Battle of Miani
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Battle of Miani | |||||||||
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Part of British conquest of Sindh | |||||||||
A painting by Edward Armitage depicting the Battle of Miani | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
Bombay Army of the East India Company |
Talpurs of Sindh | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Maj. Gen. Charles Napier | Mir Nasir Khan Talpur | ||||||||
Units involved | |||||||||
Poona Irregular Horse | |||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
2,800[1] | 30,000[1] | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
256[2] | 2,000 |
The Battle of Miani (or Battle of Meeanee, Sindhi: مياڻي جي جنگ) was a battle between forces of the Bombay Army of the East India Company, under the command of Charles Napier and the Baluch army of Talpur Amirs of Sindh, led by Mir Nasir Khan Talpur. The battle took place on 17 February 1843 at Miani, Sindh, in what is now modern-day Pakistan. This battle and the subsequent Battle of Hyderabad (24 March 1843) eventually led to the capture of parts of Sindh region, first territorial possession by the East India Company in what is the modern-day state of Pakistan.
Background
According to Nadeem Wagan (a Sindh writer), the primary causes of the battle were the
In the book Janat ul Sindh, Pakistani author Rahimdad Khan Molai Shedai has written that:
"On 16 February 1843 Sir Charles Napier came to Matiari from Hala. He was commanding 2800 soldiers with 12 cannons. On the other side Balouch army was consisted of 2200 soldiers with 15 cannons. Army of Sindh began to gather at the bank of Phuleli near Miani but there was no sufficient arrangements for providing ammunition to the army. English army consisted of soldiers belonging to Bombay, Pune and Madras. Charles Napier was commander and his subordinates were Capt. John Jackab, Capt. Hutt, Major Jackson, Lieut. Weddington, Major Penny Father, Lieut. Mac Merdo (Aide de camp of Napier), Major Wylie, Capt. Tucker, Lieut. Colonel Patel, Major Stori, Capt. Thomas, Major Machozison (Secretary of Napier), Capt. Wemus, Capt. Cookson, Lieut. Marston, Capt. Garrett were his subordinates. The Talpur army was composed of Shahdadani, Chakrani, and Khanani Talpurs. Bijrani and Muhammadani Talpurs did not join. Mir Naseer had sent message to Malak Ibrahim Khan, the Sardar of Kalmati tribe to attack upon English army with the help of Nomri and Jokhiya tribes. The Kalmati Sardar left with band of 400 warriors but Jam Khan, Sardar of Jokhiya and Nomri tribes did not join him hence Ibrahim Khan went back to home. Mankani tribe also did not join. However Balochi tribes Nizamani, Bagrani, Mari, Jamali, Chang, Gopang, Jatoi, Qarai, Rind, Lashari, Bhurgri, and Chuulgri joined the army. In addition to Balouch tribes Khokhar, Khatiyan, Soomra, Khaskhali, and many others gathered under the banner of Sindh. Sadaat of Sindh also joined the army with fervor of Jihad. Mir Jan Muhammad Khanani was commander of army. His subordinates were Mir Ghulam Shah Shahwani, Syed Abdullah, Ibrahim Khan, Nawab Ahmed Khan Lighari, Ghulam Muhammad Lighari, Bakhtiyar Khan, Bahawal Khan Rind, Moro Khan Chang and Syed Fateh Muhammad Shah Lakiyari, who were warlords. Mir Ghulam Shah was Vice Commander. Hosh Muhammad Qambrani negro, Mashedi Irani and Mr Hawel were in charge of Talpur artillery. The army of Meers' was seven times larger than English army but their weapons were imperfect as compare to the weapons of the rivals. English army was well trained but Talpur army was untrained and lacking discipline. The cannons of Meers' were three feet long and diameter of their muzzles was three inches. Their guns were breech-loaders of old times. English soldiers, including local soldiers, were active and clever because of discipline having support of medical staff for providing first aid. Their army was supported by traveling band for providing ammunition and for digging tranches. Both armies were at the distance of 100 yards from each other. Mir Naseer Khan was wearing armor. Mir Rustam Khan, Mir Hussain Ali Khan and Mir Shahdad Khan were at his right and left sides. Both banks of Phuleli canal were covered by dense bushes which could be used for defense of the army. By that time Phuleli canal was dry and very wide. The chief of Chandia tribe was at some distance with 10000 warriors waiting and alert for the help of English army. On 17 February 1843 at early morning battle started".[3]
Battle
The Baluch were forced to quickly re-mobilise their army but could not do so effectively as the army was mostly raised on a voluntary basis in times of war and most of the Baluch had returned home. Nevertheless, an army of around 8000—mostly cavalry—was raised and assembled at the battle ground of Miani. Disastrously for the Talpur Amirs another 8000 troops under
The difference in military technology and tactics was enormous. The East India Company's army was led by professionally trained British officers and troops and the Indian Sepoys were also well trained and disciplined. They were armed with smoothbore percussion or
Later, on March 24, 1843,
The
The battle honours of "Meeanee" and "Hyderabad" are shared by the
Casualties
Five thousand
A British journal said of the captive Sindhi Amirs: "The Amirs as being the prisoners of the state are maintained in strict seclusion; they are described as Broken-Hearted and Miserable men, maintaining much of the dignity of fallen greatness, and without any querulous or angry complainings at this unallevable source of sorrow, refusing to be comforted".[6]
References
- Notes
- ^ a b Sir Charles James Napier - Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
- ^ a b The History of British India: A Chronology by John F. Riddick
- ^ Rahimdad Khan Molai Shedai; Janat ul Sindh, 3rd edition 1993, pp. 737-739; Sindhi Adbi Board Jamshoro
- ^ Rahimdad Khan Molai Shedai; Janat ul Sindh,3rd edition 1993, pp. 339–342; Sindhi Adbi Board Jamshoro
- ^ Miāni - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 17, p. 315.
- ^ a b Personal observations on Sindh: the manners and customs of its inhabitants; and its productive capabilities
- Bibliography
- "No. 20212". The London Gazette. 11 April 1843. pp. 1193–1195. Dispatches from Major-General Sir Charles Napier, KCB
- "No. 20231". The London Gazette. 6 June 1843. pp. 1893–1895. Dispatches from Major-General Sir Charles Napier, KCB