Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of"

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.