Barkat Ahmad

Barkat Ahmad (1787 – 5 June 1858) was a sepoy mutineer and leading figure of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Barkat Ahmad led the army of Indian rebels in the Battle of Chinhat, in Awadh region.[3][4][5] Barkat Ahmad was a highly trained British sepoy. He led the rebels against the British officer Sir Henry Lawrence who was then located at the Residency.

Barkat Ahmad
Born
Sayyad Barkat Ahmad Risaldar
Known forBattle of Chinhat, Figure of Indian Rebellion of 1857
Battle of Chinhat
Part of Indian Rebellion of 1857
DateJune 30, 1857
Location
Ismailganj, near Lucknow, India
Result Mughal victory
Belligerents
East India Company Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Sir Henry Lawrence
Col. John Inglis (32nd)		 Barkat Ahmad
Khan Ali Khan
Strength

approx. 700[1]
Infantry:

Cavalry

  • Volunteer cavalry - 40
  • Detachments of 1st, 2nd, 3rd Oude Irregular Cavalry - 120

Artillery

  • Horse Light Field Battery - 4 guns
  • No 2 Oude Field Battery - 4 guns
  • One 8 inch howitzer

approx. 7,000[2]
Infantry: approx. 6,000

  • 22nd Bengal Native Infantry.
  • 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th Oude Irregular Infantry.
  • 1st, 2nd Regiments Military Police.
  • Local Police Detachment - 300
  • Oude talookdars from Ramnugger Dhumeyree and Mahonah
  • Levied Infantry

Cavalry approx. 800

  • 15th Bengal Irregular Cavalry
  • 1st, 2nd & 3rd Oude Irregular Cavalry

Artillery: 16 guns

  • 5th, 7th, 13th Bty. Bengal Artillery
  • 1st Bty. Light Field, Oude Irregular Artillery
Casualties and losses

Dead: Col. William Case, CPT. Stephens, Lt. Brackenbury, Thomson (32nd), 112 NCOs and Men.
Wounded: Campbell (71st), James (Commissariat)
Losses:

  • 2 Howitzer,
  • 1 9-Pounder[1]
 589

Battle of Chinhat

On 30 June 1857, Sir Henry Lawrence received information of the movement of rebels and plan of attacking Lucknow. Sir Henry Lawrence was so confident to ambush the rebel, he led the army and came out of the Residency on a buggy. The British army was composed of 300 British soldiers, 200 Indian soldiers, 200 cavalry and 13 cannons. Barkat Ahmad had anticipated this move of Britishers, hence planned for the attack near the village of Chinchat, twelve miles from Lucknow.[6]

Barkat Ahmad led the rebel army of 5000 soldiers. He also had Ahmadullah Shah as a commander under him. A fierce battle took place at Chinhat in which Britishers retreated and were pushed backed to the Residency. Henry Lawrence was wounded by an exploding shell on 2 July and died two days later.[7]

See also

References
  1. Henry Stedman Poleahampton (1858). A Memoir, Letters, and Diary. R. Bentley. pp. 319–.
  2. "Battle of Chinhat 30 June 1857". Iron Duke Miniatures. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  3. Gott, Richard (7 November 2011). Britain's Empire: Resistance, Repression and Revolt. Richard Gott. ISBN 9781844677382.
  4. Bhargava, Sangeeta (25 July 2011). The World Beyond. Sangeeta Bhargava. ISBN 9780749010898.
  5. "Battle of Chinhat and Barkat Ahmad". Sonal Gupta The Times Group.
  6. Jaques, Tony (2007). E-book, Battle and Sieges. Tony Jaques. ISBN 9780313335372.
  7. Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah and Great Revolt of 1857, by Rashmi Kumari.

Further reading
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