Devil's Trap

The Indian Rebellion of 1857-58 was the most ferocious explosion of violence in the history of the British Empire. It tested Britain's colonial resources to the limit, and nearly brought about the downfall of its rule in India. As the rebellion spread the strategic garrison at Cawnpore came under siege from rebels. The British inhabitants, including many non-combatant males and women and children, were caught up in the terrible events and spent nearly two months under profound threat which put them in fear for their lives and the likelihood of a brutal death; but they could not have imagined how dreadful that death would be. They suffered from thirst and starvation, and heat-stroke from the relentless scorching sun, holed up in a makeshift entrenchment, riddled with disease caused by the lack of sanitary provisions, and their numbers being seriously depleted from continuous bombardment by cannon balls and bullets from rebel snipers. On being promised safe passage out of the city by boats, most of the men wer