Mss Eur F699/1/1/3/2

Letters from Commander in Chief General George Anson, numbered 1-47 with index. There are detailed summaries to letters 31-46, entitled 'General Anson's letters relative to the Mutinies 15 March -23 May 1857', and these letters may have previously been kept separately.

1. Letter from General Anson, Alipore, 24 Apr 1856.

2. Letter from General Anson, Alipore, 3 Jun 1856.

3. Letter from General Anson, Alipore, 7 Jun 1856.

4. Letter from General Anson, undated [1856].

5. Letter from General Anson, Alipore, 4 Aug 1856.

6. Letter from General Anson, Alipore, 11 Aug 1856.

7. Letter from General Anson, Alipore, 17 Aug 1856.

8. Letter from General Anson, 20 Aug 1856.

9. Letter from General Anson, 22 Aug 1856.

10. Letter from General Anson, 24 Aug 1856.

11. Letter from General Anson, 27 Aug 1856.

12. Letter from General Anson, 1 Sep 1856.

13. Letter from General Anson, On the river off Moorshedabad [Murshidabad], 30 Sep 1856.

14. Letter from General Anson, Off Monghyr, 10 Oct 1856.

15. Letter from General Anson, Off Patna, 19 Oct 1856.

16. Letter from General Anson, Mirzapore, 8 Nov 1856.

17. Letter from General Anson, Lucknow, 21 Nov 1856.

18. Letter from General Anson, Lucknow, 24 Nov 1856.

19. Letter from General Anson, Meerut, 4 Dec 1856.

20. Letter from General Anson, Camp Fureedabad, 19 Dec 1856.

21. Letter from General Anson, Headquarters Camp, 21 Dec 1856.

22. Letter from General Anson, Lucknow, 26 Nov 1856.

23. Letter from General Anson, Bhurtpore, 31 Dec 1856.

24. Letter from General Anson, undated.

25. Letter from General Anson, Bhurtpore, 1 Jan 1857.

26. Letter from General Anson, Futteepore Seekree [Fatehpur Sikri], 3 Jan 1857.

27. Letter from General Anson, Agra, 7 Jan 1857.

28. Letter from General Anson, Camp Shahjehanpore [Shahjahanpur], 8 Feb 1857.

29. Letter from General Anson, Headquarters Camp, 20 Feb 1857.

30. Letter from General Anson, Roorkee, 8 Mar 1857.

31. Letter from General Anson, Headquarters Camp, 15 Mar 1857. Refers to instructions issued for loading and unloading Enfield rifle - change is unobjectionable. Says that if Commanding Officers act judiciously there will be no more heard of the 'scruples of the Sepoys to use the cartridges'. Believes example should be made of the 19th Native Infantry. Would have preferred sending them to Dinapore. Commander in Chief ought to have been informed that Queen's 84th have been sent for from Rangoon. Question of Cavalry Regiments for India. Refers to Parliamentary debates and policy towards Herat. Hopes to be in Simla in April. Will submit his views on studs.

32. Letter from General Anson, Camp, 17 Mar 1857. Feeling of the troops at Barrackpore. Hopes change in loading rifle will reassure sepoys. Refers to 'bad character' of the 2nd, 34th and 19th Regiments and regrets they have been within reach of each other. Believes disbandment of 19th Regiment will require close watching. Colonel Mitchell denies having threatened to enforce the biting of the cartridges.

33. Letter from General Anson, Umballa, 20 Mar 1857.Comments on propriety of the punishment of disbandment due to its severity, and refers to view of Judge Advocate. Believes there is no reason to doubt the loyalty of troops at Umballa.

34. Letter from General Anson, Umballa, 21 Mar 1857. Outlines his reasons for discussing alternatives for disbandment, but the Governor General's decision will meet with his concurrence. Advises that after the punishment of the 19th Regiment there should be a public statement of the desire of Government to abstain from interference in the 'religious persuasions' of the soldiery. Refers to lack of progress at Kussowlie Barracks. Nominates Major Banks. He is sorry that Mr [Coverley] Jackson has incurred disgrace.

35. Letter from General Anson, Umballa, 23 Mar 1857. Encloses copy of address made to sepoys at Umballa, repudiating any intention on the part of the Government to interfere with religion. This is in response to the strong feeling of uneasiness on the cartridge question.

36. Letter from General Anson, Simla, 3 Apr 1857. Asks particulars of the disbandment of the 19th Native Infantry. Recommends that European Regiment be raised in its place.

37. Letter from General Anson, Simla, 7 Apr 1857. Expresses approval of Governor General's punishment of the 19th, and believes his reasoning is very sound. States that 34th Regiment is as deserving of punishment and believes they were the instigators of the 19th. Refers to Court Martial of the Native Officer and men of the Guard. States that General Hearsey has done well. Believes there should be one translation of the General Order, and that General Hearsey should do the translation.

38. Letter from General Anson, Simla, 11 Apr 1857. Refers to enquiry into Colonel Mitchell's conduct. He will not be sorry if the 34th are deserving of disbandment as it will give the opportunity for the formation of another European Regiment. He urges this addition to the European force, but if not possible, then he recommends Gurkhas. Has not heard more from the Depot at Umballa with regard to cartridges. Troops may be available from India for China now Persia settled. Promises a speedy answer to the question of number of Officers. No Officer should be withdrawn from a Regiment without reference to the Commander in Chief.

39. Letter from General Anson, Simla, 16 Apr 1857. Judge Advocate believes that the Commander in Chief has no authority to send power to General Hearsey to confirm all sentences on the Native Commanding Officers. The issue is being referred to the Law Officers. Urges that European or Gurkha soldiers fill the 19th Native Infantry rather than regular sepoys. Wishes to know more of the Battle of Mohammerah. Recommends Subadar for Order of British India.

40. Letter from General Anson, Simla, 22 Apr 1857. Warrant of authority for confirming a capital sentence has been transmitted to General Hearsey. Hopes the execution will be the most effective lesson. He is astonished that the Friend of India supports Colonel Wheler's 'missionary acts'. Details possible plan if Sikhs are preferred for the 19th Native Infantry. Comments on Lieutenant Brasyer's failings. Refers to the requirement for more European troops in the Company's service. 'Incendiaries' at Umballa have not been found.

41. Letter from General Anson, Simla, 27 Apr 1857. Disaffection and disloyalty of the 34th Regiment, but lack of evidence to bring a case against a particular person. Possibility of drafting detachment at Chittagong. Dismissal of Commanding and Non Commanding Officers if regiment not disbanded and summary discharges if cannot be brought to trial. Believes sepoys are the 'incendiaries' at Umballa although they have not yet been detected. Target practice is going well but believes men are taunted by sepoys of other Regiments. Vernon Smith has asked the Commander in Chiefs opinion on European Troops, which he has given 'over and over again' - there should be another European Regiment in the Company's service for Bengal and one for Madras. Details plans. Costs could be met by reductions in Native Regiments. Thanks for the terms of the Herat Treaty. Some Persian troops might be made available for China. Hopes his memo on Peshawur [Peshawar] is not too long.

42. Letter from General Anson, Simla, 12 May 1857. General Barnard has informed him from Umballa that the 60th and 5th Native Infantry Regiments have seized their arms. Things have quietened now but a court of enquiry is awaited. Has received second despatch from Umballa conveying news of a rising at Delhi. Europeans are 'entirely at the mercy of the populace if the Native troops will not act'. Trusts General Hewitt will have sent Dragoons and Horse Artillery. Sentence on men of 3rd Light Cavalry has been read to men at Meerut. All quiet but prisoners are not happy to be handed over to civil powers. Has no further news from Meerut.

43. Letter from General Anson, Simla, 5 May 1857. Has received communication that Native troops at Meerut are in open mutiny. Is anxious for Delhi, as he believes the bridge destroyed and the inhabitants will have joined the mutineers. Fears the magazine will be in their hands. Hopes General Hewitt has sent assistance, but will be too late to save the magazine. 75th ordered to Delhi via Umballa. Referes to movements of troops. His movements will depend on course of events.

44. Letter from General Anson, Simla, 14 May 1857. Encloses statement regarding the movements of European Troops within reach. refers to news of Delhi. Has had no news of Meerut but states that disturbances there would have been put down immediately. Communications via Dak interrupted by the destruction of the bridge at Delhi. May be necessary to have a good Force and Artillery at Kurnaul. Sir John Lawrence urges despatch of European Troops for the Hills and the Nusseree Battalion, and suggests troops from Meerut should march on Delhi. Will travel to Umballa and decide what is best to be done. General Order has been issued to reassure sepoys regarding cartridges.

45. Letter from General Anson, Umballa, 15 May 1857. Arrived at Umballa, believed loyalty of two Native Regiments doubtful. Has heard Native Infantry at Lahore are disarmed, and has heard Europeans are defending Fort at Ferozepore. Nothing is known of Delhi but believes two Native Infantry Regiments are in their lines, doing nothing. Lack of information to show whether King participated in the insurrection. European troops within reach expected at Umballa on 17th. Has heard nothing from Agra, Cawnpore, Oudh and Meerut. States that sepoys have abandoned idea that the Government intended to forcibly destroy their caste, but believe that they must stand together with their comrades until all are forgiven, save those who have committed murder in Delhi. States that want of European troops now apparent.

46. Letter from General Anson, Umballa, 16 May 1857. Mutineers from Meerut have joined the Delhi Regiments. Force is being organised at Umballa but tents and carriage are not ready, and there is a deficit of ammunition. Refers to encouraging accounts from the Punjab, where the Chief Commissioner has disarmed many Native Regiments. Sir John Lawrence has been telegraphed for his opinion on raising Sikh Regiments. Nusseeree Battalion has refused to march. People at Simla are alarmed. Has not heard from Mr Colvin - 'probably Agra is cut off'.

47. Letter from General Anson, Umballa, 23 May 1857. Has send communication to General Hewitt with instructions for future movements of the Force, copies to Calcutta. regrets delay in move on Delhi, he does not want the small force to be 'frittered away'. All force within reach has been collected. Chief Commissioner of the Punjab urges vigorous measures. Some ill feeling in the ranks of the 70th Regiment. Proclamation has been issued to the 10th Cavalry and some of the 3rd cavalry who behaved well, promising rewards. refers to letter from King of Delhi to Rajah of Puttiala [Patiala]. News from Delhi is that guns have been posted as the gates and on the walls, and that they have large quantities of powder and ammunition. Would like to know whether Governor General thinks the force collected for Delhi is sufficient - namely 'a strong British Force'.