Key Events 1857
Introduction of Pattern 1853 Enfield Musket
On the New Year day of 1857, a new Enfield (P 1853) rifle was issued in India to the 60th Queen’s Royal Rifles in Meerut.
The cartridges of this rifle had a paper cover that had to be bitten off before loading in the rifle. It was accepted by some British officials that the papers and the grease inside is composed of the beef and pig fat.
This was taken as destroying their religion. On 22 January 1857, at the Dum Dum arsenal near Calcutta the natives expressed concern regarding the use of the greased cartridge required by the new rifle and a consequent threat to Hindu and Muslim religions.
The military drills of the time needed the sepoys to bite off the cartridge, pour the gunpowder from within to down the barrel, then ram the cartridge, which included the bullet, then remove the ram-rod, then bring the rifle to the ready and set the sights and fire. The “user guide” said:
“Whenever the grease around the bullet appears to be melted away, or otherwise removed from the cartridge, the sides of the bullet should be wetted in the mouth before putting it into the barrel; the saliva will serve the purpose of grease for the time being”.
From January to May, the wave of dissatisfaction touched various British Cantonments. The most awful sentiments were in the cantonments of Meerut, Barrackpur and Ambala.
Use of Chapattis
All of a sudden, the English officials could see passing of the Chapattis, usually by the village chaukidars and watchmen throughout the north India. The first report was issued in February 1857 by Magistrate of Gurgaon that these Chapattis may be a portent of a general disturbance coming up and signify the joining of the people. The magistrate was true in his interpretation, but it was realized later only.
March 1857: Refusal to accept greased cartridge
By 9 March 1857, the Sepoys of the 19th Bengal Native Infantry at Behrampur refused to accept the greased cartridges. A court martial was done and the regiment was disarmed. On 23 March General Greg Anson, Commander in Chief, India, issued an order suspending the use and firing of the greased cartridges throughout India until a special report is received from Meerut.
29 March 1857 – Mutiny at Barrackpur – Mangal Pandey
At Barrackpur, Mangal Pandey of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry went on a rampage wounding the British Officers. The mutiny was basically a “One Man Show”. Mangal Pandey was hanged on 8 April 1857, thus becoming one of the first martyrs of mother India’s liberation war that extended 90 years afterwards. One more officer Issurl Pandey was hanged on 11 April for not helping the British during the rampage. One Paltu Khan was promoted for his active duty towards stopping Mangal Pandey creates more havoc.
Mutiny at Meerut – 10 May 1857
85 Sepoys of the 20th and 11th Bengal Infantry regiments and 3rd Indian Light Cavalry mutinied. The broke out in open rebellion, shouted “Delhi Chalo”, proceeded to Delhi, over threw the British Rule, massacred any European that came their way, Proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as Emperor of India. Col. Ripley was killed at Delhi. The public welcomed the soldiers and supported the revolt. The son of Bahadur Shah Zafar, Mirza Zahiruddin was declared commander in chief, despite no military experience.
Later the command at Delhi was taken by Bakht Khan, the nominal commander chief of the rebels at Delhi who later died in the battle in 1859.
The Mutiny Spreads – May 1857
On 12 May 1857, a company of the 81st infantry captured the fort of Govindgarh near Amritsar. The mutiny spread to Lahore where Mian Mir fought the mutineers and saved the Lahore from falling to the Mutineers.
On 14 May 1857, Lord Canning issued orders for the 43rd Queen Regiment and 1st Madras Fusiliers to embark immediately to Calcutta.
Lord Canning telegraphed Lord Elphinstone, the Governor of Bombay to send British Forces immediately. He also sent transport to bring the British forces back from Pegu in Burma. On 16 May 1857, 50 Europeans rounded up in Delhi were massacred by the crowd. On 16 May, Lord Canning sent a letter to Lord Elgin at Singapore to send troops at Calcutta. The rebellion spread to Lucknow, Allahabad, Kanpur, Bareili, Banaras, and Jhansi very soon.
The siege of Cawnpore
Siege of Cawnpore is also known as “Bibighar Massacre or “Satichaura Ghat massacre”.
Before this event the British had approached Nana Sahib and ‘convinced’ him to support in case there is a mutiny at Kanpur. By June 1857, the number of the rebellions got 3000. The place was mistaken as safe by the British, European families began to drift into the entrenchment as the news of rebellion in the nearby areas reached them. The entrenchment was fortified. Nana Sahib entered as a friend of the British inside and declared that he was with the rebels. he proceeded with the soldiers to capture Cawnpore. He made the British officers surrender on a promise of safe passage to Allahabad. Cawnpore was in siege till 15 July 1857 and 200 Europeans including women and children were massacred.
On 16 July the British Forces arrived and Cawnpore was recaptured. Nana Sahib disappeared and then fled to Nepal in 1859.
Mutiny at Lucknow: Begum Hazrat Mahal
Begum Hazrat Mahal was the first wife of recently deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. She led the rebels at Lucknow and was able to siege Lucknow. Her son Birjis Qadra was declared King of Awadh. But when the British were able to destroy the rebels, she fled to Nepal, where she took asylum and died in obscurity in 1879.
Mutiny at Gwalior: Tantya Tope
With the aid of the rebels at Gwalior he was able to compel General Windham hard at Cawnpore on the 27th and 28th of November 1857. But later was defeated by Sir Colin Campbell on the 6th of December. Together with the Rani of Jhansi he was besieged by Sir Hugh Rose in the Jhansi fort, but escaped and collected a force of 20,000 men which Sir Hugh defeated without relaxing the siege. After this he sought refuge in the jungles of Bundelkhand, and later captured and executed in 1859.
Mutiny at Jhansi – Rani Laxmi Bai
Jhansi was relatively calm in 1857, but British troops arrived under Hugh Rose and laid siege to Jhansi on 23 March 1858 and asked Laxmi Bai to surrender. She did not surrender and the fight began which continued for 2 weeks. Later her army was joined by Tantya Tope’s troops, but the British were able to capture Jhansi by 31 March. Laxmi Bai escaped over the wall at night and fled from her city, surrounded by her guards. Along with her young adopted son Anand Rao, she decamped to Kalpi. Both Nana and Laxmibai moved on to Gwalior and occupied the fort of Gwalior. But on 17 June, 1858, she died in the battle. The British captured Gwalior three days later. Her father, Moropant Tambey, was captured and hanged a few days after the fall of Jhansi. Anand Rao, was given a pension by the British Raj.
Mutiny in Arrah – Kunwar Singh
A band of rebels was led by Kunwar Singh at Arrah in Bihar. Despite his old age (near 80) he had a good fight and harried British forces for nearly one year and remained invincible till the end. But he was defeated by William Taylor and Eyre and died in the battle.
Recapturing
Bahadur Shah was arrested. British general Hudson shot dead his two sons and he was exported to Rangoon where he died 1862. The imam of Bauli kalandar led the revolt in Panipat. He was captured and hanged. General Hewitt commanded the Forces at Meerut. Delhi was recaptured by Sir John Nicholson. Colin Campbell recaptured Kanpur. General Havelock defeated Nana Sahib.
Role of Princely states
The princely states did not participate in the mutiny and as per Lord Canning, the princely rulers proved to be a barrier to stop this hurricane.
Those who helped British
Holkar of Indore remained with the British. Man Singh at Gwalior deceived Tantya Tope and Laxmibai. Nizam of Hyderabad, Gulab Singh of Kashmir, Sikh rulers of Patiala, Nabha and Jind also remained loyal to British. The Sikhs detest towards the Mughals was the main reason behind their remaining against the mutineers.
Dinkar Rao of Gwalior and Salar Jang of Hyderabad were “praised” by the British for their loyalty to the Government. Zamindars, Land Lords, Money lenders, Big Traders remained loyal to the East India Company. The elite “educated” class of Indians remained indifferent. Railways, Telegraph and Postal services, which were initiated by Lord Dalhousie saved India for British from the hands of Indians.
