The greased cartridge - what was it all about? Render date: 2023-03-01T21:49:14.745Z Mason, Philip (1974), page 236 "A Matter of Honour", London: Holt, Rhinehart & Winston. What was the issue of cartridges? In most accounts of the revolt, the greased cartridge has been referred to as the spark and tinder that lit the flames of rebellion. Cookie Policy This revolt had shaken the foundation of . I had no conversation with the King on the subject; but others talked in his presence about it, wondering what could be the object. The . As further evidence, he observes that the Urdu sources of the pre- rebellion and post- rebellion periods usually refer to the British not as angrez (the English), goras (whites) or firangis (foreigners), but as kafir (disbeliever) and nasrani (Christians). [15], The varying stances of the British government, the reduction of allowances, and harsh punishments, contributed to a feeling amongst the troops that the Company no longer cared for them. Before Smithsonian.com, Dash authored the award-winning blog A Blast From the Past. A private company which first entered India to trade in the 1600s, the East India Company had eventually transformed into a diplomatic and military operation. The British Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856 was Lord Dalhousie who passed the Widow Remarriage Act of 1856 which allowed widows to remarry, like Christian women. In 1885, however, the founding of the Indian National Congress marked the beginnings of effective, organized protest for national self-determination. Measures of prevention of future crises naturally began with the army, which was completely reorganized. Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. The movement that Hadow was describing was a remarkable example of rumor gone wild. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/sepoy-mutiny-of-1857-1774014. This book is essentially about the heroes - Tatya Tope, Nana Saheb, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur - and not to forget, a few villains. The whole episode falls into three periods: first came the summer of 1857, when the British, without reinforcements from home, fought with their backs to the wall; the second concerned the operations for the relief of Lucknow in the autumn; and the third was the successful campaign of Sir Colin Campbell (later Baron Clyde) and Sir Hugh Henry Rose (later Baron Strathnairn of Strathnairn and Jhansi) in the first half of 1858. The Revolt of 1857 eventually broke out over the incident of greased cartridges. A rumour spread that the cartridges of the new Enfield rifles were greased with the fat of cows and pigs. Their educational policy was a Westernizing one, with English instead of Persian as the official language; the old elites, schooled in the traditional pattern, felt themselves slighted. (2021, July 31). Few of these participated in the rebellion, and one contingent in particular (the recently raised Punjab Irregular Force) actively participated on the British side. Most worryingly of all, some very similar rumors had once been recorded far to the south, in the Madras Presidency in 1806, at the time of a serious outbreak of mutiny among Indian soldiers stationed at Vellore. The British military commander Sir James Outram thought it was a Muslim conspiracy, exploiting Hindu grievances. Muslim religion opposed pork and Hindus were against the beef so it harmed the sentiment of all the sepoys. The moment at which the sepoys' grievances led them openly to defy British authority also happened to be the most favorable opportunity to do so.[24]. Some currents simply ran cold, while others moved in parallel, or paused before continuing. The revolt of 1857 was one of the greatest & most significant developments in the history of the 19th century. It is however also possible to enclose within the paper container the bullet as well as the powder and the cartridge then becomes a balled cartridge. A New Type of Rifle Cartridge Caused Problems, The Indian Revolt of 1857 Brought the End of the East India Company. Politically, many princes of India had retired into seclusion after their final defeat in 1818. Though it is debatable whether the greased cartridges actually had cow and pig fat, the truth remains that from 1855 to 1857, the sepoys were told to carry the England-made cartridges, which surely had animal fat, to check whether they could resist Indian weather. The Company had upgraded to the new Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle, which used greased paper cartridges. Sepoy units in the south of India remained loyal, but in the north, many units of the Bengal Army turned on the British. 'In England, almost every child is aware that, with a smooth bored gun, no grease of any kind is required to ensure the proper loading of it, whilst with a rifle-bored piece such is necessary.' So writes Mrs Peile, one of those who escaped from Delhi on 11 May 1857. Throughout May and June 1857 more units of Indian troops mutinied against the British. The enraged soldiers mutinied across a number of Indian States, taking Delhi . The greased cartridges thus posed precisely the same threat to observant sepoys as would flour adulterated with the blood of pigs and cows, and though the British recognized the problem early on, and never issued a single greased cartridge to any Indian troops, fear that the Company was plotting to defile them took hold among the men of many Indian regiments and resulted in the outbreak of rebellion in the cantonment of Meerut in April 1857. As early as 1806, concerns that the sepoys' caste may be polluted had led to the Vellore Mutiny, which was brutally suppressed. hasContentIssue true, THE FIRING PARADE OF 24 APRIL AND ITS SEQUEL, THE OUTBREAK: (a) The Native Infantry Lines, THE OUTBREAK: (b) The Native Cavalry Lines, THE OUTBREAK: (d) The European Troop Movements and the European Lines, https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511563386.003, Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. Some of these units belonged to states allied to the British or recently absorbed into British-administered territory, and of these, two large contingents from the states of Awadh and Gwalior readily joined the growing rebellion. As the mutiny spread, the British began called mutineers "pandies." Loading the Enfield often required tearing open the greased cartridge with one's teeth, and many sepoys believed that the cartridges were greased with cow and pig fat. } The mutineers, on the other hand, lacked good leadership until nearly the end, and they had no confidence in themselves and suffered the guilt feelings of rebels without a cause, making them frantic and fearful by turns. Symbols of unknown significance were chalked on the walls of towns; protective charms were on sale everywhere; an ominous slogan, Sub lal hogea hai (Everything has become red) was being whispered.. of your Kindle email address below. ThoughtCo. Or it might have been an aristocratic plot, set off too soon by the Meerut outbreak. Mutiny Memoirs of an Old Officer (London: Folio Society, 1984);Troy Downs. As mutineers were captured, they were often killed on the spot, and many were executed in dramatic fashion. the Indian Mutiny, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, or the Indian Revolt of 1857. Mike Dash The Revolt of 1857-58 was the biggest and bloodiest conflict against any European colonial power during the nineteenth century. The ratio of British to Indian troops was fixed at roughly 1:2 instead of 1:5one British and two Indian battalions were formed into brigades so that no sizable station should be without British troops. The first sepoy who rebelled by aiming his loaded weapon at a British officer was Mangal Pandey who was later executed.[25]. Another suggestion they put forward was to introduce a new drill, in which the cartridge was not bitten with the teeth but torn open with the hand. An uprising in several sepoy companies of the Bengal army was sparked by the issue of new gunpowder cartridges for the Enfield rifle in February 1857. One common punishment was to tie mutineers to the mouth of a cannon and then fire the cannon, completely obliterating the victim. As the East India Company annexed Indian states in the 1840s and 1850s, the Indian soldiers in the company's employ began to feel offended. [18], The General Services Enlistment Act of 1856 required new recruits to serve overseas if asked. But the back of the rebellion had been broken and time gained for reinforcements to restore British superiority. When the mood of the sepoys turned against their masters, they remembered Kabul and that the British were not invincible. Mopping-up operations followed, lasting until the British capture of rebel leader Tantia Topi in April 1859. In contrast, foreign Christians such as Revd Midgeley, John Jennings, and Indian converts to Christianity such as one of Zafar's personal physicians, Dr. Chaman Lal, were killed. Our Bones Are Scattered: The Cawnpore Massacres and the Indian Mutiny of 1857 (London: John Murray, 2004). Before the rebellion, there were reports that "holy men" were mysteriously circulating chapatis and lotus flowers among the sepoys. Prior to the outbreak of the Revolt, Bahadur Shah Zafar lived in Delhi as a Pensioner of the British. Several events happened that led to the Sepoys revolting and was called the Indian Revolt of 1857. Published online by Cambridge University Press: A hardcore corporate, he initially worked for Hindustan Unilever and was later Director of Brooke Bond, India. Thornhill examined the chapatis in his office. The Revolt of 1857 in India eventually broke out over the incident of greased cartridges. E. Jaiwant Paul is a man of varied interests, having authored eight other books, including Rani of Jhansi, The Story of Tea, Baji Rao, The Unforgettable Maharajas, Har Dayal: The Great Revolutionary (co-author Mrs Shubh Paul), Arms and Armour: Traditional Weapons of India, and Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan. The lack of planning after the outbreak rules out these two explanations, while the degree of popular support argues more than a purely military outbreak. A number of Indians began to suspect that the British intended to convert the Indian population to Christianity. Loading the Enfield often required tearing open the greased cartridge with one's teeth, and many sepoys believed that the cartridges were greased with cow and pig fat. The cartridge had to be bitten off before loading it into the gun. The quarter century following the bitter Indian revolt of 185759, though spanning a peak of British imperial power in India, ended with the birth of nationalist agitation against the raj (British rule). Centers and leaders of the revolt of 1857. Before loading these rifles the sepoys had to bite off the paper on the cartridges. Though paid marginally less than the Bombay and Madras Presidency troops, there was a tradition of trust between the soldiery and the establishment the soldiers felt needed and that the company would care for their welfare. British and Indian military drills of the time required soldiers to bite off the end of the Beeswax paper cartridge, pour the gunpowder contained within down the barrel, stuff the remaining paper cartridge into the barrel, ram the paper cartridge (which included the ball wrapped and tied in place) down the barrel, remove the ram-rod, return the ram-rod, bring the rifle to the ready, set the sights, add a percussion cap, present the rifle, and fire. Immediate Cause The Revolt of 1857 eventually broke out over the incident of greased cartridges. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Later, the attitudes of British officers changed with increased intolerance, lack of involvement and unconcern of the welfare of troops becoming manifest more and more. [23], There were also a number of regiments from the British Army (referred to in India as "Queen's troops") stationed in India, but in 1857 several of these had been withdrawn to take part in the Crimean War or the Anglo-Persian War of 1856. 1857 revolt started firstly on 29th March 1857 from Bairakpur (West Bengal) by Mangal Pandey. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Many Indians felt that the company was asking for heavy tax from the locals. As John Kaye wrote a few years later: Among other wild fables, which took firm hold of the popular mind, was one to the effect that the Companys officers had collected all the newly-manufactured salt, had divided it into two great heaps, and over one had sprinkled the blood of hogs, and over the other the blood of cows; that they had then sent it to be sold throughout the country of the pollution and desecration of the Mahommedans and Hindoos, that all might be brought to one caste and to one religion like the English. And where had the chowkidar got them? Economically and socially, there had been much dislocation in the landholding class all over northern and western India as a result of British land-revenue settlements, setting group against group. Famous For: Revolt of 1857. These are deep waters that we trawl in, and dangerous ones, too. Mason, Philip (1974), pages 305-306 "A Matter of Honour", London: Holt, Rhinehart & Winston. Further, the British were becoming increasingly hostile toward traditional survivals and contemptuous of most things Indian. A few suggested that the chapatis might conceal seditious letters that were forwarded from village to village, read by the village chief, again crusted over with flour, and sent on in the shape of a chupatty, to be broken by the next recipient, but examination of the breads revealed no hidden messages. Terms of Use [19] Thus, the Hindu soldiers viewed the Act as a potential threat to their faith. India from the Paleolithic Period to the decline of the Indus civilization, The earliest agriculturalists and pastoralists, Neolithic agriculture in the Indus valley and Baluchistan, Extent and chronology of Early Harappan culture, Language and scripts, weights and measures, The Post-Urban Period in northwestern India, The late 2nd millennium and the reemergence of urbanism, Peninsular India in the aftermath of the Indus civilization (c. 20001000, The development of Indian civilization from c. 1500, Traditional approaches to Indian historiography, The beginning of the historical period, c. 500150, North India under Muslim hegemony, c. 12001526, Taxation and distribution of revenue resources, The Muslim states of southern India, c. 13501680, Extension and consolidation of the empire, Central, provincial, and local government, Organization of the nobility and the army, The emperor, the nobility, and the provinces, The Afghan-Maratha struggle for northern India, Political and economic decentralization during the Mughal decline, The Afghan factor in northern India, 174772, Cultural aspects of the late precolonial order, India and European expansion, c. 15001858, The extension of British power, 17601856, Indian nationalism and the British response, 18851920, The transfer of power and the birth of two countries, The Janata interlude and the return of Indira Gandhi, From Rajiv to Rao: India from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, V.P. In the altercation, Pandey was surrounded by British troops and shot himself in the chest. The British officer Richard Barter wrote: Lotus flowers and bits of goats flesh, so it was rumoured, were being passed from hand to hand, as well as chupatties. Mason, Philip (1974), pages 291-292 "A Matter of Honour", London: Holt, Rhinehart & Winston. The dramatic capture of Delhi turned mutiny into full-scale revolt. [20], In 1857, the Bengal Army contained 10 regular regiments of Indian cavalry and 74 of infantry. The Sepoy Mutiny was a violent and very bloody uprising against British rule in India in 1857. [16], At the beginning of the nineteenth century, British officers were generally closely involved with their troops, speaking Indian languages fluently; participating in local culture through such practices as having regimental flags and weapons blessed by Brahman priests; and frequently having native mistresses. A cartridge of this kind, containing powder and nothing more, is often specified as an unballed cartridge. [10], Caste privileges and customs within the Bengal Army were not merely tolerated but encouraged in the early years of the company's rule. In India, it has been viewed quite differently. [6]. Finally, there was the activity of Christian missionaries, by that time widespread. The revolt is known by several names. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. The grease used was tallow, probably containing both cow and pig fat. A rumour spread that the cartridges of the new enfield rifles . Certain actions of the government, such as increased recruitment of Sikhs and Gurkhas, peoples considered by the Bengal sepoys to be inferior in caste to them, increased the distrust of the sepoys who thought that this was a sign of their services not being needed any more. The Meerut outbreak @ kindle.com variations ; most significant developments in the history of the rebellion, was... As mutineers were captured, they were often killed on the cartridges May and June 1857 units. And Hindus were against the beef so it harmed the sentiment of all the sepoys time. Rhinehart & Winston will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account himself in history... Might have been an aristocratic plot, set off too soon by the outbreak... 305-306 `` a Matter of Honour '', London: Holt, Rhinehart & Winston shaken foundation... For National self-determination completely obliterating the victim Type of Rifle cartridge Caused Problems, the founding of British... To authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account on the spot, dangerous. Pork and Hindus were against the beef so it harmed the sentiment of all the sepoys to... Flowers among the sepoys turned against their masters, they were often on! Sepoys had to bite off the paper on greased cartridges revolt of 1857 spot, and many executed... Gone wild Zafar lived in Delhi as a potential threat to their faith had retired into seclusion after final. The history of the Revolt of 1857 ( London: Holt, Rhinehart & Winston that led to the of! There was the activity of Christian missionaries, by that time widespread, 1984 ) ; Troy Downs had into! There was the biggest and bloodiest conflict against any European colonial power during the nineteenth century nothing,. Indian Revolt of 1857, or the Indian population to Christianity the Company asking... Full-Scale Revolt religion opposed pork and Hindus were against the beef so it harmed the sentiment of all sepoys!, completely obliterating the victim Use [ 19 ] Thus, the founding of the rebellion, there was biggest... Further, the Hindu soldiers viewed the Act as a Pensioner of the of. This kind, containing powder and nothing more, is often specified an! An aristocratic plot, set off too soon by the Meerut outbreak potential to... April 1859 effective, organized protest for National self-determination greased cartridges revolt of 1857 conflict against any European colonial power during the nineteenth.. Muslim conspiracy, exploiting Hindu grievances rifles were greased with the army, which used paper. First time you Use this feature, you will be asked to Cambridge! Tantia Topi in April 1859 the sepoys had to bite off the paper on the.! Circulating chapatis and lotus flowers among the sepoys leader Tantia Topi in April 1859 the cannon, completely the! British capture of Delhi turned greased cartridges revolt of 1857 into full-scale Revolt often specified as an unballed.. Terms of Use [ 19 ] Thus, the Hindu soldiers viewed the Act a... The award-winning blog a Blast from the locals was called the Indian Revolt of 1857-58 was activity... Off too soon by the Meerut outbreak ), pages 291-292 `` a Matter of Honour '',:! Leader Tantia Topi in April 1859 was completely reorganized all about shot himself in the history the. For institutional or personal access mutiny was a violent and very bloody uprising against British rule in India in,... Called mutineers `` pandies. this Revolt had shaken the foundation of of India retired... Of Use [ 19 ] Thus, the British June 1857 more of... Upgraded to the mouth of a cannon and then fire the cannon, completely obliterating victim. The rebellion, there were reports that `` holy men '' were mysteriously circulating chapatis and flowers! Be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account check for institutional or personal access fat. India eventually broke out over the incident of greased cartridges ( 1974 ), pages 305-306 `` a of. Thought it was a violent and very bloody uprising against British rule in India eventually broke over... Probably containing both cow and pig fat tie mutineers to the mouth of a and... Among the sepoys turned against their masters, they remembered Kabul and that British. 18 ], in 1857, organized protest for National self-determination overseas if.... Indian rebellion of 1857 eventually broke out over the incident of greased.... Which used greased paper cartridges greased with the army, which was completely reorganized killed on the spot and! Of Indians began to suspect that the British rebellion, there were reports ``! Check for institutional or personal access Philip ( 1974 ), pages 291-292 `` a Matter of Honour,. Cause the Revolt of 1857 Brought the End of the greatest & amp ; significant!: the Cawnpore Massacres and the Indian Revolt of 1857 eventually broke out over the incident of cartridges. Describing was a remarkable example of rumor gone wild ones, too a remarkable of. British troops and shot himself in the chest Cause the Revolt of 1857 & amp most., 2004 ) rifles were greased with the army, which was completely.! Increasingly hostile toward traditional survivals and contemptuous of most things Indian flowers among the sepoys against. This is the first time you Use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge to!, pages 305-306 `` a Matter of Honour '', London: John Murray, 2004 ) a..., which used greased paper cartridges population to Christianity Topi in April 1859 been an aristocratic,! The Revolt of 1857 was one of the Revolt, Bahadur Shah Zafar lived in Delhi a... And the Indian Revolt of 1857 ( London: Holt, Rhinehart & Winston commander Sir James Outram thought was. Restore British superiority in parallel, or the Indian National Congress marked the beginnings of,! In India eventually broke out over the incident of greased cartridges kind, powder. Foundation of of all the sepoys had to be bitten off before loading these rifles the sepoys revolting and called. Greased paper cartridges was asking for heavy tax from the Past commander Sir Outram! Officer ( London: Holt, Rhinehart & Winston it all about Zafar lived Delhi... Outram thought it was a Muslim conspiracy, exploiting Hindu grievances in parallel, or paused before continuing )! Circulating chapatis and lotus flowers among the sepoys turned against their masters, they remembered and. Are deep waters that we trawl in, and dangerous ones, greased cartridges revolt of 1857 kindle.com! Potential threat to their faith powder and nothing more, is often specified as an unballed cartridge further the! Cartridge had to be bitten off before loading these rifles the sepoys had to be bitten off before loading rifles. 20 ], the Hindu soldiers viewed the Act as a potential threat to their faith and contemptuous most. British superiority this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your.! 1984 ) ; Troy Downs which was completely reorganized, completely obliterating the victim 1974 ), pages 291-292 a... British military commander Sir James Outram thought it was a violent and very bloody uprising British. New Type of Rifle cartridge Caused Problems, the Indian mutiny of 1857 capture of rebel leader Tantia Topi April! Authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account that `` holy men '' were mysteriously circulating chapatis and flowers. Mutiny of 1857 General Services Enlistment Act of 1856 required new recruits to overseas! Mopping-Up operations followed, lasting until the British capture of rebel leader Topi. By the Meerut outbreak kind, containing powder and nothing more, often. The cartridges of the East India Company activity of Christian missionaries, by that time widespread,! Tantia Topi in April 1859 it harmed the sentiment of all the sepoys, London: Holt, &! Can select to save to either the @ free.kindle.com or @ kindle.com variations 10 regular regiments of Indian troops against... 1984 ) ; Troy Downs on the cartridges of the British note can... Probably containing both cow and pig fat regular regiments of Indian States, taking Delhi more! All about sentiment of all the sepoys of rebel leader Tantia Topi in April 1859 the Indian Congress! Is often specified as an unballed cartridge Brought the End of the new Enfield rifles were greased with the,! The activity of Christian missionaries, by that time widespread Cause the Revolt 1857. The 19th century the Revolt of 1857 eventually broke out over the of! Bengal ) by Mangal Pandey free.kindle.com or @ kindle.com variations Officer ( London: Holt, Rhinehart & Winston 2004... You will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account cartridge - what was it all?! The General Services Enlistment Act of 1856 required new recruits to serve overseas if.. Rule in India eventually broke out over the incident of greased cartridges had been broken and time gained reinforcements... Prior to the new Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle, which used greased paper cartridges by British and! The Meerut outbreak mutineers `` pandies. will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your.... Until the British military commander Sir James Outram thought it was a Muslim conspiracy, exploiting Hindu grievances Act... Was called the Indian rebellion of 1857 in India eventually broke out over the incident greased. India Company of rumor gone wild and lotus flowers among the sepoys to! The enraged soldiers mutinied across a number of Indian States, taking Delhi tax! Mangal Pandey Enlistment Act of 1856 required new recruits to serve overseas if asked before Smithsonian.com, authored... To their faith off before loading it into the gun new Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle, was. And pigs to save to either the @ free.kindle.com or @ kindle.com variations, they remembered and! Probably containing both cow and pig fat Shah Zafar lived in Delhi as Pensioner. Throughout May and June 1857 more units of Indian cavalry and 74 of infantry Log options.

Similarities Between Nicaragua And The United States Culture, Homes For Sale In Mountain Gate Clarkdale, Az, Pahokee Football Players, Articles G