top of page

Sepoys at Rifle Practice

247259-200.png
December 31, 1856
gold-medal-vector-816269_edited.png
Sepoys at Rifle Practice
subject-icon-1_edited.png
Military
Untitled-2.png
Bahadur Shah II 1837–1857

Sepoys at Rifle Practice

IMG101329

DESCRIPTION

Coloured lithograph title page from 'The Campaign in India 1857-58', a series of 26 coloured lithographs by William Simpson, E Walker and others, after G F Atkinson, published by Day and Son, 1857-1858. By 1857 the morale of the Bengal Army's Indian 'sepoys' (infantry) was very low. Unease had been increasing for years due to declining terms of service. Bad pay, the reduction of 'batta' allowances (foreign service pay) and poor pensions were the main concerns. This resulted in five serious mutinies in the Bengal Army between 1824 and 1852. Equally important was the declining relationship between native troops and European officers. Whereas an earlier generation of officers had been interested in the religion and culture of their men, by the 1850s there were few such individuals in the Bengal Army. Instead, officers of an evangelical persuasion had started preaching in the hope of converting sepoys to Christianity. Officers looked down on their men as racial inferiors, at best to be avoided in favour of European society. Matters in the Bengal Army came to a head with the introduction of the Enfield Pattern 1853 Percussion Rifle Musket. The rumour spread that its cartridges, which had to be bit open before use, were, to facilitate loading, greased with pig and cow fat. This was deeply offensive to Moslems and Hindus. In February 1857 the 19th Bengal Native Infantry refused to use the new cartridges. They were quickly disbanded, but their actions sparked the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859), an uprising that almost toppled British rule in India.

Rate This BookDon’t love itNot greatGoodGreatLove itRate This Book

Your content has been submitted

Post Comment
Ratings & Review
Click To Close Comment Box
Click To Post Your Comment
Show Reviews

average rating is 1 out of 5

Incorrect Map of Bharat

MUGHAL IMAGES

The Mughal Images immediately took a much greater interest in realistic portraiture than was typical of Persian miniatures. Animals and plants were the main subject of many miniatures for albums and were more realistically depicted. To upload your images click here.

The
Mughal Library brings readers of our history and related subjects on one platform. our goal is to share knowledge between researchers and students in a friendly environment.


 

bottom of page