Eight Months’ Campaign Against The Bengal Sepoy Army During The Mutiny Of 1857 [Illustrated Edition]

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Text originally published in 1858 under the same title.

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Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

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EIGHT MONTHS’ CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE BENGAL SEPOY ARMY, DURING THE MUTINY OF 1857

By

Colonel George Bourchier CB

Bengal Horse Artillery,

Late commanding No. 17 Light Field Battery

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

DEDICATION 5

PREFACE. 6

CHAPTER I. — OUTBREAK OF THE MUTINY. 7

Outbreak of the mutiny—Formation of Punjaub moveable column under Brigadier Chamberlain—General Nicholson organizes an expeditionary force—The 33rd and 35th Regiments Native Infantry disarmed at Phillore 7

CHAPTER II. — PURSUIT OF THE MUTINEERS. 12

The 59th Native Infantry and 9th Native Cavalry disarmed—March of the column to Goordaspore in the hot season—The Sealkote mutineers overtaken —Engagement at Trimmoo Ghat—The Sealkote Brigade defeated and dispersed 12

CHAPTER III. — A FLYING VISIT TO SIMLAH. 19

Advance of the column to Delhi—The author visits his family at Simlah—A wet march and a rough ride—Sound of cannonading at Delhi—Other indications of warfare—Junction with General Wilson’s force 19

CHAPTER IV. — THE FORCE BEFORE DELHI. 25

Position of the force before Delhi—Critical state of affairs—General Nicholson’s column—Victory of Nujjufghur—The King of Delhi seeks terms—General Wilson’s reply. 25

CHAPTER V. — THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF DELHI 29

Fever and cholera among the Delhi field force—Arrival of the siege train—Commencement of siege operations—Strength of the British forces—Force of Artillery and Engineers—Plan of attack—Position and force of siege batteries—Sorties of the besieged—Death of Captain Fagan 29

CHAPTER VI. — THE ASSAULT AND CAPTURE OF DELHI. 35

Formation of columns of assault—Storming of Delhi—Blowing in of the Cashmere Gate—Capture of the city—Operations within the walls—Defeat of the fourth column—Gallantry of the 9th Lancers and Carabineers—British loss on the day of the assault—Colonel Baird Smith and Captain Taylor, of the Engineers—Incessant exertions of the Artillery, aided by volunteers 35

CHAPTER VII. — FIGHTING WITHIN THE CITY. 40

Enemy’s plan for intoxicating the besieging force frustrated—Women and children suffered to leave the city—Storming of the magazine—Gallantry of Lieutenant Benny—Capture of the Lahore and Burn Bastions, the Jumma Musjid and the Palace—Losses of the 60th Rifles, the Sirmoor Battalion, the Guides Corps, the 1st Bengal Fusiliers, and the 52nd—Interior of Delhi after the assault—Return of killed and wounded. 40

CHAPTER VIII. — PROCEEDINGS OF THE COLUMN OF PURSUIT FROM DELHI TO CAWNPORE. 44

Formation of Colonel Greathed’s column—Lawless state of the Doab— Intervention of civilians — March of the column — Scenes inside Delhi — Halt at Gazeeoodeen Nuggur—Advance to Dodra and Secundra—Distress of the cultivators—Action at Bolundshur—Defeat of the rebels—Evacuation of the Fort of Malaghur and escape of Walidad Khan—Death of Lieutenant Home—March to Koorjah — Insolence of a Mahomedan subadar—Horrible sight at Koorjah—Resistance at Allyghur—Retreat of the rebels—Major Ouvry overtakes and scatters a detachment of fugitives—Seizure of Akbarabad —Execution of two rebel chiefs—Alarm at Agra—Rapid advance of the column 44

CHAPTER IX. — AGRA. 52

Aspect of affairs at Agra—Encampment of the force—A surprise in camp — Panic among the inhabitants — Advance of the Artillery—Rout of the enemy’s cavalry—Charge of the 9th Lancers—Retreat and pursuit of the enemy—Capture of their guns and ammunition—Negligence of the Agra authorities—Ludicrous scenes at Agra —Halt at Agra—Attention of the ladies to the sick 52

CHAPTER X. — EVENTS AT CAWNPORE. 58

The column resumes its march—General Grant assumes the command—Advance to Mynpoorie—State of the place—Property in the fort—Its feathered garrison—Discovery of guns and ammunition—Lying plea of the Rao—Advance to Bewar—Reports of the natives—Affair at Meerunka Serai—Defeat of a detachment with a battery —Arrival at Cawnpore—Ruined state of the town—General Wheeler’s force and position at Cawnpore—Nana Sahib—Entrenchment at Cawnpore and its defence —Desperate straits of its defenders—Treachery of Nana Sahib—The Well and Massacre House at Cawnpore 58

CHAPTER XI. — THE RELIEF OF LUCKNOW. 64

Relief of Lucknow—Death of Sir Henry Lawrence—Column encamped at Bunnee—Villages in arms—Attack on a convoy of provisions for Alumbagh—Ludicrous scene—Sir Colin Campbell joins the force—Fort of Jelalabad evacuated—Force for the relief of Lucknow—Sir Colin Campbell’s position—Advance on Lucknow—Capture of the Dilkhoosha House and Martiniere College—Attack on our position repulsed—The sailors at Lucknow—Storming of the Secunderbagh—Sir Colin Campbell’s despatch—Sight inside the Secunderbagh—Sir Colin Campbell at Lucknow—Sir William Peel and his rockets —Bombardment of the Mess House—Rescue of the garrison of Lucknow—Attack on Brigadier Russell’s position—Colonel Hale’s position—Withdrawal of the troops from Lucknow—Sufferings of the garrison—Death of General Havelock—General Outram at the Alumbagh 64

CHAPTER XII. — DEFEAT OF THE GWALIOR CONTINGENT. 80

The Gwalior Contingent—Advance on Cawnpore—General Windham defeated with loss of camp and baggage—Sir Colin Campbell’s plan of operations—The Artillery and wounded cross the Ganges—Position at Cawnpore—Sir Colin’s plan of attack—Defeat of the Gwalior Contingent —Pursuit of the enemy by the Artillery—Spoils of victory—The enemy overtaken and defeated by General Grant 80

CONCLUDING CHAPTER. 89

The column leaves Cawnpore for Etawah—Enemy dislodged —Mode of carrying letters—March to Mynpoorie and Bewar—Advance to Futtehghur—State of things there—Author Returns To Simla 89

THE MUTINY AT CAWNPORE. 92

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 99

ILLUSTRATIONS 100

DEDICATION

TO

AN AGED MOTHER.

WHOSE LIFE HAS BEEN ONE LONG EFFORT TO PROMOTE THE HAPPINESS OF HER FAMILY, IS DEDICATED WITH EVERY FEELING OF ATTACHMENT, BY A DUTIFUL AND AFFECTIONATE SON.

Lahore, 21st March, 1858.

PREFACE.

FOR all defects in the following pages, which originally were intended for private circulation, the author has but one apology, that the notes from which it has been compiled were taken just as opportunities could be snatched from more important duties. The details of the Siege of Delhi have been taken from Major Norman’s journal; much other information has been gleaned therefrom, and from the public despatches.

The account of the mutiny at Cawnpore was given to me by Mr. Sherer, Civil Service, at that station: its author I do not know.

NARRATIVE OF EIGHT MONTHS’ CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SEPOY ARMY OF BENGAL.

CHAPTER I. — OUTBREAK OF THE MUTINY.

Outbreak of the mutiny—Formation of Punjaub moveable column under Brigadier Chamberlain—General Nicholson organizes an expeditionary force—The 33rd and 35th Regiments Native Infantry disarmed at Phillore

POLITICIANS at various times had prophesied that we should some morning awake and find that our Indian Empire had melted from our grasp. The enormous increase to the native army by the contingents raised to guard the newly acquired territories of Gwalior, the Punjaub, and Oude, with no corresponding increase to the European force, gave the native population reason to think that they had every chance of being able to drive our small European force from the country. From circumstances which have since come to light, it is clear that a simultaneous rising was intended on some Sunday, while all the European troops were at church; the conduct of the native troops at Meerut precipitated matters, and prevented such a terrible consummation, which, utterly unprepared as was the country, could not have been withstood.

Many reasons have been assigned for the rising; but, to use the words of the late lamented General Nicholson, than whom none more fully understood the native character, Neither greased cartridges, the annexation of Oude, nor the paucity of European officers were the causes. For years, he said, I have watched the army, and felt sure they only wanted their opportunity to try their strength with us.

Whatever may have been the causes, in the commencement of 1857 the first deep mutterings of the storm were heard: at Barrackpore and Berhampore, a strong mutinous spirit was displayed. Whether more stringent measures might not have crushed the mutiny at its outset, is a point now past arguing upon. Few were willing to believe that the tornado was more than a transient cloud. More than one regiment at Barrackpore was disbanded; the General and his mutinous sepoys parted, shedding idle tears; the former to return to temporise with those who as yet were not in open mutiny, the latter to join their brethren at Delhi, where arms by thousands were ready to their hands.

On the 13th of May the news of the mutiny and massacre at Meerut reached Sealkote.

The troops at Mean Meer by timely energy were disarmed; but still Brigadier Brind, who commanded at Sealkote, would not believe that the infection had spread to the regiments under his command. The artillery, with that fatal security which had lulled all India into the most stolid incredulity of the hurricane about to burst, was isolated from the only European regiment at the station.

To remedy this, my battery was ordered up to the lines of H.M.’s 52nd, while a portion of that regiment was sent for the protection of Colonel Dawes’ troop of Horse Artillery; thus bringing the two Native Infantry corps between the fires of both batteries, and cutting off their communication with the 9th Light Cavalry, which was on the left, thrown back. The arrangement was a most judicious one.

The season in which the mutiny broke out formed one of its most terrible features. Though the mutterings were heard early in the year, no active measures were taken until after the Meerut massacre in May; at which time, on ordinary occasions, all European soldiers are prohibited from leaving their barracks from 8 A. M. until near sunset, and unnecessary exposure under canvas would be considered madness. The emergency required that not only should the army take the field, but that the ladies and children should be sent to some place of safety.

Sir John Lawrence recommended that all from Sealkote should be sent to Labore.

The wives and children of the soldiers were ordered over under escort; but few ladies attended to the advice so wisely tendered, and those who remained reaped the horrors of the mutiny of the 9th July.

A Punjabee of wealth and high reputation, to whom I had been of some service, volunteered, if I would place my wife and two children under his charge, to escort them to Lahore; after the massacres at Delhi and Meerut it was a terribly anxious undertaking, but I resolved implicitly to trust him, and nobly he fulfilled his promise.

To add to our troubles, the two children were suffering, the one from cramp the other from ophthalmia; but Providence, whose protecting hand had been so marked in our favour during this eventful year, brought them safely through their journey to Lahore, where the open doors and warm hearts of my friends Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, were open to receive them.

For the army at large, who were turned into camp at this inclement season, little could be done; tents with the thermometer at 120 cannot be pleasant under any circumstances.

"A jolly growl was all the art I knew,

To make me happy and to keep me so."

But I anticipate events. It was on the 20th of May that orders were received for the formation of a moveable column to patrol the Punjaub, for the suppression of the mutiny. To raise the required force it was necessary to withdraw the European troops from Sealkote. Sir John Lawrence implored Brigadier Brind not to fancy that the political horizon was growing clearer; adding that the interests of individual stations must not be allowed to interfere with the salvation of the country. Yet even with this warning, and the fact that it had been found necessary to disarm the troops at Mean Meer, the 46th Native Infantry and a wing of the 9th Cavalry remained armed at Sealkote until after the withdrawal of the European troops; when to disarm them was impossible.

This infatuation was not singular: nothing in the history of the revolution seems more wonderful than the temper evinced by every officer of the native army, if you only hinted at the probability of his corps going wrong; while the same man would willingly allow that no other was safe: the truth of the old proverb, that every crow thinks its own bairn the whitest, was fully evinced; but gradually every bairn showed, as he slipped away from the parent hand, that he was not a bit better than his neighbours.

On the night of the 25th of May, the Sealkote Brigade,{1} consisting of H.M.’s 52nd, Colonel Dawes’ Troop of Horse Artillery, No. 17 Battery, a wing of the 9th Cavalry, and the 35th Light Infantry, marched, and on the morning of the 27th joined the remainder of the column at Wuzeerabad.

Many alterations had been made in its original organization, consequent on the threatening aspect of affairs in the north of the Punjaub; but even then that noble policy of denuding the Punjaub to rescue the North-Western Provinces (and which, may be said to have been the salvation of India) was in progress. Regiments of Punjaubees were being pushed rapidly towards Delhi by marches which appeared fabulous; new levies were rising as if by magic; and all departments evinced the energy of the master-mind which guided the operations of the Punjaub.

Having organized his column at Wuzeerabad, Brigadier-General Chamberlain, who