Chapter XXIV: Military Operations in February (2)

The Nizam’s country, generally peaceful on account of his fidelity to the English, became a field of temporary struggle owing to the insubordination of a minor chieftain, the Rajah of Shorapore. His small territory, bounded on one side by the river Kistnah, occupied an angle in the dominions of the Nizam. Wishing, perhaps, to rise from the rank of a petty chieftain to one of greater power, he had for some time displayed hostility towards the British. But his career now came to an end. A force left Belgaum at the end of January, to advance to Shorapore; another left Kulladghee for the same destination; while a third advanced from Madras. The Nizam, at the same time, acting in harmony with his prime minister and Colonel Davidson, issued a proclamation denouncing as rebels any of his subjects who should assist the chief of Shorapore. These various measures had the desired result; the insurgents were dispersed, Shorapore seized, and the chief made prisoner.

In reference to such occurrences as the one described in the last paragraph, it may be observed that many of the residents, or British representatives at the courts of native princes, exhibited a wisdom and intrepidity which claim for them a rank by the side of the military heroes whose names are much better known to the world. Such a one was Colonel Davidson, British resident at the Nizam’s court at Hyderabad in the Deccau. During many months, he, with a few hundred faithful troops, maintained English prestige amongst a fanatic Mussulman population of two or three hundred thousand men, who often threatened the handful of British in the city. ‘Disaffected persons,’ a well-informed authority has said, ‘thronged to the Nizam’s palace by day and by night, with imprecations upon their lips against Europeans. It was impossible to tell when mutiny might break out among the native soldiers; and it was certain that the rabble were only awaiting their opportunity to glut themselves with English blood. Yet amidst all this the British resident never faltered or wavered; and by mere force of character he preserved peace in the city and district, and succeeded in securing to our side the Nizam and his minister Salar Jung. This Salar Jung was a young and well-educated man, who for his friendship to the British was hated by the Mussulmans.’ The position of this minister was almost as dangerous as that of the resident; for if the attack of the 17th of July[140] had succeeded, he would have shared the common fate of the British. Colonel Davidson not only secured Hyderabad, but was subsequently enabled to send a considerable cavalry force for service elsewhere.

Among other political arrangements of the month, was the termination of a short governorship in the regions around Allahabad. On the 4th of August, in the preceding year, after the Northwest Provinces had been thrown into anarchy by the mutiny, a ‘lieutenant governorship of the Central Provinces’ was established, and placed in the hands of Mr John Peter Grant, one of the members of the Supreme Council at Calcutta. A few weeks afterwards, on the 19th of September, some of the other provinces in the Jumna regions were placed under a ‘chief-commissioner of the Northwest Provinces.’ Both of these offices were abolished by the governor-general in council, on the 9th of February; and Viscount Canning, then at Allahabad, took under his immediate authority and control the whole of the provinces lately placed under those officers. He became in fact, though not in name, and for a temporary period, governor of a presidency of which Allahabad was the capital. At or about the same time, Meerut and Delhi were handed over to the chief-commissioner of the Punjaub. Thus, all the political power between Calcutta and the Afghan frontier being in the hands of Canning and Lawrence, and all the military power in Sir Colin Campbell, it was hoped that greater energy and precision would be thrown into the combined operations.

Notes.

_Sir Colin Campbell’s Army of Oude._—On the 10th of February, as
stated in the text of this chapter, the commander-in-chief made a
formal announcement of the component elements of the army with which
he was about to enter Oude. These particulars we give here in a
note, as a permanent record of an interesting matter in the military
history of the Revolt. It must be clearly borne in mind, however,
that this army of Oude comprised only such troops as were at that
date under the immediate command of Sir Colin. Columns, corps, and
field-forces, under Franks, Seaton, Jung Bahadoor, Macgregor,
Windham, Van Cortlandt, Penny, M’Causland, Greathed, Roberts, Rose,
Steuart, Stuart, Whitlock, and other officers, were rendering active
or defensive services in various parts of India; and it depended on
the course of circumstances whether any and which of these could
assist in the grand operations against Lucknow.

‘_Head-quarters, Camp Cawnpore, Feb. 10._

‘The troops now in Oude, and those advancing into that province, are
formed into divisions and brigades, and staff-officers are attached
us follows; the whole being under the personal command of his
Excellency the Commander-in-chief.

‘Such appointments as now appear for the first time will take effect
from this date.

Artillery Division.

‘Staff.—Major-general Sir A. Wilson, K.C.B., Bengal Artillery,
commanding; Major E. B. Johnson, Bengal Artillery, Assistant
Adjutant-general; Lieutenant R. Biddulph, Royal Artillery,
Deputy-assistant-quartermaster-general; Lieutenant-colonel C. Hogge,
Bengal Artillery, Director of Artillery in the Ordnance Department;
Captain C. H. Barchard, 20th Regiment Native Infantry, Aid-de-camp;
Lieutenant H. G. Deedes, 60th Royal Rifles, Extra Aid-de-camp.

‘Brigade of Field-artillery.—Brigadier D. E. Wood, C.B., Royal
Horse-artillery; Lieutenant J. S. Frith, Bengal Horse-artillery,
Major of Brigade.—E troop Royal Horse-artillery; F Troop Royal
Horse-artillery; 1st Troop 1st Brigade Bengal Artillery; 2d Troop
1st Brigade Bengal Artillery; 2d Troop 3d Brigade Bengal Artillery;
3d Troop 3d Brigade Bengal Artillery; 3d Company 14th Battalion
Royal Artillery, and No. 20, Light Field-battery; 2d Company 3d
Battalion Bengal Artillery, and No. 12 Light Field-battery.

‘Brigade of Siege-artillery.—Brigadier G. R. Barker, C.B., Royal
Artillery; Lieutenant A. Bunny, Bengal Horse-artillery, Major of
Brigade.—3d Company 8th Battalion Royal Artillery; 6th Company 11th
Battalion Royal Artillery; 5th Company 12th Battalion Royal
Artillery; 5th Company 13th Battalion Royal Artillery; 4th Company
1st Battalion Bengal Artillery; 1st Company 5th Battalion Bengal
Artillery; 3d Company 5th Battalion Bengal Artillery; Detachment
Bengal Artillery recruits.

‘The Naval Brigade will form part of the division under Sir Archdale
Wilson, but will be under the immediate command of Captain W. Peel,
C.B., Royal Navy, and independent of the Brigade of Siege-artillery.

‘Engineer Brigade.—Brigadier R. Napier, Bengal Engineers,
Chief-engineer; Major of Brigade, Lieutenant H. Bingham, Veteran
Establishment, Brigade Quartermaster; Lieutenant-colonel H. D.
Harness, Royal Engineers, commanding Royal Engineers; Captain A.
Taylor, Bengal Engineers, commanding Bengal Engineers.—4th Company
Royal Engineers; 23d Company Royal Engineers; Head-quarters Bengal
Sappers and Miners; Punjaub Sappers and Miners; corps of Pioneers.

Cavalry Division.

‘Brigadier-general J. H. Grant, C.B., commanding; Captain W.
Hamilton, 9th Lancers, Deputy-assistant-adjutant-general;
Lieutenant F. S. Roberts, Bengal Horse-artillery,
Deputy-assistant-quartermaster-general; Captain the Hon. A. H. A.
Anson, her Majesty’s 84th Regiment, Aid-de-camp.

‘1st Brigade.—Brigadier A. Little, her Majesty’s 9th Lancers;
Captain H. A. Sarel, her Majesty’s 17th Lancers, Major of
Brigade.—Her Majesty’s 9th Lancers; 2d Battalion Military Train; 2d
Punjaub Cavalry; Detachment 5th Punjaub Cavalry; Wale’s Horse.

‘2d Brigade.—Brigadier W. Campbell, her Majesty’s 2d Dragoon Guards;
Captain H. Forbes, 1st Light Cavalry, Major of Brigade.—Her
Majesty’s 2d Dragoon Guards; her Majesty’s 7th (Queen’s Own)
Hussars; Volunteer Cavalry; Detachment 1st Punjaub Cavalry; Hodson’s
Horse.

1st Infantry Division.

‘Major-general Sir J. Outram, G.C.B., Bombay Army, commanding;
Captain D. S. Dodgson, 30th Native Infantry,
Deputy-assistant-adjutant-general; Lieutenant W. R. Moorsom,
her Majesty’s 52d Light Infantry,
Deputy-assistant-quartermaster-general; Lieutenant F. E. A.
Chamier, 34th Native Infantry, Aid-de-camp; Lieutenant
Hargood, 1st Madras Fusiliers, Extra Aid-de-camp.

‘1st Brigade.—Brigadier D. Russell, her Majesty’s 84th Regiment.—Her
Majesty’s 5th Fusiliers; her Majesty’s 84th Regiment; 1st Madras
Fusiliers.

‘2d Brigade.—Brigadier C. Franklyn, her Majesty’s 84th Regiment.—Her
Majesty’s 78th Highlanders; her Majesty’s 90th Light Infantry;
Regiment of Ferozpore.

2d Infantry Division.

‘Captain R. C. Stewart, her Majesty’s 35th Regiment,
Deputy-assistant-adjutant-general; Captain D. C. Shute,
Deputy-assistant-quartermaster-general.

‘3d Brigade.—Brigadier W. Hamilton, her Majesty’s 78th Highlanders,
commanding; Captain G. N. Fendall, her Majesty’s 53d Regiment, Major
of Brigade.—Her Majesty’s 34th Regiment; her Majesty’s 38th
Regiment; her Majesty’s 53d Regiment.

‘4th Brigade.—Brigadier the Hon. A. Hope, her Majesty’s 93d
Highlanders; Captain J. H. Cox, her Majesty’s 75th Regiment, Major
of Brigade.—Her Majesty’s 42d Highlanders; her Majesty’s 93d
Highlanders; 4th Punjaub Rifles.

3d Infantry Division.

‘Brigadier-general R. Walpole, Rifle Brigade, commanding;
Captain C. A. Beerwell, 71st Regiment Native Infantry,
Deputy-assistant-adjutant-general; Captain T. A. Carey, 17th
Regiment Native Infantry, Deputy-assistant-quarter-master-general.

‘5th Brigade.—Brigadier Douglas, her Majesty’s 79th Highlanders.—Her
Majesty’s 23d Fusiliers; her Majesty’s 79th Highlanders; 1st Bengal
Fusiliers.

‘6th Brigade.—Brigadier A. H. Horsford, Rifle Brigade.—2d Battalion
Rifle Brigade; 3d Battalion Rifle Brigade; 2d Punjaub Infantry.

‘Captain C. C. Johnson, Deputy-assistant-quartermaster-general, will
be attached to army head-quarters. Deputy-judge Advocate-general to
the Force.—Captain A. C. Robertson, Her Majesty’s 8th (the King’s)
Regiment. Field Paymaster.—Captain F. C. Tombs, 18th Regiment Native
Infantry. Baggage Master.—Lieutenant J. Morland, 1st Bengal
Fusiliers. Provost Marshal.—Captain A. C. Warner, 7th Light Cavalry.
Postmaster.—Major C. Apthorp, 41st Native Infantry. Superintending
Surgeon.—J. C. Brown, M.B., Bengal Horse-artillery. Field
Surgeon.—Surgeon Wilkie. Medical Storekeeper.—Assistant-surgeon
Corbyn, M.D.

‘All staff appointments connected with Major-general Sir J. Outram’s
force not specified above will hold good until the junction of that
force with army head-quarters.

‘All appointments not filled up in the above order are to be
temporarily provided for under the orders of officers commanding
divisions and brigades.

* * * * *

‘The following is the General Staff of the army advancing into Oude:

‘Commander-in-chief.—His Excellency General Sir Colin Campbell,
G.C.B., Her Majesty’s service.

‘Military Secretary to Commander-in-chief.—Major A. Alison,
her Majesty’s service (wounded). Acting Secretary and
Aid-de-camp.—Colonel A. C. Sterling, C.B., her Majesty’s
service. Aid-de-camp.—Captain Sir D. Baird, 98th foot.
Aid-de-camp.—Lieutenant F. M. Alison, 72d Highlanders.
Aid-de-camp.—Captain W. T. Forster, 18th foot. Commandant at
head-quarters, and interpreter.—Captain J. Metcalfe, Bengal
infantry. Surgeon.—Staff-surgeon J. J. Clifford, M.D., her Majesty’s
service. Chief of the Staff.—Major-general W. R. Mansfield, her
Majesty’s service. Deputy-assistant Adjutant-general to the Chief of
the Staff.—Captain R. J. Hope Johnstone, Bombay infantry.
Aid-de-camp to the Chief of the Staff.—Captain C. Mansfield, 33d
foot (wounded). Acting Aid-de-camp.—Lieutenant D. Murray, 64th foot.
Deputy-adjutant-general of the Army.—Major H. W. Norman, Bengal
infantry. Assistant Adjutant-general of the Army.—Captain D. M.
Stewart, Bengal infantry. Deputy-adjutant-general, her
Majesty’s troops.—Colonel the Hon. W. L. Pakenham, C.B.
Assistant-quartermaster-general of the Army.—Captain G. Allgood,
Bengal infantry. Deputy-assistant-quartermaster-general.—Captain C.
C. Johnson, Bengal infantry. Acting quarter-master-general of her
Majesty’s Forces.—Captain C. F. Seymour, 84th foot. Judge
Advocate-general.—Lieutenant-Colonel K. Young, Bengal infantry.
Deputy Judge Advocate-general.—Captain A. C. Robertson, 8th foot.
Principal Commissariat Officer.—Captain C. M. Fitzgerald Bengal
infantry. Commissary of Ordnance.—Captain W. T. Brown, Bengal
artillery. Field Paymaster.—Captain F. C. Tombs, Bengal infantry.
Provost Marshal.—Captain A. C. Warner, Bengal cavalry. Baggage
Master.—Lieutenant J. Morland, Bengal infantry. Principal Medical
Officer, Queen’s Troops.—Dr J. C. Tice. Superintending
Surgeon.—Surgeon J. C. Brown, Bengal artillery.’

* * * * *

_Mohammedan Rebel Leaders._—Whatever may have been the proximate
causes of the Revolt, it is certain that the rebel leaders were
found relatively more numerous among the Mohammedans than among the
Hindoos. They talked more frequently and fiercely about fighting for
the faith; and they dragged into the meshes of a net many Hindoos
who would otherwise have remained free from treasonable
entanglement. Several native proclamations have been noticed in
earlier chapters of this work; and we now present another,
illustrative of Mussulman intrigues. It purports to come from Prince
Mirza Mahomed Feroze Shah, and was dated the 3d of Rujub 1274,
corresponding to the 17th of February 1858:

‘Be it known to all the Hindoo and Mohammedan inhabitants of India
that to rule over a country is one of the greatest blessings from
Heaven, and it is denied to a tyrant or an oppressor. Within the
last few years the British commenced to oppress the people in India
under different pleas, and contrived to eradicate Hindooism and
Mohammedanism, and to make all the people embrace Christianity. The
Almighty Power observing this, diverted the hearts of the people to
a different course, and now every one has turned to annihilate the
English, and they have nearly done so. Through avarice and ambition,
the British have shewn some resistance, though in vain. Through
Divine mercy, that will in a short time be reduced to nothing. Let
this also be known to all the Hindoos and Mussulmans, that the
English bear the bitterest enmity towards them. Should they again
become predominant in this country—which, God forbid—they will
destroy religion, property, and even the life of every one. A brief
sketch of the views and intentions of the Supreme Court and
Parliament is hereby given, in order to warn the people that they
should get rid of habits of negligence, and strive in unity to
destroy the infidels. When the Indian troops mutinied to save their
religion, and killed all infidels in several places, the wise men of
England were of opinion that had the British authorities in India
kept the following things in view, the mutiny would never have
broken out: 1. They should have destroyed the race of the former
kings and nobles. 2. They should have burnt all books of every other
religion. 3. They should not have left even a biswa of ground to any
of the native rulers. 4. They should have intermarried among the
natives, so that after a short time all would have become one race.
5. They should not have taught the use of artillery to the natives.
6. They should not have left arms among the natives. 7. They should
not have employed any native until he consented to eat and drink
with Europeans. 8. The mosques and Hindoo temples should not have
been allowed to stand. 9. Neither Moulvies nor Brahmins should have
been allowed to preach. 10. The several cases brought into the
courts should have been decided according to English laws. 11.
English priests should have performed all nuptial ceremonies of the
natives according to their English customs. 12. All prescriptions of
the Hindoo and Mussulman physicians should have been prohibited, and
English medicines furnished instead. 13. Neither Hindoo nor
Mussulman fakeers should have been allowed to convert people without
the permission of English missionaries. 14. European doctors only
should have been allowed to assist native women in childbed.—But the
authorities did not take means to introduce these measures. On the
contrary, they encouraged the people: so much so, that they at last
broke out. Had the authorities kept in view the maxims above alluded
to, the natives would have remained quiet for thousands of years.
These are now the real intentions of the English; but all of us must
conjointly exert ourselves for the protection of our lives,
property, and religion, and to root out the English from this
country. Thus we shall, indeed, through Divine mercy, gain a great
victory over them. I (the prince) now draw a brief sketch of my
travels, and I hope the people will pay attention to what I say.
Before the destruction of the English, I went on a pilgrimage to
Mecca, and on my return I observed that the English were in a bad
and hazardous position. I therefore offered thanks to God, because
it is in my nature to follow the principles of my religion and to
promulgate justice. I persuaded many at Delhi to raise a religious
war; I then hastened towards Gwalior, where the majority of the
military officers promised to kill the English and take up my cause.
A small portion of the Gwalior army accompanied me. I had not the
least intention to announce war before I had everything in order;
but the army became very enthusiastic, and commenced fighting with
the enemy (the English). Though our army was then but a handful, and
that of the enemy very large in numbers, still we fought manfully;
and, though apparently we were defeated, in reality we were
victorious over our enemy, for we killed 1000 of them. Since then I
have been collecting as well as exhorting the people. I have exerted
myself in procuring ammunition up to this day, now four months since
the commencement. Thank God, an army of 150,000 old and new men are
now bound by a solemn oath to embrace my cause. I have collected
considerable treasury and munitions of war in many places, and in a
short time I shall clear the country of all infidels. Since the real
purpose of this war is to save religion, let every Hindoo and
Mussulman render assistance to the utmost. Those that are old should
offer their prayers. The rich, but old, should assist our sacred
warriors with money. Those in perfect health, as well as young,
should attend in person. But all those who are in the service of
either Mirza Birjish Kadur Bahadoor in Lucknow and of Khan Bahadoor
Khan at Bareilly should not venture out to join us, for these rulers
are themselves using their best endeavours to clear the country of
all infidels. All who join us should do so solely with a view of
promulgating their religion, not with that of worldly avarice. Thus
victory will certainly smile upon us; then distinguished posts will
be conferred on the people at large. The delay in defeating the
English has been caused by people killing innocent children and
women without any permission whatever from the leaders, whose
commands were not obeyed. Let us all avoid such practices, and then
proclaim a sacred war. Lastly, the great and small in this campaign
will be equal, for we are waging a religious war. I (the prince) do
now proclaim a sacred war, and exhort all, according to the tenets
of their religion, to exert themselves. The rest I leave to God. We
shall certainly conquer the English, consequently I invite the
people again to my assistance.—Printed at Bareilly, by Shaick Nisar
Ally, under the supervision of Moulvie Mahomed Kootoob Shah.’

-----

Footnote 137:

‘I have not as yet said one word of the two other camels which were
appointed to carry my tent. Under the eaves of that tent had gathered
a strange population—they came as sparrows come to a house, without
the knowledge or consent of the owner; but the analogy fails in other
respects except noise, because the natives require to be paid. There
are two men who belong to the tent-post, as in England certain
gentlemen belong to horses; then there is a man to carry water, who
belongs to a large skin to contain that liquid; next there is a
cleaner or sweeper; then there is a khitmutgar or servant, and there
is his and my master, one Simon, “an assizes man” he says himself, but
he only means that he is a follower of St Francisco d’Assisi; and then
follow camel-keepers, and horse-keepers, and grass-cutters; so that I
feel very much as Sancho did in his government of Barataria. On the
morning of the 27th, soon after midnight, commenced a tumult in camp,
the like of which I never heard before; first began a loud tapping of
all the tent-pegs, as if an army of gigantic woodpeckers were
attacking us. This was caused by the kélassies, or tent-men, loosening
the tent-pegs, so that they might be drawn easily from the ground when
the word to march was given. Then followed a most hideous grumbling,
growling, roaring noise, as if many thousands of aldermen were choking
all at once, only that it was kept up for hours; that was caused by
the camels objecting to the placement of the smallest article on their
backs, and continuing their opposition till they stalked off with
their loads. Then came the trumpeting of elephants, the squeaking of
bullock cart-wheels, the hum and buzz of thousands of voices, and at
last the first bugle-call, which announced that the time for turning
out had arrived. Daylight was still striving with the moonlight for
mastery, and casting a sort of neutral tint over the camping-ground,
on which blazed the flames of many watch-fires, when the heads of our
columns began to cross the bridge of boats at Cawnpore. There was but
a waste of baked earth where, at sunset, had been a camp—only a few
tents belonging to the commander-in-chief and the head-quarters’
staff, were left behind; and for hours the bridge echoed to the tramp
of men and horse, the rumble of artillery, and the tread of
innumerable elephants, and camels, and oxen. The Ganges is at this
season at its lowest, and the bridges are not, I should think, more
than 300 yards long; one is used for the exit, the other for the
entrance of Cawnpore. They lead to a level sandy plain, overflowed by
the Ganges for several hundred yards in the rainy season, on which
there were now moving, as far as the eye could reach, the strings of
baggage animals and the commissariat carts of the army, with their
fantastic followers.’

Footnote 138:

‘COPY OF CHARGES PREFERRED AGAINST MAHOMED BAHADOOR SHAH, EX-KING OF
DELHI.

‘1. For that he, being a pensioner of the British government in India,
did at Delhi, at various times between the 10th of May and 1st of
October 1857, encourage, aid, and abet Mahomed Bukht Khan, Subadar of
the regiment of artillery, and divers others, non-commissioned
officers and soldiers, unknown, of the East India Company’s army, in
the crimes of mutiny and rebellion against the state.

‘2. For having, at Delhi, at various times between the 10th of May and
1st of October 1857, encouraged, aided, and abetted Mirza Mogul, his
own son, a subject of the British government in India, and divers
other unknown inhabitants of Delhi and of the Northwest provinces of
India, also subjects of the said British government, to rebel and wage
war against the state.

‘3. For that he, being a subject of the British government in India,
and not regarding the duty of his allegiance, did at Delhi, on the
11th of May 1857, or thereabouts, as a false traitor against the
state, proclaim and declare himself the reigning king and sovereign of
India, and did then and there traitorously seize and take unlawful
possession of the city of Delhi; and did, moreover, at various times
between the 10th of May and 1st of October 1857, as such false traitor
aforesaid, treasonably conspire, consult, and agree with Mirza Mogul,
his son, and with Mahomed Bukht Khan, subadar of the regiment of
artillery, and divers other false traitors unknown, to raise, levy,
and make insurrection, rebellion, and war against the state; and,
further to fulfil and perfect his treasonable design of overthrowing
and destroying the British government in India, did assemble armed
forces at Delhi, and send them forth to fight and wage war against the
said British government.

‘4. For that he, at Delhi, on the 16th of May 1857, or thereabouts,
did, within the precincts of the palace at Delhi, feloniously cause
and become accessory to the murder of 49 persons, chiefly women and
children, of European and mixed European descent; and did, moreover,
between the 10th of May and the 1st of October 1857, encourage and
abet divers soldiers and others in murdering European officers and
other English subjects, including women and children, both by giving
and promising such murderers service, advancement, and distinction;
and further, that he issued orders to different native rulers, having
local authority in India, to slay and murder Christians and English
people whenever and wherever found in their territories; the whole or
any part of such conduct being a heinous offence under the provisions
of Act 16, of 1857, of the Legislative Council of India.

‘FREDERICK J. HARRIOTT, MAJOR,
‘_Deputy judge-advocate-general, Government Prosecutor_.

‘_Jan. 5, 1858._’

Footnote 139:

Chap. xx., p. 357.

Footnote 140:

See chap. xvii., p. 291.

Goorkhas in their native country, Nepaul.
]