From the Black Mountain to Waziristan: Being an account of the border countries and the more turbulent of the tribes controlled by the north-west frontier province, and of our military relations with them in the pastWylly, H. C. (Harold Carmichael)
History
From the Black Mountain to Waziristan: Being an account of the border countries and the more turbulent of the tribes controlled by the north-west frontier province, and of our military relations with them in the past
small party of Sappers, and a few men of the Buffs and 35th Sikhs, who
had become separated from their companies in the dark. With these the
General decided to occupy a hamlet called Bilot, about 3½ miles from
camp. Part of this village was burning and half was in possession of the
enemy, who had been following up closely, and the party with the General
was only able to occupy and entrench one angle of the hamlet. Fighting
was kept up at the closest possible quarters, and with heavy losses on
both sides, until the arrival, about midnight, of four companies of the
35th Sikhs, with whose assistance the enemy were easily driven off, the
rest of the night passing quietly.
The casualties during this day’s fighting amounted to 38 killed and 116
wounded, including three followers.
During the next few days the Second Brigade was busily employed in
destroying villages and removing grain stores—always under fire, while
the retirement to camp was invariably closely pressed. On the 23rd the
Mamunds professed to be disheartened at their losses and anxious to make
terms; but it seems probable that all they wished was to gain breathing
time, for the negotiations came to nothing, and operations were
accordingly resumed on the 29th September when many towers were
demolished. The wounded were sent down to the Panjkora, and the heavy
casualties in transport animals were made good.
On the 30th September the brigade attacked the villages of Agra and Gat,
and severe fighting ensued, the enemy in great numbers occupying a
position of considerable strength. More than once the Mamunds had to be
driven from their sangars at the point of the bayonet, and, although the
object of the operations was effected and the retirement was
satisfactorily carried out, the want of more troops—for the brigade was
by now greatly weakened—was much felt; on this day the casualties
numbered twelve killed and forty-nine wounded, while throughout the
losses in officers had been out of all proportion. Sir Bindon Blood now
reinforced the troops in the Mamund country by bringing up another
squadron of the Guides Cavalry, the 10th Field Battery, No. 8 Bengal
Mountain Battery, the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry, four
companies of the 24th Punjab Infantry, and No. 5 Company Madras Sappers
and Miners.
[Sidenote: Close of the Operations]
On the 3rd October the Second Brigade, with two mountain batteries,
attacked and destroyed the village of Badalai, experiencing small
opposition until the retirement commenced, when the enemy came on with
great boldness, and to the number of between two and three thousand.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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