The Siege of Delhi

On 10 May 1857, the most serious threat to British supremacy in India appeared at Meerut, a large military station near Delhi. After months of increasing tension, sepoys of the 3rd Light Cavalry along with the 11th and 20th Native Infantry pointedly refused to use the new cartridges supplied to them. 'The company Raj is over forever,' declared the men to their British officers as they burned their cantonments, and the cry of 'Dilhi chalo' (Let's go to Delhi) was heard as they marched to the old Mughal capital. There the Mughal empire was declared as resurrected and the Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, an ageing pensioner of the British Government, affirmed as the ruler of all Hindustan once again. With the mutiny spreading rapidly, it became imperative for the British Government to recapture Delhi as the success or failure of the uprising hinged entirely on the possession of the city and the destruction of the rebel army. It would take three months of bloody fighting for the British Delhi Field Force to defeat the rebel sepoys and recapture the city, a period in which it became unclear quite who besieged whom. Singh comprehensively narrates the story from the uprising at Meerut to the climactic capture and sack of Delhi.

About the Author :
Amarpal Singh was born in the Punjab, India. He spent over 20 years working in the software industry before turning to his real interest in military history and the exploration and analysis of battlefields. His books on the First and Second Anglo-Sikh Wars have been very well received. Amarpal has appeared and collaborated on history programs for several TV channels. He currently lives in London with his wife and two sons. His other interests include the later Roman Empire, Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire and World War Two.

Review :
‘An important study of a key moment in the Mutiny of 1857. As always, the author brings to life the events with his knowledge and insights into the topography and landscape of the scene of battle.’ ‘An elegantly written, deeply researched, downright enthralling account of the course and causes of the most critical campaign of the Mutiny.’ ‘Amarpal Singh brings to life the many haunting monuments that still dot the Delhi landscape 150 years on. A uniquely valuable and readable account indeed amongst the scores of books on the subject of the 1857 Mutiny.’ ‘Thoroughly researched, engagingly written, and utterly comprehensive. The most important account of the savagely fought Siege of Delhi to emerge in decades.’ ‘Amarpal Singh once again brings to life key historical events in a wonderful book that covers a critical period in both British and Indian history. He is to be commended for this excellent study.’ 'That old-fashioned thing: a confirmed page-turner ... Vividly reconstructed and gripping in its pace, The Siege of Delhi is a must-read.' 'The Siege of Delhi describes the period with a sense of urgency and painstaking details based on contemporary and primary accounts in an engaging narrative that offers new insights and information.' 'A meticulous portrait of a city left to the mercy of the eclipsing Mughal court on the one hand and surmounting British authority on the other. Written with clarity and depth, it is Amarpal Singh's extensive knowledge of military history that enlivens The Siege of Delhi. A valuable addition to the literature on the 1857 mutiny.'