Statement made by Lieutenant A. S. Allen about a proposed sepoy plot, 8 February 1857 

STATEMENT made by Lieutenant A. S. Allen, 34th Regiment Native Infantry, and countersigned by Lieutenant-Colonel S. G. Wheler, Commanding the 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, dated Barrackpore, 8th February 1857.

        On Friday, the 6th instant, about 7 P.M., as I was sitting in the verandah of my bungalow, a sepoy, belonging to the company of which I have charge, came up to where I was, and said he wished to speak to me privately on some family matters; at the same time requesting that I should tell my servant, who was standing close by, to go away, as he did not wish him to hear what he was about to say. I accordingly directed my servant to withdraw, and then enquired of the sepoy what it was that he had to communicate. He began by saying that he had become cognisant of a plot amongst the men of the different regiments, four in number, at this station, that they were apprehensive of being forced to give up their caste and be made Christians; and that consequently they were determined to rise up against their officers, and commence by either plundering or burning down the bungalows at Barrackpore; they next proposed to proceed to Calcutta and attempt to seize Fort William, or, foiling that, to take possession of the Treasury. Delegates from the different regiments were to assemble the same evening, about eight or nine o'clock, at a large tree close to the station magazine, and concert what their future proceedings should be; that an artilleryman had informed them of the approaching arrival of a European regiment from Dinapore, as also that artillery were being brought down to assist in carrying out the measures of Government, and consequently unless immediate action was arranged on the part of the sepoys, it would shortly be too late for their doing anything, and therefore some decided line of conduct must at once be settled. The sepoy, my informant, on my expressing doubts as to the probability of his story, begged that I would go myself to the place of meeting indicated by him, when I could satisfy myself by personal observation of the correctness of his statement. But he entreated me that I would not mention his name to anyone, as if his comrades suspected his being a spy on their conduct he was apprehensive of their using violence towards him, or at all events that he would be tunable to find out anything hereafter with regard to their intentions and proceedings. He further stated that the burning down of the electric telegraph office was part of a concerted plan to prevent the Government receiving speedy information of what was going on. Also, that the men of other regiments were to by informed of what was being done here, and that they were to be called upon to cooperate with their comrades, the affair being one which concerned them all equally. He also said that it was proposed to seize the magazine here, and obtain possession of the arms and ammunition kept there. On hearing all this I directed the sepoy to return to his lines, and if he could hear anything additional on the subject, that he was to come to me again and communicate what more he knew.

        As the information appeared of sufficient importance to be laid before the authorities, I proceeded to the quarters of Colonel Wheler, commanding my regiment, and stated to him what I had heard. Colonel Wheler and myself then went to Brigadier Grant's house, and I repeated the substance of what I knew to him. The Brigadier considered it necessary to lay the matter before the Major-General Commanding the Division, and we accordingly went to Major-General J. B. Hearsey about nine o'clock the same night, and I again told all the above facts. I was then directed to ride round by the place where the meeting of the sepoys was to have taken place, and to observe whether anybody was there. I accordingly did, so, but saw no one in the neighbourhood of the magazine except the sentries, who challenged as usual. On my return from this mission, I met Brigadier Grant near the gate of my own compound, when I told him of the result of my observations, and that I had seen nothing suspicious. When I arrived, at my own house it was about 10 P.M.

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, 17-18.