From Lieutenant-Colonel W. St. L. Mitchell to Major A. H. Ross about his troop's refusal to accept the Enfield cartridges, 27 February 1857

Demi-official from Lieutenant-Colonel W. St. L. Mitchell, Commanding the 19th Regiment Native Infantry, to Major A.H. Ross, Assistant Adjutant-General, Barrackpore, --dated Berhampore, 27th February 1857.

        On the 25th a detachment of European invalids, under the command of Lieutenant Ferris, Her Majesty's 29th Regiment, arrived at this station, bringing with them a guard of one havildar, one naick, and twelve sepoys of the 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, which was relieved the same day by a guard of the same strength from my regiment. The havildar's party of the 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, are encamped on the left of our lines, about a hundred yards. Yesterday I ordered a parade for this morning for exercise, each man to be served with fifteen rounds of blank ammunition. It is the custom in this regiment to serve out the copper caps to the men in the afternoon and the blank cartridges in the morning; the men refused the caps, saying there was a doubt how the cartridges were prepared; this information was given to me by my adjutant between seven and eight o'clock. I went down with him to the lines, and called up all the native commissioned officers in front of the quarter-guard and explained to them that the cartridges about to be served out in the morning were cartridges made up by the 7th Regiment, Native Infantry, upwards of a year ago and that they had better tell the men of their companies, that those who refused to obey the orders of their officers were liable to the severest punishment. The dative officers said they would speak to the men of their companies, and they had no doubt everything would pass off quietly: I ordered a general parade in the morning of all the troops m the station. Between ten and eleven o'clock at night, as I was about to sleep, I heard the sound of drums and a shout from the direction of the lines. I dressed immediately, went over to my adjutant's quarters, and directed him to assemble all the officers at my quarters quietly. I then went to Captain Alexander and directed him to bring his cavalry as soon as possible into cantonments, and to be ready at some distance on the right of our lines. I then went to the artillery lines and got the detachment of artillery, guns, and ammunition, ready for immediate action. I must explain that by the time I got to the adjutant's quarters the drill havildar of the regiment was making his way to the adjutant's quarters. I asked what the disturbance was in the lines; he said the regiment had broken open the bells-of-arms and had forcibly taken possession of their arms and ammunition, and that they had loaded their muskets. As soon as I got the cavalry and artillery ready, I marched down with the officers of the regiment to the lines. I found the men in undress formed in line and shouting. Some voices among them called out-- “Do not come on, the men will fire.”

        I loaded the two guns with grape, dismounted some of the troopers, and marched down on the men (leaving the guns within range behind). I called a bugler, sounded the officers' call, on which the native officers and a number of men surrounded us, and I asked them the meaning of all this disturbance. The native officers made all kinds of excuses, begging that I would not be violent with the men. I then addressed the men and asked them what they had to complain of. I told them that I had explained to the native officers some days ago that if grease was required to be used for the new cartridges I would apply to the Major-General Commanding the Division to allow the pay-havildars of companies to make up what was required for their companies; the men said they were never told so by the native officers.

        I told the officers they must immediately call upon their men to lay down their arms; the native officers told me the men would not do so in the presence of the guns and cavalry, but if I would withdraw them they would go off quietly to their lines. This was about three o'clock in the morning. I ordered a parade at sunrise, and retired, sending the cavalry to their lines and the guns to the magazine. This morning at sunrise I went to parade; the regiment turned out as usual. I inspected the arms and examined the pouches; several of the men had not their ten rounds of ammunition in pouch, some had nine rounds and a bullet with the mark of the screw in it, as if a charge had been drawn. The parade this morning was quiet and orderly; after inspection I had the Articles of War read to the men; saluted the colours; and dismissed the parade. I have ordered an European Court of Inquiry to assemble at the messhouse at eleven o'clock, the proceedings of which I will forward without any delay to you. It is 9 A.M. I have just returned from parade. All is quiet. I must close, as the dak is going out.

P.S.--I will detain the guard of the 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, until I hear from you. On second thoughts I countermanded the general parade, and had only the parade of my own regiment.

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, 41-43.