EAST INDIA ARMY. When the East India company (q.v.) first sent factors or agents to India, an army was not thought of. Military forces arose out of the exigen cies of the times. Some of the first troops in the company's pay were mere adventur ers; some were liberated convicts; some deserters from European armies. Gradually organization was introduced, and improved arms furnished. As the power of the com pany increased, natives entered the battalions; until at length most of the troops were Hindus or Mohammedans, drilled by non-commissioned officers sent out from England. A few regiments were raised in England; a much larger number were raised in India; but all alike were officered by the company's favored English officers, largely paid, and having many opportunities for making rapid fortunes. The ranks were filled by enlist ment; the company never compelled the natives to become soldiers; the pay offered was always such as to induce a sufficient number of men to enter. Their periods of leave of absence were liberal; and after a certain number of years' service, they retired on a pension sufficient to support them for the remainder of their days.
At the period immediately preceding the outbreak of the revolt in 1857, the army in the pay of the company comprised about 24,000 royal troops (lent to, and paid for by, the company); 18,000 European troops, raised and drilled by the company in England; 180,000 native regulars; and 60,000 native irregular horse—making about 280,000 in all. `This large force was irrespective 'of 40,000 contingents furnished by dependent native princes, and of the native armies belonging to the independent and semi-independent princes. The company's troops formed three distinct armies, each under its own com mander-in-chief, and each stationed in one particular presidency. In these three armies, three kinds of troops—Europeans, native regulars, and native irregulars—had their own special organization. In order to secure unity of action when necessary, it was cus tomary td give the commander-in-chief of the Bengal army precedence over those of Madras and Bombay; he was, in effect, commander-in-chief of the whole of the com pany's forces. There were too few English officers with the native regiments, and these, in most cases, knew too little of the men under their command. This was not the cause of the revolt in 1857, but it was one of the circumstances that led to the rapid spread of the revolt when once begun. To what extent this fine army melted away during 1857 and the two following years, is described under INDIA. Speaking gener
ally, it may be said that the armies of the Madras and Bombay presidencies remained faithful, especially the infantry. It was in the Bengal army that the disruption chiefly occurred. The irregulars, both cavalry and infantry, raised amongst the Sikhs and Punjabees, were in almost every case faithful.
In Aug., 1858, the act which transferred the government of India from the com pany to the crown received the royal assent. The army was transferred as well as the political power. As the Sikhs had behaved well, most of the regiments from the Punjab were retained, as well as most of the native regiments in the Bombay and Madras presi dencies; but it was not deemed expedient to restore the native regiments of Bengal proper, which had proved so treacherous. In that year, at the suggestion of earl Can ning, a committee was appointed to inquire into the whole circumstances relating to the reorganization of the army. The company originated the inquiry, but the commis sioners did not make their report till after the transfer of the company's powers to the Although the commissioners' report was presented in the summer of 1859, very little was effected during the remainder of that year, or in 1860, to reorganize the Indian army; matters were kept together in a provisional way. Meanwhile, when the Euro pean troops of the company's army were turned- over to the crown, a disturbance, amounting almost to a mutiny, occurred. The men claimed that, as they had enlisted into the company's service, they ought not to be transferred without their own consent asked, or without receiving a bonus on re-enlisting. To prevent a dangerous excite ment, the government allowed such as chose to retire.
In 1861, an act was passed reorganizing the Indian army. The British portion of it now forms part of the queen's army generally, with certain honorary distinctions, and takes its turn at home and in the colonies like the rest; but the expenses are paid out of Indian, not imperial revenues. The native portion is managed wholly in India; but during the eastern crisis, connected with the war between Russia and Turkey, a con siderable force'of native Indian troops was sent to Malta; for service in Europe—in case of England being involved in war. On the reorganization of the Indian army in 1861, the 21st hussars, with the 105th, 106th, 107th, 108th, and 109th foot, were formed from the European troops previously in the service of the East India company.