No. I.
CAPTAIN RADCLIFFE'S (7th Light Cavalry) NARRATIVE.
On the evening of the 30th May, about 9 o'clock, shots were heard at
Moodkeepore (the cavalry station), in the direction of the infantry
lines in Lucknow. The 7th Cavalry, consisting of about 150 sabres,
immediately were turned out by their officers, and placed in three
troops. On wheeling into line, about 30 men rushed out of the ranks, and
rode furiously towards cantonments: they were not seen again. The corps
advanced towards the race-course, towards the Residency, at a canter,
which place they reached about half-past 9 or a quarter to 10. The
regiment received orders to patrol round the Residency, and in the rear
of Colonel Halford's house, which was done accordingly, and they
afterwards formed up in rear of the lines stationed on the city road.
About 11 o'clock the 7th Cavalry marched down to the Baillie Guard,
patrolled towards Muchee Bhawun, and, finding all safe, returned _viâ_
the stone bridge through Mukka Gunge, warned all on duty at the elephant
sheds to be on the alert, and reached the Residency in cantonments about
2 in the morning. At 3 o'clock the 4th troop arrived from Chinahut,
under the command of Captain T. Boileau. At a quarter after gunfire the
cavalry marched off with the two artillery guns from the Residency, and
took up a position on the right of the line on the 32nd parade ground.
The 7th were directed to move towards Moodkeepore, which place was
reported to have fallen into the hands of the mutineers. The corps
advanced at a canter, and on reaching the plain close to the
race-course, a large body of armed infantry, amounting to some 1000 men,
were seen advancing in skirmishing order towards the cavalry. The report
was, as regarded Moodkeepore, too true, for the Standard Guard was
looted, public and private property destroyed, and the 2nd Squadron
standard was actually seized from the hands of the jemadar in charge,
and dashed to pieces.
Lieutenant Raleigh, who had lately joined the corps, was brutally
murdered at 5 A.M. in front of the first troop lines. This officer was
sick, and unable to join the regiment the night before when ordered out.
The officer commanding ordered his men to form line to the front, which
was done rather sullenly; but on his ordering the line to take ground to
the right, a number of men broke out from the ranks, crying out that
they _would_ charge, as their children, etc., were being murdered; they
rode away towards the mutineers, having been beckoned to come over by a
leader riding a horse and bearing a standard. Some thirty-five or forty
men left their officers. At this time an officer was sent back towards
cantonments to request Sir Henry Lawrence to send up some guns, as the
small body of cavalry that were left alone in front of the insurgents
were in danger of being driven back.
The guns soon afterwards came up, and after a few rounds dispersed the
enemy. The 7th Cavalry, in concert with the Irregulars, followed up the
retreating mutineers, killed one or two, and sent in some ten or twelve
prisoners. The corps returned to Moodkeepore about 10 o'clock, and
marched into cantonments in the evening, and took up a position on the
right of the line. Some 105 men remained with their officers up to the
12th June, on which date, by authority, they were given two months' pay,
and allowed a furlough to their homes till the 15th October. The men
remaining after the mutiny behaved admirably in quarters, and when told
they were to go to their homes obeyed the order, quietly lodging their
arms, and moving quietly homewards. The horses of the corps were marched
down to the Residency at noon of the 12th, and in the evening the
European and native officers, with the standards, repaired to the
Baillie Guard, opposite to which the cavalry horses were ordered to be
picketed.
No. II.