MUTINY AND RIOT AT HORFIELD BARRACKS
Bristol, October 25. - It became known throughout the city this morning that a serious outbreak and riot had occurred at Horfield Barracks. These barracks are occupied partly as the depot of the Land Transport Corps, and partly by a portion of the Royal Artillery.
Owing to the system recently adopted of recruiting from the different regiments of militia into the Band Transport Service, a number of fresh men have been constantly arriving. On Wednesday morning a number of recruits came by steam-packet from the Galway militia, and were marched from the Hotwclls, where they landed, to the barracks.
When they came to ask for the promised bounty of £5, they wore told that the outfit would have to be deducted from it. At this they became dissatisfied, and insisted that £5 they had enlisted for, and £5 they would have. The sergeant remonstrated with them and threatened them with the guard-room, upon which they commenced an attack upon him, and, it is said, knocked him down.
The officers then came from their quarters and attempted to restore discipline, but without effect, as the insubordinate recruits attacked them, tore the ornaments from their coats and, arming themselves with stones from the great exercise yard, threw their in thick volleys at the officers, who, seeing the position in which they were placed, and apprehending a serious outbreak, called upon the Artillery officers for assistance.
Messengers were immediately despatched to Col. Patton, the commander of the district, and in the meantime the commander of the artillery got his men under arms, and had a howitzer brought and placed on the parade. Insubordination being still manifested by the malcontents, the artillery-men were ordered to load, an operation which had the desired effect, by restoring something like order. Between 20 and 30 of the principal ringleaders were then arrested and placed in the guard-house, while others were sent into the city.
It is understood that Colonel Patton has ordered courts-martial to be held on the principal offenders.
A general feeling is expressed by the citizens that the Government do wrong in offering a nominal bounty, and then reducing it by deductions to some other sum.
[Source: Essex Standard, Wednesday 31 October 1855, Shrewsbury Mercury, DATE, and other newspapers