CHAPTER IX.
1857 John Lawrence's wise measures--Disarmament at Peshawar -- Salutary effect in the valley I will now continue my story from the time I left Peshawar to join the Movable Column.
On the 18th May Brigadier Chamberlain and I arrived at Rawal Pindi, where we joined the Chief Commissioner, who had got thus far on his way to his summer residence in the Murree Hills when tidings of the disaster reached him.

One of Sir John Lawrence's first acts after talking over matters with Chamberlain was to summon Edwardes from Peshawar, for he wished to consult with him personally about the question of raising levies and enlisting more frontier men, the only one of Edwardes's and Nicholson's proposals regarding which the Chief Commissioner had any doubt; it appeared to him a somewhat risky step to take, and he desired to give the matter very careful consideration before coming to any decision.

I remember being greatly struck with the weight given by Lawrence to Edwardes's opinion.

He called him his Councillor, he eagerly sought his advice, and he evidently placed the utmost reliance on his judgment.
During the six days that we remained at Rawal Pindi waiting for the Movable Column to be assembled, I spent the greater part of my time in the Chief Commissioner's office, drafting or copying confidential letters and telegrams.

I thus learned everything that was happening in the Punjab, and became aware of the magnitude of the crisis through which we were passing.