The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-01 00:00:00

THE MUTINIES IN LYDIA.

THE Al uTINT IN THE 27TH BOMBAY NATIVE

INFANTRY.

The mutiny of a portionof the 27th Regiment Bombay
N.I. bas been effectually suppressed. The measures
adopted by the authorities were prompt in the extreme,
and the timely arrival of Europeans at the Presidency,
enabled them to crush, in the very bud, a conspiracy
whose ramifications might have extended far and wide.
We are glad to learn that the mutiny was not of any
general or organised character, but altogether the result
of local irritation, The mutineers only amounted to
about 200 men, and were principally Mahrattas and
Pardassees—the former of whom had been engaged in
the Waree rebellion of 1844. The mutiny broke out on
the evening of the 31st July. A great uproar and con-
tinued firing in the lines of the 27th were the first inti-
mations which the officers received of anything being
wrong. The native adjutant warned Major Rolland to
take care of himself, or the consequences might be fatal,
and the same officer's moth,sr proceeded at once to Mrs.
Rolland, and managed to get' her away. The poor old
lady, however, paid for her honest devotion with her
life, as the savages at once slew her when they found the
bungalow empty. God bless he., say we !—attachment
like hers almost Inclines us to mercy. It is to be hoped
that Government will reward her gallant son, and if any
honour can be paid to his dead mother, we trust that
the State will take care that it is done, as 4e proved
herself to be indeed one in a thousand. Peace be with
her ashes The emeute commenced about ten o'clock
in the evening, and the mutineers proceeded in parties
to the respective houses of their officers. The native
adjutant and two havildars had, however, anticipated
them, and the intended victims escaped. On reaching
Major Rolland's bungalow they fired two volleys into it,
at the same time making use of the most shocking lan-
guage. Upon learning what was going forward Capt.
M'Culloch hastened down to the lines, and managed to
gather round him about 50 men. They would, however,
neither fire nor obey his orders in any way, so he was
compelled to beat a retreat. In the meantime Lieu-
tenant Stubbs and Ensigns Lanes and Broughton had
run towards the quarter guard and the othar guards,
calling upon the men to follow them ; but the
endeavour was vain. The mutineers by threats
of instant death made numbers join them. They then
plundered the tumbril of 45,000 rupees and the stores
of several thousand rounds of cartridges. While all this
was going on the Kolapore Infantry and a small party
of the Southern Mahratta Horse came up and surrounded
the mess-house. Some 50 of the 27th, still faithful, were
there also, with the whole of the officers of the regiment.
Trey had not been there any length of time before a
sentry took the alarm, or purposely discharged his piece,
and every one followed his example. Tne 27th ran like
cowards into the mess-honse, out of which they refused
to stir.- Nothing then remained but to retire on Bowrah,
a place distant about half a mile. The 50 men of the
27th occupied the school-house as a picquet, lighted a
fire, round which they coolly seated themselves, while
Major Rolland and Captain M'Culloch performed sentry-
go—a duty which their own men declined ! Next
morning 120 of the Kolapore Infantry and a party
of the Irregulars went to dislodge 159 of the mu-
tineers from a position they held in the city. On arrival
it was found to be impracticable without guns. The
position was surrounded by high strong loop-holed walls,
and without scaling ladders nothing could be attempted.
After returning same shots our force retired without
accident, save a slight graze which Colonel Maughan
received from a fall.
Late in the day a new character appeared on the
scene. The whole of the European community had
retired to the residency, the compound of which was
strongly guarded by the Kolapore Infantry. Tiley were
all anxious and praying for succour, and they ha I not
long to wait for it. Covered with skirmishers, they soon
saw a smell body of men riding to their relies'. A 3 they
a lvanced arer they described the lea,'er to be Lieut.
Kerr, of the Southern Mahratta Horse; aid he hat 50
sabres at his back. His welcome was a warm one.
His face, radiant with daring, inspired every breast with
Confidence, and as they glanced at his swarthy troopers,
reeking with their recent ride, they felt that if their
gallant leader were only permitted, his horse's hoofs would
soon be red with rebel blood. The march of Lieutenant
Kerr was wonderful. A 9 soon as the mutiny broke out
at Kolapore, a telegraphic message was sent off to Colonel
Malcolm at Sattara. When it was received, Lieutenant
Kerr was at the engineer stores, in the European guard,
putting irons upon a man who had enlisted in the horse
with a vie v of corrupting the allegiance of the troopers.
While so engaged, the colonel's orderly galloped up,
as I gave him a note stating that he required him at his
house, and that be was to prepare to march at once with
fifty sabres upon Kolapore. In a very short time Lieu-
tenant Kerr and his men were in their saddles. When
they started they were loudly and heartily cheered by
the men of the 31 European Regiment, who wished
them God-speed. The rivers Kbonia- yearns, Punch-
gun a, and nultas were brim-full ; the roads fetlock
deep ; even the elements seemed to conspire against
the lit-ls party ; yet without a sick horse or man, and
all comparatively speaking fresh, Lieutentant Kerr did
the whole distance, 76 miles, in 24 hours, and entered
Kolaporain the manner we have described. The celerity
of this march requires, no comment at our hands, it
speaks for itself, and we can only hope that government
will not look over a service which turned the tide of
-victory against the mutineers.
On the morning of the 31 Align- t, two hours before
daybreak, the mutineers left the Ghaurn and took the
road to Farala, where they remained until the 6r.h inst.
They then descended into the Konkan by a citric %elk,
near the Ghauts. Three officers, Ensign Stubbs, of the
9th N. T., attaohed to the 27th, Lieutenant Norris, and
Ensign Heathfield, of the 27th Regiment, had unfor-
tunately, in the dark, taken the same direction. They
were last seen alive at Farala without shoe'. After
leaving that place they seem to have taken refuge in a
roadside temple which the mutineers were passing, when
an old woman pointed it out, and informed them there
were three Kaffirs inside. Upon hearing this the place
was instantly surrounded ; Ensigns Stubbs and Heath-
field were shot down at once ; Lieutenant Norris made
a dash to escape, but his body was instantaneously
riddled with balls. The mutineers then marched on,
and the villagers, fearing that bleme might be attached
to them, threw the corpses of the murdered officers into
the river. Lieutenant Norris was quite a young man,
and Ensigns Stubbs and Heathfield mere boys.
Lieut. Kerr offered to attack the rebels before they
left Farala, but Col. Maughan would not permit him.
It is the general belief that had he been allowed to
have done so, he would have ridden them down, and
sabred them to a man.

The Mahratta Horse were also endeavoured to be
tampered with, but the traitor was discovered, tried,
and sbot forthwith. The Rajah of Kolapore and all
the native chiefs in the neighbourhood have evinced the
best of feeling throughout. It is a pity that more
promptitude was not displayed by Cal. Maughan. Had
he attacked the rebels with the forces at his disposal, he
might easily have overcome them. The risk, however,
was great; as, in the event of a reverse, the conse-
quences would have been fearful. He had not only his
troops to protect, but a number of helpless women and
children, and such a responsibility renders even the
bravest irresolute. Up to the 9th inst. but little seems
to have been done beyond strengthening our position.
On the evening of that day, 26 of the mutineers re-
turned to Kolapore and shut themselves up in an en-
closure close by a tank in front of what formerly was
the quarter guard of the native regiment in the old
camp. This position they managed to strengthen, and
there they were attaceed. After nine hour' k ird fight-
ing the place was carried at the point of the bayonet.
Lieut. Kerr first received information of the arrival of
these men when he was out on picket d sty. He in-
stantly went up and surrounded the place with his irre-
gular horsemen. He then left Dr. Broughton in charge,
and galloped off to camp to give the news to Major
Rolland. This officer went to the lines for volunteers.
All volunteered, but only 100 were taken. Copt. Kerr
led the storming party and did his duty nobly. He has
been thanked in orders for his " devoted bravery" on the
occasion. Two mea were killed in this attack, and some
few 'wounded. Capt. Kerr got a smash over the shoul-
der from the butt of a musket, but had ample vengeance
b'l shooting his email tut dead and running another
man through with his sword. The storming party
first burst in a small door of the enclosure three feet wide,
and then jumped in amougst the mutineers, shooting
and bayonetting all they met. They then burst in an-
other door of the inner keep, and } filled all they en-
countered.
Ithee remainder of the mutineers have been since
elenteered and destroyed, some in the Konkan and others
is tee districts. Many have been blown away from guns,
and such a terrible example has been made as is likely to
keep the Southern Mahratta county qeiet for years to
come. Colonel Le Grand Jacob is at Kolapore, and has
assumed the chief command of the field force. The gar-
risoa has also been reinforced by two companies of the
2d European Light Infantry, two 12-pounder howitzers,
Mountain train, and the 4th Troop of Horse Artillery.
,All danger may therefore be said to have passed away.
The 27th Regiment was disarmed on the 18th, and all
went off quietly. Indeed it could not be otherwise.
The guns were loaded with canister and laid. Tile
161-autry also were loaded. Colonel Jacob, who speaks
l'ev-ttet in Hindostani, addressed the 27th Regiment on
the' "abject of the late disgraceful proceedings. He then
ailed Lieut. Kerr and two of his brave so ware to the
front, complimented them on their di tlnguiehed con-
duct hi the attack in the enclosure, and explained their
Teens, deede to the Eur who r" t
instantly evince !their ap-
,
proval with three hearty
cheers.
There were seven re arrttis
tril t on the 18th. Two
hundred will Cl, in all. Ti 0 conrtsmnartial are at work
—one native d the other European.
ety muti-
neers were to die on the evening of the IT9 h. Those
Cenci rat din the murders of the officers are to .beh said the r. mainder disposed of between guns and nine.
kt.ry. Respecting the latter kind of ptinishniet vet
'teen from the 27th Regiment are to form a strong firing
-
parer. The Southern *Mahratta 'force have earned a
reputation for valour and fidelity which some may equal
but none surpass. WLhout a murmur they have been on
dug night and day since the 31st in awful rain and under
emu° vele The lives of the European society and interests
of the State were in their keeping. and nobly have they
done their duty. Naib Ru.seldar Sheik Sharnoodeen has
letten recommeede I far proinotion to Resa der with tee
Order of British India," ax I a gallant little Mahratta
Suw%e already mentioned wee) saved Captain Kerr's lice
in the et.ack at the inclosure, is also recommended to be
Promoted to the rank of Kett, Duffedar with the " Order
of Meet."
T. ere Was also a detachment of 250 men of the 27th
Regt. N.I. at Rutnagherry. It was deemed expedient
to disarm them, and accordingly arrangements were
made in Bombay for that purpose. me disarming took
place on the 12th inst.
Ttfe detachment of the 27th yielded up their arms
Iv.thout a murmur, and were quietly marched back to
their lines'. Meijer Stuart of the 86th with the majority
of his troops then left for tioa en route to Dharwar,