The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-08-08
THE GREAT MUTINY OF THE SEPoHIs EXTRACTS
FROM ANGLo-NDIAN JOURNALS.
Flom the EnrII.hlnan ol June 5.

Nearly three weeks have elapsed since our last des-
patch during which time the British Indian authority has
been passing through the dangerous crisis to which
Il has subjected since the days of Give During the
hundred yeas which have elapsed since the battle OF
Pay it has grown from province to an empire, and,
though only gained 10y hard and almost ncessant night
ing our rulers have evidently been ulled into the belief
that what was by the sword might be maintained by
red tape They shut their eyes and their TO all
that was passing around them those who have disturbed
their quiet by unpleasant tdngs have received eproof in
stead of thanks and after open mutny had broken out in
the army efectual taken for its sup
preston. The men who were detected in consprng to
take Fort William and those who stood by while their
officer cut down at Barackpore, allowed TO
cape upon technical fornaty instead of being then
and there executed Almost 10 the last moment the
eminent has publicly proclaimed its belief that large
portion of the Bengal army consists of loyal and faithful
soldiers when IL s notorious that many OF those who
have mutned have been kept TO their duty by fear
alone and if they still render an unwilling obedience
are not deserving of the slightest confidence.
1t Is too either to speculate the future or to
inquire the of this very general revolt II is
certainly not of Hndoo origin, but WILL we believe be
traced to the Mahommedan families who have thought
this favorable opportunity to regain their authority
The cartridge affair for them lucky accident as 1t
reused the anaticism of the Hindoo soldery previously
disconnected and complaining.
shortly point out the state of the regular part of
the Bengal army, far is known at present. The
18th regiment, having mutnied at Berhampore, were
marched to Barrackpore and dsbanded This follow
ed by dsbanding the companies OF the Saith sta
toned at that place Next the It'll cavalry munied at
eerut and joined by the llth and goth native in
fantry who marching to Delhi, united with the 3sth
54th and 74th The wing OF the 9Th, whose loyalty was
boosted seized the treasury at Ayghur and turned out
their officers This, though small station was import
ant it nterceps the line of communication with Nee
rut and the hill stations
The 4sth have mutnied at Lucknow and we are not
certain that they have not been joined by part at least
of the other regiments there The 45th at Feozepore
have certainly mutned and been put down like those at
Lucknow by the determination of the officer in command
&. tIafa, nf he
ALL at Peshawur have been disarmed by Brigader Reed
They consist of the 2lst 24th 2th 5lst and Gath eg
ments but have yet particulars Here is list Of
some fourteen fifteen regiments which are either In
omen revolt or extinct as troops Can the rest be de-
pended uponY We deliberately answer in spite OF their
professions, NO
From the IIndoo Patriot May 81.
How slight is the hold the British government has 40
aured upon the affections of its Indian subjects has been
made painfully evident by the events of the last few
weeks The native mercenares who constitute the chief
portion of the physical strength of the government have
for some time been in mutiny open or concealed IL
is no longer mutiny but rebellion Perhaps 1t VIII
be said that all mutnies when they attain to certain
measure of success rise the dignity of rebellion
But the recent mutines of the Bengal army have one
peculiar featurethey have from the beginning drawn
the sympathy of the country The sepoys who, in ac
cepting service under the British government, neither
reinorshed the rights of citizenship abnegated
tona feelings have been led to believe their national re-
gion in danger. They have rebelled against the au-
tiOrity which they have sworn TO OBEY, ana
sworn men are deemed by their countrymen justified in
sacrificing q minor obligation to paramount one They
have hazared all their most valuable interests and their
countrymen view them as martyrs to holy cause and
great national The mutneers have been Joined
and aided by the civil population they have fastened
towards the ancient capital of the country where resides
the remnant of the former dynasty to which turned
in times of political commotion the eyes OF all Indian le
gitimists.
There is not single native of India who does not feel
the full weight of the grievances imposed upon him by
the very existence of the British rule in Indagrevances
inseparable from subsection to foreign rule There is
not one among the educated classes who does not feel his
prospects circumscbed and his ambition restricted by
the supremacy of that power. At the present moment
the conviction Is neradicaby strong in the mind of every
the small circle in Bengal of those who have
been indocnated into the mysteries of European civ
zation--that the British government is actuated by
fixed purpose of destroying the religion of the native
races and of converting them into Christianity.
From the Friend Of India Of May 81.
TIRE cRIsrs-Ihe mail which left Calcutta Tuesday
last may be expected reach England the centenary
of the battle of Passy, and countymen will not
fail to moalize the circumstance. The tdings carried
by the Alma will prepare them to expect that the king
dom which won in day has been lost for time
by turn of events almost rapid and that in 1857 we
may have again to conquer Bengal with but English
men for our army and for Give master of short
whist But they will take comfort in the thought SO
consong to certain class Of prodga that India has
been royalty spent and that all have had share in dis
spating the rich inheritance The peoples House of
Commons have scarcely ever bestowed thought Hin
dostan cabinets whether wing tory, have sent out
men to rule over u.s. Just faction family interest
dained. The favorito of the army has seldom had a
chance against the favoe of the court and hence it is
that at the close of century have to begin new
career in the East, without money and without friends
backed only by strong right hand and indomitable
hearts Be it so The work viii be done though the
task heavy the laborers asking only for competent
AT this moment we are literally without native army
in Reno There ia not n
be relied upon Of the few that take the pains to make
show of loyalty Every place Of strength is guarded
against the men who the livery of Britain and have
hitherto ght our battles. Rumor had it, though
roneous hat the had felt 1t necessary
to take precautions against personal capture, and the
merchants Of Calcutta propose the formation Of volun
tee force for the protection of the capital But for the
of the two European corps that perform the dou
Bile duty Of soldiers and policemen there is not the most
remote doubt that Fort William would now be in the
hands of utineers and Lord Canning either prisoner
fugitive Meantime Delhi is held by six thousand rebels
who obtain daily accessops of strength and said to
have proclaimed king Their career Of crime has been
without check, and it, may be feared, they should
melt away before the avenging force get at them, the
example will have most demoralzing effect. In that
case It will be shown that murder Is safe mutny
and that wealth well license may be enjoyed by the
present of Sir Charles Napier But hope that
they have rather chosen to play at the game Of king
making and aim at the expulsion of their former
tiers from the soil of India for it will be better 10 employ
the sword than the gbbeto destroy them in the breach
or the bazaar rather than the aaun by sentence of
courts martial But if they shrink from the doom of
quarter government have but to pursue,