Siege of Arrah

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Siege of Arrah
Part of Indian Mutiny
Date: 26 July-3 August 1857
Location: Arrah, Bhojpur, Bihar
Presidency: Bengal
Co-ordinates: 25.559827°N 84.667483°E
Result: British victory
Combatants
East India Company Rebel Sepoys
Commanders
Mr Herwald Wake
Major Dunbar
Major Vincent Eyre
Koer Singh
Strength
8 Europeans
60 Sikhs of Rattray's Police Battalion
2,000 Sepoys
Casualties

Summary

Kunwar Singh took command of the sepoys who mutinied at Dinapore. Forewarned that they would attack Arrah, the Europeans who remained behind fortified a bungalow where they held out for about ten days. A relief force from Dinapore under Captain Dunbar was ambushed as they approached and forced to retreat with heavy casualties. Ross Mangles and William McDonnell won VCs in the action. It wasn't until 3 August that Major Vincent Eyre dispersed the enemy and raised the siege.


First relief force

Second relief force

160 men of HM 5th Fusiliers and 3 guns
under Major Vincent Eyre

External links

Indian Mutiny 1857-58 The British Empire

Historical books online

  • A turning point in the Indian Mutiny by I. Giberne Sieveking 1910 Siege of Arrah www.archive.org
  • A History of the Great Revolt by John William Kaye 1864 Siege of Arrah Google Books
  • A comprehensive history of India by Henry Beveridge 1862 Relief of Arrah Google Books
  • Arrah in 1857.. Reprinted from a Pamphlet by John James Hall to which is added an account of…the Relief… by Charles Kelly. 1893 Archive.org.
Two Months In Arrah In 1857 by John James Halls, late Assistant Surgeon at the Civil Station of Arrah 1905, reprint of 1860 edition. Archive.org. Arrah was twenty four miles from Dinapore.

Recommended Reading

"Indian Mutiny" by Saul David 2002 ISBN 0141005548
"My Indian Mutiny Diary" by WH Russell 1967 ISBN 0527781207

Arrah Location
Survey 1920-1946