V&F – Battle of Bithoor, August 1857.

Background

Official Despatch of Brig-Gen. H. Havelock C.B., to the Deputy-Adjutant-General of the Army, Calcutta, dated Bivouac, Bithoor, 17 Aug 1857.

Sir,

I have to request the favour of your informing the Commander-in-Chief that I marched to this place yesterday.

The mutineers of the 31st and 42nd from Saugor, the 17th from Fyzabad, and sepoys of other regiments, with troops of the 2nd Light Cavalry and 3rd Irregulars, united to a portion of Nana Sahib’s troops, were, with two guns, in one of the strongest positions I have ever seen: they numbered 4,000 men. The plain, densely covered with thicket, and flanked by villages, has two streams flowing through it, not fordable by troops of any arm, and only to be crossed by two narrow bridges, the furthest of which was protected by an entrenchment armed with artillery: the road takes a turn after passing the second bridge, which protects defenders from direct fire; and behind are the narrow streets and brick houses of Bithoor. I must do the mutineers the justice to pronounce that they fought obstinately, otherwise they could not for a whole hour have held their own, even with such advantages of ground, against my powerful artillery fire; the streams prevented my turning them, and my troops were received, in assaulting the position, by a heavy rifle and musketry fire from the rifle and battalion companies engaged; but, after a severe struggle, the enemy were driven back; their guns captured, and infantry chased off the field in full retreat towards Seorajpore. Had I possessed cavalry, not a rebel nor a mutineer could have reached that place alive; as it is, they shall not long remain there unmolested.

The loss of the enemy is estimated at 250 killed and wounded. Mine is 49, and my numbers are further reduced by sunstroke and cholera.

I enclose a sketch of the position, returns of killed and wounded and captured ordnance.

H. Havelock, Brigadier-General, Commanding Allahabad Moveable Column.

Special Order of the Day by Brig-Gen, H. Havelock CB.

The Brigadier-General commanding, congratulates the troops on the result of their exertions in the combat of yesterday. The enemy were driven, with the loss of 250 killed and wounded, from one of the strongest positions in India, which they resolutely defended. They were the flower of the mutinous soldiery, flushed with the successful defection at Sangor and Fyzabad; yet they stood only one short hour against a handful of soldiers of the state, whose ranks had been thinned by sickness and the sword. May the hopes of treachery and rebellion be ever thus blasted; and if conquest can now be achieved under the most trying circumstances, what will be the triumph and retribution of the time when the armies from China, from the Cape, and from England, shall sweep through the land?

Soldiers, in that moment, your labours, your privations, your sufferings, and your valour, will not be forgotten by a grateful country. You will be acknowledged to have been the stay and prop of British India in the time of her severest trial.

https://www.empressminiatures.com/indian-mutiny-notes-4-w.asp

The Game

MY buddy DF was up to run another Tuesday game and he decided to bring out his Indian Mutiny troops for another spin. The game would be a fight representing the Battle of Bithoor. This was pretty much an in your face fight. The rebels would be totally outclassed, but their mission was just to stop the British from taking the bridge before everyone ran away! Clearly a game designed for masochists and sadists! Well, it turns out our guys are more than capable for being up for the challenge!

The forces were set up by the game master in their rough deployment areas and the players could make small adjustments. We played the rules as written, but did not use the cards. Instead, we did a die roll at the begging of each player turn. If there was a double six or double one, there was a random event (this did not happen during the game). The rebels command rolls were reduced to 3+ and 4+ for the cavalry.

The British plan was to push up the middle and left flank to clear the forward village, redoubt and bridge. The Indian plan was to stretch out the British frontage and collapse on the bridge, as the out of position troops came up to reinforce the defense.

The game took off with both sides following their respective plans. The British cleared the forward village quickly and then moved up to set up their artillery to blow through the defenders. The redoubt continued to hold up the British in the center, the the forces on the left flank advanced towards the bridge.

As the British forces closed in, the cavalry arrived to fill in some holes on the flank and then launched a charge to catch the expose British infantry flat footed. This had middling effects, but did stop the advance, with the loss of a unit on both sides.

Once the British bypassed the right flank village, the rebel unit forayed out to harass their advance, in the hope of drawing forces away from the main attack. This worked, as the British could not have a fresh unit in their rear!

The rebels got their final units over the bridge and tried to hold on to the bridgehead, launching a couple more cavalry attacks. The redoubt was finally cleared, by protected the rebel infantry behind from the worst of the British artillery fire, forcing some redeployment.

The game went a little past the target end time of 4:00, but the British were finally in positions to launch their final assault. All attacks went in! Between the points of their bayonets and hot lead of their guns, the rebel forces were all eliminated, but with Nana Sahib still standing on the bridge alone shaking his fist!

• Manteuffel