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
_Expedition against the Umarzai Wazirs, 1852._—The punitive force was
divided into three columns. One column, composed of the 2nd Punjab
Infantry, was to leave Bannu at 10 p.m. on the 20th December, and march
through the Gumatti Pass upon Derabina and Garang, distant respectively
fourteen and seventeen miles, attacking both places simultaneously at
daybreak. Garang was at the foot of a narrow precipitous chasm in the
Kafirkot Range, through which ran the road to Sappari, near the summit
of the ridge. The Gumatti Pass was entered at midnight, the valley and a
low range of hills were crossed, and Derabina was reached and destroyed.
The hills above the Garang ravine were occupied just as the head of the
second column was seen emerging from the village of Garang.
This force—two companies 1st Punjab Infantry and 350 men 4th Punjab
Infantry, and accompanied by Major Nicholson—had moved from Latammar on
Sappari by the Barganatu Pass, which was entered at midnight, the crest
of the Kafirkot Range being reached about daybreak. Sappari was taken by
surprise and destroyed, as were other encampments of the Umarzais in the
Garang Pass. The surprise had been complete and but small resistance was
made, but none the less the force suffered a loss of twenty-three men
killed and wounded.
The third column—forty sabres, 2nd Punjab Cavalry, fifty Mounted Police,
and 400 of the 6th Punjab Police Battalion—moved on the Umarzai
settlements at the north of the Khaisora and Sein Passes, and these were
destroyed and the cattle captured, the whole force returning to Bannu on
the 22nd by the Kurram Pass. The Umarzais now appeared thoroughly
humbled, and made complete submission.
[Sidenote: Expedition of 1859–60]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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