Outbreak of the Revolt at Meerut

The open rebellion of 1857 began at the Meerut cantonment on May 10, 1857. Located 40 miles northeast of Delhi, Meerut housed one of the largest British military garrisons in Northern India. The refusal of native sepoys to use greased Enfield rifle cartridges, followed by their harsh court-martial, transformed localized military discontent into a widespread armed uprising.

Background and Build-up to the Crisis

Military stations across Northern India experienced intense agitation in early 1857 due to reports that the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle cartridges were greased with beef and pork fat. Events at Berhampore and Barrackpore in February and March heightened suspicions among native troops regarding British intentions toward their faith.

The Parade of April 24, 1857

• Lieutenant-Colonel George Carmichael-Smyth, commanding officer of the 3rd Native Cavalry at Meerut, ordered a skirmishing drill to demonstrate the new loading technique.
• Out of 90 sepoys ordered to handle the cartridges, 85 refused to bite or accept them.
• The 85 sepoys were immediately arrested, relieved of duty, and put on trial by a native court-martial.

Court-Martial and Public Humiliation

• On May 8, 1857, the court-martial found all 85 sepoys guilty of mutinous conduct and insubordination.
• On May 9, 1857, the entire Meerut garrison assembled on the parade ground to witness the execution of the sentences.
• The 85 soldiers were stripped of their military uniforms, bound in iron fetters, and sentenced to ten years of hard labor (with shorter terms for younger recruits).
• The public shackling of senior Indian soldiers created deep resentment among the remaining native regiments stationed at Meerut.

Events of May 10, 1857

On Sunday evening, May 10, 1857, native soldiers revolted while British officers and troops were preparing to attend church services.

The Uprising in the Cantonment

• Sepoys of the 3rd Native Cavalry broke open the local jail and freed their 85 court-martialed comrades along with 1,200 other prisoners.
• The 11th and 20th Native Infantry regiments joined the cavalrymen, taking up arms and attacking British officer quarters.
• Mutineers killed several British officers, including Colonel John Finnis of the 11th Native Infantry, who attempted to reason with the troops.
• Local crowds from the surrounding bazaar and surrounding villages joined the soldiers, setting fire to European bungalows, administrative offices, and cantonment property.

Collapse of British Command

• Major-General William Hewitt, overall commander of the Meerut Division, failed to take decisive action to contain the revolt.
• Brigadier Archdale Wilson commanded substantial European forces at Meerut, including the 60th Rifles, the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers), and European artillery units.
• British commanders kept European troops on the defensive to guard their own cantonment perimeter instead of pursuing the mutineers.
• The lack of immediate British pursuit enabled the rebel cavalry to march unhindered along the highway toward Delhi.

The March to Delhi and Capture of the Capital

The rebels recognized that securing Delhi was essential to give their uprising political legitimacy across India.

Arrival at Delhi (May 11, 1857)

• The 3rd Native Cavalry rode overnight, covering the 40 miles between Meerut and Delhi, and reached the banks of the Yamuna River early on the morning of May 11.
• Rebels crossed the river via the boat bridge, entered the city, and gathered beneath the windows of the Red Fort.
• Native regiments stationed inside Delhi—the 38th, 54th, and 74th Native Infantry—joined the incoming Meerut sepoys and killed their British officers.

Proclamation of Bahadur Shah II

• The sepoys entered the Red Fort and requested the 81-year-old Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah II (Bahadur Shah ‘Zafar’), to lead the movement.
• Bahadur Shah II initially hesitated but agreed under pressure from the troops and his court advisors.
• On May 11, 1857, Bahadur Shah II was declared Shahenshah-e-Hindustan (Emperor of India), giving the military rebellion a unified political center.

Military Regiments at Meerut (May 1857)

Key Historical Facts

The telegraph played a critical role during the Meerut outbreak. Two young telegraph operators in Delhi, Charles Todd and Brendish, transmitted the news of the Meerut mutiny to Ambala and Punjab before the rebels cut the wires. This early warning allowed British authorities in Punjab to disarm suspect native regiments before they could revolt. Colonel John Finnis was the first senior British officer killed during the outbreak on May 10, 1857, while trying to calm troops of the 20th Native Infantry. The 3rd Native Cavalry, 11th Native Infantry, and 20th Native Infantry formed the core native strength at Meerut. Their revolt converted localized unrest over the Enfield cartridges into an armed war for political control of Northern India.