[1] Blackwood arrived in India in the midst of the Indian Mutiny, and was at once appointed to command two guns in Colonel Wilkinson's Rohilcund movable column.

He was promoted to first lieutenant on 27 August 1858, and filled the post of adjutant first to the Bareilly and Gwalior divisions, and then to the twenty-second and nineteenth brigades of Royal Artillery from 1859 to 1864.

In that capacity he was present at the attacks on Tipar-Mukh, Küng-Nüng and Taikooui, and he gave such satisfaction that his services were specially mentioned in the general's despatch of 19 March 1872, and he was promoted to major by brevet on 11 September following.

[2] Blackwood was promoted to major on 10 February 1875, and after temporarily commanding a battery of Royal Horse Artillery came to England on sick leave.

[2] Blackwood was posted to the command of the E Battery B Brigade of Royal Horse Artillery, and ordered to join the force destined for Candahar.