164 
S AUG OR, C.P.—A STORY OF 1857 . 
store-rooms, verandahs or gun-sheds, which I had been trying to clear 
out for their occupation. Of course, the accommodation was very 
inferior and limited; but as the people had been as it were rescued out 
of the lion's mouth, they good-naturedly made the best of it. 
On Monday morning (29th June) the battery of artillery marched into 
the fort, coming along the Jhansi road [see Plan A.) covered by a small 
escort of the 3rd Irregular Cavalry, in order to avoid passing the 
Native Infantry lines. The Brigadier and his Staff, also every European 
officer of regiments, and the male civil European community came 
into the fort by 9 a.m. 
All the Subadars (Native Infantry Captains) of the 31st and 42nd 
Regiments had been ordered into the fort to meet the Brigadier that 
morning, and arrived about 8 a.m. The Brigadier wished to discover 
if he could possibly arrange with them to have all the bad characters 
in the two regiments seized and made over to him. Aftei* some talking 
the Subadars made certain promises and were then permitted to return 
to their lines. 
When the battery was about to move into the fort, Captain Marshall 
also intended to bring in the station gun, which used to be fired (as 
was the custom) at dawn, noon, and tattoo ; but when too late he dis¬ 
covered that the trail was so much injured that it was impossible to 
move it, so he spiked it and left it behind. The 42nd Regiment Native 
Infantry subsequently possessed themselves of it, and used it on one 
occasion, as will be mentioned later on. 
When I saw that the Brigadier was a bit settled down, on Wednes¬ 
day the 1st July, I formally offered to relinquish into his hands the 
command of the fort, which he had honoured me with, just one week 
previously. He refused my offer, and at the same time told me he 
would put my name in orders as Deputy-Governor of the fort, and to 
my astonishment that same day was published the following order, 
viz.:—“The Brigadier Commanding the District is pleased to appoint 
Lieutenant Nicholl Deputy-Governor of the Fort, receiving his orders 
from the Brigadier only; the Captain of the week, Officers of the day, 
and all guards are placed under the Deputy-Governor, and will receive 
their orders from him and the Brigadier alone." This order naturally 
caused some heartburning among my seniors, for they knew noth¬ 
ing of my having been the prime cause of their lives being saved. 
In their ignorance they simply wondered why a comparatively young 
subaltern, and one not in Regimental employ, should be selected for 
such an important and responsible post. However, there I was, and 
for seven and a-half months I performed the duties in my new position, 
as well as those connected with the Ordnance Department, without any 
additional remuneration. Some of them were decidedly disagreeable, 
including the actual hanging of the Native Postmaster, who had been 
sentenced to death in consequence of tampering with the mails and 
aiding the would-be mutineers ; also, the hanging of a Brahmin Sepoy 
of the 42nd Regiment who had made an attempt on the life of Colonel 
Dalyell, Commanding that Regiment. The further executions were 
carried out by the Provost-Sergeant under my immediate supervision. 
The only previous execution I had ever witnessed was that of the 
