From Major-General J. B. Hearsey to Colonel R. J. H. Birch concerning the examination of Sepoy Ramsahai Lalla, 11 February 1857
From major-General J. B. Hearsey, C. B., Comanding the Presidency Division, to Colonel R. J. H. Birch, C.B., Secretary to the Government of India, in the Military Department, --dated 11th February 1857.
I have this moment received the enclosed statement of Sepoy Ramsahai Lalla, 8th Company, 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, from Brigadier Grant. It gives but little more information than his first statement, which no doubt has been laid before Government.
I have every reason to believe all is now quiet, but I must try and get such evidence as will convict the leaders of this intended outbreak, if I possibly can.
EXAMINATION of Sepoy RAMSAHAI LALLA, 8th Company, 34th regiment, native Infantry.
Question--Are you aware that a meeting of the sepoys of the different regiments at this station was held on Thursday the 5th, instant?
Answer---Yes, there was, but I only heard of the assembly next day, and cannot state with certainty what took place there. I only know that a second meeting was arranged for the following night, Friday, at which I heard that the sepoys intended taking an oath and arranging what their future proceedings were to be. I understood the delegates or representatives from each of the four regiments at Barrackpore were to attend on this occasion. This is all I know on the subject of the first meeting, but I considered it my duty to go to the officer in charge of my company, and whom I know well, having been in the habit of writing for him for several years, and whom I believe to have confidence in me. I waited till evening on Friday before I gave the information, as I was anxious to be quite certain that this second meeting was to take place, and having ascertained that it actually was to be at the time appointed, I then proceeded to the quarters of Lieutenant Allen, the officer in question and imparted the information to him, at the same time begging that if he doubted me, he would go himself to the appointed place, between eight and nine o'clock, when he would be sure to perceive some assembly or meeting going on. I returned to the lines of my regiment, and shortly afterwards, at eight o'clock, roll-call was field as usual, when all were present, but on their names having been answered, and between eight and nine o'clock, the men began to proceed to the place of assembly. This I saw with my own eyes, and forthwith returned to Lieutenant Allen's quarters, to tell of it, and suggest his proceeding to the place indicated at once. Lieutenant Allen was not in his house, but returned in a short time, when I mentioned those circumstances to him, and I then went back again to the lines. Shortly afterwards the roll was called, when all were found present in their lines. I am convinced that the reason of there being no assembly that night was owing to a suspicion having gone abroad amongst the men of the different regiments that their intentions had been discovered, and that consequently it would be both unadvisable and dangerous for them to meet together that night. But if Lieutenant Allen had been able to go to the parade ground, near the magazine, about nine o'clock, he must have seen some sepoys about the place, either going or returning. I do not think that the calling of the roll about 10 P.M. had any effect in preventing their assembly, as their intention was abandoned for that night on their becoming aware that news of the affair had got abroad and come to the knowledge of the authorities. The various orderlies or sepoys of the different guards about cantonments is could easily have sent information to the different lines that something was going on connected with their intended proceedings.
The foregoing statement has been written down by me from the sepoy's own mouth, and on being read over to him, he declares that it was what he meant to state, and that it was not in his power to give any more information on the subject of these meetings, nor could he mention the names of any of those concerned; at least if he did, he would not reveal them, saying, and truly, that though he had his suspicions, it would be impossible for him to bring direct proof, as all concerned would combine together against him, and a single man's evidence would be worthless in such a case. I have no doubt of the correctness generally of this sepoy's revelations, as I have always found him a respectable and well-behaved man, and one whose word may be relied on, as far as my knowledge of him goes.
Barrackpore, (Sd.) A.S. Allen, Lieut., The 11th February 1857. 34th Regt. Native Infantry.
From: Selections from the Letters Despatches and other State Papers preserved in the Military Department of the Government of India, 1857-58. Edited by George W. Forrest. Calcutta: Military Department Press 1893, 22-24.