Sikandar Bagh
Encyclopedia
Sikandar Bagh formerly known by the British as Sikunder/Sikandra/Secundra Bagh, is a villa and garden enclosed by a fortified wall, with loopholes, gateway and corner bastions, approx. 150 yards square, c. 4.5 acres, located in the city of Lucknow
, Oudh, Uttar Pradesh
, India. It was built by the last Nawab of Oudh, Wajid Ali Shah
(1822–1887), as a summer residence. The name of the villa signifies '"Garden of Sikandar", perhaps after Alexander the Great, whose name lives on in this form in these parts (compare Alexandria, Egypt, in Arabic الإسكندرية
Al-Iskandariya) , or perhaps after Sikandar Mahal Begum, the Nawab's favourite wife. It was stormed in 1857 by the British during the Indian Mutiny and witnessed within its walls the slaughter of all 2,200sepoy
mutineers who had made it a stronghold during their Siege of Lucknow
. The site now houses the National Botanical Research Institute
of India.
. It was later improved upon by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah
, the last native ruler of Oudh, during the first half of the 19th century, who used it as his summer villa. The garden has a small pavilion in the middle, which was likely the scene of innumerable performances of the 'Ras-lilas', and Kathak
dances, music and poetic 'mehfils' and other cultural activities which the last Nawab had a great appreciation for, indeed possibly too great a one as history has judged him to have been over-fond of his leisure interests.
During the Indian Mutiny, it was used as one of many strongholds of sepoy
mutineers during their siege of the British Residency in Lucknow. The Sikander Bagh stood in the way of the Commander-in-Chief Sir Colin Campbell
's planned route to relieve the besieged Residency. On the morning of 16 November 1857, whilst passing by its eastern side in a southerly direction, in a sunken lane, his force was surprised and stopped in its tracks by overwhelmingly heavy fire coming from it. A staff officer remarked to a comrade "If these fellows allow one of us to get out of this cul-de-sac alive, they deserve every one of them to be hanged". The cavalry were jammed together, unable to advance, and the high banks on either side seemed to offer an impassable barrier to artillery. However Blunt of the Bengal Horse Artillery led his troop and "conquering the impossible", brought them with their guns into an open space to the east of the Sikandar Bagh, galloping through enemy fire. Here he unlimbered with remarkable coolness and self-possession. THe six guns opened fire on the Sikandar Bagh. Sapper
s and miners demolished part of the earth banks which allowing two 18-pounder heavy guns of Travers's battery of the Artillery Brigade to be brought up out of the lane. After half an hour of bombardment from a range of only , an aperture was created in the south-east angle of the wall in a bricked-up doorway, "an ugly blind hole", about 3 ft (0.9144 m) square and 3 ft (0.9144 m) off the ground. Although only large enough to admit a single man with difficulty it was immediately rushed under heavy fire by some of the Highlanders and some men of the 4th Punjab Infantry, under Lt. McQueen - 14 managed to enter the Sikaddar Bagh. At the same time the rest of the 4th P.I. under Lt. Paul assaulted the gateway. The gate was in the process of being closed by the mutineers, when Subadar
Mukarab Khan, 4th P.I., a Pathan
of Bajaur, one of the leading men of the attack, thrust his left arm and shield between its folds, thus preventing it being shut and barred. Though his left arm was wounded, he still managed to keep his shield between the folds by holding it with his right hand until the door was forced. This took place whilst Lt. McQueen's party and some of the 93rd Highlanders, who had entered by the breach, came in into the rear of the many defenders of the gateway. After a long hand-to-hand struggle the British forced their way in greater numbers into the Sikandar Bagh through the gate, and through the breach which had been enlarged by the sappers. The mutineers were slowly forced back, and about 2,000 of them took refuge in a large 2-storied building and the high-walled enclosure behind it. The 2 doors to the latter, in which the main body of the mutineers now was, were assaulted by the 4th P.I. Lt. McQueen led the assault against the right gate, and Lt. Willoughby tackled the left. The defenders had expected an attack from the opposite quarter and had bricked up the door to their rear and in doing so blocked their retreat, After a long struggle they were all slain to a man, no quarter being given. It is likely the British attackers blamed these mutineers vicariously for the slaughter of European civilians, including women and children, earlier during the Mutiny at the Siege of Cawnpore
, namely the Satichaura Ghat and Bibighar Well Massacres, in June and July 1857 respectively, and the massacre of the Europeans at the taking of Delhi, which deeds caused outrage throughout British India and in Britain. The casualties suffered by the 4th P.I. were 72 killed and wounded, including 3 officers. Lord Roberts
who witnessed the assault later recalled: "'Inch by inch they were forced back to the pavilion, and into the space between it and the north wall, where they were all shot or bayoneted. There they lay in a heap as high as my head, a heaving, surging mass of dead and dying inextricably entangled. It was a sickening site, one of those which even in the excitement of battle and the flush of victory, make one feel strongly what a horrible side there is to war. The wounded men could not get clear of their dead comrades, however great their struggles, and those near the top of this ghastly pile vented their rage and determination on every British officer who approached, by showering upon him abuse of the foulest description".
After the fighting it is said that the British dead (presumably including the many losses from the loyal native Punjab Infantry) were buried in a deep trench but the sepoy dead were left to rot. This appears unlikely since the British regiment of the 4th P.I. remained quartered in the Sikandar Bagh until Lucknow was evacuated by the British 11 days later on 27 Nov., and indeed the Commander-in-Chief & Staff occupied a site to the west of the gate, under the south wall, from 18 to 22 November. The stench from unburied bodies would unlikely have been tolerated. Trotter, L.J. in his History of the British Empire states: "More than 2,000 of their corpses were afterwards carried out of that human slaughterhouse", implying, without the source of his assertion being given, that no corpses remained within the enclosure. In early 1858 Felice Beato
took a notorious photograph of skeletal remains, said to have been of the sepoys, strewn across the grounds of the interior, which bones and skulls Sir Colin Campbell concluded to have been specially dug up by order of the photographer for dramatic artistic effect.
The recipients were as follows:
53rd Regiment of Foot
90th Regiment of Foot
Sgt Samuel Hill
and Major John Guise
- for going to the aid of wounded, elected by the regiment
93rd Regiment of Foot (Sutherland Highlanders)
1st Madras (European) Fusiliers
1st Bengal (European) Fusiliers
HMS Shannon
s Naval Brigade
Exhibition and scars from cannon ball on the old walls of the garden still bear witness to the event.
Another visible reminder of the battle is the statue, erected some years ago in the old campus of the garden, of Uda Devi, a Parsi lady, who fought side by side with the besieged mutineers. Attired in male battle dress, she had perched herself atop a tree in the garden, gun in hand, and kept the British attackers at bay until her ammunition was exhausted, upon which she dropped dead to the ground, her body riddled with bullets.
My Indian Mutiny Diary by WH Russell 1967 ISBN 0-527-78120-7
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, Oudh, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, India. It was built by the last Nawab of Oudh, Wajid Ali Shah
Wajid Ali Shah
Wajid Ali Shah was the fifth King of Oudh, holding the position from 13 February 1847 to 7 February 1856....
(1822–1887), as a summer residence. The name of the villa signifies '"Garden of Sikandar", perhaps after Alexander the Great, whose name lives on in this form in these parts (compare Alexandria, Egypt, in Arabic الإسكندرية
Al-Iskandariya) , or perhaps after Sikandar Mahal Begum, the Nawab's favourite wife. It was stormed in 1857 by the British during the Indian Mutiny and witnessed within its walls the slaughter of all 2,200sepoy
Sepoy
A sepoy was formerly the designation given to an Indian soldier in the service of a European power. In the modern Indian Army, Pakistan Army and Bangladesh Army it remains in use for the rank of private soldier.-Etymology and Historical usage:...
mutineers who had made it a stronghold during their Siege of Lucknow
Siege of Lucknow
The Siege of Lucknow was the prolonged defense of the Residency within the city of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After two successive relief attempts had reached the city, the defenders and civilians were evacuated from the Residency, which was abandoned.Lucknow was the capital of...
. The site now houses the National Botanical Research Institute
National Botanical Research Institute
National Botanical Research Institute is a research institute of CSIR in Lucknow. It is engaged in the field of taxonomy and modern biology.-History:...
of India.
Origin
The garden was laid out in about 1800 as a royal garden by Nawab Saadat Ali KhanSaadat Ali Khan
Saadat Ali Khan was the fifth nawab wazir of Oudh from 21 January 1798 to 11 July 1814, and the son of Muhammad Nasir.-Life:He was the second son of Nawab Shuja-ud-daula...
. It was later improved upon by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah
Wajid Ali Shah
Wajid Ali Shah was the fifth King of Oudh, holding the position from 13 February 1847 to 7 February 1856....
, the last native ruler of Oudh, during the first half of the 19th century, who used it as his summer villa. The garden has a small pavilion in the middle, which was likely the scene of innumerable performances of the 'Ras-lilas', and Kathak
Kathak
Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh, India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or storytellers...
dances, music and poetic 'mehfils' and other cultural activities which the last Nawab had a great appreciation for, indeed possibly too great a one as history has judged him to have been over-fond of his leisure interests.
Stormed in Indian Mutiny
Sepoy
A sepoy was formerly the designation given to an Indian soldier in the service of a European power. In the modern Indian Army, Pakistan Army and Bangladesh Army it remains in use for the rank of private soldier.-Etymology and Historical usage:...
mutineers during their siege of the British Residency in Lucknow. The Sikander Bagh stood in the way of the Commander-in-Chief Sir Colin Campbell
Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde
Field Marshal Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde GCB, KSI was a British Army officer from Scotland who led the Highland Brigade in the Crimea and was in command of the ‘Thin red line’ at the battle of Balaclava...
's planned route to relieve the besieged Residency. On the morning of 16 November 1857, whilst passing by its eastern side in a southerly direction, in a sunken lane, his force was surprised and stopped in its tracks by overwhelmingly heavy fire coming from it. A staff officer remarked to a comrade "If these fellows allow one of us to get out of this cul-de-sac alive, they deserve every one of them to be hanged". The cavalry were jammed together, unable to advance, and the high banks on either side seemed to offer an impassable barrier to artillery. However Blunt of the Bengal Horse Artillery led his troop and "conquering the impossible", brought them with their guns into an open space to the east of the Sikandar Bagh, galloping through enemy fire. Here he unlimbered with remarkable coolness and self-possession. THe six guns opened fire on the Sikandar Bagh. Sapper
Sapper
A sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield...
s and miners demolished part of the earth banks which allowing two 18-pounder heavy guns of Travers's battery of the Artillery Brigade to be brought up out of the lane. After half an hour of bombardment from a range of only , an aperture was created in the south-east angle of the wall in a bricked-up doorway, "an ugly blind hole", about 3 ft (0.9144 m) square and 3 ft (0.9144 m) off the ground. Although only large enough to admit a single man with difficulty it was immediately rushed under heavy fire by some of the Highlanders and some men of the 4th Punjab Infantry, under Lt. McQueen - 14 managed to enter the Sikaddar Bagh. At the same time the rest of the 4th P.I. under Lt. Paul assaulted the gateway. The gate was in the process of being closed by the mutineers, when Subadar
Subedar
Subedar is a historical rank in the Indian Army, ranking below British commissioned officers and above non-commissioned officers. The rank was otherwise equivalent to a British lieutenant and was introduced in the East India Company's presidency armies, to make it easier for British officers to...
Mukarab Khan, 4th P.I., a Pathan
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
of Bajaur, one of the leading men of the attack, thrust his left arm and shield between its folds, thus preventing it being shut and barred. Though his left arm was wounded, he still managed to keep his shield between the folds by holding it with his right hand until the door was forced. This took place whilst Lt. McQueen's party and some of the 93rd Highlanders, who had entered by the breach, came in into the rear of the many defenders of the gateway. After a long hand-to-hand struggle the British forced their way in greater numbers into the Sikandar Bagh through the gate, and through the breach which had been enlarged by the sappers. The mutineers were slowly forced back, and about 2,000 of them took refuge in a large 2-storied building and the high-walled enclosure behind it. The 2 doors to the latter, in which the main body of the mutineers now was, were assaulted by the 4th P.I. Lt. McQueen led the assault against the right gate, and Lt. Willoughby tackled the left. The defenders had expected an attack from the opposite quarter and had bricked up the door to their rear and in doing so blocked their retreat, After a long struggle they were all slain to a man, no quarter being given. It is likely the British attackers blamed these mutineers vicariously for the slaughter of European civilians, including women and children, earlier during the Mutiny at the Siege of Cawnpore
Siege of Cawnpore
The Siege of Cawnpore was a key episode in the Indian rebellion of 1857. The besieged British in Cawnpore were unprepared for an extended siege and surrendered to rebel Indian forces under Nana Sahib, in return for a safe passage to Allahabad. However, under ambiguous circumstances, their...
, namely the Satichaura Ghat and Bibighar Well Massacres, in June and July 1857 respectively, and the massacre of the Europeans at the taking of Delhi, which deeds caused outrage throughout British India and in Britain. The casualties suffered by the 4th P.I. were 72 killed and wounded, including 3 officers. Lord Roberts
Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC was a distinguished Indian born British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.-Early life:Born at Cawnpore, India, on...
who witnessed the assault later recalled: "'Inch by inch they were forced back to the pavilion, and into the space between it and the north wall, where they were all shot or bayoneted. There they lay in a heap as high as my head, a heaving, surging mass of dead and dying inextricably entangled. It was a sickening site, one of those which even in the excitement of battle and the flush of victory, make one feel strongly what a horrible side there is to war. The wounded men could not get clear of their dead comrades, however great their struggles, and those near the top of this ghastly pile vented their rage and determination on every British officer who approached, by showering upon him abuse of the foulest description".
Diagram of Assault
Key: (1)Position of 18-pounder guns; (2) Breach made in wall; (3) Gateway; (4) Bastion stormed from inside by 4th. Punjab Infantry Regt., cutting off enemy's retreat; (5) Centre pavilion with verandah; (6) One-storied building overlooking whole garden with own courtyard behind; (7) East bastion, exploded, killing Lt. Paul, in command of 4th P.I.; (8) Spot occupied by Sir Colin Campbell, C-in-C, and Staff from November 18 to 22.Aftermath
Felice Beato
Felice Beato , also known as Felix Beato, was an Italian–British photographer. He was one of the first people to take photographs in East Asia and one of the first war photographers. He is noted for his genre works, portraits, and views and panoramas of the architecture and landscapes of Asia and...
took a notorious photograph of skeletal remains, said to have been of the sepoys, strewn across the grounds of the interior, which bones and skulls Sir Colin Campbell concluded to have been specially dug up by order of the photographer for dramatic artistic effect.
Victoria Crosses awarded
It is said that more Victoria Crosses were awarded for that single day than ever, many for the assault on the Sikandar Bagh.The recipients were as follows:
53rd Regiment of Foot
- Private Charles IrwinCharles IrwinCharles Irwin VC was born in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:Irwin was approximately 33 years old, and a...
- among the first to enter, elected by privates - Private James Kenny - bravery and bringing up ammunition under fire, elected by privates
- Lieutenant Alfred FfrenchAlfred Kirke FfrenchAlfred Kirke Ffrench VC was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
- one of the first to enter the building, elected by officers
90th Regiment of Foot
Sgt Samuel Hill
Samuel Hill (VC)
Samuel Hill VC was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
and Major John Guise
John Christopher Guise
Lieutenant General John Christopher Guise VC, CB was a British Army officer and English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.Guise attended Sandhurst and served in the...
- for going to the aid of wounded, elected by the regiment
93rd Regiment of Foot (Sutherland Highlanders)
- Captain William StewartWilliam George Drummond StewartWilliam George Drummond Stewart VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
- elected by the officers - Colour SergeantColour SergeantColour sergeant or colour serjeant is a non-commissioned title in the Royal Marines and infantry regiments of the British Army, ranking above sergeant and below warrant officer class 2....
James MunroJames Munro (VC)James Munro VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
- for rescuing Captain Walsh - Sergeant David MackayDavid MacKay (VC)David MacKay VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to United Kingdom and Commonwealth forces.-Life:...
- elected by the privates - Sergeant John Paton - elected by the NCOs in the regiment
- Lance Corporal John DunlayJohn DunlayJohn Dunlay VC , also known as John Dunley or John Dunlea, born in Douglas, County Cork, was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.He was approximately 26 years...
- Private Peter GrantPeter Grant (VC)Peter Grant VC , born in Ireland, was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
-
1st Madras (European) Fusiliers
- Private John SmithJohn Smith (private)Private John Smith VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
1st Bengal (European) Fusiliers
- Lieutenant Francis BrownFrancis David Millet BrownLieutenant-Colonel Francis David Millet Brown VC was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:Brown was born on 7 August 1837 in Bhagalpur, India. He was...
- for assisting a wounded soldier
HMS Shannon
HMS Shannon (1855)
HMS Shannon was a Liffey-class steam frigate of the Royal Navy.She was originally ordered as a sail driven Leander-class frigate,. but was re-ordered as screw frigate on 4 April 1851. She was built at Portsmouth Dockyard and launched on 24 November 1855...
s Naval Brigade
Naval Brigade
A Naval Brigade is a body of sailors serving in a ground combat role to augment land forces.-Royal Navy:Within the Royal Navy, a Naval Brigade is a large temporary detachment of Royal Marines and of seamen from the Royal Navy formed to undertake operations on shore, particularly during the mid- to...
- Lieutenant Nowell SalmonNowell SalmonAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Nowell Salmon VC, GCB was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Naval career:Salmon was the son of Reverend H...
- Lieutenant Lieut Thomas YoungThomas James YoungCaptain Thomas James Young VC was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
- for, with William Hall, keeping their battery of guns firing after the other gun crews were casualties - Leading Seaman John HarrisonJohn Harrison (VC 1857)John Harrison VC was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:...
- Foretop Captain William Hall
- Able Seaman Edward RobinsonEdward Robinson (VC)Edward Robinson VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
Memorials of the Assault
Articles such as cannon ball, swords and shields, parts of muskets and rifles, dug out of the garden over the years are now displayed in the NBRINational Botanical Research Institute
National Botanical Research Institute is a research institute of CSIR in Lucknow. It is engaged in the field of taxonomy and modern biology.-History:...
Exhibition and scars from cannon ball on the old walls of the garden still bear witness to the event.
Another visible reminder of the battle is the statue, erected some years ago in the old campus of the garden, of Uda Devi, a Parsi lady, who fought side by side with the besieged mutineers. Attired in male battle dress, she had perched herself atop a tree in the garden, gun in hand, and kept the British attackers at bay until her ammunition was exhausted, upon which she dropped dead to the ground, her body riddled with bullets.
Further reading
Indian Mutiny by Saul David 2002 ISBN 0-14-100554-8My Indian Mutiny Diary by WH Russell 1967 ISBN 0-527-78120-7
External links
- The Lucknow Campaign-1857-58
- Indian Mutiny 1857-58 The British Empire website
- Action at Sikandar Bagh Google Books
- Shannon's Naval Brigade at Secundra Bagh Google Books
- Shah Najif Mosque, Lucknow www.imagesofasia.com