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The mutineers were Muslims, and if the outbreak at [[Bangalore]] had proved successful, it was to be followed by similar outbreaks at [[Bellary]], [[Jaulna]], [[Hyderabad]] and [[Nagpore]]. Doubtless, too, it would have spread far and wide.
To Major Inglis, commanding the [[48th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry]], however, on the morning of October 28th came [[Jemadar]] Emaun Khan, a native officer of his regiment, and to the astonishment of his commanding officer revealed the whole plot. Prompt measures were at once taken, the European regiments then at [[Bangalore]], the [[62nd Regiment of Foot]] and the 13th Light Dragoons, were immediately warned. Parties were sent out, and all those named by the Jemadar were immediately arrested. The ringleader was a certain Hyder Ali Khan, who liked to be styled the "Nawaub", and who lived in the Pettah (walled part of a city) of Bangalore. With him were associated Syfut Ali Shah, a fakir who pretended to be an alchemist, and who promised those who joined the conspirators pecuniary rewards in this world and rewards of another, but equally satisfactory, nature in the next. A Muslim butter-merchant was also deeply implicated.
Had, however, the sedition been confined to these civilian natives, it would not have been particularly formidable, but unfortunately several [[havildar]]s (the highest rank of non-commissioned officer among native troops in India and Ceylon) and [[sepoy]]s of the native horse artillery, and certain regiments of native infantry and cavalry, had been seduced from their allegiance, and, what is more, would probably have received a certain amount of support from their comrades when once the trouble had begun.
The 13th Light Dragoons, however, were not destined to leave India without employment on active service in the field. The story of the brief campaign of 1839 is as follows. A fanatical spirit was abroad among the Muslim chiefs and the people of India which appears to have originated in Scinde, whence emissaries were sent to induce the chiefs to engage in a holy war against the British raj. Among the chiefs implicated was the Nawab of [[Kurnool]] - a potentate of some power and not a little wealth. By treaty he was precluded from storing and collecting war materiel, but nevertheless he had amassed a huge quantity of guns, muskets, shot, shell, bullets, swords, matchlocks, English double-barrelled guns and pistols, salt petre, sulphur, copper, lead, reams of cartridge paper, and about 600,000 lbs of gunpowder. These warlike stores were cunningly concealed, some within the zenana (women's quarters) at Kurnool, and hundreds of cannon were ranged in the courtyards hidden by grass which had been allowed to grow over them. The Nawab was called upon for an explanation and refused to offer one. The Government therefore moved up a force towards Kurnool.
On August 13th, the [[34th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry |34th Madras Light Infantry]] left [[Bangalore]], to join the 13th Light Dragoons and other troops. The total force amounted to about 6,000 men. On September 24th the force reached Kopatoal, thirty or forty miles from [[Kurnool]]. Here the Sappers were left to prepare materials for a siege, as it was anticipated that strong resistance would be offered by the Nawab. A company of the [[29th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry]], and one of the 16th, also remained, while the main force encamped about six miles to the front. So matters rested for a fortnight, when the Sappers were ordered to the front and encamped two miles in advance of the main force. The main camp was on the right bank of the river, while the artillery, engineers, and ordnance stores were on the left. On October 10, the Sappers, a Squadron of 13th Light Dragoons and other troops moved off. Meanwhile another group of native and a small body of Sappers had taken possession of the fort of Kurnool without resistance a few days before.
The force with the 13th Light Dragoons reached [[Kurnool]] on October 12, encamping about two miles off. For six days the troops were employed in searching for the Nawab's concealed guns and stores - only seven or eight being found mounted on the walls. Among the guns was found forty or fifty light field-pieces with carriages complete and ready for the field - mostly two-pounders or six-pounders. A "Malabar" gun, ten feet long, mounted on a carriage with 10 ft wheels, and a 24 ft trail, was discovered behind a wall, but commanding the main street from the gate. It had a 12 inch bore and carried a shot weighing two hundred and forty pounds. Three or four hundred guns were found in the grass in the courtyard, and in another place guns, mortars, and howitzers in large numbers. A huge amount of treasure was also seized. Most of the shells were made of pewter, and some were of most fanciful design. The fact was that the British force had arrived six months too soon, and the Nawab's force did not amount to more than 1,000 men. While his stores were being disclosed the Nawab remained in an enclosure near the tomb of his father to which he had retired. The fort technically was still his own, and he was permitted to send things in and out - and some treasure was no doubt removed.
