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Part 1 - The Delhi Front

Part 2 - The Cawnpore & Lucknow Front

Part 3 - The Agra Front

PART 1 - THE DELHI FRONT

The Actions at Ghazi-ud-din Nuggur

(30 May & 1 June 1857)

British & Company Forces

GOC: Brigadier Archdale Wilson, Bengal Artillery.

HM 6th Dragoon Guards. Lt-Col. Wm. Custance. 2 x sqns. (200).

HM 60th Rifles. Lt-Col. John Jones. 6 x coys. (500).

Tombs' Troop, 2nd Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Maj. Harry Tombs. (4 x 6-pdrs).

Scott's Battery, 3rd Coy/3rd Bn., with No. 14 Horse Field Battery, Bengal Artillery. Maj. E. W. S. Scott. 5 x guns, 1 x howitzer.

Heavy Guns: Lt. Light. 2 x 18-pdr.

Rebel Forces

Strength stated in Lord Roberts's memoirs (who was not present) as about 5,000. Certainly the 11th and 38th Bengal Native Infantry were present. In the 30 May fight the British captured the following ordnance: 2 x 24-pdr, 1 x 18-pdr, 1 x 10 in. howitzer, 1 x 8 in. howitzer. 

The Battle of Badli-ke-Serai

8 June 1857

Scenario. General Barnard has effected a junction with Brigadier Wilson. The Mutineers at Delhi attempt to block the British approach to the city by occupying a defensive position at Badli-ke-Serai. Barnard attacks and drives in the position, whence he sweeps on to outflank a second enemy position on Delhi Ridge by 9.00 am the same day. So begins the Siege of Delhi.

British & Company Forces

GOC: Maj-Gen. Sir Henry Barnard KCB.

Adjutant-General (COS): Lt-Col. Charles Chester.

Cavalry Flanking Movement. Brig. Hope Grant CB, HM 9th Lancers.

HM 9th Lancers. Lt-Col. Robert Yule. 4 x sqns. (450).

Rajah of Jhind's Cavalry. Lt. Wm. Hodson. (50).

Tombs' Troop, 2nd Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Maj. Harry Tombs. 4 x 6-pdrs.

Turner's Troop, 3rd Tp/3rd Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Maj. Frank Turner. 5 x 9-pdrs, 1 x 12/24-pdr howitzer.

Other Cavalry.

6th Dragoon Guards. Lt-Col. Wm. Custance. 1 x sqn. (100).

1st Brigade. Brig. St. G. D. Showers, 2nd Bengal Fusiliers. [Showers' given names were 'St. George' Daniel].

HM 75th Regiment. Lt-Col. Charles Herbert. 9 x coys. (800).

1st Bengal Fusiliers. Col. John Welchman. (800).  

2nd Brigade. Brig. H. M. Graves.

HM 60th Rifles. Lt-Col. John Jones. 6 x coys. (500).

2nd Bengal Fusiliers. Capt. Alexander Boyd. 5 x coys. (450).

Sirmoor Gurkha Battalion. Maj. Charles Reid. One wing only. (400).

Artillery.

Money's Troop, 2nd Tp/3rd Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Maj. E. K. Money. 5 x 9-pdrs, 1 x howitzer.

Scott's Battery, 3rd Coy/3rd Bn., with No. 14 Horse Field Battery, Bengal Artillery. Maj. E. W. S. Scott. 9-pdr equipped. 2 x divisions; 4 x guns only.

Kaye's Heavy Field Battery. An ad hoc grouping of 2 x 18-pdrs and 2 x 8 in. howitzers. Manned by elements of No. 4 Coy/6th Bn., Bengal Artillery, and a detachment of Bengal Artillery recruits. 

Baggage and Camp Guard at Alipore.

1 x sqn HM 6th Dragoon Guards. (100).

1 x division (2 guns) Scott's Battery (see above).

1 x coy 2nd Bengal Fusiliers. (100).

Bengal Sappers & Miners. Detachment only. Lt. Frederick Maunsell, Bengal Engineers. (150).

Rajah of Jhind's Contingent. Sikh Irregulars. (750 Inf).

The Umballa Siege Train. 6 x 18-pdrs, 2 x 8 in. howitzers, 4 x 8 in mortars, 12 x 5.5 in. mortars; with No. 4 Coy/6th Bn., Bengal Artillery and around 100 x artillery recruits. Escort: 1 x sqn. 4th Bengal Lancers.

Rebel Forces

Infantry.

7 x BNI regiments and elements of two others were said to be present. These can likely be permed from amongst the 5th, 9th, 11th, 20th, 38th, 44th, 45th, 54th, 67th & 74th Bengal Native Infantry. 

Cavalry.

2 x regiments said to be present. Probably the 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry and 4th Bengal Irregular Cavalry. 

Field Artillery.

No. 3 Coy/7th Bn., Bengal Artillery. 6 x 9 pdrs.

2 x other 9-pdrs.

The Heavy Battery.

1 x 8-in howitzer, 2 x 24-pdr, 2 x 18-pdr. Served by gun lascars of the Delhi magazine and artillery of the palace guard. 

Total Strength: unstated, but theoretically about 6,000 infantry, 800 cavalry and not fewer than 13 guns.

Note that only the 5 heavy guns and 3 of the 9-pdrs were overrun and captured in the battle proper. Two more 9-pdrs were captured in the pursuit, while the final 3 were captured near the Flagstaff Tower on Delhi Ridge. This suggests the possibility that not all 13 guns had actually been in the rebel line of battle at Badli-ke-Serai.

Mutineer Units in Delhi.

By date of arrival

Units in Delhi on 8 Jun 1857.

3rd Bengal Light Cavalry; 4th Bengal Irregular Cavalry.

5th, 9th, 11th, 20th, 38th, 44th, 45th, 54th, 67th & 74th Bengal Native Infantry. Harriana Light Infantry.

No. 3 Coy/7th Bn., with No 5 Field Battery, Bengal Artillery.

Arrived 16-17 Jun: Nusseerabad Brigade.

1st Bengal Light Cavalry; elements only.

15th & 30th Bengal Native Infantry.

No. 2 Coy/7th Bn., with No. 6 Field Battery, Bengal Artillery.

Arrived 21-22 Jun: from Jullundur and Phillour.

6th Bengal Light Cavalry.

3rd, 36th & 61st Bengal Native Infantry.

Arrived 1-2 Jul: Rohilkhund Brigade.

8th Bengal Irregular Cavalry.

18th, 28th, 29th & 68th Bengal Native Infantry.

No. 6 Coy/8th Bn., with No. 15 Field Battery, Bengal Artillery.

Arrived during July: from Jhansi and Nowgong. (800).

14th Bengal Irregular Cavalry.

12th Bengal Native Infantry; one wing only.

No. 4 Coy/9th Bn., with No. 18 Field Battery, Bengal Artillery. (3 x guns).

Arrived end of July: Neemuch Brigade.

1st Bengal Light Cavalry; one wing only. Malwa Contingent Cavalry (4 x tps).

72nd Bengal Native Infantry. 7th Infantry Gwalior Contingent. Kotah Contingent (an all arms grouping of about 700 men).

4th (Native) Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery.

Other units believed to be at Delhi:

6th Bengal Light Cavalry; 10th Bengal Light Cavalry (elements).

15th, 23rd & 60th Bengal Native Infantry.

Bengal Sappers & Miners (4 coys).

The Delhi Field Force

By date of arrival on Delhi Ridge

British Start State (8 Jun 1857): see Barnard's Order of Battle for Badli-ke-Serai (above).

Reinforcements 9 Jun. Capt. Henry Daly.

The Corps of Guides. 3 x tps Guides Cavalry, Lt. Quintin Battye. 6 x coys Guides Infantry. (In all 6 x British offrs & 600).

Reinforcements 23 Jun. Maj Henry Olpherts. (350 Europeans, 500 Sikhs and 6 guns).

Olpherts' Troop, 1st Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Maj. Henry Olpherts. 4 x 6-pdr.

1 x division 5th (Native) Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Lt. George Renny. 2 x 6-pdr.

1 x coy HM 75th Regiment.

2 x coys 2nd Bengal Fusiliers. (90).

2nd Punjaub Cavalry. Lt. Charles Nicholson.

4th (Rothney's) Sikh Local Infantry. Capt. Octavius Rothney. 

Reinforcements between 22 Jun-3 Jul.

HM 8th Regiment; right wing only. Col. Henry Hartley. (21 & 341).

HM 61st Regiment. Col. Wm. Jones CB. One wing only. Grenadier, Light and Nos. 2, 3 & 7 Coys, plus the band. (450).

1 x sqn 5th Punjaub Cavalry. Lt. George Younghusband, 13th BNI.

1st Punjaub Infantry (Coke's Rifles). Maj. John Coke. (800).

1 x division (2 guns) 1st Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery.

1 x division (2 guns) 5th (Native) Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery.

Detachment 4th Bn. Bengal Artillery. No guns.

Sikh Companies, Punjab Artillery. No guns. Newly raised. 

Reinforcements 25 Jul.

1 x sqn 1st Punjaub Cavalry. Capt. John Watson.

Hodson's Horse. Newly raised Sikh Irregular Cavalry. (200). 

Reinforcements 1 Aug.

Kumaon Gurkha Battalion. Capt. Robert Ramsay.

Arrival of Punjab Moveable Column 14 Aug. Brig. John Nicholson.

HM 52nd Light Infantry. Col. George Campbell. (600).

HM 61st Regiment; left wing.

2nd (Green's) Punjaub Infantry. Capt. George Green.

Bourchier's Battery, No. 3 Coy/1st Bn., with No. 17 Light Field Battery, Bengal Artillery. Capt. George Bourchier. 9-pdrs.

Mooltanee Horse. Lt. J. B. Lind, 24th BNI. Newly raised Sikh Irregulars. (200).

Arrival of the Kashmir Contingent 5 Sep.

About 2,200 men. Capt. Richard Lawrence. A cavalry contingent of at least 200, but mostly infantry. 4 x field guns and numerous camel guns.

Arrival of the Punjab Siege Train 7 Sep onwards.

HM 8th Regiment; balance of the regiment from Jullundur and Phillour. Lt. Daniel Beere. (200).

HM 60th Rifles; left wing. (200).

4th (Wilde's) Punjaub Infantry. Capt. Alfred Wilde. (700).

1st Belooch Battalion; right wing only. Lt. Col. R. Farquhar. (300).

Siege Train. 6 x 24-pdr, 8 x 18-pdr, 6 x 8 in. howitzer, 4 x 10 in. mortars, 4 x 8 in. mortars, 6 x 5.5 in. mortars.

Detachment 4th Bn., Bengal Artillery. 

Note: omitted from this list are elements of the 4th and 9th Bengal Irregular Cavalry which were sent away from the Ridge, due to doubts over their loyalty, having played no significant role in the fighting prior to that point anyway. 

The Battle of Najafgarh

25 August 1857

Scenario. A powerful Mutineer force leaves Delhi and flank marches to threaten the British lines of communication and the approaching siege train. Brigadier John Nicholson is assigned a force with which to interdict the movement, catches up with the rebels at Najafgarh and attacks.  

British & Company Forces

Force Commander: Brig. John Nicholson, 27th BNI.

Cavalry

HM 9th Lancers. Capt. Henry Sarel. No. 3 Sqn only. (100).

Guides Cavalry. Capt. Charles Sanford, 3rd BLC. 1 x sqn. (120).

Mooltanee Horse. Lt. J. B. Lind, 24th BNI. Sikh Irregulars. (80).

Note: Capt. Sarel had overall command of the cavalry.

Infantry

HM 61st Regiment. Lt-Col. Henry Rainey. (320).

1st Bengal Fusiliers. Maj. George Jacob. (280).

1st Punjaub Infantry (Coke's Rifles). Lt. Wm. Lumsden. (400).

2nd (Green's) Punjaub Infantry. Capt. George Green. (300).

Composite Rearguard and Reserve Battalion. Capt. Alexander Gordon. 100 men each from HM 61st, 1st Bengal Fusiliers and 2nd

Punjaub Infantry.(300). 

Artillery

Tombs' Troop, 2nd Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Maj. Harry Tombs. 4 x 6-pdrs.

Remmington's Troop, 1st Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Capt. Frederick Remmington. 5 x 6-pdrs, 1 x 12-pdr howitzer.

Blunt's Troop, 2nd Tp/3rd Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Capt. Charles Blunt. 5 x 9-pdrs, 1 x 12/24-pdr howitzer.

Engineers

Sappers & Miners. Lt. Maximilian Geneste. Detachment only. (30).

Baggage Guard

2nd Punjaub Cavalry. Lt. Charles Nicholson. 1 x sqn. (80).

Mooltanee Horse. Lt. Caulfield. Sikh Irregulars. (120).

Rebel Forces

Comd: 'General' Buktra Khan,

(lately a subadar of the Bengal Artillery).

Total Force: 7,000 Infantry, 1,000 cavalry and 13 guns. Note that Nicholson's attack fell primarily on the Neemuch Brigade. Much of the Rohilkhund Brigade failed to support its sister formation in any meaningful way.

Neemuch Brigade.

1st Bengal Light Cavalry; one wing only. Kotah Contingent Cavalry (4 x tps).

72nd Bengal Native Infantry, 7th Infantry Gwalior Contingent, Kotah Contingent Infantry.

4th Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery.

Rohilkhund Brigade.

8th Bengal Irregular Cavalry.

18th, 28th, 29th and 69th Bengal Native Infantry.

No. 6 Coy/8th Bn., with No 15 Light Field Battery, Bengal Artillery.

Other Cavalry.

13th Bengal Irregular Cavalry (elements only).

14th Bengal Irregular Cavalry.

Other Artillery.

No. 3 Coy/7th Bn., with No. 5 Light Field Battery, Bengal Artillery.

Total Ordnance.

1 x 24-pdr howitzer, 2 x 12-pdr howitzers, 2 x 9-pdrs, 4 x 6-pdrs and 4 x small calibre brass guns (2 x 4-pdr, 2 x 3-pdr). The likelihood is that the

6-pdrs and perhaps one or two of the 12-pdr howitzers were fielded by the horse artillery troop of the Neemuch Brigade. The other distribution of guns is impossible even to guess at.

The Storming of Delhi

14 September 1857 and succeeding week

Scenario. Following the arrival of the Siege Train the British install their breaching batteries and pummel the city walls. On the morning of 14 September, Major-General Wilson launches four columns of assault. The British take more than a thousand casualties during the first day's fighting, but by nightfall have successfully gained a series of lodgements which they will expand over the ensuing several days of heavy street fighting.

Force Commander: Maj-Gen. Archdale Wilson, late Bengal Artillery.

Assault Commander: Brig. John Nicholson, 27th BNI.

Chief Engineer & Commander Engineer Brigade: Lt-Col. Richard Baird-Smith, Bengal Engineers.

Director of Trenches (Asst. Chief Engineer): Capt. Alex Taylor, Bengal Engineers. Commander Artillery Brigade: Maj. F. Gaitskell, Bengal Artillery. Chief of Intelligence: Lt. Wm. Hodson, 1st Bengal Fusiliers.

Covering Force. HM 60th Rifles. Lt. Col. John Jones. Task: screen the advance of Nos. 1, 2 & 3 Columns. (200).

No. 1 Column. Brig. John Nicholson, 27th BNI. Task: carry the breach by the Kashmir Bastion.

  • HM 75th Regiment. Lt-Col. Charles Herbert. (300).

  • 1st Bengal Fusiliers. Maj. George Jacob. (250).

  • 2nd (Green's) Punjaub Infantry. Capt. George Green. (450).

  • Bengal Artillery detachment intended to turn captured guns on the enemy. (60).

  • 1 x division (2 x 9-pdrs) No. 3 Coy/1st Bn., with No. 17 Light Field Battery, Bengal Artillery.

Note. In the event the 9-pdrs went to support the cavalry brigade in covering the flank of the assault. 

No 2. Column. Brig. William Jones CB, HM 61st Regt.. Task: carry the breach by the Water Bastion.

  • HM 8th Regiment. Lt-Col. Edward Greathed. (250).

  • 2nd Bengal Fusiliers. Capt. Alexander Boyd. (250).

  • 4th (Rothney's) Seikh Infantry. Capt. Octavius Rothney. (350).

  • Bengal Artillery detachment intended to turn captured guns on the enemy. (20).

  • 1 x dvision (2 x 9-pdrs), No.3. Coy./1st Bn, with No. 17 light field battery, Bengal Artillery.

Note. In the event the 9-pdrs went to support the cavalry brigade.

No. 3 Column. Col. George Campbell, HM 52nd Regt.. Task: storm the Kashmir Gate.

  • HM 52nd Regiment. Maj. Joshua Vigors. (200).

  • Kumaon Battalion [Gurkha]. Capt. Robert Ramsay. (250).

  • 1st Punjaub Infantry (Coke's Rifles). Lt. Charles Nicholson. (500).

  • Bengal Artillery detachment intended to turn captured guns on the enemy. (20).

No. 4 Column. Maj. Charles Reid, Sirmoor Bn. Task: clear the outlying suburb of Kissengunge, then enter by the Lahore Gate.

  • Pickets of the Day (380):

  • HM 60th Rifles (50), HM 61st Regt. (80),1st Bengal Fusiliers (160), Kumaon Bn (65), 1st Punjaub Infantry (25).

  • Sirmoor Battalion. [Gurkha]. [Maj. Reid, above]. (200).

  • Guides Infantry. Lt. Robert Shebbeare, 60th BNI. (200).

  • Kashmir Contingent Vanguard. Capt. H. A. Dwyer. (400 inf, 100 'mounted police' & 4 x 6-pdr).

  • Kashmir Contingent Main Body. Capt. Richard Lawrence. (800 inf).

Notes. In the event No. 4 Column failed to accomplish its assigned tasks, due to the unexpected presence of about 2,000 mutineers in Kissengunge. This initial presence was heavily reinforced from within the city, leading to a sequence of fierce counterattacks which effectively defeated No. 4 Column and drove it back in some disorder. Note that the Kashmir Contingent operated in separate bodies from the rest of the column. All four of its guns were lost in the heavy fighitng around Kissengunge. 

Reserve. Brig. John Longfield, HM 8th Regt.. (Eventually entered by the Kashmir Gate).

  • HM 61st Regiment. Lt-Col. Charles Deacon. (250).

  • 4th (Wilde's) Punjaub Infantry. Capt. Alfred Wilde. (450).

  • 1st Belooch Battalion; one wing only. Lt. Col. R. Farquhar. (300). [Title also rendered as 'Beluch'].

  • Rajah of Jhind's Contingent. Lt-Col. H. F. Dunsford, 59th BNI. (300).

Notes. HM 60th Rifles was to join the Reserve Column after screening the break-in of Nos. 1, 2 & 3 Columns.

When at length Longfield did enter the city, he left the Beluch Battalion to support the cavalry in covering the right flank. 

Cavalry Brigade. Brig. Hope Grant CB, HM 9th Lancers. Task: Right flank protection to the assaulting columns.

  • HM 9th Lancers. (2 x sqns). Capt. Wm. Drysdale. (200).

  • 1st Punjaub Cavalry. Lt. John Watson. 1 x sqn.

  • 2nd Punjaub Cavalry. Lt. Dighton Probyn. 1 x sqn.

  • 5th Punjaub Cavalry. Lt. George Younghusband, 13th BNI. 1 x sqn.

  • Guides Cavalry. Capt. Charles Sanford, 3rd BLC.

  • Hodson's Horse. Capt. Wm. Hodson, 1st Bengal Fusiliers. A wing only.

  • Remmington's Troop, 1st Bde/1st Bde, Bengal Artillery. 3 x 6-pdrs.

  • Tombs' Troop, 2nd Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Maj. Harry Tombs. 4 x 6-pdrs.

Notes: The aggregated strength of the five Indian cavalry regiments was 410 sowars. There were 70 men present from the two

BHA troops: Hope Grant's report implies that both were under the command of Maj. Tombs, suggesting that in effect they

operated as a single tactical grouping. Despatches do not mention Capt. Frederick Remmington who may have been sick or injured. Note that in due course Capt. George Bourchier brought the 4 x 9-pdrs of his battery which

had originally been assigned to Nos. 1 & 2 Columns to cover the cavalry brigade instead. 

Cavalry Reserve. Lt-Col. Wm. Custance, HM 6th DG. (About 400 men all told).

  • HM 6th Dragoon Guards.

  • Hodson's Horse. The balance.

  • 1 x Tp Guides Cavalry. Lt. Alfred Mackenzie, 3rd BLC.

  • Possibly some proportion of the 1st, 2nd and 5th Punjaub Cavalry.

  • Probably the Mooltanee Horse.

Defence of the Ridge, Camp and Batteries. OIC: Col. John Dennis, HM 52nd LI.

Note of Casualties on the first day of the assault:

British: 8 officers & 162 NCOs and men killed. 52 officers & 510 NCOs and men wounded. 10 men missing.

Indian: 103 killed, 310 wounded.

Total casualties: 1,145 with 10 missing.

Composition of the Kashmir Gate 'Explosion Party'. 

Officers, Bengal Engineers: Lieutenants Duncan Home and Philip Salkeld. European NCOs, Bengal Sappers & Miners: Sgt. John Smith, Sgt. Andrew Carmichael, Cpl. F. Burgess (alias Joshua Grierson). HM 52nd Regt: Bugler Robert Hawthorne. Indian officers and soldiers, Bengal Sappers & Miners: Subadar Toola; Jemadar Bisram; Havildars Madhoo, Tiluk Singh and Ramtaroy; Sepoys Ram Het and Sahib Singh, Ajudhya Park. 

PART 2 - THE CAWNPORE & LUCKNOW FRONT

Battle of Chinhat

30 June 1857

'Leave me, sir, and rejoin your company'. 

The badly wounded Lt-Col. William Case, commanding HM 32nd Regt,

to Capt. Alfred Bassano, one of his company commanders.

Scenario. Sir Henry Lawrence sallies out of Lucknow to confront an approaching force of Mutineers, but is overmatched by a much more powerful force and forced to retreat in disorder. The battle marks the beginning of the Siege of Lucknow. 

British & Company Forces

Comd: Brig-Gen. Sir Henry Lawrence KCB.

2IC: Col. John Inglis, HM 32nd Regt.

OC Arty: Capt. Alfred Simons.

Cavalry.

  • Volunteer Horse. (European). Capt. C. W. Radcliffe, 7th BLC. (36).

  • Loyal residues of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Oude Irregular Cavalry (primarily Sikh sowars). Lt. G. Hardinge. (120).

Infantry.

  • HM 32nd Regt. Lt-Col. Wm. Case. (300).

  • 13th BNI. Maj. C. F. Bruere. (150).

  • 48th BNI. Lt-Col. H. Palmer. (60).

  • 71st BNI. Lt. J. M. Birch. (20).

Police Detachment. [Disloyal].

  • About 300 men. Believed to be civil police as they seem not to have been universally provided with muskets. In any event, they changed sides at the outset of the battle and proceeded to engage the British from a flank.  

Artillery. [Oude native gunners disloyal: cut traces and overturned some guns].

  • 4 x guns No. 4 Coy/1st Bn., with No. 9 Field Bty, Bengal Artillery. 2Lt. F. J. Cunliffe. Horse drawn light field battery. European crews.

  • 4 x guns Alexander's Bty, No. 2 Light Field Bty., Oude Irregular Artillery. 2Lt. D. MacFarlan. Indian crews.

  • 2 x guns Ashe's No. 3 Light Field Bty., Oude Irregular Artillery. 2Lt. J. H. Bryce. Indian crews.

  • 1 x 8 in. howitzer (nicknamed 'the Turk'). 2Lt. J. Bonham. Elephant draught. European crew.

Rebel Forces

Comd: Burkat Ahmed (a risaldar of the 15th Bengal Irregular Cavalry). The contingents of the Talookdars kept to themselves under the leadership of one Khan Ali Khan.

Cavalry. (800).

15th Bengal Irregular Cavalry.

  • Bulk of 1st, 2nd & 3rd Oude Irregular Cavalry.

    • Trained Infantry. (5,500).

    • 22nd Bengal Native Infantry.

    • 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th and 9th Oude Irregular Infantry.

    • 1st and 2nd Regiments Military Police.

    Average strengths per unit of about 600.

    Levied Infantry. (Strength uncertain).

    • Contingents of three Oude talookdars from Ramnugger Dhumeyree and Mahonah. 

    Artillery. (16 guns).

    • No. 5 Coy/7th Bn., with No. 13 Field Bty, Bengal Artillery. Horse drawn light field battery, 9-pdr equipped.

    • No. 1 Light Field Bty, Oude Irregular Artillery. Horse drawn light field battery, 9-pdr equipped.

    • 4 x light guns. Type unknown. Possibly 6-pdrs. 

    The Siege of Cawnpore

    Sir Hugh Wheeler's Entrenchment at Cawnpore

    The Siege of Lucknow

    The British Defensive Perimeter at Lucknow

    Composition of the Allahabad Moveable Column

    The task of relieving Maj-Gen. Sir Hugh Wheeler at Cawnpore and Brig-Gen. Sir Henry Lawrence at Lucknow is assigned to Brig-Gen. Henry Havelock, who is to command the 'Moveable Column' being assembled at Allahabad. Col. James Neill, 1st Madras Fusiliers, the first senior officer to reach Allahabad, restores order locally and promptly despatches an advanced force up-country under the command of Maj. George Renaud. It consists of 200 officers and men of HM 84th (York & Lancaster) Regiment, 300 1st Madras Fusiliers, 300 Sikhs of the Ferozepore Regiment, 65 Indian Irregular Cavalry and 2 x bullock drawn 9-pdrs manned by 'invailds' (old soldiers) of the Bengal Artillery. Renaud soon establishes that General Wheeler has recently (26 June) capitulated on terms, (namely the grant of safe conduct to Allahabad), but that the survivors of the siege have since been massacred in an act of treachery perpetrated the following day. The leader of the rebels at Cawnpore is a local nawab from Bithur known as the Nana Sahib. The 210 women and children who survive the initial massacre are held captive at a building called the Bibighar, (though a viciously cruel fate still lies ahead of them). Havelock departs Allahabad with the main body and, by forced marching, catches up with Renaud just in time to prevent his being attacked by a greatly superior rebel force: the Battle of Fatehpur ensues within a matter of hours.

     Force Commander: Brig-Gen. Henry Havelock.

    DQMG (COS): Lt-Col. Fraser Tytler. DAAG: Capt. Stuart Beatson. Logistics: Capt. McBean. ADC. Lt. Henry Havelock.

    Cavalry.

    • Allahabad Volunteer Cavalry. Capt. Lousada. Barrow, 5th Madras Light Cavalry. (20).

    • Detachments 3rd Oude Irregular Cavalry & 13th Bengal Irregular Cavalry. Lt. C. H. Palliser. Disarmed 14 Jul 57. (95).

    Infantry.

    • HM 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment. Maj. Thomas Stirling. (435).

    • HM 84th (York & Lancaster) Regiment. 2 x centre coys. Initially Lt. H. A. W. Ayton, then Capt. Eugene Currie (KIA 16 Jul). (190).

    • HM 78th Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs). Col. Walter Hamilton. (Wing: grenadier, light, No. 3 and No. 6 Coys. (284).

    • 1st Madras Fusiliers ('Neill's Bluecaps'). Maj. George Renaud, (WIA mortally 15 Jul), then Maj. John Stephenson. (376).

    • Ferozepore Regiment (Brasyer's Sikhs). Capt. Jeremiah Brasyer. (448).

    Artillery.

    • Maude's Battery, No. 3 Coy/8th Bn., Royal Artillery. Capt. Francis Maude. (3 & 76 Europeans, 18 x golandauz, N/K qty Indian civilian drivers). Bullock-drawn. Initially 2 x 6-pdrs, 2 x 9-pdrs, 2 x 12-pdr howitzers. After the first action of the campaign Maude used captured guns to re-equip his battery with 5 x 9-pdrs and 1 x 24-pdr howitzer. Included in the 76 European personnel were 31 x attached infantrymen, mostly from HM 64th.

    • 1 x ad hoc division, Bengal Artillery. Lt. T. N. Harward. 22 European 'Invalids' Bengal Artillery, N/K qty Indian civilian drivers. 2 x bullock drawn 9-pdrs. Originally with Renaud, Harward's division was subsequently fought as an adjunct to Maude's Battery.     

    On the Ganges.

    The steamer Brahamaputra. Ship's Captain: Lt (?) Dickson, HEIC Bombay Marine (i.e. the Company's naval service). OC Embarked Troops: Captain John Spurgin, 1st Madras Fusiliers, with 100 men from his own regiment and 12 Bengal Artillery invalids manning 2 x 6-pdrs.  

    Brigadier General Henry Havelock

    Maps of Havelock's Operations

    Chronology of Operations and Actions

    of the

    Allahabad Moveable Column

    Havelock's general actions are highlighted in green.

    Events on the Lines of Communication are in square brackets.

    26 June. Maj-Gen. Sir Hugh Wheeler opens negotiations with the Nana Sahib at Cawnpore.

    30 June. Sir Henry Lawrence is defeated at the Battle of Chinhat. The Siege of Lucknow begins.

    30 June. Col. James Neill despatches an advanced guard from Allahabad under Maj. George Renaud (190 x HM 84th, 200 x 1st Madras Fusiliers, 300 x Brasyer's Sikhs, 65 Irregular Horse, 22 x Bengal Artillery with 2 x bullock drawn 9-pdrs). Brig-Gen Havelock arrives at Allahabad and takes command.

    [27 June. The surviving members of General Wheeler's garrison are treacherously attacked at the river and massacred].

    1 July. The steamer Brahmaputra sets out for Cawnpore with Capt. John Spurgin, 100 x Madras Fusiliers, 12 x Bengal Artillery invalids and 2 x 6-pdrs.

    3 July. News from Renaud of the certain fall of Cawnpore arrives with Havelock at Allahabad.

    7 July. Havelock departs Allahabad with the main body of the moveable column.

    12 July. Havelock joins Renaud after a forced march. Unified force is just under 2,000 men and 8 guns. Battle of Fatehpur.

    14 July. Palliser's Irregular Cavalry are disarmed. Their horses and weapons are used to mount and equip 40 volunteers from the infantry who then join Capt. Barrow's ad hoc troop.

    15 July. Battle of Aong & the action at Pandu River. Maj. Renaud, commanding 1st Madras Fusiliers, is mortally wounded.The Bibighar atrocity is perpetrated at Cawnpore: more than 200 women and children are murdered.

    16 July. Battle of Cawnpore (also sometimes referred to as the Battle of Maharajpur or the Battle of Aherwa). Capt. Eugene Currie, commanding HM 84th, is KIA.

    17 July. Havelock's entry into Cawnpore.

    17 July. Maj. John Stephenson's raid on the Nana's palace at Bithoor (unopposed).

    20 July. A reinforcement of 227 officers & men HM 84th Regiment arrives at Cawnpore with the newly promoted Brigadier Neill. Neill is appointed by Havelock to take command of the 300-strong garrison he will leave in situ.

    21 July. Havelock departs Cawnpore, crosses the Ganges and marches for Lucknow.

    [25 July. Lines of Communication: Mutiny at Dinapore].

    [27 July-2 August. Lines of Communication: Siege of Arrah. Mr. H. Wake, the resident magistrate, 14 other civilians and 50 of Rattray's Sikhs fort up at Mr. Boyle's house and are besieged.

    [29 July. Lines of Communication: The Dunbar Disaster. Capt. Charles Dunbar's attempt to relieve Arrah with a 450-strong force from Dinapore ends in a rout].

    29 July. Battle of Unnao & 1st Battle of Bashiratganj.

    31 July. Havelock retires on Mangalwar.

    [2 August. Lines of Communication: Battle of Bibigunge. Maj. Vincent Eyre, Bengal Artillery, defeats the besieging force at Arrah with only 220 men and relieves Mr. Wake.

    4 August. Havelock reinforced at Mangalwar by half of Olpherts' Bty under Lt. W. Smithett and the Light Coy of HM 84th which is immediately re-armed with the Enfields of the casualties to date. 2 x 24-pdrs without crews are also brought up. Capt. Maude mans them with Lt. Crump and some of the men of his battery.

    5 August. 2nd Battle of Bashiratganj.

    6 August. Havelock returns to Mangalwar. Maj. George Cooper, Bengal Artillery, joins and assumes overall command of the artillery.

    [11 August. Lines of Communication: Maj. Eyre attacks and defeats Kunwar Singh at Jagdishpur].

    12 August. Battle of Boorhya-ka-Chowki.

    13 August. With his remaining combat power no longer viable for the task in hand, Havelock retires across the Ganges to Cawnpore.

    15 August. Neill attacks the left wing of the Nana's forces near Cawnpore, as a prelude to Havelock's attack on the enemy main body the following day.

    16 August. Battle of Bithoor.

    17 August. Havelock retires on Cawnpore to await reinforcement and refit his force, a process which includes the arrival of large numbers of Enfields. In the ensuing period to mid-September, 4 more coys of HM 78th Hldrs and the balance of Olpherts' Battery come up. Olpherts has harness made so that he can equip his battery as a horse-drawn one and then trains his men for role.

    1 September. Arrival of details at Cawnpore: 80 x HM 78th Hldrs, 50 x HM 84th, 56 x 1st Madras Fusiliers. Maj-Gen. Sir James Outram arrives at Allahabad.

    11 September. Lines of communication: Maj. Eyre's Action at Koondum Puttee. Eyre's Force 100 x HM 5th Fusiliers, 60 x HM 64th, 40 x 12th Bengal Irregular Cavalry, 2 x guns].

    15 September. Maj-Gen. Sir James Outram arrives at Cawnpore, bringing up 5 x coys HM 5th Fusiliers, 7 x coys HM 90th LI, 1 x coy HM 78th, 60 x volunteer cavalry, 60 x 12th Bengal Irregular Cavalry and 2 x 8-inch howitzers. Outram generously defers to Havelock until Lucknow is relieved, stating that in the interim he will operate only in his civil capacity and as a military volunteer.

    19 September. Havelock re-crosses the Ganges, bound for Lucknow.

    21 September. Action at Mangalwar.

    23 September. Action at the Alambagh.

    25 September. First Relief of Lucknow after a day's bitter street fighting.

    Battle of Cawnpore

    16 July 1857

    (also known as the Battle of Aherwa)

    Official Despatch for the Battle of Cawnpore.

    Brig-Gen. H. Havelock C.B., to the Deputy Adjutant-General of the Army, dated Camp, Cawnpore, 20 July 1857. 

    Sir,

    1. I have the pleasure to announce that the triumph of the Mahratta pretender, Nana Sahib, adopted nephew of the late ex-Peishwa, Bajee Rao, has been of short duration. The treacherous proceedings by which he compassed the destruction of the force under the gallant Sir Hugh Wheeler, have already been reported to the Commander-in-Chief. I have now to announce the complete discomfiture of his force, under his personal command, and the capture of his cannon, followed by the reoccupation of this station, which, since the 6th of June, he has been devastating and desecrating by every form of cruelty and oppression.

    2. He filled up the measure of his iniquities on the 15th; for, on hearing that the bridge at the Pandoo Nuddee was forced, he ordered the immediate massacre of the wives and children of our British soldiers still in his possession in this cantonment which was carried out by his followers with every circumstance of barbarous malignity.

    3. My information was in every respect good, and I ascertained that he had taken up a position at the village of Aherwa, where the Grand Trunk Road unites with that which leads direct to the military cantonment at Cawnpore.

    4. His entrenchments cut and rendered impassable both roads; and his guns, seven in number (two light and five siege calibre), were disposed along his position, which consists of a series of villages. Behind these his infantry, consisting of mutinous troops and his own armed followers, was disposed for defence. It was evident that an attack in front would expose the British to a murderous fire from his heavy guns sheltered in his entrenchment. I resolved, therefore, to manoeuvre to turn his left. My camp and baggage were accordingly kept back, under proper escort at the village of Maharajpore, and I halted my troops there two or three hours in mango- groves to cook and gain shelter from a burning sun.

    5. My column then moved off, right in front; the Fusiliers led, followed by two guns; then came the Highlanders, in rear of whom was the central battery of six guns, under Captain Maude. The 64th and 84th had two guns more in their rear, and the Regiment of Ferozepore closed the column. My troops, defiling at a steady pace, soon changed direction, and began to circle round the enemy's left. They were shrouded for some time by clumps of mango; but as soon as the enemy comprehended the object of their march, an evident sensation was created in his lines. He pushed forward on his left a large body of horse, and opened a fire of shot and shell from the whole of his guns. But he was evidently disconcerted by our advance on his flank, and anxious for his communication with Cawnpore. My troops continued their progress until his left was wholly opened to our attack, and then formed line and advanced in direct echelon of regiments and batteries from the right. A wing of the Fusiliers again covered the advance ex tended as riflemen.

    7. The opportunity had arrived for which I have long anxiously waited, of developing the prowess of the 78th Highlanders. Three guns of the enemy were strongly posted behind a lofty hamlet well entrenched. I directed this regiment to advance, and never have I witnessed conduct more admirable. They were led by Colonel Hamilton, and followed him with surpassing steadiness and gallantry under a heavy fire. As they approached the village they cheered, and charged with the bayonet, the pipes sounding the pibroch: need I add that the enemy fled, the village was taken, and the guns captured.

    8. On the left, Major Stirling, with the 64th, was equally successful against another village, and took three guns.

    9. The enemy's infantry appeared to be everywhere in full retreat; and I had ordered the fire to cease, when a reserve 24-pounder was opened on the Cawnpore road, which caused considerable loss to my force; and, under cover of its fire, two large bodies of cavalry at the same time riding insolently over the plain, the infantry once more rallied. The beating of their large drums, and numerous mounted officers in front, announced the definite struggle of the ' Nana' for his usurped dominion.

    10. I had previously ordered my volunteer cavalry to adventure a charge on a more advanced part of the enemy's horse; and I have the satisfaction to report that they conducted themselves most creditably. One of their number, Mr. Carr, was killed in the charge.

    11. But the final crisis approached. My artillery cattle, wearied by the length of the march, could not bring up guns to my assistance; and the 1st Madras Fusiliers, 64th, 84th, and 78th detachments, formed in line, were exposed to a heavy fire from the 24-pounder on the road. I was resolved this state of things should not last; so, calling upon my men, who were lying down in line, to leap on their feet, I directed another steady advance. It was irresistible. The enemy sent round shot into our ranks until we were within 300 yards, and then poured in grape with such precision and determination as I have seldom witnessed. But the 64th, led by Major Stirling and my aide-de-camp (who had placed himself in their front), wore not to be denied. Their rear showed the ground strewed with wounded; but on they steadily and silently came; then with a cheer charged, and captured the unwieldy trophy of their valour.

    12. The enemy lost ail heart, and after a hurried fire of musketry gave way in total rout. Four of my guns came up and completed their discomfiture by a heavy cannonade, and as it grew dark the roofless barracks of our artillery were dimly descried in advance, and it was evident that Cawnpore was once more in our possession.

    13. The points of this victory I shall have afterwards to describe. The troops had been thirteen hours in their bivouac, when a tremendous explosion shook the earth. 'Nana Sahib,' in full retreat to Bithoor, had blown up the Cawnpore magazine. The first movements of the Mahratta indicated a determination to defend himself desperately. Reports from the front assured us that he had assembled 5,000 men, and placed forty-five guns in position for the defence of his stronghold. But his followers have since despaired, and I have taken possession of Bithoor without a shot.

    14. I was joined by the steamer Burrampooter [sic] this morning, which is now in easy communication with me.

    15. I must reiterate my obligations to the officers commanding my detachments and batteries; to Major Stephenson, Madras Fusiliers; Colonel Hamilton, the leader of my Highlanders, who had his horse shot; Major Stirling, 64th, who is slightly wounded; Captain Currie, 84th, severely, I fear dangerously, wounded (since dead); Captain Maude, artillery; Captain Brasyer, commanding the Regiment of Ferozepore; and Captain Barrow, commanding my small body of horse. Lieutenant-Colonel Tytler's zeal and gallantry have been beyond all praise.

    I have already mentioned the conduct of my aide-de-camp in front of the 64th throughout the fight; he was seen wherever danger was most pressing, and I beg specially to commend him to the protection and favour of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.

    I enclose returns of killed, wounded, and missing, and ordnance captured.

    I have, &c.

    H. Havelock,

    Brigadier-General,

    Commanding Allahabad Movable Column.

    Special Order of the Day, by Brig-Gen, H. Havelock CB, dated Cawnpore, 20 Jul 1857.

    The Brigadier-General takes blame to himself for not having yet noticed in orders the gallant behaviour of the troops in the two affairs of the 15th inst., and the victory of the 16th. But he has in the meantime sustained a heavy loss in the sudden death of his deputy assistant-adjutant-general, and his time has been preoccupied in preparations for the troops' further cause of congratulation.

    Cawnpore, won by Lord Lake in 1803, has been a happy and peaceful place ever since; until the wretched ambition of a man, whose uncle's life was, by a too indulgent government, spared in 1817, filled it in 1857 with rapine and bloodshed. When, soldiers, your valour won the bridge at the Pandoo Nuddee, you were signing the death-warrant of the helpless women and children of your comrades of the 32nd; they were murdered in cold blood by the miscreant Nana Sahib, whose troops fled in dismay at the victorious shout of your line on the evening of the memorable 16th.

    Soldiers! Your general is satisfied, and more than satisfied with you. He has never seen steadier or more elevated troops. But your labours are only beginning. Between the 7th instant and the 16th you have, under the Indian sun of July, marched 126 miles, and fought four actions. But your comrades at Lucknow are in peril. Agra is besieged. Delhi is still the focus of mutiny and rebellion. You must make great sacrifices if you would obtain great results. Three cities have to be saved – two strong places to be disblockaded [sic]. Your general is confident that he can effect all these things, and restore this part of India to tranquillity, if you only second him with your efforts, and if your discipline is equal to your valour.

    Highlanders! It was my earnest desire to afford you the opportunities of showing you how your predecessors conquered at Maida. You have not degenerated. Assaye was not won by a more silent, compact, and resolute charge than was the village near Jansemow on the 16th instant.

    64th! You have put to silence the gibes of your enemies throughout India; you reserved your fire until you saw the colour of your enemies' moustaches: this gave us the victory

    2nd Battle of Bashiratganj

    5 August 1857

    Official Despatch for the 2nd Battle of Bashiratganj. 

    Brig-Gen. H. Havelock C.B., to the Deputy Adjutant-General of the Army, Calcutta, dated camp, Mangalwar, 6 Aug 1857. 

    I beg you will acquaint His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief that having received information that the enemy had re-occupied Busheratgunge in force, I advanced against that place yesterday, turned the left of the position, with the Highlanders, Sikhs and Captain Maude’s Battery, under Colonel Hamilton: attacking in front with the rest of my force, I drove the enemy out of the town and across the narrow causeway and bridge with great slaughter., and returned to this position at night; not a soldier or armed villager on the enemy’s side dared to follow me.


    The insurgents had eight or ten guns beyond the causeway; two on this side of it, two of those beyond were 24-pounders. The whole were kept at such a distance, and withdrawn so rapidly, that we never got a fair sight of them. None therefore fell into our hands, but two on the walls, which has been captured on the 29th ultimo, and dismantled by the Commandant of Artillery, so imperfectly, however, that the enemy again fired out of them.


    I estimate the loss of the enemy at 300 killed and wounded; mine was twenty-five. The enemy will not, I fear, again venture to fight with a narrow causeway and swamp in his rear.


    I enclose a return of casualties; also a sketch of the ground.

    I have, &c.

    H. HAVELOCK,

    Brigadier-General,

    Commanding Allahabad Moveable Column.

    Battle of Bithoor

    16 August 1857

    Note: the residency shown on the map is that of the Nana Sahib.

    Official Despatch for the Battle of Bithur

    Brig-Gen. H. Havelock C.B., to the Deputy-Adjutant-General of the Army, Calcutta, dated Bivouac, Bithoor, 17 Aug 1857.

    Sir,


    I have to request the favour of your informing the Commander-in-Chief that I marched to this place yesterday.


    The mutineers of the 31st and 42nd from Saugor, the 17th from Fyzabad, and sepoys of other regiments, with troops of the 2nd Light Cavalry and 3rd Irregulars, united to a portion of Nana Sahib’s troops, were, with two guns, in one of the strongest positions I have ever seen: they numbered 4,000 men. The plain, densely covered with thicket, and flanked by villages, has two streams flowing through it, not fordable by troops of any arm, and only to be crossed by two narrow bridges, the furthest of which was protected by an entrenchment armed with artillery: the road takes a turn after passing the second bridge, which protects defenders from direct fire; and behind are the narrow streets and brick houses of Bithoor. I must do the mutineers the justice to pronounce that they fought obstinately, otherwise they could not for a whole hour have held their own, even with such advantages of ground, against my powerful artillery fire; the streams prevented my turning them, and my troops were received, in assaulting the position, by a heavy rifle and musketry fire from the rifle and battalion companies engaged; but, after a severe struggle, the enemy were driven back; their guns captured, and infantry chased off the field in full retreat towards Seorajpore. Had I possessed cavalry, not a rebel nor a mutineer could have reached that place alive; as it is, they shall not long remain there unmolested.


    The loss of the enemy is estimated at 250 killed and wounded. Mine is 49, and my numbers are further reduced by sunstroke and cholera.


    I enclose a sketch of the position, returns of killed and wounded and captured ordnance.

    I have, &c.,

    H. Havelock,

    Brigadier-General,

    Commanding Allahabad Moveable Column.

    Special Order of the Day by Brig-Gen, H. Havelock CB, dated Camp, Cawnpore, 17 Aug 1857.

    The Brigadier-General commanding, congratulates the troops on the result of their exertions in the combat of yesterday. The enemy were driven, with the loss of 250 killed and wounded, from one of the strongest positions in India, which they resolutely defended. They were the flower of the mutinous soldiery, flushed with the successful defection at Sangor and Fyzabad; yet they stood only one short hour against a handful of soldiers of the state, whose ranks had been thinned by sickness and the sword. May the hopes of treachery and rebellion be ever thus blasted; and if conquest can now be achieved under the most trying circumstances, what will be the triumph and retribution of the time when the armies from China, from the Cape, and from England, shall sweep through the land?


    Soldiers, in that moment, your labours, your privations, your sufferings, and your valour, will not be forgotten by a grateful country. You will be acknowledged to have been the stay and prop of British India in the time of her severest trial.

    Rebel Forces engaged against Havelock's Column

    Composition of the Oude Field Force 

    on crossing the Ganges

    for the

    First Relief of Lucknow (25 Sep 1857).

    Force Commander: Brig-Gen Henry Havelock CB

    Present in his civil capacity: Maj-Gen. Sir James Outram KCB, Chief Commissioner of Oude, GOC Cawnpore & Dinapore Divisions.

    COS (to Outram): Col. Robert Napier, Bengal Engineers.

    DQMG (COS to Havelock): Lt-Col. Fraser Tytler. DAAG: Lt. Henry Havelock. Chief Engineer: Capt. Wm Crommelin. 

    1st Infantry Brigade. Brig. James Neill, 1st Madras Fusiliers.

    HM 5th Regiment (Northumberland Fusiliers). Maj. James Simmons. Nos 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, & 10 Coys. (420).

    HM 84th (York & Lancaster) Regiment. (With 2 x coys HM 64th under command). Capt. Frederic Willis.

    1st Madras Fusiliers ('Neill's Bluecaps'). Maj. John Stephenson.

    [Maude's Battery in support during the fight into Lucknow: see below].


    2nd Infantry Brigade. Brig. Walter Hamilton, 78th Hldrs.

    HM 78th Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs). Lt-Col. Henry Stisted. (26 & 523).

    HM 90th (Perthshire Volunteers) (Light Infantry). 7 x coys. Col. Robert Campbell CB. (28 & 646).

    Ferozepore Regiment (Brasyer's Sikhs). Capt. Jeremiah Brasyer. (341).

    [Olpherts' Battery in support during the fight into Lucknow: see below].


    3rd Artillery Brigade. Brig. (Maj.) George Cooper. 18 guns, 282 men).

    Maude's Battery, No. 3 Coy/8th Bn., RA. Capt. Francis Maude. Bullock-drawn field battery. 5 x 9-pdrs, 1 x 24-pdr howitzer.

    Olpherts' Battery, No. 2 Coy/3rd Bn., with No. 12 Light Field Battery, Bengal Artillery. Capt Wm. Olpherts. Horse-drawn.

    5 x 9-pdrs, 1 x 24-pdr howitzer.

    Eyre's Battery, No. 3 Heavy Field Battery, (No. 1 Coy/5th Bn.), Bengal Artillery. Maj. Vincent Eyre. Bullock-drawn. 4 x 24-pdrs,

    2 x 8-inch howitzers.


    Cavalry. Capt. Lousada Barrow, 5th Madras Light Cavalry.

    Allahabad Volunteer Cavalry. (109).

    12th Bengal Irregular Cavalry. A/Capt. Wm. Johnson, 6th BNI. Mostly Sikhs. (59).


    Totals by Arm: 2,388 European Infantry, 341 Sikh Infantry, 109 European Volunteer Cavalry, 59 Sikh Irregular Horse, 282 gunners, 18 x guns.


    Alambagh: on 25 Sep Maj. Colin McIntyre, 78th Hldrs, was left to garrison the Alambagh with 280 British infantry, (a composite body made up of 70-man detachments from HM 5th, HM 78th, HM 84th and 1st Madras Fusiliers), 50 Ferozepore Regiment Sikhs, 2 x 9-pdrs and 2 x 8-in. howitzers. In his charge were 128 sick and wounded and a very large number of Indian camp followers. When Sir Colin Campbell came up in November, McIntryre and his troops were relieved in place by HM 75th and subsequently played a full part in the second relief of Lucknow as components of two composite battalions of detachments. 

    Operations at Lucknow 

    Sep 1857-Mar 1858

    This map shows the routes to the residency taken on 25 Sep by Havelock and in mid-November by Campbell.

    The inset key above explains all. Below: same ground, in slightly larger scale.

    General Sir Colin Campbell's Force

    at the

    2nd Relief of Lucknow

    A drummer boy of the 93rd must have been one of the first to pass that grim boundary between life and death, for when I got in I found him just inside the breach, lying on his back quite dead - a pretty, innocent-looking, fair-headed lad, not more than 14 years of age.

    Lieutenant Fred Roberts, Bengal Artillery, on the storming of the Secunderbagh.

    C-in-C India: General Sir Colin Campbell GCB.

    COS: L/Maj-Gen. William Mansfield, HM 53rd Regt.. Military Secretary: Maj. Archibald Alison, HM 72nd Regt..

    Divisional Commander: Maj-Gen. Hope Grant CB.

    AAG: Capt. Henry Norman. DAQMG: Lt. G. Allgood. DACG: Capt. A. D. Dickens. Acting Chief Engineer: Lt. Lennox.

    OC Royal Artillery: Capt. Frederick Travers. OC Bengal Artillery: Maj. Frank Turner.

    Cavalry Brigade. Brig. Archibald Little, HM 9th Lancers.

    HM 9th Lancers. Maj. Henry Ouvry. 2 x sqns. (200, estimate).

    2nd Bn. Military Train. Maj. James Robertson. 2 x sqns. (200).

    1st Punjaub Cavalry. Lt. John Watson. 1 x sqn.

    2nd Punjaub Cavalry. Lt. Dighton Probyn. 1 x sqn.

    5th Punjaub Cavalry. Lt. George Younghusband, 13th BNI. 1 x sqn.

    Hodson's Horse. Lt. Hugh Gough. (160).

    Note: the aggregated strength of the three Punjab Cavalry regiments was about 300 men).

    Naval Brigade. Capt. Wm. Peel RN. Bullock drawn guns: 6 x 24-pdrs, 2 x 8 in. howitzers. 2 x rocket carts. Includes RMLI detachment. (250).

    3rd Infantry Brigade. Brig. Edward Greathed, HM 8th Regt.

    HM 8th Regiment. Maj. John Hinde. (300, estimate).

    Hamilton's 1st Battalion of Detachments. Lt-Col. Henry Hamilton.

         Nos. 4 & 7 Coys HM 5th Regt., 70 others of HM 5th who had been left at the Alambagh by Outram, a coy sized drafts for HM 

         64th and a 70 man detachment of HM 78th Hldrs which had also been part of the Alambagh garrison.

    2nd (Green's) Punjaub Infantry. Capt. George Green. (550, estimate).

    4th Infantry Brigade. Brig. the Hon. Adrian Hope CB, HM 93rd Hldrs.

    HM 93rd Highlanders. Lt-Col. Alexander Leith Hay. (1,000).

    HM 53rd Regiment. Lt-Col. Charles Gordon, HM 93rd Hldrs. One wing only. (400, estimate).

    4th (Wilde's) Punjaub Infantry. A/Capt. Wm. Paul, 7th BNI. (550, estimate).

    Barnston's 2nd Battalion of Detachments. Maj. Roger Barnston, HM 90th LI.

          3 x coys HM 90th LI and 70 man detachments of HM 84th and 1st Madras Fusiliers that had formerly been part of the Alambagh garrison (600).

    5th Infantry Brigade. Brig. David Russell, 84th Regt.

    HM 23rd Regiment. Lt-Col. Samuel Wells. One wing comprising Nos 2, 4, 5 and 7 Coys only. (400, estimate).

    HM 82nd Regiment. Lt-Col. Edward Hale. 2 coys only. (10 & 200).

    Artillery Brigade. Brig. Wm. Crawford RA.

    Hardy's Battery, No. 4 Coy/5th Bn., RA. Capt. Whaley Hardy. Heavy Field Battery. 2 x 18-pdrs, 1 x 8 in. howitzer.

    Longden's Battery, No. 5 Coy/13th Bn., RA. Capt. Charles Longden. Mortar Battery. 6 x 8 in. mortars, 10 x 5.5 in. mortars.

    Middleton's Battery, No. 6 Coy/13th Bn., RA. Capt. Wm. Middleton. Horse drawn field battery. 4 x 9-pdrs, 2 x 24-pdr howitzers.

    Remmington's Troop, 1st Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Capt. Frederick Remmington. 4 x 6-pdrs, 1 x 12-pdr howitzer.

    Blunt's Troop, 2nd Tp/3rd Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Capt. Charles Blunt. 4 x 9-pdrs, 1 x 24-pdr howitzer.

    1 x division E Troop, Madras Horse Artillery. Lt. C. Bridge. 2 x 6-pdrs.

    Bourchier's Battery, No. 3 Coy/1st Bn., with No. 17 Field Bty., Bengal Artillery. Capt. George Bourchier. Horse drawn light field battery.

         4 x 9-pdrs, 2 x 24-pdr howitzer. 

    Engineers. Lt. Scott, Madras Engineers.

    1 x coy Royal Engineers. Lt. Wilbraham Lennox VC, RE. (80)

    1 x coy Madras Sappers & Miners. (100, estimate).

    Detachment Bengal Sappers & Miners.

    2 x coys Punjaub Sappers & Miners. Newly raised. (200, estimate).

    Left to Garrison the Alambagh. OC: Maj. Moir, Bengal Artillery.

    HM 75th Regiment. Maj. Charles Gordon. (300).

    Ferezopore Regiment. 1 x coy. (50).

    Notes:

    1. Campbell's estimate of his strength on 12 Nov 1857 was 700 cavalry and 2,700 infantry, (with no figures offered for the artillery and engineers). He also reported that he was joined on 14 Nov by 600-700 reinforcements who caught up with his rearguard that morning.

    2. In the case of the units which had marched with Greathed's column from Delhi via Agra, the estimated unit strengths given above are for the most part derived from their reported start state on departure from Delhi, with some allowance for sickness and casualties incurred at the Battle of Agra.

    PART 3 - THE AGRA FRONT

    ''They have done for me now; put a stone over my grave and say that I died fighting my guns.'

    Captain Edward D'Oyly, Bengal Artillery, 5 July 1857.

    The Battle of Sassiah, (5 July 1857), (aka Shahganj). 

    Scenario: Brigadier Polwehele, commanding the Agra and Muttra Districts, advances to meet the Neemuch Brigade in the open field, but is defeated and driven back into Agra Fort. 

    British & Company Forces

    Comd: Brig. Thomas Polwhele

    Deployed Force

    • 3rd Bengal (European) Light Infantry. Lt-Col. Wm. Riddell. 7 x coys (400).

    • D'Oyly's Battery, Bengal Artillery. Capt, Edward D'Oyly. Horse drawn. 5 x 9-pdrs, 1 x 24-pdr howitzer. (3 & 69 Europeans, 54 Indian drivers/golundauz).

    • Agra Militia. (55).

    • Agra Volunteer Cavalry. Capt. Prendergast.

    Left at Agra Fort


    • 3 x coys 3rd Bengal (European) Light Infantry. (168).

    • Agra Militia and Volunteers. (100).

    Note: the battery was fought as half batteries under Capts. D'Oyly and Pearson.

    Rebel Forces

    Comd: 'Brig.' Shaikh Riadut Ali

    (formerly one of the risaldars of 1st BLC

    Cavalry

    • 1st Bengal Light Cavalry. Nos. 4 and 6 Troops.

    • Malwah Contingent Cavalry. 4 x troops.

    • Kotah Contingent Cavalry. 

    Infantry

    • 72nd Bengal Native Infantry including a rifle-armed company.

    • 7th Infantry, Gwalior Contingent.

    • Kotah Contingent Infantry. (500?). 

    Artillery

    • No. 4 (Native) Tp/1st Bde, Bengal Horse Artillery. 6 x guns.

    • Light Field Bty (horsed). 4-6 x guns. (Kotah Contingent?).

    Total Strength: estimated by Polwhele at 5,000 men. The Kotah contingent was an all arms grouping of only 700 or so. For Polwhele not to have overstated the strength of the rebels, there would need to have been a badmash/zemindari element of about 2,000 irregulars present. While the existence of a body of irregulars cannot be ruled out, such a thing does not specifically feature in reports of the action. Six troops of cavalry would come to 500 men at best. Something around 2,300 formed infantry and 500 horse is probably close to the mark. There would almost certainly have been a badmash/zemindari contingent to tally on top of the mutinous soldiery, but whether it was quite as large as Polwhele's estimate would suggest is a moot point.

    The Battle of Agra, (10 October 1857).

    Scenario: Brigadier Greathed's column is redeployed from Delhi to assist in Oudh. En route to Lucknow, Greathed marches via Agra where the garrison has shut itself up since the defeat at Sassiah, notwithstanding there is no siege to speak of. Greathed halts his men in the open countryside just outside Agra, where they set about pitching camp. Many of the officers go into Agra Fort. While they are away a large rebel army emerges as if from nowhere to pounce on the British encampment. Greathed's units hurriedly form up and, as the officers rejoin, mount a series of piecemeal counter attacks, which suffice, after some heavy fighting, to rout the rebel army with the loss of almost all of its guns. 

    British & Company Forces

    Comd: Brig. (Lt. Col.) Edward Greathed, HM 8th Regt.,

    and, some way into the fight,

    Col. Cotton of the Agra garrison who was technically the senior man.

    Cavalry. Maj. Henry Ouvry, HM 9th Lancers.

    • HM 9th Lancers. Capt. Octavius Anson. (300).

    • 1st Punjaub Cavalry. Lt. John Watson. 1 x sqn.

    • 2nd Punjaub Cavalry. Lt. Dighton Probyn. 1 x sqn.

    • 5th Punjaub Cavalry. Lt. George Younghusband, 13th BNI. 1 x sqn.

    • Hodson's Horse. Lt. Hugh Gough, 3rd BLC. (200).

    Infantry

    • HM 8th Regiment. Capt. John Hinde. (225).

    • HM 75th Regiment. Maj. Charles Gordon. (225).

    • 2nd (Green's) Punjab Infantry. Capt. George Green. (600).

    • 4th (Wilde's) Punjab Infantry. A/Capt. Wm. Paul., 7th BNI. (600).

    Note: the strengths of the Queen's batalions are a division of their reported combined strength of 450.

    Artillery

    • 1st Tp/1st Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Capt. Frederick Remmington. 4 x 6-pdrs, 1 x 12-pdr howitzer.

    • 2nd Tp/3rd Bde., Bengal Horse Artillery. Capt. Charles Blunt. 4 x 9-pdrs, 1 x 24-pdr howitzer.

    • No. 17 Light Field Battery, (No. 3 Coy/1st Bn., Bengal Artillery). Capt. George Bourchier. 4 x 9 pdrs, 2 x 24-pdr howitzers.

    Sappers & Miners

    • 2 x coys Punjaub Sappers & Miners. Newly raised. (200).

    Joining the action midway from Agra Fort.

    • Col. Cotton.

    • 3rd European Infantry. (500).

    • Pearson's Battery, Bengal Artillery. 5 x 9-pdrs, 1 x 24-pdr howitzer. (50).

    Rebel Forces 

    Total Strength: said to be 5,000 troops, 12-15 light guns and an irregular contingent of some thousands. 

    Mutinous Troops. A composite grouping which had now become known as the 'Mhow and Indore Brigade'. It included:

    • The remnants, (perhaps 600 men, under one Bheera Singh), of the Neemuch Brigade, (see Sassiah above), which after that action had marched on to Delhi, only to be routed by Nicholson at Najafgarh.

    • 23rd Bengal Native Infantry and the 4 x troop wing of 1st Bengal Light Cavalry from the Mhow Brigade, neither of which had been at Sassiah or Delhi. The Neemuch Brigade included the remnants of Nos. 4 & 6 Troops 1st BLC, which would presumably have attached themselves to the other four troops.

    • Some part of 2nd Cavalry Gwalior Contingent, possibly with other elements of the contingent.

    • Many fugitive sepoys and sowars from the units which had fled Delhi.

    • The Bhopal Contingent. (A regiment of infantry, with small cavalry and artillery attachments).

    Irregulars

    • Badmash elements. Strength unknown but probably in the low thousands.

    • The Mhow regiments had attracted a badmash rabble.

    • It can be presumed that many basmash fugitives from Delhi had attached themselves to the remnants of the Neemuch Brigade.

    Artillery

    • EIC guns: 1 x 18-pdr, 1 x 12-pdr howitzer, 3 x 9-pdrs, 2 x 6- pdrs.

    • Non-EIC Pieces: 1 x 10 pdr, 2 x 8-pdrs, 2 x 7-pdrs. 

    Note: some part of the mutineer cavalry included sowars dressed in red alkaluks: Lt. Arthur Lang's account suggests that these were identified as members the 2nd Gwalior Contingent Cavalry.

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