Theo

From a 2003 posting on the forum.

Good luck with your research.

Ron

Honourable East India Company's Native Army 1793-1815

This is a short overview of the regiments of the Honourable East India Company's Native Army.

The Honourable East India Company was a private trading company with the right to raise its own army for the defence of its trading posts. This army was administered by the Board of Control of the company, but was available to be used by Great Britain. It was, in essence, a colonial army for service in the sub-continent only. However, on occasion it was used overseas [e. g. Egypt 1801 and Java 1811].

The company was divided into three Presidencies, Bengal, Madras and Bombay, each with its own Governor and Commander-in-Chief. The Governor of Bengal was also the representative of the King, the Governor-General and exercised control over the other two Governors. Similarly, the Commander-in-Chief of Bengal was also the Commander-in-Chief of India and exercised command over the other two Presidencies. Each Presidency had its own Army units and establishment of General Officers. Officers of the Company's army were not officers in the King's army. However, because there were two armies in India at the time, The Army in India [King's Army] and the Indian Army, there was a need to establish seniority between the two forces. Therefore, company officers were granted local rank in the British Army in the East Indies corresponding with their rank in the company.

At this time, Ceylon's regiments did not form a part of the Indian Army. They were carried on the British Establishment.

Each Presidency organized their forces into Divisions but these were more administrative than tactical. They were usually name for geographical regions [e. g. Northern , Malabar, Surat and Tannah Divisions of the Bombay Army in 1800] The Company's Army consisted of both European and Native Units. As was the custom of the period, the different armies would create ad hoc Light and Flank Battalions for service taken from the flank companies of the different regiments. The Bengal Presidency created a number of temporary volunteer regiments from sepoys who would volunteer to serve either in a different Presidency or overseas. Similar to the British Army, the individual battalions of native infantry acted independently of each other.

This list is for the native units only. The regiments of cavalry and infantry went through many reorganizations and renumbering from the time that they were raised and I will confine the list to the unit numbering as it was for the period 1793-1815.

BENGAL ARMY

Cavalry:

The Governor-General's Bodyguard - raised 1773
1st Bengal Native Cavalry - raised 1776 by Nawab of Oudh; company service 1777
2nd Bengal Native Cavalry - raised by Nawab of Oudh; company service 1778
3rd Bengal Native Cavalry - raised 1796
4th Bengal Native Cavalry - raised 1797
5th Bengal Native Cavalry - raised 1800
6th Bengal Native Cavalry - raised 1800
7th Bengal Native Cavalry - raised 1805
8th Bengal Native Cavalry - raised 1805

There were a number of Independent Cavalry Regiments in existence 1800-1805 including :

Hindustan Independent Regiment - raised 1800; disbanded 1805
De Boigne's Bodyguard - sold to company 1803; became Bruce's Independent Cavalry Regiment; disbanded 1805
Lucan's Irregular Horse - raised 1800; disbanded 1805
Sindhia's Irregular Horse - raised 1800; disbanded 1805
Pohlman's Irregular Horse - raised 1800; disbanded 1805

Irregular Horse:

Skinner's Corps of Irregular Horse - raised 1803
2nd Corps of Skinner's Irregular Horse - raised 1814
3rd Corps of Skinner's Irregular Horse - raised 1815;
Gardner's Corps of Irregular Horse - raised 1809
1st Rohilla Cavalry - raised 1815
2nd Rohilla Cavalry - raised 1815;
3rd Rohilla Cavalry - raised 1815;

Infantry:

1/1st Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1762; became 1st BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/1st Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1763; became 13th BNI 1781; renumbered 1796;
1/2nd Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1758; became 2nd BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/2nd Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1778; became 25th BNI 1781; renumbered 1796;
1/3rd Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1763; became 3rd BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/3rd Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1770; became 22nd BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/4th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1763; became 4th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/4th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1778; became 31st BNI Battalion 1786; renumbered 1796;
1/5th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1763; became 5th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/5th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1770; became 23rd BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/6th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1763; became 6th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/6th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1770; became 20th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/7th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1764; became 7th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/7th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1763; became 16th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/8th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1761; became 8th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/8th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1779; became 30th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/9th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1763; became 9th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/9th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1776; became 29th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/10th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1764; became 10th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/10th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1765; became 14th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/11th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1764; became 11th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/11th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1765; became 19th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/12th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1763; became 12th BNI 1781; renumbered 1796;
2/12th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1757; became 17th BNI 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/13th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1797;
2/13th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1797;
1/14th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1797;
2/14th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1797;
15th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1766; became 15th BNI 1784; disbanded 1795;
1/15th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1798;
2/15th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1798;
1/16th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1798;
2/16th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1798;
1/17th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1798;
2/17th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1798;
18th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1764; became 18th BNI 1784; incorporated in 10th BNI 1796;
1/18th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1799;
2/18th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1799;
1/19th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1799;
2/19th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1799;
1/20th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1795 as Marine Battalion; renumbered 1803;
2/20th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803 as 2nd Marine Battalion; renumbered 1803;
21st Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1770; became 21st BNI 1784; drafted to 12th BNI 1796;
1/21st Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803;
2/21st Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803;
1/22nd Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803;
2/22nd Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803;
1/23rd Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803;
2/23rd Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803;
24th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1778; became 24th BNI 1781; drafted to 7th BNI 1796;
1/24th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1804;
2/24th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1804;
1/25th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1804;
2/25th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1804;
26th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1778; became 26th BNI 1781; drafted to 11th BNI 1796;
1/26th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1804;
2/26th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1804;
27th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1770; became 27th BNI 1784; incorporated in 3rd BNI 1796;
1/27th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1804;
2/27th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1804;
28th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1770; became 28th BNI 1784; incorporated in 2nd BNI 1796;
1/28th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1815;
2/28th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1815;
1/29th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1815;
2/29th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1815;
1/30th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1815;
2/30th Bengal Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1815;
32nd Bengal Native Infantry Battalion - raised 1786; drafted to 1st BNI 1796
33rd Bengal Native Infantry Battalion - raised 1786; drafted to 8th BNI 1796
34th Bengal Native Infantry Battalion - raised 1786; drafted to 9th BNI 1796
35th Bengal Native Infantry Battalion - raised 1786; drafted to 5th BNI 1796
36th Bengal Native Infantry Battalion - raised 1786; drafted to 6th BNI 1796

Local, Irregular and Gurkha Units:

The Hill Rangers - raised 1792
The Dinajpore Local Infantry - raised 1792
Ramgarh Local Battalion - raised 1795
The Calcutta Native Militia - raised 1795
1st Nasiri Battalion - raised 1815
2nd Nasiri Battalion - raised 1815
The Champarau Local Battalion - raised 1815
The Sirmoor Battalion - raised 1815
The Kamaon Battalion - raised 1815

Others:

Birch's Battalion
Harriott's Battalion
Scott's Najibs

MADRAS ARMY

Cavalry:

The Governor's Body-Guard Madras - raised 1778; recruited natives 1781; one troop natives 1784;
1st Madras Native Cavalry - raised 1787; renumbered 1st 1788;
2nd Madras Native Cavalry - raised 1784; renumbered 2nd 1788;
3rd Madras Native Cavalry - raised 1784; renumbered 3rd 1788;
4th Madras Native Cavalry - raised 1784; renumbered 4th 1788;
5th Madras Native Cavalry - raised 1785; renumbered 5th 1788; broken up 1796;
5th Madras Native Cavalry - raised 1799;
6th Madras Native Cavalry - raised 1799;
7th Madras Native Cavalry - raised 1800;
8th Madras Native Cavalry - raised 1804;

Temporary Corps of Cavalry [Dallas's] - raised 1796; disbanded 1797;
Mysore Sillidar Horse - raised 1809?

Infantry:

1/1st Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1758; became 1st Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796; disbanded 1806;
2/1st Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1777; became 17th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796; disbanded 1806;
1/2nd Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1759; became 2nd Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/2nd Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1777; became 21st Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/3rd Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1759; became 3rd Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/3rd Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1776; became 13th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/4th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1759; became 4th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/4th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1776; became 15th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/5th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1759; became 5th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/5th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1776; became 16th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/6th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1761; became 6th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/6th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1776; became 14th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/7th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1761; became 7th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/7th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1777; became 20th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/8th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1761; became 8th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/8th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1767; became 12th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/9th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1762; became 9th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/9th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1767; became 11th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/10th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1766; became 10th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/10th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1777; became 19th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/11th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1786 as 28th Madras Battalion; renumbered 1796;
2/11th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1788 as 29th Madras Battalion; renumbered 1796;
1/12th Wallajahbad Light Infantry, MNI Regiment - raised 1794 as 33rd Madras Battalion; renumbered 1797; renamed 1812;
2/12th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1794 as 34th Madras Battalion; renumbered 1797;
1/13th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1794 as 35th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
2/13th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1794 as 36th Madras Battalion 1784; renumbered 1796;
1/14th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1798 as 1st Extra Regiment; renumbered 1798;
2/14th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1798 as 2nd Extra Regiment; renumbered 1798;
1/15th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1798 as 3rd Extra Regiment; renumbered 1800;
2/15th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1799 as Masulipatam Battalion; renumbered 1800;
1/16th Trichinopoly Light Infantry, MNI Regiment - raised 1800; renamed 1812;
2/16th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1800;
1/17th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1800;
2/17th Chicacole Light Infantry, MNI Regiment - raised 1800; renamed 1812;
18th Madras Battalion - raised 1777; renumbered 1784; drafted to 8th MNI 1796;
1/18th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1800;
2/18th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1800;
1/19th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1800;
2/19th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1800;
1/20th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803 as 1st Extra Battalion; renumbered 1804;
2/20th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1801 as Madras Volunteer Battalion; renumbered 1804;
1/21st Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803 as 2nd Extra Battalion; renumbered 1804;
2/21st Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803 as 4th Extra Battalion; renumbered 1804;
22nd Madras Battalion - raised 1786; drafted to 3rd MNI 1796;
1/22nd Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803 as 3rd Extra Battalion; renumbered 1804;
2/22nd Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803 as 6th Extra Battalion; renumbered 1804;
23rd Madras Battalion - raised 1786; drafted to 1st MNI 1796;
1/23rd Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803 as 5th Extra Battalion; renumbered 1804; disbanded 1806;
2/23rd Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803 as 7th Extra Battalion; renumbered 1804; disbanded 1806;
24th Madras Battalion - raised 1786; drafted to 2nd MNI 1796;
1/24th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1807;
2/24th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1807;
25th Madras Battalion - raised 1786; drafted to 4th MNI 1796;
1/25th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1807;
2/25th Madras Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1807;
26th Madras Battalion - raised 1786; drafted to 7th MNI 1796;
27th Madras Battalion - raised 1786; drafted to 9th MNI 1796;
30th Madras Battalion - raised 1788; drafted to 5th MNI 1796;
31st Madras Battalion - raised 1793; drafted to 6th MNI 1796;
32nd Madras Battalion - raised 1793; drafted to 10th MNI 1796;

Extra Regiments, Local, Irregular and Other Units:

Gumtoor Corps - raised 1779;
The Tanjore Corps - raised 1780 of three battalions; drafted to 2/24th MNI 1807?
Madras Garrison Battalion - raised 1796; two battalions 1799; disbanded 1802;
Malay Corps - raised 1796 for service in Ceylon; transferred to Ceyon Government 1799;
Tinnyvelly Battalion - raised 1799; disbanded 1802;
Madras Fencible Regiment - raised 1804; disbanded 1807;
1st Extra Regiment - raised 1804; reduced 1805;
2nd Extra Regiment - raised 1804; reduced 1805;
3rd Extra Regiment - raised 1804; reduced 1805;
4th Extra Regiment - raised 1804; reduced 1805;
5th Extra Regiment - raised 1804; reduced 1805;
6th Extra Regiment - raised 1804; reduced 1805;
Madras Volunteer Battalion - raised 1807; disbanded 1809?
Madras Volunteer Battalion - raised 1810; renamed Madras Rifle Corps 1814;
1st Native Invalid Regiment - raised as independent companies 1793; regimented 1814;
2nd Native Invalid Regiment - raised as independent companies 1793; regimented 1814;
3rd Native Invalid Regiment - raised as independent companies 1793; regimented 1814;
4th Native Invalid Regiment - raised as independent companies 1793; regimented 1814;
Moguttoor Revenue Battalion - disbanded 1801
Ramnad Local Battalion - disbanded 1810;
1st Battalion, Russell Brigade - raised 1813;
2nd Battalion, Russell Brigade - raised 1813;
1st Battalion Berar Infantry - raised 1797;
2nd Battalion Berar Infantry - raised 1794;
3rd Battalion Berar Infantry - raised ??;
4th Battalion Berar Infantry - raised ??;
1st Battalion, Ellinchpur Brigade - raised 1788;
2nd Battalion, Ellinchpur Brigade - raised 1788;

BOMBAY ARMY

Cavalry:

Troop of Indian Cavalry - raised 1804;

Infantry:

1st Grenadier Battalion, 1st Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1778; became 1st By Sepoys or By Grenadiers 1788; renumbered 1796?;
2/1st Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1796 as 13th Battalion By Sepoys; became 1/5th ByNI 1797; renumbered 1798;
1/2nd Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1768; became 2nd Battalion By Sepoys 1788; renumbered 1796;
2/2nd Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1775; became 9th Battalion By Sepoys 1788; renumbered 1796;
1/3rd Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1788 as 3rd Battalion By Sepoys; renumbered 1796;
2/3rd Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1775; became 6th Battalion By Sepoys 1788; renumbered 1796;
1/4th Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1788 as 4th Battalion By Sepoys; renumbered 1796;
2/4th Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1768; became 7th Battalion By Sepoys 1788; renumbered 1796;
1/5th Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1788 as 5th Battalion By Sepoys; became 2/1st ByNI 1796; renumbered 1798;
2/5th Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1797;
1/6th Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1796;
2/6th Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1798;
1/7th Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1800;
2/7th Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1800;
8th Battalion Bombay Sepoys - raised 1788; drafted 1796;
1/8th Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1800;
2/8th Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1800;
1/9th Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803;
2/9th Bombay Native Infantry Regiment - raised 1803;
10th Battalion Bombay Sepoys - raised 1788; drafted 1796
11th Battalion Bombay Sepoys - raised 1788; drafted 1796;
12th Battalion Bombay Sepoys - raised 1770; renumbered 1788; drafted 1796;

Other Units:

The Marine Battalion - raised 1777;
Bombay Fencibles - raised 1799 of two battalions; reduced 1799; re-raised 1800; disbanded 1806;

Sources:

Barthorp, Michael, Indian Infantry Regiments 1860-1914, Osprey MAA, 1979
Cambridge, Marquess of, Notes on the Armies of India, JSAHR Volumes XLVII-XLVIII
Cardew F. G. The Services of the Bengal native army to the year 1895, Picton Publishing reprint 1992
East India Registers, various years 1800- 1815
Leslie, N. B., The Battle Honours of the British and Indian Armies 1695-1914, Leo Cooper, London 1970
Mollo, Boris, The Indian Army, Blandford Press 1981