Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/401

SIT 393 my garrison. About three weeks afterwards arrived a native cart escorted by a few villagers containing Mr. Dudran, a clerk, and his family, and several other East Indians, with them arrived Mrs. Dorin, whose bus- band while commanding the 10th regiment, Oudh irregular infantry, at Sitapur, had been butchered before her eyos. She was dressed in native clothes, had been lodging in a native village for inore than a fortnight, and now found a home in our bouse. All this party spoke highly of the kind- ness with which they had been treated ; and, with Sir Henry Lawrence's sanction, I sent to the zamindar who had thus protected them an official document promising hiv high reward. From all these parties we fully learnt the sad particulars of the mutiny at Sitapur. At that station were quartered the 41st regiment of native infantry, the 9th and 10th regiments of Oudh irregular infantry, and the 2nd regiment of military police. Tho toons rose on the 3rd of June. The outbreak had long been feared, and the Commissioner, Mr. Christian, who maintained a bold and manly bearing throughout the anxious time, had collected the civilians and their families at his house, which he proposed to defend by aid of a strong guard of the regiment of military police which he believed to be stauach. He had advised his military friends to send their ladies to him also for safety, but fortunately this had not been done. One lady from cantonmonts alone came, Mrs. Stewart, and she with extraordinary prudence took a good survey of the position. On two sides of Mr. Christian's compound flowed the small river Šarayan, and there was no means of reaching the high road but through the military canton- ments. Considering the position to bo unsafe, she returned to her home, and fortunately was one of the first party of refugecs. On the morning of the 3rd June, à cry was raised in the lines of the 41st regiment that the 10th irregulars were plundering the treasury; and as the men were in a state of excitemeut, the commander, Colonel Birch, who reposed the most entire confidence in his men, called out the two post suspected companies, the light and the rifle, and led them to the treasury. All there was found to be quiet, and the colonel was about to return, when a sepoy of the guard stepped out of the ranks and shot him in the back. Colonel Birch fell from his horse dead; and Lieutenant Smalley and the sergeant-major were then killed. The adjutant, Lieutenant Graves, escaped wounded, through a of bullets. The mutiny soon spread to the irregular regiments. In the 9th regiment the commandant (Captain Gowan, and bis wife, the second in command (Lieutenant Greene), and the Assistant Surgeon (Mr. Hill) were destroyed. Mrs. Greene escaped. In the 10th regiment the commander (Captain Dorin) the second in command (Licute- nant Snell), his wife, and child were murdered. Mrs. Dorin (whose arrival had been mentioned) and the Adjutant Lieutenant Burnes) escaped. Captain John Hearsey, commanding the 2nd regiment military police was protected by some of İnis men, and escaped. At Mr. Christian's bungalow the scene must have been fearful. At the commencement of the outhreak he proceeded outside to put in readiness the guard of military police in whom be confided. The wretches immediately turned and fired on him. Flying back into the house, he alarmed the assembled inmates; and the men, ladies, 50