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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JUNE, 1926
THE MUTINY AT INDORE. (Some Unpublished Records.)
BY E. G, RAWLINSON, M.A. The following selections from the Indore Records, hitherto unpublished, throw considerable light upon an obsoure episode in the Mutiny of 1857, viz., the rising at Indore. They were made by Professor W. Paul, of Robertson College, Jubbulpore, who deserves the thanks of students of Indian History for bringing to light these important papers.
In the hot weather of 1857, there were stationed at Mhow the 23rd Regiment of Native Infantry, a wing of the 1st Native Cavalry, and a battery of European Artillery under Captain Hungerford. The Commandant of the Station was Colonel Platt of the 23rd N.I.
Mhow is a Cantonment thirteen miles from Indore. At Indore, the Agent to the Governor General was Colonel Henry Marion Durand, a distinguished soldier, who, as a subaltern, had taken part in blowing in the gates of Ghazni. The young Maharaja, aged 21, had been carefully educated under Sir Robert Hamilton, and was thoroughly English in his outlook. At Mhow, an acute difference of opinion had arisen between Colonel Platt, who had implicit confidence in his sepoys, and Captain Hungerford, who wished to evacuate the station and withdraw the women, children and civilians to the Fort. Suddenly, on July 1st, Colonel Platt received a note from Colonel Durand, "Send the European battery as sharp as you can. We are attacked by Holkar." But Hungerford had scarcely set out, when another note arrived, to say that Durand and the other Europeans had left Indore for Sehore. Hungerford returned to Mhow only just in time. Colonel Platt and his brother-officers paid for their confidence with their lives. The sepoys rose and butchered them. Hungerford saved the situation. He dispersed the rebels with grape-shot, and held Mhow until he was relieved. Subsequently a sharp difference of opinion arose between Colonel Durand and Captain Hungerford. History has completely exonerated the latter, and there is no doubt that Colonel Durand acted precipitately in evacuating Indore. The young Maharaja was entirely loyal to the British Raj, but for some time he was unable to cope with the rising tide of rebellion. But we must allow the papers to speak for themselves.
A.
No. 422. The Brigade Major, Saugor. Mhow, Fortified Square, 2nd July 1857.
Sir,
I have the honour to report, for the information of the Brigadier Commanding at Saugor :
1. That yesterday morning, at 11 o'clock, Colonel Platt, commanding the station. called at my house with a note from Colonel Durand, Aoting Resident at Indore, in which Colonel Durand requested that my battery might be sent over to Indore instantly, as he was attacked by Holkar.
2. I accordingly marched from Mhow at about half-past 11. My battery trotted to Rhow, half way to Indore, when a Sowar rode up to me with a note from Colonel Travers, oommanding Bhopal Contingent, stating that he was retreating on Simrole, on the road to Mundlaysir. The Sowar stated that Colonel Travers was accompanied by Colonel Durand and by all the Europeans who had been resident at Indore.
3. To reach Simrole there was nothing but a 'cutoha' narrow road, out up with ruts, along which my battery, in the blown state of the horses, oould not have travelled a mile. I therefore determined on returning to Mhow, more especially as from ciroumstances which bave lately oocurred here, I had strong suspicions that the native troops would mutiny as soon as Holkar's oondnot bad become known.
