The North Western Provinces 1857

In 1857, the North-Western Provinces (NWP) was one of the main centres of revolt, with station after station falling to the wrath of rebels, disgruntled landowners, unhappy villagers, and roving tribes of Gujars and bandits. It was hardly a united front, with everyone taking advantage of the sudden lawlessness to settle old scores – while they might all have had a grudge against the EICo, they bore them against each other as well. As such, it was impossible for the authorities in Agra, hampered by their own mental disquietude, to maintain control over the NWP, and much of the work would be done by the commissioners and magistrates out in the districts.

Map of NWP, 1880 after the division from Delhi, Merwara and Saugor-Narbadda

In the Districts: May 1857

Following on from Meerut and Delhi, the first mutinies occurred in what was called, in the wording of the time, in the mofussil – the regions of India outside the capital of Calcutta; stations that were often remote and distant from larger cities. However, it gradually spread to more urban towns until it became clear that any station that had sepoys was potentially at risk of mutiny.

The Gujars and Bulandshahr: Bulandshahr and Secunderbad from 12th May to 11th June
Muzaffarnagar and Sahuranpore
Deliberate Inaction – what happened at Agra, and most importantly, what didn’t happen
No Paltering Can Be Allowed: Mr Hume at Etawah
Moradabad and Mr Wilson
Aligarh – 20 May 1857
Proceedings of a Voluntary Character: Captain Stewart and his adventures after Aligarh, which take him to Delhi
A Dreadful Narrative: The civilians who were left behind and the doings at Coel and Madrak
Mr. Phillips Leaves Etah
Decisions: Rohilkhand and the mutiny at Budaon
Lieutenant De Kantzow Speaks: Mutiny at Mainpuri
Bareilly
The Adventures of E.J. Churcher, Civilian, at Etah: what happened when Mr. Phillips refused to return to his post.