virtually crushed, and the task of reorganization commenced. On the
1st of September 1858 the East India Company ceased to rule, and Her
Majesty's government took up the reins of power. On the important
question of the army, the opinions and advice of the most
distinguished soldiers and civilians were invited. Masses of reports
and evidence were collected in India, and by a royal commission in
England. On the report of this commission the new system was based.
The local European army was abolished, and its personnel amalgamated
with the royal army. The artillery became wholly British, with the
exception of a few native mountain batteries. The total strength of
the British troops, all of the royal army, was largely increased,
while that of the native troops was largely diminished. Three distinct
native armies--those of Bengal, Madras and Bombay--were still
maintained. The reduced Indian armies consisted of cavalry and
infantry only, with a very few artillery, distributed as follows:--
Battalions Regiments
Infantry. Cavalry.
Bengal 49 19
Madras 40 4
Bombay 30 7
Punjab Force 12 6
--- ---
Total 131 36
There were also three sapper battalions, one to each army.
The Punjab force, which had 5 batteries of native artillery attached
to it, continued under the Punjab government. In addition, the
Hyderabad contingent of 4 cavalry, 6 infantry regiments and 4
batteries, and a local force in central India of 2 regiments cavalry
and 6 infantry, were retained under the government of India. After all
the arrangements had been completed the army of India consisted of
62,000 British and 125,000 native troops.