Memoirs of Major-General Sir Henry Havelock, K.C.B. (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861 Excerpt: ...in their minds, that it would be both idle and unwise to attempt to remove it. The spirit of mistrust and disaffection had, in fact, reached that point at which every effort to correct it by explanation would only tend to confirm it, with the additional mischief of being regarded as an index of pusillanimity. On the 10th of February, the Sepoys at Barrackpore held a meeting on the parade ground at night, to concert a general rising, when they proposed to murder all the Europeans, plunder the station, and proceed where they liked. General Hearsay again addressed the Supreme Government in Calcutta in urgent terms, and affirmed that they had been dwelling at Barrackpore on a mine ready for explosion. He pointed out the extreme danger arising from the presence of four or five disaffected native regiments so close to the metropolis, and quoted Sir Charles Metcalf's memorable remark, that we should wake some morning and find India lost to the Crown of England. At length, on the 19th of February, the mutiny burst forth at Berhampore. The 19th Begiment broke out into open Mutiny or the revolt, seized their muskets, and rushed with loud port '"'" shouts on the parade ground. Colonel Mitchell, who commanded the regiment, had not a single European in the cantonment; but, with the aid of two guns, and a hundred and sixty irregular horse, who, from the circumstance of their enlistment and organisation, were, in the early stages of the mutiny, better affected towards Government than the line, managed to smother the flame without bloodshed. Government determined to make a signal example of the mutineers, and to crush this insubordinate spirit in the bud. Her Majesty's 84th Foot was ordered up from Rangoon, and on its arrival in Calcutta, the 19th was 1857. LENI...