‘Tantia Topi, the Indian rebel leader’, 1857 (w/c)

‘Tantia Topi, the Indian rebel leader’, 1857. Watercolour sketch from life by Captain C R Baugh, 9th Bombay Native Infantry, 1857 circa. Tantya Tope was a Maratha Brahman and one of the best rebel military leaders during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859). He eventually assumed command of Nana Sahib’s army, but after his defeat at Cawnpore by Sir Colin Campbell on 6 December 1857, he moved to the relief of Jhansi, whose Rani was besieged by the British. Again defeated, he then took his remaining forces into Gwalior alongside the Rani, hoping to overthrow its pro-British ruler. The British defeated the rebels at Kotah-ke-Serai on 17 June. The Rani was killed in this action. Most rebels surrendered or went into hiding, but Tantya managed to dodge the British until April 1859 when he was betrayed and then hanged.