Proceedings of a Special Court of Inquiry concerning the Native Infantry, 6 February 1857
PROCEEDINGS of a Special Court of Inquiry assembled at Barrackpore on Friday, the 6th of February 1857, at 11 A.M., at the Mess of the 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, by order of Brigadier C. GRANT, C.B., Commanding at Barrackpore, for the purpose of investigating such matter as may be laid before it by the Officiating Brigade-Major.
PRESIDENT:
Brevet-Colonel S. G. WHELER, 34th Regiment, Native Infantry.
MEMBERS:
Major H.W. MATTHEWS, 43rd Regiment, Native Infantry,
Captain G.N. GREENE, 7Oth Regiment, Native Infantry.
INTERPRETER:
Lieutenant A.F. CORBETT, 43rd Regiment, Native Infantry.
The Court met at the time appointed by station orders.
Letter No. 29, dated 5th February 1857, from the Officiating Brigade-Major, addressed to the President of the Court, is read and appended to the Proceedings, marked “A.”
Letter No. 89, dated 4th February 1857, from Captain N. C. Boswell, Commanding the Left Wing, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, addressed to the Major of Brigade, is read and appended to the Proceedings, marked “B.”
Demi-official note from the Brigadier Commanding at Barrackpore, of no date, addressed to the President, Court of Inquiry, is read and appended to the Proceedings and marked “C.”
Captain N. C. Boswell, Commanding the Left Wing, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, is desired to call in his evidence.
1st Witness.
Byjonath Pandy, sepoy, 5th Company, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, appears in Court, and having had explained to him the provisions of para. 7, section 22 of the Military Regulations, voluntarily states as follows:--
Question--Were you on parade on the evening of the 4th instant, when the new cartridges, &c., were shown to the men of the regiment?
Answer---I was.
Question--Did you make any objection to the materials of which those cartridges were composed ?
Answer---I felt some suspicion in regard to the paper, if it might not affect my caste.
Question--What reason have you to suppose that there is anything in the paper which would injure your caste?
Answer---Because it is a new description of paper with which the cartridges are made up, and which I have not seen before.
Question--Have you ever seen or heard from any one that the paper is composed of anything which is objectionable to your caste?
Answer---I heard a report that there was some fat in the paper; it was a bazar [sic] report.
Question--Are these the cartridges and paper which you examined on the parade?--(the paper and cartridges being shown to the witness)
Answer---Yes.
Question--The Court from a careful examination of the papers of which the cartridges are made up are unable to detect anything beyond the appearance of ordinary paper. Examine the paper again carefully in the light, and endeavour to explain to the Court what you see objectionable in it.
Answer---My suspicion of the paper proceeds from its being stiff and like cloth in the mode of tearing it; it seems to us different from the old paper in use amongst us.
The witness withdraws.
2nd Witness.
Chand Khan, sepoy, 7th Company, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, appears in Court, and having had explained to him the provisions of para. 7, section 22 of the Military Regulations, voluntarily states as follows:--
Question--Do you object to the paper of which the new cartridges are made, now lying before the Court; and if so, on what grounds?
Answer---I have no objection to the bullet or powder, it is only the paper which I have doubts about, which appears to be tough; and in burning it, it smells as if there was grease in it.
Question--Were you present when a piece of the paper was burnt, and when?
Answer---On the evening of the 4th instant a piece of the cartridge paper was dipped in water and afterwards burnt; when burning it made a fizzing noise and smelt as if there was grease in it.
Question--Who were present when this burning of the paper took place?
Answer---Two or three were present; I do not recollect what their names are.
A piece of the cartridge paper is burnt in Court by the witness.
Question--Are you still of opinion that there is any smell of grease in it?
Answer---No, there is not.
Question--Have you now any objection to use these cartridges with paper of that description?
Answer---I object to this paper being used, as every one is dissatisfied with it on account of its being glazed, shining like waxcloth.
The witness withdraws.
3rd Witness.
Subadar Khoda Buksh, 9th Company, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, is called into Court, and the provisions of para. 7, section 22 of the Military Regulations, explained to him--
Question--Do you object to anything in the new cartridge which lies before the Court?
Answer---I have no objection to the cartridge myself, but I know there is a general report in the cantonment that the paper is made up with fat.
Question--Do you know where the report comes from?
Answer---I do not know.
Question--Examine the paper now shown to you, and see if you can detect any grease in it, or anything objectionable in it.
Answer---There is nothing that I can see objectionable in it.
Question--If you carried a musket, would you then have any objection to load the musket with the cartridge?
Answer---I would use it if there was no grease in it. The witness withdraws. -
4th Witness.
Jemadar Buddun Singh, 6th Company, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, called into Court, and the provisions of para. 7, section 22 of the Military Regulations, explained to him--
Question--Have you any objection to the new cartridge which lies before the Court?
Answer---Nothing; except the paper, which I have some suspicion about, as I have never seen anything of the kind before, and the general report is that there is grease in it. The witness withdraws.
5th Witness.
Jemadar Gunness Singh, 1Oth Company, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, being called into Court, and the provisions of para. 7, section 22 of the Military Regulations, explained to him--
Question--Have you any objection, to the cartridge which lies on the table?
Answer---I have no objection to the cartridge myself, but there is a report amongst the men that there is grease in it.
Question--How did this report get abroad?
Answer---I do not know.
Question--What, in your opinion, would be the best plan to undeceive the minds of the men on this point?
Answer---I know no other way than to substitute other paper in its place.
The witness withdraws.
6th Witness.
Jemadar Golaub Khan, 2nd Company, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, is called into Court, and the provisions of para. 7, section 22 of the Military Regulations, explained to him--
Question--Have you any objection to the use of the cartridges now lying before you?
Answer---I have objection to the paper, as there is a report got about that there is grease in it.
Question--Can you prove yourself that there is grease in it, or have you taken any measures to do so?
Answer---There is grease in it I feel assured, as it differs from the paper which has heretofore been always used for cartridges.
The Witness withdraws.
7th Witness.
Jemadar Ram Sing, 9th Company, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, is called into Court, and the provisions of para. 7, section 22 of the Military Regulations, explained to him
Question--Have you any objection to the use of the cartridges now lying before you?
Answer---A report got about, which I think came from the magazine khalasis in Calcutta, that there was some grease in the paper; on this account I have some suspicions about it.
Question--How can this suspicion be removed from your mind?
Answer---I cannot remove it.
The witness withdraws.
8th Witness.
Jemadar Wuzeer Khan, 7th Company, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, called into Court, and the provisions of section 22, para. 7 of the Military Regulations, explained to him-
Question--Have you any objection to the use of the cartridges lying upon the table?
Answer---I have no objection to it; it appears to be new.
Question--Would you have any objection to use it in the way the old cartridges are used?
Answer---I should have some objection in consequence of the suspicion which exists generally in the cantonment.
The witness withdraws.
9th Witness.
Havildar-Major Ajoodiah Singh, 8th Company, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, called into Court, and the provisions of section 22, para. 7 of the Military Regulations, explained to him--
Question--Have you any objection to the use of the cartridges lying on the table?
Answer---I have suspicions about the paper on account of the bazar report that there is grease in it.
Question--Have you taken any measures to prove whether this report is true?
Answer---I have tried it in oil and also in water, and where it was wet with the oil it would not dissolve; after this trial I thought there was no grease in it.
Question--By the experiment, in your opinion, there was no grease in the paper; would you object to bite off the end of the cartridge?
Answer---I could not do it, as the other men would object to it.
The witness withdraws.
10th Witness.
Havildar Bheekun Khan, 10th Company, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, called into Court, and the provisions of section 22, para. 7 of the Military Regulations, explained to him--
Question--Have you any objection to the use of the cartridges lying on the table?
Answer---I suspect that there is cow and pig grease in them from a bazar [sic] report.
Question--If you had any doubt, why did you not ascertain the point from your officer?
Answer---I could not report it to the officer, it being merely a bazar [sic] report.
Question--When the paper and cartridge were shown you upon parade, had you any reason to suppose that there was any grease mixed with the paper?
Answer---I have heard that it smells of grease when it is burnt.
The witness withdraws.
The Court closes its proceedings and adjourns sine die.
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, 7-12.