at the objection of the Sepoys, after seeing the quantity of grease (literally fat) which is upon the cartridges; they have not yet been used by the Sepoys, as they were to be made up at Meerut. In the meantime, I have given orders that firing should not be commenced by the Sepoys until I have ascertained whether there is any objectionable material used in the manufacture of the new paper for cartridges.-Yours truly, GEORGE ANSON.

* Colonel Mitchell, of the 19th Native Infantry.

On the evening of the 10th March two Sepoys of the 2nd Grenadiers (Native Infantry), forming the Native detachment at the Calcutta Fort, appeared at the guard-house at the Mint and tried to persuade the Soubahdar of the guard-furnished by the 34th Native Infantry-to march his men into the Fort, where they were to be joined by the Calcutta Militia. The Soubahdar arrested them, and they were tried and sentenced to imprisonment for fourteen years.

LETTER TO LONDON.

3

Colonel KEITH YOUNG to Colonel H. B. HENDERSON,* London.

SIMLA, 24th March.

What think you of the mutinous proceedings of the Native regiments at Berhampore and Barrackpore? It is enough to make people open their eyes a little, and shows how frail is the tenure we have upon the-'affection,' I was going to say, but this word is quite misplaced, and I will substitute for it the 'fidelity' of our Native Army. So far as we know yet, the whole business has been caused by an idea that got into the men's heads that pig's and cow's fat was used in the preparation of the cartridges for the Enfield rifles, and I believe that there was some foundation for the report-hog's lard being the proper thing, I fancy, to use. Of course this was put to rights; but their suspicions once roused, the men took to examining the paper with which the cartridges are made up, and they found that some of the paper was highly glazed and would not take up water readily when soaked in it. This was enough-there must be fat of some kind in the paper, and it was found impossible to disabuse the minds of the men of this strange notion; and hence the disaffection, which it remains to be seen how Government will dispose of. I imagine it will terminate in the disbandment, at any rate, of the 19th; but if I had my way I would let them go to Persia or China, if they would come forward repentantly and volunteer.

The Commander-in-Chief is expected here on the 1st April, and by that time all the Staff will be congregated at Simla.

(Diary) 28th March.-At work all the morning at that mutiny case of the two men of the 2nd Native Infantry that came in this morning. Finish it, and get it off for the Chief by posttime.

31st March.-Letter from the Chief to say he will be in tomorrow to see me at noon.

1st April.-Getting papers ready for the Chief. Note from Curzon to say he (the Chief) will see me at half-past twelve.

* Late of the 9th Native Infantry-for some time Acting Auditor-General at Calcutta. He was the originator and organiser of the 'Mutiny Relief Fund.'

4

GENERAL ANSON ARRIVES AT SIMLA.

Go accordingly, and settle off the mutineers of the 2nd Native Infantry, and several other cases. The Chief is looking very

well.

General ANSON to Colonel KEITH YOUNG.

SIMLA, 7th April.

MY DEAR COLONEL,-I have received an account of the proceedings at Barrackpore, and of the outrage committed by the Sepoys, though not in such detail. It's a bad state of things, but it is well that we should know it and thus be able to deal with it properly. I hope the trial will not be moved to Calcutta: it should be on the spot; and with the European force there present there would be no risk. However, this will be decided by the Government, who, I have no doubt, will act with firmness.— Yours truly, GEORGE ANSON.

(Diary) 8th April.-His Excellency spoke to me of the order disbanding the 19th-does not approve. Too diffuse, in my opinion. He says he thinks it's Lord Canning's own.

11th April.-The trial of the Jemadar of the 70th came in this morning. Work at it, and get it off to the Chief at about one.

General ANSON to Colonel KEITH YOUNG.

MY DEAR COLONEL,-Many thanks. than the Jemadar's case. I am glad to in the cartridge question is subsiding. truly,

SIMLA, 13th April. Nothing can be worse hear that the excitement I hope it is so.-Yours GEORGE ANSON.

Colonel HAMPTON, commanding the 50th Native Infantry, to

Colonel KEITH YOUNG.

DINAPORE, 14th April.

I am truly glad in being able to tell you, in these days of trouble, that the good and dear old corps is in a perfect state of tranquillity and contentment; indeed, I never knew the men more orderly or more obedient to command. This you may easily

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