Attempt to hold Ali Masjid Fort: Difference between revisions

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== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
Brigadier Wild was in command at Peshawar awaiting the arrival of General Pollock. General Sale was besieged in [[Jalalabad]] and it was seen as important to hold the fort of Ali Masjid to protect the line of advance through the Khyber Pass. The fort was occupied by a small detachment of Afghan levies whose loyalty seemed uncertain. Colonel Moseley was therefore sent out with the two sepoy regiments
Brigadier Wild was in command at [[Peshawar]] awaiting the arrival of General Pollock. General Sale was besieged in [[Jalalabad]] and it was seen as important to hold the fort of [[Ali Masjid]] to protect the line of advance through the Khyber Pass. The fort was occupied by a small detachment of Afghan levies whose loyalty seemed uncertain. Colonel Moseley was therefore sent out with the two sepoy regiments. He reached the fort without incident but found that 300 of 350 supply-bullocks had been left behind. This meant that the force could not hold the fort for long.
 
Brigadier Wild decided to relieve the garrison and determined to set out from [[Jamrud]] on 19 January. The Sikh auxiliaries however mutinied and returned to Peshawar. The sepoys were young soldiers who had been told of the horrors of the Khyber Pass by the Sikhs. Nevertheless Wild advanced with two regiments and the Sikh guns. At the entrance to the pass they encountered fire from the Afridi tribesmen and refused to go forward. The Sikh guns broke down and Brigadier Wild, wounded in the face, was forced to withdraw to Jamrud.


== Moseley's Force ==
== Moseley's Force ==
*[[53rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|53rd Bengal Native Infantry]]
*[[53rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|53rd Bengal Native Infantry]]
*[[64th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|64th Bengal Native Infantry]]
*[[64th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|64th Bengal Native Infantry]]
== Wild's Force ==
*[[30th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|30th Bengal Native Infantry]]
*[[60th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|60th Bengal Native Infantry]]


== External Links ==
== External Links ==

Revision as of 08:49, 26 April 2010

Attempt to hold Ali Masjid Fort
Part of 1st Afghan War 1839-42
Date: 15 January 1842
Location: Ali Masjid, Khyber Pass, NWF
Presidency: Bengal
Co-ordinates: 34.028338°N 71.262046°E
Result: British occupation and retreat
Combatants
British, Indian sepoys & Sikhs Afridi tribesmen
Commanders
Brigadier Wild
Colonel Moseley
Strength
Casualties

Synopsis

Brigadier Wild was in command at Peshawar awaiting the arrival of General Pollock. General Sale was besieged in Jalalabad and it was seen as important to hold the fort of Ali Masjid to protect the line of advance through the Khyber Pass. The fort was occupied by a small detachment of Afghan levies whose loyalty seemed uncertain. Colonel Moseley was therefore sent out with the two sepoy regiments. He reached the fort without incident but found that 300 of 350 supply-bullocks had been left behind. This meant that the force could not hold the fort for long.

Brigadier Wild decided to relieve the garrison and determined to set out from Jamrud on 19 January. The Sikh auxiliaries however mutinied and returned to Peshawar. The sepoys were young soldiers who had been told of the horrors of the Khyber Pass by the Sikhs. Nevertheless Wild advanced with two regiments and the Sikh guns. At the entrance to the pass they encountered fire from the Afridi tribesmen and refused to go forward. The Sikh guns broke down and Brigadier Wild, wounded in the face, was forced to withdraw to Jamrud.

Moseley's Force

Wild's Force

External Links

1st Afghan War Wikipedia
Afghan Wars Heritage History
1st Afghan War Somerset Record Office

View of fort panoramio.com

Historical books on-line

History of the War in Afghanistan Vol III (1841-1842) - Attempt on Ali Masjid Fort by John William Kaye Revised Edition (1858)