Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/362

338 The offending battalion was ordered to proceed to the presidency, where a court-martial was assembled for the trial of two men whose conduct had been especially reprehensible. They were convicted and sentenced to corporeal punishment; while at Wallajahbad, a native soubahdar, who had been guilty of apparent connivance at the disorderly proceedings which had taken place, was summarily dismissed from the service.

The intimations of disorder now seemed to subside, and subordination appeared to be entirely restored. A general order had been prepared, for the purpose of removing any apprehensions which the native troops might entertain as to future interference with their religious prejudices; but the apparent calm lulled the authorities into a persuasion of security, and it was deemed judicious to suspend the publication of the order; the Commander-in-Chief having received from Vellore, and communicated to the Governor, an assurance of the re-establishment of discipline at that station.

The garrison of Vellore consisted at this period of the following corps: – Both battalions of the 23rd Madras Native Infantry; the first battalion of the 1st Madras Native Infantry; four companies of his Majesty's 69th regiment; besides which, there were some European officers, the commandant, the fort-adjutant, the division paymaster, and the garrison surgeon, with two or three officers on a visit.

The seeming tranquillity into which the Government was lulled, after the late acts of insubordination, was deceitful. The assurance of the re-establishment of discipline at Vellore, conveyed from that station to the Commander-in-Chief, and by him forwarded to the Government, reached the presidency on the 10th of July, and on the same day the smouldering embers of sedition and mutiny burst into a flame. At midnight on the 9th all within the fort of Vellore was still and in repose, except the sentinels and guards. The officer of the main-guard, it is supposed, was in the act of visiting his sentries, at two