Ghapt^:* II

organisation

The Bengal Army was most Important for the East India
Company. In fact, it was even more important than the Europeans.
The East India Company was very cautious and careful while
selecting the soldiers for the Army, because her power in India
depended on the Bengal Army, The present study proposes to see
how the Company organised its Army in Bengal, A perusal of the
documents shows that the Bengal Presidency Amiy consisted of
different branches of which the most important and distinguishiijg
part was of the European and N ative description.
The Army in Bengal Presidency consisted of different
elements, but the distinct element was that of the Europeans
and the Natives, Two kinds of troops were found in the
European elements * first - Crown's Regiment and second was
Company’s European Regiments, Although both belonged to the
same nation, race and religion but they were discriminated
in receiving the facilities and provisions. The real fact was
that discrimination was the main policy for the progress of
East India Company’s regime. The Company provided different
facilities to the different groups for the same work.
The Crdjwn* s Regiments were sent to India only forcertain
period to serve in India and they were kept strictly as
auxiliaries to the troops of the Company, But the Crown’s
troops in India enjoyed more facilities by virtue of the
1
customs and traditions of the Army at home.
 61

Economically the most exploited section of the East India

Company’s Army was that of the Native troops. They were divided
as regular, Irregular and Provincial troops. Regular Native
troops got more facilities in coirparison to the irregular and
Provincial troops. Extension of the territory resulted in the
expansion of the Anny. But care was taken to employ additional
forces which though efficient, but did not prove to be
expensive. They were of two kinds j first it was the Local
corps recruited from among the people in the newly acquired
territory and they were confined to that area only. Secondly,
there were the '’
irregulars” in either case with a complement
of three or at most four officers selected solely on account
of their higher qualifications for a peculiar but every
effective service. For regular Native Infantry they had
appointed 23 officers. The division of the Bengal Army can
be seen in the following chart:

Bs;
_______________________________________________________ ________________________________________________5 _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________

II T"
Crown’
s
itroops serving in India East India Company’s troops
9
Company’s European Native
troops troops
— j ---------------j ---------------- j ---------------- -------------

Infantry Artillery Cavalry Local Corps

J I Regular ______ __________
Regiaar Irregular fl I
(mostly) (minority) Irregulars Regular
(mo s tly (mino rity)
 62

The Anry and Its work was the first breakaway of the
Company from Its cominerclal origins. Its administrative
organisation was the first to come into being - apart fr<Ms the
supreme governing body of the Governor-General in Council,
At first the public departments at the Presidencies were in
charge of the Military as in case of all other business that
was not commercial. The increase in the strength and activities
of the Army led to the development in its organisation. The
first step towards establishing a special Military Department
was taken in 1773 at Calcutta with the establishment of Quarter
2
Master General*s Department, An Adjutant General’s Department
was added in 1774, but it was abolished in 1775, The Court of
Directors wanted that his duties be performed by the senior
Aid-de-Camp to the Commander-in-Chief, but was revived again
in 1779. The Quarter Master General's Department was abolished
in 1785 as a measure of retrenchment, but was revived soon
3
thereafter.

Besides the above-mentioned departments under the

Military Board, another Military department came into existence
4
about 1786, It was divided into two departments - the
Militaiy Department of Inspection and the Secret and Military
Department, The duties of the departments were more clerical
than administrative, although each of them had a secretary as
all important matters of policy and administration continued
to be discussed and decided in the Governor General's Council.
 63

5
In 17P3, the Military Department was abolished. In 1799 a
thorough reorganisation of all the departments of the Govern­
ment took place, and the Mllltaiy Department was one of the
four deparlanents of the government. Till 1819 the Military
6
Department continued to perform more or less clerical duties.
The peculiar position occupied 1:^ the Military Department in
the government of the countryvas proved by the fact that while
the other departments of the governments ’
had undergone
radical change, the Military Department for long stood
unchanged. Lord Dalhousie in 1853 effected a radical change
in the constitution of the Department by splitting its work
up among new departments such as the Ordnance, the
7
Commissariat and the Military Public Works,
Military Board was made responsible for the administra­
tion of the Army which in each Presidency had been formed by
the Court of Directors in 1786. But the Court of Directors
made it clear that the Military Board did not intend to erect
any Military authority in their setti. etnents in any degree
Independent of the superior civil, executive government of the
country as vested in the Board of Council, But it was pointed
out that this Board was Immediately connected with the
regularity, economic and the effective strength of the
Army, Moreover, the Board could exercise its authority
in all respects, Sveiy article of Military which involved
expenditure would come under the purview of the Military
Boards and shall be subject to revision and control. But
the discipline of the Army, the distribution of the troops,
the application of the force were exclusively vested with
 64

8
the supreme government and the Coramander-ln-Chlef, The
Military Board consisted of 1. Commander-in-Ghief, 2. The
Senior Officer at the Presidency, 3. Senior Officer of the
Artillery, 4. The Chief Engineer, 5. The Adjutant General,
9
6, The Quarter Master General, 7. The Conimlssiary-General
10
with one secretary and two assistant secretaries.
The Court had directed that the senior Colonel Commanding
a Brigade, shall be considered as the officer next in rank in
Bengal to the Coimnander-in-Ghief in India and the second-in-
command and shall not be permitted to a higher rank than that
11
of Colonel,
The Board exercised control over the Ordnance Department,
the Department of Public Works, including roads, bridges and
civil and military buildings of every description, the canal
and embarkment department, the commissiarate department,
12
the stud and the stationery department.
The Military Board was reorganised in 1830 and
consisted of the following members viz, the chief engineer,
the commandant of Artillery, the Chief Magistrate of Calcutta,
or other selected civil officers and two stipendiary Military
members. The office establishment was consisted of one
13
secretary, an accountant, and two assistant secretaries.
The government ordered in 1855, that all the public
departments heretofore under the superintendence of the
Military Board having been successively withdrawn therefrom,
for the purpose of entrusting those departments, respectively,
to the Individual and personal responsibility of one head,
the Military Board would cease to exist from and after the
 65

14
30th April 1855,

Military Areas and Goromanda

The Bengal Presidency had its own specified Military
area, which was further divided into Military commands when
the Indian Army was reorganised in 1796, The Bengal Presidency
was to consist of 6 General Officer Commands, four on the
15
Company's establishment and two on the King’
s establishment.
In 1S13, in the Bengal Presidency the following areas were
under the Military commands j Benaras, Kanpur, Dinapur, Meerut,
16
Sagur, and Shrihind, The number of divisional commands was
fixed, and they were held by 2 King's officers and 5 Company's
officers. There were some more Military Commands lower in
status than the divisional commands. For example, in 3S33
Meerut, Calcutta, and Sirhind divisions were commanded by a
Major General, whereas Eastern Frontiers, Mewar, Field Force,
Rajputana F i ^ d Force, Agra, and Mathura, Malwa and Oudfe,
Dum Dum, Barrackpore and Rohel Khand and Delhi were under
17
the command of the Brigadiers,
18
There were one or two Colonel's command also. In
1853, the Gwalior divisional command was reduced from that
of a Major General to a Brigadier and Kanpur and Oudh divisions
were amalgamated,
A return of the number of officers in commands of divisions
of the Army, subsidiary or field forces and of brigades or
20
stations at each Presidency in 1832 is given below:
 66

Presidencies No, of Officers No, of officers No, of officer

in command of in command of of the second
division subsidiary or class of
field forces Brigadiers in
command of
Brigades or
stations

Bengal 7 3 U
Madras 5 4 7
Bombay 3 2 5

There were some cantonments as Meerut, Cawnpore,

Barrackpore, Dim Dum Garrison's, Allahabad, Agra, and
21
Buxar (Invalid), After the annexation of Punjab, the
Military Area of Bengal Presidency which stretched across
the whole of northern India from Calcutta to the Afghan
22
frontiers was organised in seven divisional commands.
The following revision in the divisional commands of the
Army had been done by the order of the Commander-in-Chief in
1B52, The Benaras and Dinapur divisions were henceforward to
be united. Dinapur was the Headquarters of the new division,
23
and Benaras became 2nd class brigade. The Punjab division
was divided into two distinct commands to be designated as
24
the Lahore and Peshawar divisions. The Jallandhar Field
Force ceased to be a separate and independent command and
Jallundar, Phiiiour, Makodely Kurtuii)ore and Hosiyarpore
were transferred to the Sirhind Division, which would in
future comprise the several stations as Hansi, L^dianah,
Jattogh (Simla), Durshaie, Kussoulie, Subathoo, Umballah,
25
Phiiiour, Nakodah, Juiiundar, Kurturpore and Hoshiyarpore,
 67

The Lahore division included all stations between the

"Sutlege”, "Beas”and ”
JhelxM” as also the station of
Ferozepore, which was transferred from the Slrhind division,
and comprised the several stations such as Lahore, Ferozepore,
Govindgarh, Goordaspore, Mooltan, Sealkote, Wazeerabad,
26
Nooi^ore and Kangra.
The Peshawar division included all the stations
beyond the "Jhellum” comprising Rawalpindie, Jhellum, Attock,
Ct-
Koh 0 ;:*t, Dera Ismael Khon, Murree and Peshawar,

The Structure of thQ^rsa:

The Bengal Native Infantry had a Regimentsil system.
The Battalions of Native Infantry were to be formed into
Regiments of two battalions each, with ten companies in
each battalion. The Regiment was to consist of one Colonel,
two Lt, Colonels, two Majors, seven Captains, one Captain
28
L t . , 22 Lts, and ten Ensigns, 20 Subedars, 20 Jemadars,
100 Havildars, one hxmdred Naiks, 40 Drummers and fifers
2 9

and 1,600 privates - 22 Pukollies, The establishment of

a battalion in 1758 consisted of 1 Captain, 2 Lts,, 2 Ensigns,
2 Serjeants, 3 Drummers, 1 Native Commandant, 10 Subedars,
30 Jemadars, 1 Native Adjutant, 10 Trumpeters, 30 Tum Turns,
30
80 Havildars, 50 Nalks and 6P0 Privates,
Until the year 1757, it was the native commandant
who either on parade or in action with the enemy, took post
beside the East India Company*s officers. There was also a
Native Adjutant to each corps, 28 men belonging to the
first battalion of Bengal Native Army, which was raised in
January 1757 by Clive were blown away from the mouth of cannon
 68

31
by the order of Major Munro for a mutiny.
There were two categories of the staff - first,
Effective staff consisted of one surgeon, two
assistant surgeons and 4 Native Doctors, two Sarjant Majors,
two quarter-master serjeants (with staff allowances of
Sonout Rs, 20 and 14 per mensem each.) and second. Non-
effective staff consisted of one Adjutant and Quartermaster,
two Adjutants, two drill Havildars, two drill Naiks, two
32
Drum Majors and two Pipe Majors,
The European Officers of Regiments were to be posted
to battalions as one Lt, Colonel, one Major, four Captains
33
(Captain Lt. as one), 11 Lts, and five Ensigns,
Bach battalion will consist of two Grenadiers - one
Light and seven Battalion companies. The light company
was to be formed in every battalion of Native Infantry,
In future it was to be considered as a fixed post of the
34
regular establisbment of each battalion. The Light
company of every Battalion Native Infantry was to be the
35
1st or Colonel*s company in each battalion of a regiment.
The Governor-General ordered that a Marine Battalion
be formed into a Regiment of 20 companies of 90 Privates to
each company. The promotions of the officers in the Marine
Regiment shall proceed on the same principles as in the
36
regular Regiments of Infantry, The establishment of each
battalion of the Marine Regiment shall be immediately
37
augmented to 8 Havildars, 8 Nalks and 130 Privates per company.
The Lt, Colonel* s and Majors* companies in both the
battalions were to be commanded by a Lieutenant with an
 69

Ensign. The flank companies by a Captain with a Lieutenant,

One battalion company was to be commanded by a Captain with
an Ensign, one by a Lieutenant with an Ensign, and three by
two Lieutenants each. In the other battalion two companies
were commanded by a Captain with an Ensign, and three by
38
two Lieutenants each.
The companies were numbered as beginning with the
Colonels, and proceeding in succession with the field
officers. Captains and Lieutenants. To the number of the
company was added the rank and name of the field officers,
Captain or Lieutenant as, for instance, the first (or
Colonel A*s) company, the 4th (or Captain B*s) company, the
39
7th (or Lieutenants C* s) company.
If the number of the European officers was not sufficient
to furnish one to each company, the vacant company or companies
were to be put under the charge of the senior officer — one
40
vacant company only to each officer, Upto the year 1796
the Native aB^ywas organised and maintained on a system totally
distinct from that of the European force, and even then it was
the most efficient body. In that year the first steps were
taken to introduce the British system and since then
departmental centralisation had gradually been introduced
until the power of the commanding and other European officers
was completely sapped and the practical efficiency of the
41
Army destroyed.
The practice of conferring the command of a Regiment
of Sepoys invariably on the senior Captain was liable to
great Military objections. The aim was to stimulate military
 70

men to extraordinary exertions. If seniority alone prevailed

men with valuable professional talents would lose the
initiative to hard work and the spirit of emulation.
Consequently their qualities would lie dormant without any
outlet. Of Course, in case of the candidates almost equally
good in character and ability, seniority had a just claim to
preference. But when superior Military qualifications were
found in a junior officer, the public good required that he
42
should be encouraged and pushed up.
Governor-General passed an order that a sergeant
Major and Quarter Master sergeant be allowed to each battalion
43
of the Native Infantry, When sergeants were required for
the native corps, applications were to be made through the
Adjutant General to the Commander-in-Ghlef, who would either
nominate them himself, or direct proper men to be selected
from the European Battalions from which they can be most
44
conveniently supplied,
A Drum and Fife Major was allowed to each Battalion
of the Native Infantry. In native corps one Drummer and one
45
Fifer were to be attached to each company. Whenever Drummers
or Fifers were required for any of the Native corps of the
Army, application was to be made, in the first instance, to
the company’
s European Regiment and secondly to the secretary
or the orphan society, and no natives were to be entertained
as drummers and fifers until it was ascertained that the boys
could not be supplied from the European Regiment or the
46
orphan establishment.
 71

A man in each company of the Native Infantry was to

act in the capacity of Pay Havildar and to receive Rs, 5/-
47
a month.
Commander-in-Chief ordered, that subaltern officers
WOft^ito sent on command with all detachments of the Native
Infantry exceeding in nixmber half a company, whether such
detachments were composed of men of different companies or
48
not. He again ordered that a Captain be invariably sent
with every detachment of the Native Infantry which might
exceed the strength of one company, and on every occasion
on which service was likely to occur not even a single
49
company was to be detached without a Captain,
In case of non-availability of the Captain/Subaltern
who had actually served for 8 years in India would be
50
considered eligible to such commands.
Order or discipline in all the troops depended on the
officers who enforced it. The native officers were but too
often remiss. It was therefore, recommended to the European
officers to enforce command and obedience amongst them and to
endeavour, by encouragement and good treatment to the active
and punishing the remiss to make themselves keep in good
51
order and discipline among the sepoys.
It appeared that the practice of drilling the Native
commissioned and non-commissioned officers together still
prevailed in some of the corps. That custom was strictly
52
prohibited in future.
The drill Havildars and Nalks of corps were to be
employed as instructors of the drill. Their proper dut^f
 72

under the directions of the commanding officer of the corps

and the immediate superintendence of the Adjutants, with
the aid of such additional non-commissioned officers (NCOs)
as might be necessary according to the numbers at drill,
and the NGOs employed were to be relieved monthly, or
at least every two months. Private sepoys were to be
employed as seldom as possible as instructors at the drill,
which could only be necessary from an occasional shortage
of the NCOS, In such cases they were also to be relieved,
53
as directed for the additional NGOs.
The Commander-in-Ghief had fixed the following
details for the personal guards of the Native Infantry
54
who were to be relieved weekly.

Jema­ Havil- Dru­

dar dars Naiks mmers Sepoys

For a Major General commanding 1 2 2 2 32

a station
For a Colonel of a Regiment, not 1 1 - 16
commanding a principal station
Lt, Colonel commanding and 1 1 12
present with Regiment or
Battalions of Native Infantry

For all other field officers or other officers in

command of the corps, when in camp, a right sentinel is to
be furnished from the rear guards of their respective
55
corps.
 73

of sjj^h s a t t a l ^ s
Brigadier General Cotton had directed the formation of
Sikh Battalion of 10 companies* strength as 10 Subedars,
10 Jemadars, 50 Havildars, 50 Nalks, 20 Buglers, 800 Privates,
composed of all the Sikhs, Punjabee Mussalmans, and Pathans
and those recruited from the different tribes of the Kangra
hills, to complete the establishment, each class was to be
separated into companies as follow?* 3 companies of Sikhs,
1 company of Rajpoots, 1 company of Punjabee Hindoos,
56
3 companies of P^njabee Mahomedans and 2 companies of Pathans,

Cn^SK.es -Organ
The whole Bengal Native Infantry can be shown as
sketches below.
Bengal Native Infantry

Strength of Native Commands of Native Infantry

Infantry
Gov e m o r- Gene ral
Regiments
Commander-In-Chief
Battalions
Divisional Commander
Company
Brigade Comipanders
or
Station Commander
Regimental Commander
Battalion Commanders
Company Commander

The organisation of Bengal Native Infantry was started

as back as in 1758, when a battalion had only 3 Army Officers,
one Captain, one Lieutenant and one Ensign, wlx> acted as field
 74

officers. They were assisted by a serj^s^nt Major and four

serjeants. There was a Native commandant, who took post In
front with the Captain and a Native Adjutant wlx) remained
with subalterns. The battalion consisted of 10 companies,
two of which were grenadiers. Bach company had a subedar,
three jemadars, five havildars (one of which was a colanrman),
57
4 naiks, two tom tomes, one trumpeter and 70 sepoys. The
government in April 1764, ordered the battalions to be
58
niimbered according to the ranks of their Captains. The
numbers of subalterns in each battalion was increased to
3 Lieutenants and 3 Ensigns, All battalion Tom Toms and
59
trumpeters were dismissed and drums and fifers substituted.
In 1765, Lord Clive had divided the whole Army into three
brigades. Each brigade was thus made a complete force by
itself. The commanding officers of both the European and
Native Infantry Battalions, who had hitherto been directly
lander the Commander-in-Chief were placed under the Brigadiers
60
for close supervision. The Native Infantry establislnment
was fixed at one Captain, 2 Lieutenants, 2 Ensigns,
3 Sergeants, 3 Drummers, a Native Adjutant, 10 Trumpeters,
61
30 Drummers, 130 NCOs, and 6oo Privates,
In 1766 various internal reforms and improvements were
introduced in the regular brigades of the Army including the
fonring and publishing of a code of regulations, together with
a fixed standard of staff, contract and contingent allowance.
The fonriation of three brigades gave a definite shape
and assigned a particular duty to the Company*s whole army.
Not only that the English troops were everywhere incorporated
 75

with the Native troops but also the security and defence of the
more distant districts were secured. Assemblage of the whole
army In one place frequently caused the price of the provisions
to rise, but this drawback was now avoided as the Directors held
63
that the new brigade structure was "a happy contrivance”.
In 1773, there were 6 officers allowed to each battalion
64
and Drums and Fifes were substituted for the Native music.
In 1775, the thai Gomicander-in-Ghief Sir John Clavering
ordered for a complete renumbering of the Sepoy Battalions, All
the regular battalions were numbered consequently by brigades,
beginning with the first brigade, which was to have the first
seven numbers, down to the third brigade, which was to have
65
the last seven. From 1773 to 1781, no material change took
place, when the whole army was divided into regiments and two
battalions with 500 men to each and a Major to command each
regiment, a Captain to command each battalion and one European
officer to each company. There were 42 battalions of sepoys in
66
the Bengal Army,
Great changes took place in its constitution and numbers.
This became necessary because of the increasing strength of the
Native Battalions from 21 to 35, Now two battalions formed one
regiment having a strength equal to that of 5 companies viz, one
67 68
grenadier company and 4 battalion companies. This regiment
was to be commanded by a Major (to be styled as Major Commandant)
and each of its battalion by a Captain. There was effective and
69
non-effective staff of each battalion. Two Lt, Colonels were
attached to the sepoy corps of each brigade. Several '
 76

regiments were numbered according to the present seniority of the

battalion from which they were to be formed. The oldest of these
battalions was to be the first regiment, the next was the 2nd
on 70
and so in the same order. This system set the expanded
battalion into an order and increased the strength of the Army
officers. Gradually, the authority of the Native Officer was
71
decreased and the power of the Army Officer was increased.
There was a new organisation in the year of 1785, The Court
had directed to reduce the Military expenditure of the
Presidency, The limit ’was fiied to 18 regiments formed into
36 battsilions of 600 men each, commanded by a Captain having
72
under him 8 Lieutenants, one of whom was appointed Adjutant,
There were 591 officers who commanded 26,000 men in the
73
proportion of nearly one officer to 50 men. And these
591 Military officers created the Empire for the East India
74 '75
Company, as compared to 30 regiments of two battalions each.
Moreover, the battalions were equally distributed amoi^
76
6 brigades.
The old appointment of the Native Commandant was abolished
77
in 1781 and this resulted into great himiliatlon to the Native
officers. An European Adjutant was appointed to each regiment
and a Native warrant officer was appointed as Adjutant to each
battalion. Two European NCOs were appointed as serjeant Major
78
and quarter master serjeant to each battalion. All these
organisations had been guided by the considerations of
convenience, and retained or broke up battalions according
to their position or situation at the moment. Thus it happened
that several fine old corps were broken up and ceased to exist
 T7

79
in an attempt to save the expenditure of the Company,
The most important reorganisation took place in 1796,
This was the greatest step after 1757, So many changes had
heen introduced earlier but this was an uncomparable one. The
Directors had directed that the battalions of the Native
Infantry were to be formed into regiments of two battalions
each with ten companies in each battalion. The Court had
limited the strength of the Bengal Native Infantry to
80
12 regiments Each battalion consisting of 10 companies
(2 Grenadiers and 8 companies) and each company of 2 Native
commissioned officers, 10 non-commissioned officers and
81
80 privates as a peace establishment. The staff of Native
Adjutant was not allowed, and therefore, no Native officer
was to be so denominated under any pretence whatever. An
European Adjutant was appointed to each battalion, and an
82
Adjutant and Quarter Master in one person to each regiment.
To each battalion was allowed a serjeant Major, Quartermaster
83
serjeant, Drum and Fife Major, A Pay Havildar was appointed
84
to each company.
The important changes thus introduced proved to be
epoch-making in the interior history of the Bengal Army, The
preceding forty years had seen the rise of the force from a
handful of men anployed in emergency as a tentative measure
to a large, well equipped and well-disciplined Army, From
the history of forty years, two things were clear — first,
the Directors used the Native soldiers as their tools,
exploited them fully and humiliated them a great deal. On
the commencement of war they raised huge Army, and after
 78

concluding the war they disbanded It, The reorganisation was

meant to minimise the strength of the Native soldiers.
Secondly, they devaluated slowly and slowly the power of the
Native Officers, In fact, they only wanted soldiers. To draw
more soldiers, they had provided the rank of NCOs and Native
commissioned officers. This was the best for the Native
soldiers. But the Directors made that respectable post only
an outwardly show, and reduced all the power and authority of
the said officers. They had centralised all powers in the hands
of the European Army Officers,
They had appointed two European NGOs to check the power
of the Native commissioned officers.
The closing years of the iBth century were peaceful one
In Bengal, but the rapidly Increasing influence of the British
in the North West and the responsibilities which it involved
together with the indication that yet another struggle was
at hand in southern India, soon afforded proof that the strength
of the Army as fixed by the arrangements under the reorganisation
of 1796, was insufficient, and that furtl^»er additions must be
made. Before starting the war with the Marathas in 1803 and
1S04, they had greatly increased the Native Infantry, But as
per the usual practice with the end of war the Governor-General
ordered in 1806 that the regular battalioisbe reduced from
12 to 10 companies, Bach company was to consist of
85
1 Subedar, 1 Jemadar, 4 Havildars, 4 Nalks and 70 Privates,
And the office of the Adjutant attached to the corps of the
86 87
Native invalids which was abolished was re-established.
In 1S08 an important change was introduced into the
 79

organisation of the Bengal Native Infantry viz. the formation

of Light coHipanies, The Commander-in-Chief directed the
88
organisation of a Light company in each battalion, and later
on, it was ordered that this company was in future to be
considered a fixed part of each battalion. Thus each battalion
was composed of 2 Grenadiers, 1 Light company sind 7 battalion
89
companies, Havildars of Light Infantrys were ordered to
90
carry Muskets instead of pikes.
In 1814, the establishment of Native Infantry consisted
of 27 regiments for Bengal, 22 regiments for Madras and
9i regiments for Bombay, Bach regiment consisted of 2 battalions
and 1 Colonel, 2 Lt, Colonels, 3 Majors, 8 Captains, 14 Lieut­
enants and 6 Ensigns with Native commissioned and NCOs and
privates as at present,
The stage had now arrived for the second great
reorganisation of the Bengal Native Infantry, The system, which
had obtained for the last thirty years was swept away and a new
order that was brought into force, remained unchanged for a
further period of thirty years until destroyed by the events
of the great revolution of 1857 or the first independence
war (narrated by Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar) that gave
birth to the present Army,
The Directors had directed on 25th November 1823, that
”each of the existing Regts of the Native Inf shall be divided
into two Regts with the following strength — i Col, (or Lt Col
92
commandant), i Lt Col, 1 Major, 5 Capts, 10 Lts, 5 Ensigns",
93
The rank of Captain Lt, had been abolished.
 80

The existing battalions shall take precedence as

Regiments upon the new establlslanents In the order In which
they were originally raised whether previously or subsequently
94
to the arrangements of 1796, The numbering of the corps
95
after the reorganisation •

Increase in the Strength of Arm? Qfflcerg

The Court of Directors had gradually increased the
strength of the Army officers as the size of the Native
Infantry increased.

In 1757 t On the fitst establishment of Sepoy corps in Bengal

(1757) each battalion consisted of 10 companies with 1 Captain,
-?
1 Lieutenant and 1 Ensign, only 3 'per battalion.

In 1773 I In 1773 the number of European Officers was 1 Captain,

3 Lieutenants, 3 Ensigns, total 7 per battalion.

In I7ftl t In 1781,.the regiments consisting of two battalions

each were formed. And each regiment had 1 Major as commandant,
2 Captains (one to each battalion), 10 lieutenants (5 to each
battalion) as total 13 officers to each regiment. Two
European NCOs were appointed to each battalion as Serjeant
Major and Quarter Master Serjeant. Bach battalion consisted
of 5 companies of 100 rank and file.

Ip 1786 I In 1786, battalion of 8 companies each was formed

with 1 Captain and 8 Subalterns, total 9 per battalion, and
6 battalions were formed into a brigade with one Colonel and
one Major at the head of each brigade.
 81

In 17Q6 t Bach regiment that was formed consisted of two

battalions each and each battalion consisted of 10 companies*
The complement of the European Officers for each regiment was
fixed as follows: i Colonel, 2 Lt. Colonels, 2 Majors,
7 Captains and 1 Captain Lt., 22 Lieutenants, 10 Ensigns,
9b
total 45 per regiment and 22 per battalion.

In 1R2Q s Bach regiment of two battalions had officers as

2 Colonels, 2 Lt. Colonels, 2 Majors, 10 Captains, 20 Lieutenants
97
and 10 Ensigns, total 46 per regiment.

In lj^44 t The Court had ordered for the strength of officers

per regiment or battalion of all arms as l Colonel, 1 Lt. Colonel,
1 Major, 5 Captains, 10 Lieutenants, 5 Ensigns, total 23 officers.

Increase in the StrenRib_of Native El^.gitg

The strength of each company fixed for the Native
elements has been given below:

Years Subedar Jema­ Havil- Drummers Privates or

dars dars Natks (Tomtom & Sepoys
Trumpets)

1758 1 3 5 4 2+1 70
1826 1 1 5 5 2 80^
1S43 1 1 5 6 2 90

In 1757 a battalion was commanded by a Captain, but it

was commanded by a Colonel in 1826. Rank variation was done
from Captain to Colonel for the Command. This had been done
 82

for the welfare of the British citizen. But this was a narrow
outlook about the whole organisation. There were only
3 officers for a battalion In 1757 but was Increased by
eight-fold In ]J823, This was done because there was a lack of
faith In the fidelity of the Native bravery. There was a
Native conmiandant before 1757, but the post was later on
abolished. Evidently It was not thought desirable to hard
over any authority or power to the Native Officers. Their
power was reduced. They were made to follow rather than lead.
There were 1 Subedar and 3 Jemadsurs for each company In 1758 and
1 Subedar and 1 Jemadar In 1826 for each company. They had
reduced their strength. It meant Injustice on the part of the
Court of Directors. The Directors had created only one more
rank In 1817, that was Subedar Major, One Subedar Major
waa deputed for each regiment as one colonel for each regiment.
They had created the rank for the officers upto Lt. General,
but for the soldiers upto Subedar Major, The creativity for
the formation of more ranks for the soldiers had dlsappearid.
It showed that they were against the welfare of the Native
Soldiers, Otherwise they would have Increased the strength
of the Native Commissioned Officers In the same way. A Native
Officer could not rise above the Insignificant pay of Rs, 174
a month. When in addition to this, it is still remembered that
the lower ranks were liable for the most trivial offences to
suffer corporal punishment. Flogging was abolished but was
again introduced. Even when a commission was granted to a
Native Officer he was still exposed to the harshness of his
British superiors, whose habits of self-restraint, as the
 83

court martial records of the time prove, were, but too little
cultivated. Moreover, the consideration for the position of the
Native officers as such was not much insisted upon from the
British ranks whether commissioned or non-commissioned. When
all these points were considered, it is only to be wondered
that the Native Army displayed as much devotion and zeal in
101
times of emergencies as it undoubtedly did.
They had created confusion between the Buropean NCDs
and the Native commissioned officers regarding their status.
Their duties had never been defined, viz, as to whether a
Native officer, who had a commission shall be obliged to report
to, or receive orders from a European, who had no commission or
written authority, authorising him to command the Native
102
officers, European officers were partial to the Europeans
and in some regiments the Native Officers were made to receive
orders from the European Serjeants and in others they were not
required to do so. If it was intended that the serjeants
attached to the Native Corps were to command the Native
Officers, they were furnished with the warrants empowering
them to do so. If this was not intended that they should be
invested with that authority, it was certainly improper to
degrade the Native Officers, as was often done by making them
report to a man holding inferior rank to them, merely because
he was a European, It would create discontent among the
103
Native Officers, Although the Court had accepted the
degradation and remarked that, ”the inevitable inference
is that the advantages which formerly recommended our Military
service to the Natives must have materially declined in their
 84

104
estimation,” They had always demanded sacrifice and
fidelity on the part of the Native soldiers on one hand, but
on the other hand, they always made them fool and exploited
their bravery, simplicity, character at the highest pitch.
They had not only deceived the Indian princes and the people
but also the Native soldiers. They had, however, realised
that they could not build up the Empire in India without a
strong army, which was impossible for U.K. to provide that
Army from her own resources. This was a great development
in the strategy of the Military history of the world.
The re-introduction of single battalion and general
re-organisation of 1824 closed another chapter in the history
of Bengal Array, They had always reorganised the Army after
concluding the war or in peace time. On the start of war,
they greatly increased the Native troops and after concluding
the war, they reduced them. Through reorganisation they
played their trick. After 1824 they did not increase the
strength of the Native troops, but again before the SDch War
they increased the Native troops. In fact, they were master
In their tactics. But we are all sorry as to why they did not
use their mental capability to Improve the conditions of the
Native Army in the field of education, economic and other
fields. No doubt, in place of hate we have respect and love
for their actions. The truth is that a nation can be
recognized by its deeds only, not by its defeat or win.
This is a temporary gain or achievement.
 85

The need of the officers in the Native Army was not

only confined to organising the Army but also as Sir John
Malcolm observes ”that it is not for the parade and drill
of a corps but they are much required in the Native Infantry.
A good commanding officer and staff, with Junior Officers
will bring a Native corps into full as high order as if the
whole complement of senior officers were present, and only
106
good and efficient officers are required,”
 86

Chapter II

o r g a n is a t io n

No te s
'i
1 M ajor Madan P a u l, op, c l t , , pp. 2 3 -2 4 .
2 B a n e rje e , P , D , , Hi s t o ry o f the M:
M ilit a r y Department P r e s s , C a lc u t t a , l^ O l,
Huthnaswamy, M ., Some Ip flu e n c e that_made th e B r i t i s h
MalBlstrat^■ve System in In d ia . 1Q36-37. M adras,
p . 156;
P
4 Ib id .
5 Ib id .
6 Ib id .
7 Ib id .
8 M ilit a r y l e t t e r from C o u rt, 21 September 1785,
No. 3 and No, 8 .
9 Ib id .
10 P.ay .and A u d it J^sgulatlon, C a lc u t t a , 1849,
S e c tio n X X IV , para 57,
11 M ilit a r y l e t t e r from C o u rt a t F o r t W illia m , 11 A p r il
1785, No. 8 , p . 45.
12 e.az..,aa4 M X X op, c i t . , s e c t io n X X IV ,
p ara 58,
13 GOGG, 26th November 3S30, No. 241 ,
14 GOGG, 9 th February 1855, No. 212.
15 P P , V o l. 9 0 , p . 283. Commons 80 o f 1863.
16 M ilit a r y Map o f In d ia , M inutes o f E v id e n ce , P P , V o l. 13,
p . 1 , Comrons 735 V o f 1832.
17 U n ite d S e rv i ce Jo u rn a ls 1833 . P t . I , , London,
1853, p . 570.
IS Ib id .
19 PP V o l. 50, p . 211 , Commons 467 o f I8 6 0 ,
 87

20 Syn o p sis o f the e v id ence taken b efo re the S e le c t

Gonmlttee In r e la t io n to the Army o f India. 1832.
p . 49. The numbers f ix e d by th e o rd e rs o f the
C o u rt o f D ir e c t o r s In t h e ir M ilit a r y D espatch to
the Supreme Government o f the 25tb November 1823
and as a g a in e s ta b lis h e d by them In the o rd e rs
to the Government o f Bombay, dated 8 th Fe b ru a ry 1832,
21 I b i d . , p , 346 . R e p ly o f L t . C o l, B a k e r,
21 Fe b ru ary 1832,
22 M ic h a e l, Edward, B a t t le s o f In d ia n Mu t in y .
London, 1963, p . 23,
23 Stan d in g Order 1862, p , 22,
24 Ib id ,
25 Ib id ,
26 GOCC, 5 th J u l y 1852,
27 Ib id .
28 M inutes o f C o u n c il, 30th Fa y 1796,
29 Ib id .
30 C a lc u t t a Review . V o l. 8 9 , No, 178, 1889, p , 288,
31 W alter Badenanch, B n a u irv in to the S ta te o f the
In d ia n ^ m v w ith S u g g e s tio n s ^ for i t s Improvement
pp. 140-41, ~ ’
32 GOGG, 21 s t May 1807,
33 GOGG, 10th June 1796,
34 GOGG, 2pth August 1808,
35 GOGG, 13th September 1808,
36 GOGG, 6th May 1802,
37 GOGG, 24th October 1809,
38 GOGG, 10th June 1796.
39 GOGG, 10th June 1796,
40 GOCC, 15th September 1798 and 29th June 1796
 88

41 C a lc u t t a Review . V o l. 3 3 , No. 6 5 , 1859, p . 205*

42 M inutes o f C o u n c il, 2 0 th A p r il 1787.
43 M inutes o f C o u n c il, 3 0 th l^ay17P6,
44 GOGG, 7 th J u ly 1783.
45 M inutes o f C o u n c il, 22nd August 1796,
46 GOPC, 2nd September 1807.
47 M inutes o f C o u n c il, 2 0 th June 1796,
48 GOCC, 2 4 th May 1793.
49 GOCC, 25th August 1806.
50 GOPC, 4 th A p r il 1807.
51 M inutes o f C o u n c il, 3rd August 1779.
52 GOGG, 7 th A n r ll 1791.
53 GOCC, 18th Feb ru ary 1808.
54 GOCC, 2 5 th November 1806.
55 Ib id .
56 GOCC, 22nd September 1857.
57 C a p t. W illia m s , op. c i t . , pp. 2-3*
58 I b i d . , pp. 6 -7 .
1. C apt. G ile s S t ib b e r t 2. C a p t. M. Lean
3. C apt. Hugh Grant 4. C a p t, Campbell
5, Not g iv e n 6. C a p t. Trevan io n
7. C apt. Brovm 8. C ap t. W illia m Sm
9. C apt. P . G a llie z 10. C a p t. Ir o n S id e
11. Capt, James Morgan 12. C a p t. John White
13. C apt. Swinton 14. C a p t. Hampton
15, Capt, S ta b le s 16, C ap t, Sco tla n d
17. C apt. Goddard 18. C a p t, Don
59 C a p t, W illia m s , op. c l t . , p . 9 .
60 I b i d , , p , 533.
61 Cardew, op, c i t . , p . 30.
62 I b i d . , p . 34.
 89

63 N in th Report o f t he Committee o f S e c re c y . 1773. H .G .,

pp. 559-60.
64 Badenach, op, c l t , , p . 142,
65 Gardew, op, c l t , , p . 39,
66 Badenach, op, c l t , , p , 142,
67 M inutes o f C o u n c il, 2 6 th December 1780, One G re n a d ie r
company to c o n s is t o f: 1 L ie u te n a n t, 1 Subedar,
2 Jem adars, 5 H a v lld a r s , 5 N a lk s , 2 Drummers and F l f e r s ,
1 Trumpetere and 90 Sepoys,
68 I b i d , One b a t t a lio n company to c o n s is t of*
1 L ie u te n a n t, 1 Subedar, 2 Jem adars, 5 H a v lld a r s ,
5 N a lk s , 1 Drummer, 1 Trum petere and 90 Sepoys,
69 I b i d , 1 S e rje a n t M ajo r, l D r i l l S e r je a n t ,
1 Q u arter M aster S e r je a n t , 5 S i r c a r s and Su rge o n s,
2 N a tiv e D o ctors ( A l l e f f e c t i v e ) , 1 N a tiv e A d ju ta n t
to be a Jemadar, 1 H a v lld a r M ajor ( a l l n o n - e f f e c t iv e ) ,
70 Ib id .
71 B a r a l, AnZ-'-a,
____________________________________________________________________L 3

C a lc u t t a , 1 ^ 2 , p . 39.
72 S yn o p sis o f the Evidence Taken bef ore the Sel e c t
CQirim lttee in R e la tio n to the Army~of I n d i a , 1832,
p . 59 i 7
R e p ly o f C o l. P e n n in gto n , C . B , , dated 7 th March 1S32.
73 L e t t e r to B e n ga l, 21 September 1785, V o l. 14 (D e s p a tc h e s),
74 Ib id .
75 B a ra l Amlya, op, c l t , , p . 39,
76 L e t t e r to B e n ga l, 21 September 1785, V o l. 14 (D e s p a tc h e s),
Sach b rigad e having one C o lo n e l, 2 L t , C o lo n e l, and two
M a jo rs, There w ere, th e re fo re , in the B engal Army as
formed in 1786. 7 C o lo n e ls , 15 L t , C o lo n e ls , 15 M a jo rs,
90 C a p ta in s , 16 C a p t, L t s . , 386 L ie u te n a n ts , and
62 E n sig n s o r L ig h t f i r e w orkers. T o ta l 591 o f f i c e r s ,
e x c lu s iv e o f g e n e ra l s t a f f ,
77 Cardew, op, c l t , , p . 54.
78 C ap t. W illia m s , op. c l t . , p . 196.
79 Cardew, op, c l t , , p . 68,
 90

80 M ilit a r y L e t t e r from C o u rt, 15th Jan u a ry 1796, Bach

Regim ent c o n s it s o f : 1 C o lo n e l. 2 L t , C o lo n e ls .
2 M a jo rs, 7 C a p ta in s , 1 C a p t. L t . , 22L ie u te n a n t s ,
10 E n s ig n s , 2 S e r je a n t s , 20 Su b e d ars, 20 Jem adars,
100 H a v ild a r s , 100 N a ik s , 40 Drums and F i f e s , 1,600
P r iv a t e s , (1 ,8 0 0 P r iv a t e s f o r Madras and Bombay),
20 P u e k a llie s , S t a f f - 2 A d ju ta n ts , l Pay M a ste r,
1 S e rje a n t M ajor, 1 Q u a rte r M aster S e r je a n t ,
1 Drum M ajo r, 1 F i f e M ajor, 2 D r i l l H a v ild a r s ,
2 D r i l l N a ik s ( A l l n o n - e f f e c t iv e ) , 1 Surgeon,
2 M ates, 2 N a tiv e D o cto rs ( A l l e f f e c t i v e ) ,
81 C a p t. W illia m s , op. c i t , , p , 2 4 2 ,
82 I b i d . , p , 244.
83 M inutes o f C o u n c il, 3 0 th May 1796.
84 C ap t. W illia m s , op, c i t . , p , 243.
85 GOGG, 24th A p r il 1806.
86 GOGG, 16th June 1797.
87 GOGG, 16th O ctober 1806.
88 GOGG, 12th A p r il 1808,
89 GOGG, 29th August 1808,
90 GOCC, 10th November 1808,
91 M ilit a r y L e t t e r from C o u rt, 8 th November 1814,
92 M ilit a r y L e t t e r from C o u rt, 25th November 1823,
93 GOCC, dated 9 th Ja n u a ry 1819.
94 M ilit a r y L e t t e r from C o u rt, 25th November 1823,
95 Cardew, op. c i t . , p , 143.
Old N\:^mber? New Numbers
iisT
q ti ttegx. 2ndRegt,
R e g t,

2nd Refft
« e g t, 22ndRReeggt,t,
_ , „ . 1s t Bn, 6th R e g t.
3rd R e g t, 2nd Bn, I 9 th R e g t,
4 th Reet
4xa « e g t. 2nd Bn, 23rd ®R®e^gt,t.
 91

Old .Nimkerg New Numbers

5th Regt, 1 st Bn. n t h R e g t.

2nd Bn, 2 0 th R e g t.

6 th R e g t. 1 st Bn. 3rd R e g t,
2nd Bn. IBth Reg it.
1 st Bn. 13th R e g t,
7 th R e g t. 2nd Bn. 10th R e g t.

8 th R e g t. 1 st Bn. 9 th R e g t,
2nd Bn. 2 4 th R e g t.

9 th R e gt, 1 st Bn. 8 th R e g t,
2nd Bn, 2 1 s t R e g t,
1 st Bn. 14th R e g t,
10th R e gt, 2nd Bn. 16th R e g t,
1 st B n, 15th R e g t,
nth R e g t. 2nd Bn. 17th R e g t,

12th R e gt, 1 st B n , 12th R e g t.

2nd Bn, 1 s t R e g t.

13th R e g t. 1 st Bn, 26th R e g t.

2nd Bn. 27th R e g t,
1 st Bn. 2 8 th R e g t.
14th R e g t. 2nd Bn, 2 9 th R e g t.

15th R e gt. 1 st Bn, 30th R e g t.

2nd Bn, 3 1 s t R e g t,
16th R e gt, 1 st Bn, 32nd R e g t,
2nd Bn, 33rd R e g t,

17th R e g t, 1 st Bn, 3 4 th R e g t.
2nd Bn, 35th R e g t,

18th R e g t. 1 st Bn, 3 6 th R e g t,
2nd Bn, 37th R e g t,

19th R e g t. 1 st Bn, 3 8 th R e g t,
2nd Bn. 39th R e g t,

2 0 th R e gt, 1s t Bn, 28th R e g t,

2nd Bn, 40th R e g t.

2 l s t R e g t. 1 st Bn, 4 1 st R e g t,
2nd Bn, 42nd R e g t.
 92

Old Numbers New Numbers

1 st Bn. 43rd R e g t,
22nd R e g t, 2nd Bn. 44th R e g t.
23rd R e g t, 1 st Bn, 45th R e g t.
2nd Bn, 46th R e g t.
2 4th R e g t. 1 st Bn, 47th R e g t,
2nd Bn 48th R e g t,
2 5 th R e g t. 1 st Bn, 49th R e g t,
2nd Bn, 5 0 th R e g t,
2 6th R e g t, 1 st Bn. 5 i s t R e g t,
2nd Bn, 52nd R e g t,
2 7 th R e g t. 1st Bn, 53rd R e g t,
2nd Bn, 54th R e g t.
2 8 th R e g t, 1 st Bn. 55th R e g t.
2nd Bn, 56 th R e g t.

2 9th R e g t, 1 st Bn, 57th R e g t.

2nd Bn. 58th R e g t.

3 0 th R e g t, 1 st Bn, 59th R e g t.
2nd Bn, 60th R e g t.
3 1 s t R e gt. 1 st Bn, 6 i s t R e g t.
2nd Bn, 62nd R e g t,
1 s t Bn, 63rd R e g t,
32nd R e gt. 2nd Bn, 64th R e g t,
33rd R e gt, 1 st Bn, 65th R e g t,
2nd Bn, 66th R e g t,
3 4 th R e g t, 1 st Bn. 67th R e g t,
2nd Bn. 68th R e g t.

96 M ilit a r y L e t t e r from C o u rt, 25th November 1823.

97 GOGG, 6 th May 1824, No, 129,9
98 M ilit a r y L e t t e r from C o u rt, 3rd J u l y 1844, No, 22,
99 M ilit a r y L e t t e r to C o u rt, 16th June 1826.
100 GOGG, 17 February 1843, No, 37,
101 Cardew, op, c i t . , p , 144,
102 Badenach, op. c i t . , p . 143.
 93

103 Ibid., p, 144. A Jemadar, who was the chief Instigator

of the mutiny on Java, with the intent to get himself
appointed to the comicand of the Island, A dispute
with, and refusal on his part to obey a Ser;Jeant
Major, led to his being dismissed from the service,
however he was afterwards reinstated by order of the
Court of Directors. And althoiigh he behaved very
gallantly on several subsequent occasions, yet the
real or imaginary degradation he had received at the
hands of a Serjeant Major, rankled in his mind and
urged him on to his diabolical attempt.
104 Military letter from Court, 28th May 1828,
105 Beport of the Special Comrnlssjon appointed bv His
Sgcellencv the Governor General in Council to
esa\gre_^.t9. the arg,arii5,atl.gr) exp.^nditmig
of the Anriv in India. Simla. 1879, p. LXII,