George Abbott

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2 titles bound in a single one book by Geaorge Abbott. First and sole edition of this scarce and attractive celebratory record of the Siege of Bharatpur (December-January 1825-6). The views are of the Forts of Bhurtpore (modern day Bharatpur), capital of the Kingdom of Jat, and Weire after the siege of the fortress by British troops, commanded by Lord Combermere in 1825-26. An online search of institutional libraries cites British Library, Yale, Library of Congress, and Brown University only. Just 126 copies were taken by 71 subscribers, with 40 going to the East India Company and 4 to the British commander, Lord Combermere. The dedication to Combermere shows the massive Bhurtpore gun, captured at the siege, and which stood for many years outside the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich. George Abbott, a lieutenant with the 15th Bengal Native Infantry (promoted captain 1838) was present at the storming. This volume appears to have been assembled for publication by his wife, who prints a letter from him that gives a vivid impression of events, “The attack was carried on in a very masterly style… The Europeans [i.e. British line regiments], leading the storm in the most cool and deliberate style… The besieged stood to the best of their power, and fought desperately. In twenty minutes, ten regiments were in the town. The slaughter was immense, owing to some of the natives playing false after they had asked for quarter”. ODNB remarks that “the attack on Bharatpur was successful; the great Jat fortress, a menace to British rule ever since Lord Lake failed against it twenty years before, was destroyed”; historian Urmila Walia commenting that it was “an achievement of tremendous military and political importance for the British”.

Views of the forts of Bhurtpoore & Weire