Timeline of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 facts for kids

The Indian Mutiny of 1857 was a big uprising against the British East India Company's rule in India. It started on May 10, 1857, in a town called Meerut. The uprising began with sepoys, who were Indian soldiers working for the British. Soon, the rebellion spread to many other parts of India, especially in the Upper Gangetic plain and Central India. This event is also known as the First War of Indian Independence.

Key Events of the Uprising

The Start of the Rebellion in 1857

The year 1857 saw the beginning of the major uprising. It all started with some disagreements over new rifle cartridges.

Early Signs of Trouble

• February 26: Sepoys in Berhampore refused to practice with new rifles.
• March 29: A sepoy named Mangal Pandey wounded two British officers in Barrackpore, Bengal.
• April 8: Mangal Pandey was put to death.
• April 24: Soldiers in Meerut refused to use the new cartridges, which were rumored to be greased with animal fat, offending their religious beliefs.

The Mutiny Spreads

• May 10: The soldiers in Meerut rebelled and killed some people. They then marched towards Delhi.
• May 11: In Delhi, many Europeans and Christians were killed.
• May 13: Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, was declared the new leader.
• May 30-31: More rebellions broke out in places like Mathura, Lucknow, Rohilkhand, and Bhurtpore.
• June 4: Rebels took control of Jhansi and gave it to its queen, the Rani of Jhansi.
• June 6: A siege began in Cawnpore, and another rebellion started in Allahabad.

Major Battles and Leaders

• June 8: The Battle of Badli-ki-Serai took place.
• June 27: A sad event known as the Satichaura Ghat Massacre happened in Cawnpore.
• June 30: The British faced a defeat at Chinhat, and the Lucknow Residency came under attack.
• July 2: Bakht Khan, a key rebel leader, arrived in Delhi.
• July 4: Sir Henry Lawrence, a British officer, died in Lucknow.
• July 12: Brigadier-General Sir Henry Havelock defeated rebels on his way to Cawnpore.
• July 16: Nana Sahib, another rebel leader, was defeated in the first battle for Cawnpore.
• July 27: Kunwar Singh joined the rebellion in Arrah.
• July 31: Lord Canning, the British Governor-General, suggested being less harsh on rebels who had not committed murder.
• August 14: John Nicholson, a British officer, arrived at Delhi.
• September 14: The British began their attack on Delhi.
• September 20: Delhi was captured by British forces.
• September 21: William Hodson captured Bahadur Shah.
• September 22: Hodson put the Mughal princes to death.
• September 25: The first relief of Lucknow took place.
• October 10: Rebels in Agra were defeated.
• November 14-17: A second relief of Lucknow happened, led by Colin Campbell.
• November 24: Havelock died.
• December 6: Tantia Tope, a rebel general, was defeated at the second battle of Cawnpore.

The Fight Continues in 1858

The year 1858 saw more intense fighting as the British tried to regain full control.

British Counter-Attacks

• January 16: Hugh Rose started a campaign in central India.
• February: Campbell began a new campaign to take back Oudh.
• March 21: The last rebels were removed from Lucknow.
• April 1: Rose defeated a larger rebel army led by Tatya Tope.
• April 3: Jhansi was captured by the British.
• May 5: Campbell won a victory at Bareilly.
• May 22: Rose won at Kalpi, marking the end of major operations in Rohilkhand. This led to a new phase of guerrilla warfare.

End of Major Rebel Strongholds

• May 28: Rebel leaders like Rao Sahib, Tantia Topi, the Rani of Jhansi, and the Nawab of Banda entered Gwalior State and took control of Gwalior on June 1.
• June 12: James Hope Grant won a decisive battle at Nawabganj in Oudh.
• June 17: The Battle of Kotah-ki-Serai took place, and the Rani of Jhansi died.
• June 19: The Battle of Gwalior occurred.

Changes in British Rule

• August 2: Queen Victoria approved a law that transferred the rule of India from the East India Company directly to the British Crown.
• November 1: A Royal Proclamation was issued, officially replacing the East India Company with the British Indian government. It also offered forgiveness to those rebels not involved in murder.

The Final Stages in 1859

By 1859, the rebellion was mostly over, with the last remaining rebel leaders being captured or defeated.

The End of the Rebellion

• January 4: Several rebel leaders from Oudh, including Nana Sahib, were forced into Nepal.
• January 7: Operations in Oudh were officially declared over.
• March 29: Bahadur Shah was found guilty.
• April 7: Tantia Tope was captured by the British.
• April 18: Tantia Tope was put to death in Shivpuri.
• July 8: Peace was officially declared, marking the end of the Indian Mutiny.