Government Records Punjab --Mutiny Records Reports Part 1

· 1911 · Text public domain; the scan hosted non-commercially, with credit · archive.org ↗

1Acknowledg-

2ments to As-

3sistants.

4The lessons

5taught by the

6Mutiny.

7Military re-

8forins,

922 MUTINY REPORTS. { Car.

1081. Of the Assistants, Mr. W. C. Plowden especially

11distinguished himself for courage and zeal. He was con-

12stantly exposed wherever danger threatened. Mr. Levien and

13Lieutenant Parsons had also perilous duties to discharge in the

14turbulent district of Thanesur. Lieutenant Nicols proved of

15great assistance to his superior Mr. Ricketts; and Mr. Elliott

16of the Civil Service, Mr. Thornton and Captain Mercer are

17entitled to special notice.

1832. It may not be amiss before closing this report to

19note down the lessons which these mutinies have impressed

20upon my mind ; most if not all of them have been generally

21recognised. Although experience and knowledge of the coun-

22try are now frequently depreciated, because they are too often

23enlisted on the side of the traditions and policy of the past,

24yet clear and practical views seen by the light of a long

25residence in this country should help our rulers in the arduous

26task of reconstructing the government. On military matters

27I am less qualified to speak. But all must see that our future

28dominion in the country and our personal safety can only be

29maintained by British troops. I think the proportion of

30Europeans in the standing army of India should at least be

31equal to the number of natives. The Native regular army

32should consist of various races; and the Sikhs, Goorkhas,

33Hindoostanees and others should be kept in separate bat-

34talions, so as to preserve their nationality. I think there is

35danger, if they are mingled together, of a general combina-

36tion. I would disband and re-enlist under new conditions of

37general service such portions of the late Bengal Army as are

38really worthy of this mark of confidence. Under another and

39more healthy system the Bengal sepoy would make a good

40soldier, and cannot with justice be entirely excluded from the

41military service of the Empire. The battalions of the regular

42army should be massed in large and well-selected cantonments,

43The forts, arsenals and the bulk of the public treasure should

44be under the exclusive charge of Europeans, and the seats of

45Government, supreme and local, should be well protected.

46The humiliating spectacle of the Agra Government, beleagured