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Indian Mutiny (1857) Handbook

This  CD-ROM includes a full scan of the 1858 book The Indian Rebellion - Its Causes and Consequences by Alexander Duff- 409 pages in all.  An important eye witness account by a leading and far sighted missionary who had long worked in India.

Insightful descriptions written at the time of the mutiny in India which bring to life the fears and concerns of a British expatriate. Describes in graphic detail the rebellion as it happened across Northern India from Meerut, Delhi, Lucknow to Cawnpore. An ultimate Victorian nightmare for Europeans stranded in a hostile land.

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Accompanying this book is a Description of the Indian Mutiny, its causes, major campaigns and effects. Includes a detailed map of India at the time of the Mutiny and the disposition of British and Native Indian forces. Illustrated by period photos and drawings.

An amazing account of a religious, race and cultural clash which has continued to have echoes even to this very day. Astonishingly brutal on all sides the Indian Mutiny was a rebellion against tyranny which has been burnt into the memories of both British, Indian and Pakistani psyches.

By the middle of the nineteenth century, the British had come to believe they were a superior race; burdened with the mission to distribute the benefits of civilization to the heathen areas of the globe. That the inhabitants of such areas often didn’t want these benefits and certainly not the accompanying British control of their lives was immaterial to Britain’s sense of mission. Native opposition required frequent military force to be applied and few years passed without the British Army being involved, somewhere in the empire, in a continual series of border skirmishes and punitive expeditions.

Of course the British had been involved in European wars much more expensive in blood and treasure than any that ever occurred in the overseas possessions, but they didn’t seem to catch the imagination of the British public in the same way that colonial conflicts did. In 1857, the Indian Mutiny broke out and it rapidly became the greatest of all the imperial wars. It was followed avidly by the British public and as the myths of the Mutiny grew it came to be seen almost as a latter-day British Iliad with gentleman-warriors of Homeric proportions manfully defending the position, dignity and God-given duty of their race.

It was even called the 'epic of the Race' by the historian Sir Charles Crostwaithe and though this may sound ridiculous to the modern ear it was nothing more than a reflection of the confidence and arrogance, with which the British of Victoria's 20th year on the throne viewed the world in general and their Empire in particular. It also reflected the shock and horror that the Mutiny had provoked in Britain and the pride that followed on the heels of Britain's ultimate victory; one seemingly achieved against great odds. Though the Mutiny dragged on for almost two years it was effectively fought and won in a six-month whirlwind of murder, siege, atrocity, forced marches, heroism, savagery and brutality. Women and children were butchered by both sides. Great cities were sacked and the British armies which swept across the north of India to relieve their besieged comrades and avenge their murdered compatriots were perhaps the most enraged and cruelest troops ever to have been put in the field by the government and people of Britain.

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Also included is the full text of the 1910 book - A Narrative of the Seige of Delhi with an account of the Mutiny at Ferozepore in 1857 by Charles John Griffiths late Captain 61st Regiment -

Contents 

CHAPTER I
FEROZEPORE

May 10 to June 13 

Outbreak at Meerut--Neglect of arsenals--H.M.'s 61st Regiment--Characteristics of the British troops in India--Outbreak unexpected--First indication of disaffection--News of the Mutiny at Meerut--Steps taken at Ferozepore--Wives and families moved to the barracks--A party of the 61st Regiment sent into the fort--Proceedings within the fort--45th Regiment of Native Infantry tries to take the fort--It is repulsed--Criticism of the Brigadier's conduct--His want of initiative--The cantonment fired--The damage done--Bells of arms blown up--The 61st dismissed to barracks--A patrol ordered--State of the cantonment--Action of the mutineers--Officers quartered in the barracks--Grenadiers again on special duty--Indifference displayed by the Brigadier--Measures adopted for the safety of the cantonment--Search for mess property--Parsimony of the Government--Anxiety in the Punjab--Loyalty of the Sikhs--Sir John Lawrence's appeal to them--Their characteristics--Spread of the Mutiny--Reaction at Ferozepore--Night-attacks--One in particular--Trial of prisoners--Sentences--Executions

CHAPTER II - ON THE MARCH - June 13 to July 1

A wing of the 61st ordered to Delhi--The five companies selected--Readiness displayed by the regiment--On the march--Cholera appears--I visit an old friend--Badli-ki-Serai--News from Delhi--Entry into camp

CHAPTER III - BEFORE DELHI - July 1 to September 7

A view of Delhi--Vicissitudes of the city--Its defences--defences--The ridge--Position of our camp--Our position--The Goorkhas--Cholera raging--Heat and flies--Executions--The Metcalfe pickets--A sortie expected--expected--Hodson--Bombardment of Metcalfe picket--Enemy reported moving on Alipore--A force sent after them--The action described--Forces complimented by Sir Henry Barnard--His death--His services--Our meagre armament--Scarcity of ammunition--Amusing incident--The Metcalfe house--Our bugle-calls in use by the enemy--A sortie--Ruse by the enemy's cavalry--Gallant conduct of Lieutenant Hills and Major Tombs, Bengal Artillery--Expedition under Brigadier Chamberlain--Chamberlain--Gallant conduct of Brigadier Wm. Jones--Fight at Kishenganj--Meeting with an old friend--A sad story--story--Story of C---- d--A victim of the Meerut massacre--massacre--Strong feeling of revenge in all ranks--A sortie--Attack on Sabzi Mandi pickets and right ridge--An awkward position--Heavy loss of enemy--Cholera and other sickness prevalent--Fishing--Provisions, etc., much appreciated--General Reed resigns and is succeeded by General Wilson--Attack on Sabzi Mandi and Hindoo Rao's repulsed--Bodies of slain sepoys rifled--Difficulty of preventing it--General's approval of Colonel Jones's conduct--The number of attacks by the enemy--Sortie on our left--Repulsed by Brigadier Showers--Expedition under Major Coke--Attack on right pickets at sunset--Combat continues all night--Enemy retires--Loss of enemy--Result of General Wilson's appointment--We attempt to destroy the bridge of boats--Demonstration by the enemy--Pickets on the right harassed--Metcalfe pickets shelled--Brigadier Showers takes four guns--Our reinforcements arrive under Nicholson--His character--Mrs. Seeson comes in from the city--The enemy fires rockets--He establishes a battery on the left bank of the river--river--Sortie--Expedition under Nicholson--Battle of Najafgarh--Elkington mortally wounded--Gabbett killed--killed--Death of Elkington--Right pickets harassed--An amusing incident--The Afghans--Alarm in the Punjab--Bands play in camp--Fatal shell from across the river--An uncomfortable bath--The siege-train arrives--Our allies--Zeal of the engineers--New batteries established 

CHAPTER IV - CAPTURE OF THE CITY - September 7 to 14

Strength of our force--General Wilson's order--Volunteers for artillery called for--All our batteries open fire--Number of casualties during bombardment--Frequent sorties--Death of Captain Fagan, Bengal Artillery--Breaches examined--Orders for the assault--Details of columns--The assault--Blowing in of Kashmir Gate--Details of the operations--Cowardly tactics of the enemy--Gallant conduct of Private Moylan, 61st Regiment--Gallant conduct of Surgeon Reade, 61st Regiment--Doing of Nos. 1 and 2 columns--Nicholson mortally wounded--No. 4 column attacks Kishenganj--Conduct of the Kashmir troops--They lose their guns--Their search for them--Failure of the attack on Kishenganj--Intention of the enemy--Work of the Cavalry Brigade--Support by the Guides infantry--Casualties on September 14--Bravery of the native troops--Temptations to drink--All liquor destroyed--We construct more batteries--Reported intentions of the General--These overruled--The enemy attacks our advanced posts--We storm the magazine--Further advance of Nos. 1 and 2 Columns--The 61st move to the church--Colonel Skinner--State of the church--Unsuccessful attack on the Burn bastion--Eclipse of the sun--The Burn bastion captured--The enemy begin to retire--Capture of the Lahore Gate and Garstin bastion--The Palace and Selimgarh taken--The Jama Masjid taken--The 61st move to Ali Khan's house--Casualties--Reflections

CHAPTER V - OCCUPATION OF THE CITY - September 20 to May, 1858

Lack of appreciation by Government--A contrast--Delay in issue of prize money and medals--Unceremonious presentation of the latter--Complete desertion of the city by the enemy--A stroll through the city--Looting--Discovery of hiding inhabitants--They are ordered to leave the city--Disgraceful desertion of pets--State of the streets--Hodson captures the King of Delhi--The King's appearance described--His trial and sentence--Hodson captures the King's sons and grandson--Their deaths--Diminished strength of the 61st Regiment--It moves to the Ajmir Gate--The Jama Masjid and view from it--Its garrison--A movable column dispatched towards Cawnpore--Soldiers and others forbidden to enter or leave the city--The Mooltani horse--Indulgence to Goorkhas--Their appreciation--An exodus--Strict regulations--State of feeling of the army--Work of the Provost Marshal--Two reputed sons of the King executed--The suburbs--An amusing incident--Visiting the old positions--Cholera still rife--2,000 sick and wounded in the Selimgarh--We move to the magazine--I am recommended for sick leave--I leave Delhi for Umballah--I am robbed _en route_--Report matters to Commissioner and receive compensation--Leave for Ferozepore and home

CHAPTER VI - THE RICHES OF DELHI - Delhi famed for its treasures--General Wilson's order--Army anxious about prize-money--Batta to be granted instead--Indignation of army generally--Humorous placard--Interest on unpaid prize-money promised--Opinion of the Times--Prize-agents appointed--Early looting--A white elephant--Evidence of looting--The practice excused--A lucky haul--Scruples cast aside--Personal experiences--A tempting display--No proper account rendered--Method of search--A mine of wealth--A neglected opportunity--A happy thought--A wrinkle--A favourite hiding-place--An exceptional house--A mishap--Art treasures--"'Tis an ill wind," etc.--Pleasant memories

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US$19.99 incl postage

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