155 
SAUGOR, C.P.-A STORY OF 1857. 
BY 
LIEUT.-GENERAL T. NICHOLL, R.A. 
In the beginning of 1857 certain indications of a feeling of unrest were 
making themselves evident in the Bengal Presidency, followed by acts 
of insubordination and mutiny, notably among the regiments of Native 
Infantry stationed at Berhampore and Barrackpore, and subsequently 
by the outbreak at Meerut, and later on at short intervals at other 
stations. It was about this time, the early part of February 1857, that 
my wife and I, being bound for Saugor, Central India, heard that the 
14th Bengal Irregular Cavalry would shortly be passing through Agra, 
where we were then stationed, en route to Jhansi, and we determined 
to join them for the sake of company. There were two very nice 
fellows with the regiment, Captain Tyrwhitt, Commanding, and a doctor 
whose name has escaped my memory. 
During some of the marches I occasionally noticed acts on the part of 
the sowars (Native cavalry soldiers) of apparent studied rudeness, so 
uncommon generally on the part of Native soldiers towards European 
officers and gentlemen. I mentioned them at the time to my wife, but 
did not wish to create any unpleasantness by making complaints to the 
Commanding Officer of the regiment, especially as the journey from 
Agra to Jhansi would not probably occupy more than a fortnight. 
This regiment, together with a wing of the 12th Regiment Bengal 
Native Infantry stationed at Jhansi, mutinied the latter end of May or 
beginning of June 1857, and it is believed that only one single 
European, an Overseer of the Public Works Department, escaped from 
the station, the remainder, whether man, woman or child, being shame¬ 
fully massacred. We were precious glad to drop the 14th Bengal 
Irregular Cavalry at Jhansi, and proceeded to our destination in com¬ 
pany of the 3rd Bengal Irregular Cavalry, which was bound for Saugor 
in course of relief. This regiment was a much better behaved body of 
men than those of the regiment left behind at Jhansi. It is not 
improbable that the 14th Regiment Bengal Irregular Cavalry had be¬ 
come tainted with sedition and mutiny at Delhi, or some other station 
in the north-west, whence they had come. We arrived at Saugor in 
the beginning of March 1857, and were hospitably entertained by 
Captain and Mrs. W. B. Marshall. He was then commanding the 
Bullock Battery of Artillery, the fighting portion of which consisted of 
the only European soldiers, probably about 90 strong, stationed at 
Saugor, the remaining establishment of the battery being composed of 
bullock drivers and about 27 gun lascars, whose principal duties con- 
4. VOL, XXI, 
