Battle of Attock (1813)

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Battle of Attock
Part of the
Afghan-Sikh Wars
Date13 July 1813
Location
Siege at Attock
, Battle at Haidaru on Mansur Plain, northeast of the fort
Result

Sikh victory

Belligerents
Sikh Empire Durrani Empire
Commanders and leaders
Dewan Mokham Chand
Hari Singh Nalwa
Sham Singh Attariwala
Sultan Mahmud Khan
Fateh Khan Barakzai
Dost Mohammad Khan
Strength
10,000[3] 15,000[4]
Casualties and losses
Unknown 2,000[5]

The Battle of Attock (also known as the Battle of Chuch or the Battle of Haidru) took place on 13 July 1813 between the

Sikh victory over the Durranis.[2]

Background

In 1811–12,

Shuja Shah Durrani from its renegade vizier, Atta Muhammad Khan. In an 1812 interview with Ranjit Singh, Fateh Khan agreed to a joint invasion of Kashmir. He could not invade Kashmir if he was opposed by the Sikh Empire,[8] and agreed that a small Sikh force under Dewan Mokham Chand
would receive one third of the plunder.

Both invasions began at

valley of Kashmir at the same time as the Afghan troops and was able to have a small body of troops under Jodh Singh Kalsia and Nihal Singh Attari present at the captures of Hari Parbat and Shergarh. The vizier of Kashmir, Atta Muhammad Khan, had offered no resistance to either army but Fateh Khan refused to share the spoils.[9] Shuja Shah Durrani chose to be escorted by Dewan Mokham Chand to Lahore, the capital of the Sikh Empire, out of fear of becoming a prisoner at Kabul.[8]

Ranjit Singh became annoyed at Fateh Khan's refusal to share plunder and opened negotiations with the renegade governor of

rock salt.[10] Hari Singh Nalwa arrived with Dewan Devi Das and a detachment of cavalry to support the garrison at an unknown date.[11]

Battle

Attock Fort, whose capture by the Sikh Empire lead to the Battle of Attock
Attock Fort

Fateh Khan set off from Kashmir in April 1813 and

Burhan with a force of cavalry, artillery, and a battalion of infantry to meet the Afghans.[10]

Dewan Mokham Chand encamped 8 miles (13 km) from the Afghan camp,[13] unwilling to risk a decisive engagement, although both sides engaged in numerous skirmishes and took losses. On 12 July 1812, the Afghans' supplies were exhausted and Dewan Mokham Chand marched 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Attock to Haidaru, on the banks of the Indus River, to offer battle. On 13 July 1812, Dewan Mokham Chand split the cavalry into four divisions, giving command of one division to Hari Singh Nalwa (and to General Sardar Gurmukh Singh Lamba <<see Sir Lepel Griffin book>>) and taking command of one division himself. The lone battalion of infantry formed an infantry square protecting the artillery, with Gouse Khan commanding the artillery.[10] The Afghans took up positions opposite the Sikhs, with a portion of their cavalry under the command of Dost Mohammad Khan.

Fateh Khan opened the battle by sending his

cavalry charge which was repulsed by heavy fire from the Sikh artillery.[10] The Afghans rallied under Dost Mohammad Khan, and according to Griffin, led a "brilliant" cavalry charge which threw one wing of the Sikh army into disarray and captured some artillery.[12] When it appeared the Sikhs had lost the battle, Dewan Mokham Chand led a cavalry charge atop a war elephant that repulsed the Afghans "at all points",[13] and routed the remaining Afghan troops.[2] Fateh Khan, fearing his brother, Dost Mohammad Khan, had died, escaped to Kabul and the Sikhs captured the Afghan camp, including the lost artillery pieces.[14]

Aftermath

Amritsar, Lahore, and other large cities across the Sikh Empire were illuminated for two months afterwards in rejoicing over the victory.[15] After his defeat at Attock, Fateh Khan made further multiple attempts to get back Attock, even writing a letter to Dewan Mokham Chand, asking to return Attock which could lead to good relations between two parties, but Mokham Chand refused and warned that the conquer-ship of Kashmir would be next.[16]In 1814, Yar Mohammad Khan, governor of Peshawar, attacked on Attock but was repulsed, following which Fateh Khan again sent a letter in 1815 asking to hand over Attock and restore it under Mahmud Shah's authority in exchange for Multan and paying the tax revenue of Kashmir.[17] During the last five years of his life from 1813 to 1818, Fateh Khan remained distressed over the loss of Attock.[18]

Notes

  1. ^ Anil Chandra Banerjee, The Khalsa Raj, (Abhinav Publications, 1985), 78.
  2. ^ a b c Jaques 2006, p. 81
  3. ^ Gupta 1991, p. 100.
  4. ^ Johar, Surinder Singh (1985). The Secular Maharaja: A Biography of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. p. 125.
  5. ^ Gupta 1991, p. 101.
  6. ^ Cunningham 1918, pp. 152–153
  7. ^ Griffin 1892, p. 190
  8. ^ a b c Cunningham 1918, p. 152
  9. ^ a b c Griffin 1892, p. 191
  10. ^ a b c d Prakash 2002, p. 330
  11. ^ Prakash 2002, pp. 329–330
  12. ^ a b Griffin 1892, p. 192
  13. ^ a b M'Gregor 1846, p. 170
  14. ^ Prakash 2002, pp. 330–331
  15. ^ M'Gregor 1846, p. 171
  16. .
  17. ^ Gupta 1991, p. 103.
  18. ^ Gupta 1991, p. 102.

References