General Wheeler's entrenchment (Kanpur)

India / Uttar Pradesh / Kanpur
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this is the area where a group of 900 britishers, led by general hugh wheeler, were besieged from june 5 to 27, 1857, during the indian rebellion. the indian soldiers, led by Nana Sahib, promised them free passage upon surrendering, but on the 27th as they were mounting boats at the nearby sati chaura (massacre) ghat, there was some confusion and some shooting started (not quite clear why and how). eventually all the british men were killed, and the women and children were prisoned, but were also killed later.
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Coordinates:   26°26'55"N   80°22'0"E

Comments

  • Hello, on maps that I've seen Gen. Wheeler's entrenchment is about 400 feet by 600 feet - this area seems much bigger?
  • The entrenchment was roughly rectangular. Its south-west corner was near the middle of the line of nine barracks buildings that can be seen. The All Saints Church compound best approximates the actual entrenchment. During the siege the three barracks closest to the entrenchment were held by Gen. Wheeler's men, the outermost ones were held by Nana Sahib's forces ['Our Bones Are Scattered', Andrew Ward, 1996]. The line of barracks buildings were restored after the siege and are in use today [see Ward, p. 550 and end-paper map].
This article was last modified 15 years ago