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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 163

The scarce 'double issue' Indian Mutiny Medals awarded to Signor Stefano Barsotelli, a Florentine alabaster merchant who served with distinction throughout the defence of Lucknow, especially in the Victoria Cross action at Anderson Post on 30 June 1857. Assigned to a 'motley crowd' of civilian volunteers, he was probably the only Italian present

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (Signor Stefano Barsottelli), note surname spelling; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Defence of Lucknow (Signor Barsotelli.), the first with repaired suspension claw and post, good fine, the second very fine and extremely rare

Provenance:
Ex-Ritchie Collection.

Stefano Barsotelli was a Florentine alabaster merchant caught up in Lucknow on the outbreak of the Mutiny. He offered his somewhat doubtful martial services to Sir Henry Lawrence, who 'pressed into service as strange a bunch of mercenaries as ever took up arms under one banner' (Collier 1963). He was assigned to assist in the defence of a fortified house commanded by Captain Anderson of the 25th Native Infantry. 'It was often amusing', Anderson afterwards wrote in his short account of the defence, 'to listen to the remarks of these volunteers during the nights we were visited by grand rounds. On one of these occasions a young fellow was in a great state of anxiety as to how he was to present arms. Signor Barsotelli, however, consoled him by saying, "Never mind, sir, make a leetle noise; who's to see in the dark?" Another night, when our good Italian was suddenly called up from a sound sleep, he exclaimed, "I think these grand round officers do this for their own amusement."'

Although always theatrically dressed and over armed - 'as though preparing himself for a dramatic role in one of the earlier battles of the Risorgimento' - Barsotelli was to prove himself one of the bravest of all Anderson's amateurs: 'Nothing,' wrote Anderson, 'could keep the Signor from the steady performance of his duty. There he stood, with musket in one hand and a double-barrelled rifle in the other; at his side a huge cavalry sword and pendant over his breast hung his ammunition pouch, resembling an Italian hand-organ. This latter part of the Signor's military equipment was rather in his way than otherwise, but he did not exactly know where else to put it; and he was not a little pleased when told the pouch of the English soldier is worn at the back. What with a gun in both hands, and a huge sword constantly getting between his legs, he had quite enough to do without the extra anxiety about the horrid cartridge pouch, which contained some sixty rounds of balled ammunition into the bargain.'

The house, known as Anderson's Post, was a two storied affair surrounded by a wall and with two verandahs, and, on 30 June 1857, the first day of the siege, it became the scene of a Victoria Cross action involving the good Signor. The enemy's fire brought down one of the verandahs, burying Mr Capper of the Bengal Civil Service under six feet of timber and masonry. Anderson immediately called for volunteers to form a rescue party, which would clearly be exposed to a concentrated fire. Anderson was rapidly joined by Corporal Oxenham of the 32nd, Monsieur Geoffroi, Mr Chick and Mr Lincoln, and Barsotelli who no doubt was wearing, with good reason on this occasion, his customary expression of the expectation of imminent death. Forced to lie on their stomachs by the in-coming fire, they dug away for a considerable time and at length freed Capper's upper body, but his legs remained trapped by the fallen debris. In spite of the fact that to stand up was tantamount to suicide, Corporal Oxenham leapt to his feet and with one super human effort shifted the offending debris, allowing Capper to be dragged clear. Corporal Oxenham subsequently received the Victoria Cross.

Throughout the siege the volunteers spent many hours keeping watch and anticipating concerted enemy onslaughts. False alarms were frequent but so too were the determined mass attacks. On the 'memorable 10th of August', 'Signor Barsotelli and Monsieur Geoffroi killed several men, and did good service', in repelling three successive assaults. During one of these attacks, Anderson, who was often beset with the fear that even if his men withstood the next assault, would the posts on either side of him, recorded: 'Our good friend, Signor Barsotelli, got very excited as the enemy rushed past the stockade. He said to the Frenchman, "Son dentro per Dio," in Italian - [They are in, by God!] However, he did as he had always done before, he placed himself in a good commanding position, and then asked the officer in command if he should fire, - his expression generally was, "Here we dominate - shall I strike?" All this time he was, probably, standing at a loophole, with his eye fixed on the sight of his musket, and his body in such attitude that any one could see he was full of determination.' Anderson remembered Signor Barsotelli as both clever and polite. He also recorded that he was a student of the would-be 19th century science of phrenology, and that Barsotelli was once asked by a professional fighting member of the garrison if he would be good enough to examine his head. 'Now, whether [Barsotelli] observed that there was something rather mild in the person's temperament or not, I cannot say, but he calmly [& deflatingly] said, 'I observe by your head, sir, that the organ of combativeness is not largely developed. I think you would be well suited for a Justice of the Peace.' The indefatigable Barsotelli survived the Defence untouched, and, pugnacious to the end, could not resist advising a Roman Catholic priest, that when the relieving forces arrived he must break through the rebel lines, 'drop that gown' and 'fight the whole way with us'.

Reference works:

Anderson, R. P., A Personal Journal Of The Siege of Lucknow (London, 1858).

Collier, R., The Sound of Fury: An account of the Indian Mutiny (London, 1963).

Hibbert, C., The Great Mutiny: India 1857 (London, 1980).

Kaye, J. and Malleson, G. B., History of the Indian Mutiny of 1857-58 (London, 1890).



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Sold for
£2,700

Starting price
£2100