1 Proposal to disarm
2 the native corps at
3 Mian ALfr.
4 Parade of troops at
5 Mian Mir,
6 The sepoys are dis-
7 armed,
8 The salutary effect
9 of the Misn Mir
10 manure,
11 Mutiny at Ferozepur,
12 Disarming of the
13 native troops at Feroze-
14 pur.
15 Dam ge done to
16 private and public
17 property.
18 The pursuit of the
19 fugitive mutineers.
20 Measures adopted at
21 Amritsar and Piullour.
22 Proceedings at
23 Peshawar,
24 Rising of disarmed
25 soldiers at Jalandar,
26 Native Infantry at
27 Mardan,
28 Outbreak at Ludiana.
29 The Multan troops
30 disbanded. .
31 Sri Satguru J agjit Sing
32 578 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
33 that Brigadier Corbett, commanding the military cantonment at Midn Mir,
34 should be moved to disarm the native corps stationed there. The proposal
35 was unanimously adopted, and the Judicial Commissioner, accompanied by
36 Colonel Macpherson, proceeded to Midn Mir and suggested the scheme
37 to Brigadier Corbett, who accorded it his unqualified approval. The dis-
38 arming of the sepoy regiments at Midn Mir, an act of great wisdom and
39 decision, was preceded, as was the Battle of Waterloo, by a ball. The shadow of
40 events had in no way been allowed to cast its gloom over society. On the
41 evening of the 12th a ball and supper was given, while preparations were
42 made in silence for the morning parade. The regiments to be disarmed had
43 been famous for their achievements in the field, dating from Mysore and
44 Seringapatam to Ferozshahr and Gujrdit. At daybreak on the 18th, the
45 troops were all paraded at Midn Mir. The native regiments to be disbanded
46 were four in number, comprising 3,500 men, while there were but three
47 hundred British soldiers, with thirteen guns, to perform the task. By a
48 clever manceuvre these forces were brought face to face, the guns and
49 muskets of the British being all loaded, unobserved by the sepoys. This
50 manoeuvre complete, the sepoys were ‘ordered to pile arms. Nothing was
51 left to them now but to obey. In an instant the danger of mutiny was
52 averted, and the native soldiery were marched off without their arms.
53 Nothing could have been effected in a more orderly or soldierlike manner.
54 This simple morning manceuvre was the turning point in the destiny of
55 the Panjéb, and, indeed, of India itself It was subsequently discovered that
56 on that very morning the native regiments were to have seized the fort and
57 magazine of Léhore. That this was part of a concerted plot, was almost
58 certain ; for, six hours after the regiments at Midn Mir had been disarmed,
59 their comrades at Ferozepur broke into mutiny. The arsenal at Ferozepur
60 contained vast military stores. An attempt was made to take it by the 45th
61 Native Infantry, but it was defeated by Brigadier Jones, who occupied it with
62 a, British force consisting of H. M.’s 91st Foot and 300 European artillery. The
63 45th were successfully disarmed and turned out of the cantonment, but not
64 before they had done considerable mischief to both public and private build-
65 ings by setting them on fire. The greater portion of the 54th then laid
66 down their arms. The pursuit of the fugitive mutineers was carried out by
67 the 10th Light Cavalry under Major Marsden, Deputy Commissioner. Num-
68 bers were brought in prisoners, and several were subsequently seized in
69 Patidlé territory, but many escaped and joined the rebels at Delhi.
70 Amritsar, the Sikh Benares, was forthwith made safe. The great fort of
71 Govindgarh had been abundantly stored. Timely succours were sent from
72 Jalandar to Phillour on the Sutlej, where there was another great maga-
73 zine. Peshdwar was in the hands of men who knew what they were about,—
74 Major Edwardes, Brigadier Cotton and Colonel Nicholson. All mutiny there,
75 whether by armed or disarmed regiments, was put down with lightning speed
76 and effect. There was a rising of disarmed soldiers at Jalandar, who, after
77 much confusion and plunder, marched to Delhi, being joined at Phillour by the
78 rebel 3rd Native Infantry. On the 2nd of May, the 55th Native Infantry
79 rose at Marddn and fled to independent territory, but the insurgents were
80 betrayed by the hillmen of the border, or hunted down in pursuit by Major
81 Edwardes’ police. Numbers were brought afterwards into British territory,
82 and shot or blown from the guns, The outbreak at Ludhidnd was suppressed
83 by the prompt measures adopted by Mr. Rickets, Deputy Commissioner, of
84 the Civil Service. Ata general parade of troops held at Multdn by Major
85 Crawford Chamberlain, he commanded the 62nd and 69th Regiments of
86 Native Infantry, suspected of contemplating an_outbreak, to surr era
87 Hfielibrary améhanelbrary@ oman conte