gate, where I mounted, passed slowly in front of the main guard,
who were supposed to be concerned in the intended mutiny, and I
proceeded gently through the town, stopping occasionally, and conversing
with several people I met. I t seems that one of the most
forward in the mutiny (Berwick, who has since been hanged) passed
close to me. I did not observe him, but he was seen from a window,
after I had- proceeded a few yards beyond him, to turn round, and, in
the most contemptuous manner, by his looks and the motions of his
clenched fist and arm, fully to express his desperate intentions.
This information did not reach me until after he was hanged.
About five o’clock in the evening I arrived at Plantation House. I
sent for Mr. Ford, the head overseer, to inquire regarding the characters
and dispositions of the Artillery and Infantry stationed there as a
working party. He assured me they were all good men, and that I
might depend on them. Lieutenant David Pritchard, whom I had
selected to take charge of this guard, soon after arrived. I desired
him to inspect their arms, and to get the men immediately accoutred.
I had previously ordered supplies of musket and rifle ammunition to
be sent, which arrived before sunset.
“ The men of the guard, consisting of thirty-two, were then
ordered into Plantation House, and, as Captain Benjamin Hodson
had been instructed to give a general alarm upon the first appearance
of commotion (which would soon bring the volunteers to my post), I
was certain, therefore, of being reinforced long before the mutineers
could reach me; and, under these circumstances, I had no doubt as
to the issue, being firmly determined not to yield a single point, nor
to suffer my person to fall into their hands.
“ According to information I have since received, the mutiny was
not to have broken out until the morning of the 25th. I t had been
settled by the mutineers that when the troops paraded for relieving
the guard, the whole of the regiment, joined by the main guard
on duty, after seizing their officers, should march to Plantation
House and seize m e ; but, most providentially, the measures I had
adopted made a change in their plan ; and the ringleaders, seeing I
was preparing, considered that no time should be lost, and
therefore they commenced their operations within five hours
after I had left the Castle.”
The brains of the mutineers were not idle either, and, instead
of directing their attention at once to seizing the person
of the Governor, they thought to render their undertaking
more likely of success by proceeding at first in quite an
opposite direction, to gain possession of Colonel Broughton, the
Lieutenant-Governor, who resided at Longwood, and retain him as
a hostage. An incorrect rumour of their intention reached the
Governor, who continues his statement thus:—
“ At half-past seven o’clock I received a report that the mutinous
troops intended to proceed to Longwood, for the purpose of getting
possession of some field-pieces and ammunition. Upon hearing
this, although I did not know how far it might be depended on, I
sent an express to the Lieutenant-Governor, in which I suggested
the advance of some field-pieces to oppose the mutineers if they
should move in that direction.’’
The mutineers, however, some 120 in number, arrived at
Longwood before the Lieutenant-Governor was fully prepared for
them, and, taking him by surprise, they compelled him to march With
them towards Plantation House, the Governor’s residence.
In the meantime the Governor had made his position strong with
what faithful soldiers he could command, augmented by the volunteers
or Island militia (which had been called out by a general alarm)
amounting altogether to about 130 men.
Intelligence of the mutineers’ proceedings seems to have preceded
them in their march, and to have reached the Governor, for he
continues : “ This information gave me at first some uneasiness,
on account of the danger to which my friend and colleague would be
exposed in the intended attack upon the mutinous troops; but there
was no alternative, for however much I value the life of Colonel
Broughton, I could not permit considerations of a private nature
to interfere with my public duties, nor to deter me from carrying
into execution the plans I had formed, which were imperiously
necessary for restoring military subordination and the peace and
order of this settlement.
“ A t tlie same time I considered it proper to make an attempt to
rescue his person from the impending danger. I therefore wrote a
pencil note to Captain Sampson, directing him to advance with
thirty chosen men, and with these it was intended to form an
ambuscade on the left flank of the mutinous column, and to commence
the attack by giving them one fire in such a manner as to
avoid Colonel Broughton (who might be distinctly seen by the two