Barkat Ahmad

Barkat Ahmad (1787 – 5 June 1858) was a sepoy mutineer and leading figure of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Barkat Ahmad led the army of Indian rebels in the Battle of Chinhat, in Awadh region.[3][4][5] Barkat Ahmad was a highly trained British sepoy. He led the rebels against the British officer Sir Henry Lawrence who was then located at the Residency.

Barkat Ahmad
Born	Sayyad Barkat Ahmad Risaldar
Known for	Battle of Chinhat, Figure of Indian Rebellion of 1857

Battle of Chinhat
Part of Indian Rebellion of 1857
Date June 30, 1857 Location Ismailganj, near Lucknow, India Result Mughal victory
Belligerents
East India Company	Mughal Empire
Commanders and leaders
Sir Henry Lawrence Col. John Inglis (32nd)	Barkat Ahmad Khan Ali Khan
Strength
approx. 700[1] Infantry: 32nd Regiment of Foot - 300 13th, 48th, 71st Bengal Native Infantry - 230 Cavalry Volunteer cavalry - 40 Detachments of 1st, 2nd, 3rd Oude Irregular Cavalry - 120 Artillery Horse Light Field Battery - 4 guns No 2 Oude Field Battery - 4 guns One 8 inch howitzer	approx. 7,000[2] Infantry: approx. 6,000 22nd Bengal Native Infantry. 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th Oude Irregular Infantry. 1st, 2nd Regiments Military Police. Local Police Detachment - 300 Oude talookdars from Ramnugger Dhumeyree and Mahonah Levied Infantry Cavalry approx. 800 15th Bengal Irregular Cavalry 1st, 2nd & 3rd Oude Irregular Cavalry Artillery: 16 guns 5th, 7th, 13th Bty. Bengal Artillery 1st Bty. Light Field, Oude Irregular Artillery
Casualties and losses
Dead: Col. William Case, CPT. Stephens, Lt. Brackenbury, Thomson (32nd), 112 NCOs and Men. Wounded: Campbell (71st), James (Commissariat) Losses: 2 Howitzer, 1 9-Pounder[1]	589

Battle of Chinhat

On 30 June 1857, Sir Henry Lawrence received information of the movement of rebels and plan of attacking Lucknow. Sir Henry Lawrence was so confident to ambush the rebel, he led the army and came out of the Residency on a buggy. The British army was composed of 300 British soldiers, 200 Indian soldiers, 200 cavalry and 13 cannons. Barkat Ahmad had anticipated this move of Britishers, hence planned for the attack near the village of Chinchat, twelve miles from Lucknow.[6]

Barkat Ahmad led the rebel army of 5000 soldiers. He also had Ahmadullah Shah as a commander under him. A fierce battle took place at Chinhat in which Britishers retreated and were pushed backed to the Residency. Henry Lawrence was wounded by an exploding shell on 2 July and died two days later.[7]

See also

• Indian Freedom Movement
• Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi
• Bakht Khan
• Begum Hazrat Mahal
• Siege of Lucknow
• Capture of Lucknow

References

1. Henry Stedman Poleahampton (1858). A Memoir, Letters, and Diary. R. Bentley. pp. 319–.
2. "Battle of Chinhat 30 June 1857". Iron Duke Miniatures. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
3. "Britain's Empire: Resistance, Repression and Revolt". Richard Gott.
4. "The World Beyond". Sangeeta Bhargava.
5. "Battle of Chinhat and Barkat Ahmad". Sonal Gupta The Times Group.
6. "E-book, Battle and Sieges". Tony Jaques.
7. Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah and Great Revolt of 1857, by Rashmi Kumari.

Further reading

• Richard, Gott (2011). Britain's Empire: Resistance, Repression and Revolt.