Osprey Men-at-Arms 67 : The Indian Mutiny

On the 24 April, 1855, Colonel Carmichael Smyth held a parade of the ninety skirmishers of the 3rd Light Cavalry of the Bengal Army at Meerut, some 30 miles from Delhi. Colonel Smyth held the parade in order to explain that the men no longer needed to bite their rifle cartridge, but could tear or pinch it with their fingers. A cartridge was offered to each, but only five accepted, the others refusing. The officer commanding the station was notified and fifteen native officers were appointed to hold a court-martial, which sentenced the 85 skirmishers to ten years hard labour. A general punishment brigade was ordered and in front of the garrison, the 85 rebels were stripped of uniform, bound in chains and led off. The disastrous events which followed provided a spark which ignited an almost wholesale mutiny of the Honourable East India Company's Bengal Native Army. Had the ensuing uprising succeeded, it would have threatened the validity of the entire British Empire. As it was the Mutiny witnessed several tragic and bloody events, from the original incident in Meerut to the horrifying siege of Cawnpore. Christopher Wilikinson-Latham details the history of the conflict, from its beginnings to ultimate resolution accompanied by illustrations by Gerry Embleton.

Contents

• The Devil's Wind
• Meerut
• Delhi
• Cawnpore
• Lucknow
• Chronology
• The Plates