[Footnote 2:  European officers.]

[Footnote 3:  Each Hindustani regiment had a European sergeant-major and quartermaster-sergeant.]

[Footnote 4:  Rule.]

[Footnote 5:  British Government.]

[Footnote 6:  Now Lieutenant-General Sir Hugh Gough, V.C., G.C.B.]

[Footnote 7:  Tumult.]

* * * * *

CHAPTER VIII 1857

General Anson—­The news reaches Simla—­Anson loses no time —­A long list of troubles—­John Lawrence—­The Phulkian family —­Death of General Anson

While the events I have recounted were taking place, the Commander-in-Chief and the Head-Quarters staff were on their way up country inspecting the troops at the various stations en route to Simla, at which place it had been arranged that the summer of 1857 was to be spent.  The Commander-in-Chief in India at that time was General the Hon. George Anson, an officer of forty-three years’ service, but without much Indian experience, having been only four years in the country.  He was an able, intelligent man, an excellent judge of character, a great authority on whist and on horses, and he was well known in London society, which was somewhat surprised when he accepted an appointment in India—­the command of the Meerut division.  He did not, however, remain long in that position, for he was soon given the command of the Madras Army, and a year and a half later became Commander-in-Chief in India.  General Anson was present at Waterloo as an Ensign, but had seen no service afterwards, and until he arrived in India had held no high appointment.

When the Commander-in-Chief left Calcutta the previous autumn, all was apparently quiet in the Native army.  He visited the principal military stations, amongst others Meerut and Delhi, and although reports of an uneasy feeling amongst the Native troops in the Presidency division had reached him from time to time, it was not until he arrived at Umballa, about the middle of March, that these reports were confirmed by personal communication with the sepoys attending the School of Musketry which had been formed at that station.

On the occasion of the Commander-in-Chief’s inspection of the School, he learnt from the men of the various regiments under instruction how strongly opposed they were to using a cartridge which they believed to be injurious to their caste.  Anson listened attentively to all the sepoys had to say, and then explained to them in a manly, sensible speech, that the old cartridge was not suited to the rifle about to be introduced.  A new cartridge had, therefore, to be made; but they must not listen to any foolish rumour as to its being designed to destroy their caste.  He assured them, ’on the honour of a soldier like themselves,’ that it had never been, and never could be, the policy of the British Government to coerce the religious feeling of either the military