A tale of 3 battles from 1857- Indian Express
In 1857studies, military history is neglected. In the Bengal Army, Avadh and Bihar-based Poorabia Sepoys, the main force behind the 1857 movement, were not allowed to move beyond the non-commissioned subedar rank. As a result, by 1857 even senior sepoys had not commanded more than a company of 100 soldiers. Suddenly, after killing their officers and proclaiming Bahadur Shah Zafar’s rule, they found themselves leading whole regiments of often 1,000 soldiers, mixed with several Irregular Regiments and ill-equipped peasant militias into open-field battles against trained British troops. The British, in contrast, followed classic, elite European war tactics, refined by such illustrious names as Frederick the Great and Napoleon.Kanpur was the first test. Here, in June 1857, the British Commander Wheeler went into trench warfare mode, moving women, children and his forces into a well-dug entrenchment. The entrenchment lay behind the barracks; it had the Ganges at its rear and it formed three well-marked sides. It was actually a British military square of mud and lime. Wheeler’s gunners had managed to push more than half a dozen artillery pieces in the fortification; provisions capable of lasting for months were stored.
It was difficult to attack or carry the position by storm; the sides of the square prevented that. Wheeler could hold out as long as help arrived from Calcutta or Benaras. At one point he was confident enough to send troops to Lucknow for assistance. Commencing on June 6, the Indian attack answered volleys with volleys. In the first few days, sepoys operated three guns from a 500-yard distance. By June 8, the number increased to 10. Wheeler had stored a lot of ammunition. Though not deficient in this field, Nana’s troops were short on spare ammo. By June 11 and 12, despite occasional sorties by British troops, the incessant Indian fire made Kanpur unbearable for the British. On June 12, the sepoys invented the method of firing carcasses; the barracks meant to cover the entrenchment were set on fire.
Wheeler surrendered. British men, women and children were allowed safe passage to Allahabad on condition they give up their arms. On the June 27th morning, the day of the British retreat at the Kanpur Satichaura Ghat, the sepoys collected on the Ganges bank were fired upon. Nana’s treaty had stipulated that the British would be allowed safe passage only if they disarmed. Getting the wind of the British plan, the Indian sepoy leaders decided to surround the ghats from both sides. The British were decimated in close quarter fighting.
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