From Brevet-Major J. Bontein to Major A. H. Ross of his sepoys' unwillingness to bite the Enfield cartridges, 2 March 1857

From Brevet-Major J. Bontein, Commanding Depot of Musketry, to Major A. H. Ross, Assistant Adjutant-General, Presidency Division, Barrackpore,--dated Dum-Dum, 2nd March 1857.

        I am sorry that it should be my duty to report, for the information of Major-General Hearsey, Commanding the Division, an unwillingness on the part of some of the sepoys (Hindus belonging to Dum-Dum School of Musketry) to bite the cartridge according to established regulation for loading the rifle musket.

        2. This unwillingness has not manifested itself in any decided form, for the course of instruction has not yet arrived at that period when the cartridge is brought into practice; however, as the feeling of objection has been expressed in my presence, I feel it my duty bring the circumstance to notice.

        3. During the past week the European and native officers belonging to this depot have been learning the process of cartridge-making, which forms a portion of the course of instruction at the Hythe School of Musketry. The native officers performed this duty with perfect readiness; accordingly I ordered No. 2 section, composed of sepoys belong to the 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, and 7th Regiment Native Infantry, to attend the lecture room for similar instruction.

        A sepoy of the name of Petum Singh of the 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, stated his objections to the process. I immediately called upon him in the presence of the other men to explain his reason; he was quiet and respectful in his manner. He said that individually had no objection; but that on rejoining, the men of his regiment would consider that he had forfeited caste if he put the cartridge to his mouth. I replied that he had not then been required to bite the cartridge. I gave him the option to obey my orders and take his place among the other men at cartridge-making, or I should not allow him to join his section at instruction, and should punish him for disobedience. My order was of course immediately attended to, and thus to the extent of cartridge-making no difficulty exists.

        4. This sudden and very unexpected participation in a feeling which I had heard existed elsewhere has induced me to make further enquiry, and in venturing to offer the following suggestion, I trust that I may not be suspected of inclining to favor a groundless caprice or yielding in the smallest degree to an unwarrantable spirit of opposition on the part of the Native soldier. Amongst the men of the depot there never has been the least tendency to insubordination; my orders have on every occasion been implicitly obeyed, and even in the instance now brought to the notice of the Major-General there was not a symptom of disrespect nor unsoldierlike remonstrance.

        5. The question with which I now venture to trouble Major-General J. B. Hearsey, and further to solicit a reference to His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, is whether the existing regulation for loading the firelock or rifle musket may not, with increase of' efficiency and advantage to the service, be slightly modified.

        6. Permit me to quote the regulation as it now stands--The firelock being at the word “Prepare to load” placed on the ground six inches in front of the body, and held at the full extent of the left arm, the recruit receives the order “Load,” upon which the regulation says-- “1st--Bring the cartridge to the mouth, holding it between the fore-finger and thumb with the ball in the hand, and bite off the top; elbow close to the body,”

        7. The above regulation is at present in force; but I would submit that the practice of biting the cartridge is a mere remnant of the platoon exercise introduced in the days of the flint and steel firelock, when the musket being brought to the right side with the left hand, for the purpose of priming, it was almost impossible to use the cartridge without the aid of the teeth. However, as the system was of long standing, and no objection could be pointed out to the materials employed, beyond an absurd dislike to the new quality of cartridge-paper, I very naturally enquired why they should not adhere to the old established practice. If I may trust the statement of the native officers belonging to this depot, it would appear that, notwithstanding the existence of the rule, it has been always more or less evaded throughout the service. The form of biting the cartridge has been duly observed, but the practice has been to tear it immediately afterwards with the left hand.

        8. The truth of this statement will doubtless be disputed by most commandants and adjutants of regiments. I give the information as it has reached me; and with every deference to my superiors in rank, I would respectfully observe that it is quite as probable as it is practicable.

        9. Having thus entered upon the present state of feeling with regard to biting the cartridge, and having ventured to point out the peculiar character of the existing regulation, I beg permission to bring to the notice of Major-General J. B. Hearsey a plan whereby all difficulty may be accommodated, and the same end attained in a manner more military and (under certain physical difficulties) more effectual.

        10. I would suggest that at the third motion of the order “Prepare to load,” the left hand, instead of holding the musket at the full extent of the arm, should, after placing it on the ground in front of the body slip up and seize the rifle at the brass band or tip to the stock. It will then be in a position to meet the right hand, which conveys cartridge from the pouch, to tear off the cartridge paper in place using the teeth, and (at the fourth motion of the word “load,” when the right hand seizes the head of the ramrod) to return to the centre part of the stock ready to throw up the firelock into the capping position at the sixth command of the platoon exercise.

        11. The above suggestion I offer with every deference to judgment of superior experience. I do not in the least intend to consult the caprice of the native soldier. My motive is an increase of efficiency, and I venture to believe that if Major-General J. B. Hearsey will be pleased to forward my letter with his recommendation to His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, the plan proposed will be found to contain all that is desirable in the process of loading either the Enfield rifle or common firelock.

        12. In conclusion, to return to the state of feeling upon this question at the Dum-Dum School of Musketry, I beg that I may favoured with such instructions as the Major-General may deem best suited to the occasion.

        13. I do not anticipate any positive refusal to bite the cartridge the first instance; but I am prepared to find that the Hindu sepoys will as above described go through the form only, adopting at the same time their old practice.

        14. I can either tacitly overlook this pending the decision authority, or I am prepared to obey the orders of the Major-General and enforce the due observance of the regulation. In the latter case I may possibly have prisoners for disobedience of orders.

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, 36-38.