The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-03 00:00:00

THE INDIAN MUTINY.

THE FUTTEGHUR MUTINY.
The following account of the Futteghur mutiny
was drawn up by one of the survivors. It is dated
Cawnpore, Sept. 13 :
On the 3d of June information was received at
Futteghur, that the troops at Shahjehanpore and
Bareilly had mutinied, and that a body of the mu-
tineers, consisting of an infantry and cavalry corps,
were marching into Futteghur. This caused great
anxiety, as the 10th were known to be mutinously
disposed, for they had given out that as soon as an-
other corps arrived they would rise and murder all
the Europeans, only sparing their own officers.
That night a consultation was held, and it was con-
sidered absolutely necessary to send off the ladies
and children to Cawnpore, and as boats had been
secured it was settled that a start should be made
at once, as it had been before agreed that it was
impossible to hold the fort, and it was at that time
thought that the river was quite open. All was
settled, when several gentlemen said that unless the
magistrate accompanied them they would not leave
the station. He agreed to go ; accordingly the
party started at 1 a. in. on the 4th, and got on very
welt that night. The next morning we were joined
by some of the officers of the 10th, who reported
that the 10th had mutinied, seized the treasure,)
abused the Colonel, and fired on one or two of their
officers, and that there was little chance of any of
those who had remained behind having escaped.''
We accordingly proceedelen our way, and when
opposite the village Kooencarhow were fired upon
by the villagers, but only vao;,of our party was
slightly wounded. The next day vrie had not-gone
far when a report reached us that the Oude
troops were crossing one of the ghats a few
miles below. The boats were anchored till in-
formation could be received from the man at the
ferry ; when he came up ho said it was false, so
a consultation was held to know what was best
to be done, and as the party was very large it
was agreed that it would be safer to divide. Hur-
deobu keh havingoffe red Mr, Probyri protection, with
any of his friends, it was settled to go to his fort.
About 40 Europeans availed themselves of the pro-
teotion offered. The remainder of the party pro-
ceeded to Cawnpore, as no intelligence of the mu-
tiny there had reached us ; and I may here antici-
pate the narrative by stating that the whole of the
party, amounting to about 126 souls, who went
down the river were foully murdered by Nana
Sahib at Cawnpore. Arriving within a few miles
of Dhurrumpore (about 10 miles from Futteghur)
we learnt that the Colonel had induced the 10th to
return to their duty ; that though they had the
treasure in their possession, all was going on much
as usual. Accordingly Mr. Pro byn and two officers
rode into Yurteghur to ascertain the state of
affairs. After remaining two days Mr. Probyn re-
turned to Dhurrumpore, where he and his family,
with Mr. W. Edwards, collector of Badman even-
tually remained und:r the protection of leredo-
buksh.

After remaining a few days, and being convinced
that the Gurhee of Dhurrumporo was not in a posi-
tion which could afford any effectual protection
against any armed force, it was determined to re-
turn to the station on the 13th of June, and we
commenced sleeping at the fort and returning tc
our duties. Each morning preparations were made
to secure boats and have them ready for flight, in
case the regiment again mutinied.
Early on the morning of the 18th of June we were
suddenly roused by one of the officers (Lieutenant
Swettenham), who informed us that the regiment
was in open mutiny, the Sepoys having broken the
gaol and released tee prisoners. This event took
us by surprise, for a couple of days previously the
10th had handed to their c smmanding officer, Col.
Smith, a letter written by the Subslidar of the 41st,
who bad come from Seetapore, via Shahjehanpore,
and were there a few miles distant across the liver,
requesting the 10th to murder all their officers as
they had done theirs, seise the treasure and join
them. The Subilidar informed the Colonel that
they had said in reply that they had
served the Company 13 thadoor too many years
to turn traitors, and that they were detsr-
mined to abide faithful to their salt, and advised
the 41st not to come in their way, as they
would certainly oppose them. The eepoys had also
assisted their officers in breaking up the bridge of
boats and sinking all ether bats at different ghats
to prevent in every way possible the mutineers
crossteg to the Futteghur side. All this, however,
was merely a blind, for no sooner did the 41st cross
and enter the city walls than a company of the 10th
and the artillerymen, with two guns, stationed on
the parade guarding the treasure, marched to the
Nawab, placed him on the guddee, laid the colours
at his feet, and fired a salute of 21 guns. From all
accousin the Nawab declined to accept of their
colours, but said if they brought him tie treasure he
saluted ' however, were not to be done
eclours, and shared the money
would have no objection to receive them into his
e
out of their money, so they returned to the parade
grrovuiened.,The
among themselves. Up to this time a few had re-
method with us as a guard in the fort ; these now
s ''eP
their
departed quietly ; one or two returned now sad
again to fetch away their lotas and other articles
they had left in the fort. The regiment then di-
vided into two parties. The Purbees crossed over at
once to Oude, with intention to make for their
homes, accompanied by Capt. Bignell—we after-
wards learnt that this body had been plundered by
the villagers and Crpt. Bignell killed ; others went
off by twos and threes to their homes, and those
who remained were killed by the 41st because they
were not allowed a share in the public money.
Thus this regiment was completely disorganised and
destroyed.
It was now suggested by some to take to the
boats, but the river was much too low, so that idea
was abandoned, and it was resolved to hold the fort.
Out of 100 Europeans, iucluding women and chil-
dren, there were but 33 able-bodied men, and
these proved our sole available force for defence.
We then endeavoured to prepare against any attack.
A 6-pounder loaded with grape was mounted over
the gateway, and about 300 muskets, stored in the
fort, were brought out, loaded, and placed ready for
immediate use. While Mr. Thornhill was loading
his it accidentally went off and wounded him
severely in the hand and arm, incapacitating him
from further duty.
The godowns were next searched for ammunition
for the guns and muskets, but only a few muster
round shot and shells were found, together with
six boxes of ball cartridge and an equal quantity of
blank. The latter we broke up and used for the
guns, and a lot of nuts, screws, hammer heads,
he., were collected to serve as grape and round.
We were then mustered and divided into three
parties, each under the orders of a military officer,
and the whole under the command of Col. Smith,
of the 10th.
Our first day passed very quietly, but we heard
that the 41st were encamped on Lackparah, a large
tope about a mile to the west of the fort, and were
making preparations to attack us. At nightfall
pickets were posted at each bastion, but the night
Passed without any attack. In the morning we
mounted a 3-pounder, and by the evening a 9-poun-
der was brought into position. Provisions were
also stored, and we busied ourselves in strengthen-
ing our position as much as possible, and by the
time the 41st attacked us we had seven guns
mounted, viz., 3-pounder, 6-pounder, 2-pounder,
12-pounder, 18-pounder, and a 24-pounder, the
last three being howitzers, and a small brass
mortar.
On the evening of the 26th or 27th of June a
party of our coolies, who were employed in pulling
down some walls close to the fort, wore fired on by
the enemy. An alarm was immediately sounded,
which brought every man to his post ; few shots
were exchaugul, but nothing particular occurred.
Next morning before daybreak the mutineers
us With
opened upon their two guns,but
dark for them to aim with any certainty, so after a
few rounds they stopped and recommenced firing
at daylight. The Sepoys took up their positions
behind trees, bushes, and anything which afforded
them cover, and kept up a heavy musketry fire, and
gave us little or no chance for a shot at them.
Their fire, heavy though it was, did us no harm ;
they maintained it kill little past noon, when most
of them began to retire, and by the evening only
some random shots were heard now and again.
Next morning the guns began to play again, but
from a different direction, still doing no harm, as
the shots either passed over or hit the bastions.
The discharge of musketry was heavier this morn-
ing than on the preceding. Several ladders were
seen being borne towards the fort, but the bearers
were shot down by us as soon as they came within

range.
played on ill this manner, and several ineffectual
attempts were made to escalade. On the fifth day
guns and muskets
- of the riflemen had taken up their positions
com-
pany
on the tops of houses in the ifoosainpore village,
a dFeecridefdo ucri
decrease
et the
fie enemy's
Mr. Sutherland, and one or two of the
as observed ; a com-
and kept up a deadly fire upon us. Captain Phil-
isaervin°arneis were thus wounded. Some of the riflemen
had 1140 taken up tile 4 013itiga in, a meal out.