Central India Campaign

	See our interactive map of the Central India Campaign locations and routes on Google Maps

Summary

Sir Colin Campbell's plan for the pacification of Central India was for separate columns to be formed from the two Presidencies of Bombay and Madras. The Bombay force, under the command of Sir Hugh Rose, should march from Mhow to Gwalior and Jhansi, and the Madras force, which was to be led by Sir Patrick Grant, should march towards Nagpore. These two columns were to act in concert to defeat rebel forces under the command of Tantia Topi. The major operations of the Central India Field Force under Rose and the Saugor and Nerbudda Field Force under Whitlock lasted for the whole of 1858 and resulted in the destruction of Tantia Tope's army as a significant threat. Other units taking part were the Rajputana Field Force under General Henry Roberts and the Malwa Field Force under Maj-Gen John Michel.

Central India Field Force

1st Brigade (Brigadier Stuart)

• One Squadron of HM 14 Light Dragoons.
• One Troop of 3rd Light Cavalry of Bombay Army.
• HM 86 Foot (Two companies, other companies joined at Chanderi on 16 March 1858).
• 25 Bombay Native Infantry
• Two Batteries of European Artillery
• Sappers & Miners Detachment
  

2nd Brigade

• Headquarters HM 14 Light Dragoons
• Headquarters 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry
• 3rd Bombay European Regiment
• Bombay NI
• Battery Horse Artillery
• One Field Battery
• Madras Sappers and Miners
• Siege Train (Joined 15 January 1858)
  

Contingent Hyderabad State

• 1st Hyderabad Cavalry.
• 4th Hyderabad Cavalry.
• Artillery

• 1st Company Hyderabad Artillery
• 2nd ' ' '
• 4th ' ' '
• Two Howitzers.

• Wing of 3rd Hyderabad Infantry.
• Wing of 5th Hyderabad Infantry.

Saugor and Nerbudda Field Force

British Army Regiments:

• 12th Lancers (left wing)
• 43rd Regiment of Foot
• 6 Coy/14th Brigade Royal Artillery (later G Battery/14th Brigade)

Native Regiments: TBC

• 6th Madras Light Cavalry
• 7th Madras Light Cavalry
• 3rd Madras (European) Infantry
• 1st Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
• 19th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
• 50th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry
• 2 companies of Sappers
• Hyderabad Green Horse (2nd Cavalry Hyderabad Contingent?)

External Links

Central India Campaign Wikipedia
The Central India Campaign Article by Maj Agha Humayun Amin

Historical books on-line

Recollections of the Campaign in Malwa and Central India by Ast Surgeon John Henry Sylvester 1860 Google Books