The Sepoy Mutiny: A Critical Narrative. Second edition.

INNES, McLeod.

Published by London: A. D. Innes & Co, 1897

The preferred second edition of this eyewitness history, which "clarifies some of the conclusions drawn from the first edition" concerning the roles of Dalhousie and Lawrence and the situation at Meerut prior to the Rebellion (Sorsky). This copy with a fine provenance, being from the library of fellow Rebellion veteran Colonel Thomas Myles Sandys, who served in Bengal, and annotated by him. Provenance: Thomas Myles Sandys (1837-1911), with his imposing armorial bookplate. Sandys was commissioned into the 73rd Bengal Native Infantry, two companies of which rebelled at Dhaka in November 1857. He has annotated in red pencil in the blank margin of the folding map frontispiece: "There were eleven British officers and 3 Baluch Sergeants with the 73d Bengal Native Inf. which was at Julpigoree [Jalpaiguri, West Bengal] in 1857 & 1858 - having been ordered there from Surka [Surkah, Uttar Pradesh (?), a journey of some 760 miles] [illegible] in the cold weather of 1856. Col. Sandys was at that time an Ensign in the 73d Bengal Native Infantry and served there with a mutinous Sepoy regiment until 1858. The spot is shown by a red pencil dot on the map. TMS March 1899. There were 3 separate plots to murder all the British officers of the Regiment during 1857, all of which by Gods providence & good management were defeated". The title page is inscribed: "Colonel T. Myles Sandys, who was in Bengal [illegible] 1899" and there are a number of underlinings and marginal markings, with one comment at p. 128 remarking on Innes's claim about the fairness of British officials toward the native population: "I was there - under both the former and the later regime - and I endorse this opinion. TMS 1909". Sorksy describes Innes's book as "a good work. by a capable writer and military author". Innes (1830-1907) served with the Bengal Engineers, having passed out of Addiscombe at the head of his term, securing the Pollock medal, presented to the most distinguished cadet. He showed extraordinary valour at Lucknow and won his VC at Sultanpur (23 Feb. 1858), where, "far in advance of the leading skirmishers, he singlehandedly captured two enemy guns, one of which was about to pour shot on the advancing British column" (ODNB). Ladendorf 57; Raugh 1428; Sorsky 553. Octavo. Original red sand-grain cloth, gilt-lettered spine and front cover. With folding coloured map frontispiece, 6 folding maps at end. Spine sunned, single shallow indentation to front cover, touch of foxing in places. A very good copy, bright and square, with the publisher's 8-page catalogue at end (dated October 1897). Seller Inventory # 158866

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Sepoy Mutiny: A Critical Narrative. ...
Publisher: London: A. D. Innes & Co, 1897
Edition: 1st Edition