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On the annexation of Oude in 1856 he was appointed to the organization and command of the Military Police a force armed and modeled on the system of the Irish Constabulary and consisting of 1000 Cavalry and three regiments of Infantry under the command of European officers and which performed good service in the newly acquired province until the commencement of the Indian mutiny. We learn from Captain Hutehinson's narrative that at the outbreak of the insurrection in 1857 Captain Weston was detached by Sir Henry Lawrence to Mullebad for the purpose of restoring confidence and order to that district then in open armed revolt.
His escort consisted of one company of that 7th Regiment so lately in mutiny at Moosa Bagh and some Mounted Police and Captain Hutehinson adds that nothing but the bold determined firmness of Captain Weston overawed the 3000 fanatic wretehes who surrounded him Captain Weston's Daring Act on the occasion of the mutiny of the Military Police is recorded at length by Rees in his vivid history of the siege of Lucknow and its details afford abundant proof of the respect and affection with which this officer inspired his men even at a time when they showed themselves ingrates and rebels and were in the act of throwing off the authority which they had hitherto acknowledged.
Prior to the commencement of the siege of the Lucknow Residency Captain Weston was appointed by Sir Henry Lawrence to the command of an outpost which he held without a day's intermission from the 30th June to the evacuation of the garrison on 22d November 1857. The fire to which the British force was exposed may be estimated from the fact that the strength of this outpost was kept up to forty five of all ranks vacancies being supplied from the reserve and that its total loss during the siege amounted to fifteen killed and thirty wounded that is by a remarkable coincidence tantamount to the original strength of the outpost.
On the evacuation of the Residency of Lucknow Captain Weston volunteered and was one of the few officers of the Old Garrison who remained at Alum Bagh He was appointed to the Staff of Major General Sir James Outram in command of the force before Lucknow and was made Chief of the Intelligence Department. He was present at the whole of the engagements at Alum Bagh where for many weeks Outram with his little force kept at bay the vast army of mutineers and rebels assembled at and around the capital and he was engaged throughout the subsequent operations on the final advance of the army under the Commander in Chief loading to the capture of Lucknow on the 16th March 1858.
His name having been inadvertently omitted in the celebrated despateh of Sir John Inglis of the 26th September 1857 the erratum was brought by Sir John Inglis to the notice of Government and was rectified in General Orders No 1546 of 1858 and in the Roll of Officers deemed deserving of honourable mention which was attached to Sir James Outram's despateh to the Commander in Chief relative to the capture of Lucknow the Major General records that Captain Weston displayed much spirit and gallantry on several occasions and his services were of much use to me The subjoined letter was addressed to Captain Weston by the Bayard of the Indian Army on his giving up the command of his Division on the re occupation of Lucknow and is dated
Lucknow
2nd April 1858
My Dear Weston,
I cannot leave without writing a few lines to tell you how grateful I am to you for the zealous able ami valuable services you have rendered me both at Alum Bagh and since the re occupation of the city as well as during our lato military operations I sincerely trust that you will continue to enjoy many opportunities of distinction and I feel assured that opportunity is all you require God bless you my dear Weston
Yours very sincerely
Signed J Outbam To Captain Weston ete etc etc
He received his Brevet majority for the Defence of Luck now and has a medal and two clasps
His escort consisted of one company of that 7th Regiment so lately in mutiny at Moosa Bagh and some Mounted Police and Captain Hutehinson adds that nothing but the bold determined firmness of Captain Weston overawed the 3000 fanatic wretehes who surrounded him Captain Weston's Daring Act on the occasion of the mutiny of the Military Police is recorded at length by Rees in his vivid history of the siege of Lucknow and its details afford abundant proof of the respect and affection with which this officer inspired his men even at a time when they showed themselves ingrates and rebels and were in the act of throwing off the authority which they had hitherto acknowledged.
Prior to the commencement of the siege of the Lucknow Residency Captain Weston was appointed by Sir Henry Lawrence to the command of an outpost which he held without a day's intermission from the 30th June to the evacuation of the garrison on 22d November 1857. The fire to which the British force was exposed may be estimated from the fact that the strength of this outpost was kept up to forty five of all ranks vacancies being supplied from the reserve and that its total loss during the siege amounted to fifteen killed and thirty wounded that is by a remarkable coincidence tantamount to the original strength of the outpost.
On the evacuation of the Residency of Lucknow Captain Weston volunteered and was one of the few officers of the Old Garrison who remained at Alum Bagh He was appointed to the Staff of Major General Sir James Outram in command of the force before Lucknow and was made Chief of the Intelligence Department. He was present at the whole of the engagements at Alum Bagh where for many weeks Outram with his little force kept at bay the vast army of mutineers and rebels assembled at and around the capital and he was engaged throughout the subsequent operations on the final advance of the army under the Commander in Chief loading to the capture of Lucknow on the 16th March 1858.
His name having been inadvertently omitted in the celebrated despateh of Sir John Inglis of the 26th September 1857 the erratum was brought by Sir John Inglis to the notice of Government and was rectified in General Orders No 1546 of 1858 and in the Roll of Officers deemed deserving of honourable mention which was attached to Sir James Outram's despateh to the Commander in Chief relative to the capture of Lucknow the Major General records that Captain Weston displayed much spirit and gallantry on several occasions and his services were of much use to me The subjoined letter was addressed to Captain Weston by the Bayard of the Indian Army on his giving up the command of his Division on the re occupation of Lucknow and is dated
Lucknow
2nd April 1858
My Dear Weston,
I cannot leave without writing a few lines to tell you how grateful I am to you for the zealous able ami valuable services you have rendered me both at Alum Bagh and since the re occupation of the city as well as during our lato military operations I sincerely trust that you will continue to enjoy many opportunities of distinction and I feel assured that opportunity is all you require God bless you my dear Weston
Yours very sincerely
Signed J Outbam To Captain Weston ete etc etc
He received his Brevet majority for the Defence of Luck now and has a medal and two clasps
HUNTER Clan of Ayrshire
