The Battle of Chinhat – Beginning of the Epic Lucknow Siege

Posted on June 30, 2015 Updated on July 8, 2015

On the morning of 30th June 1857, the village of Ismailganj, near Chinhat (or Chinhut), Avadh (Oudh) witnessed a decisive battle between the British and the Indian rebel mutineers.

The British army led by Sir Henry Lawrence consisted of several companies of the 13th Native Infantry, detachments of other regiments, a small force of Sikh cavalry, European volunteer cavalry, Native Artillery, three companies of the 32nd Regiment of Foot as well as Bengal Artillery. The British intelligence had suggested that a small troop of few hundred rebels were approaching Lucknow over whom the British can obtain an easy victory.

However on nearing Ismailganj the British army came under sudden attack from the mutineers. The insurgents led by Barkat Ahmad and consisting of mutineers from the East India Company’s army and retainers of local landowners outnumbered the British troops by few thousands.

The mutineers well led by Barkat Ahmad were successful in meting out heavy casualties on the British from their well prepared positions. The casualties of the battle included the death of the acting officer Lieutenant Colonel William Case of the regiment of 32nd foot as well as several other officers. Another heavy blow to the British army was rendered when many of the soldiers, particularly the Indian artillerymen under the army switched sides to join the mutineers. The Sikh cavalrymen under the British fled the battle as well.

Facing stiff resistance from the rebels Sir Lawrence decided to retreat towards Lucknow by crossing the bridge over the Kukrail stream. The rebels tried to sabotage the retreat attempt but were rendered unsuccessful by a group of 36 volunteer cavalrymen who valiantly fought the rebels and created confusion amongst their ranks. Following which a group of European artillery took their position on the bridgehead and held off the rebels, thus allowing the British army to retreat. In a last attempt to thwart the rebels from pursuit Sir Lawrence ordered one battalion of the 32nd regiment who were not a part of the battle to hold off the last bridge to Lucknow over the Gumti River. The British troops managed to retreat to the Lucknow Residency where they were besieged by the rebels.

The resounding victory of the rebels at Chinhat over the British allowed them to take over Lucknow and the historic siege of Lucknow Residency commenced from July 1st 1957.

The rebels under the leadership of Begum Hazrat Mahal (former wife of Wajid Ali Shah) set up a new government for Lucknow as well as Avadh. Sir Lawrence was killed by the rebels within a few days on 4th July 1957.  Raja Jai Lal Singh (Nazim of Azamgarh), a close confidante of Hazrat Mahal was in charge of the military command of the rebels. Another important leader of the rebels during the siege was Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah, the ‘maulvi of Faizabad’.

The British had to deploy armed forces on a very large scale to crush the Revolt in the capital of the erstwhile kingdom of Avadh. After several attempts the British under the leadership of Colin Campbell were able to lift the siege and occupy Lucknow on March 21st 1858.

The battle of Chinhat marks one of the few wins of the rebels against the British in the history of the Great Uprising of 1857. The revolt and siege of Lucknow and the gallant defence of the city by the mutineers as well as the common people constitutes a magnificent episode in the history of the anti-colonial struggle of India.

Source: The Tribune ; World Public Library ; People’s Democracy