Black Mountain Expedition 1852-53

Black Mountain Expedition 1852-53
Part of North West Frontier Campaigns 1849-1908
Date:	December 1852-January 1853
Location:	Black Mountain Range, NWF
Presidency:	Bengal
Co-ordinates:	34.617016°N 72.992962°E
Result:	Submission of tribes
Combatants
British & Indians	Hassanzai tribesmen
Commanders
Lt Col Frederick Mackeson
Strength
3,800 British troops
Casualties

Cause

Two Customs Department officials who, despite being warned against entering Hassanzai territory, did so and were murdered by the tribemen.<Nevill, Captain H. L., "Campaigns on the North West Frontier" Reprint: Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore 2003 pg 22>

Field Force

Right Column
Lieut Col Robert Napier RE
Mountain Train Battery (2 guns)
Corps of Guides (350 men)
1st Sikh Infantry (51st Sikhs 300 men)
Rawalpindi Police (176 men)

Centre Column
Major J. Abbott
Police (2 Companies)
Kasmir Dogras (2 Companies)
Levies (1,400 men)
11 Light native guns

Left Column
Capt W.W.Davidson 16th Irregulars
Mountain Train Battery (4 guns)
16th Irregular Cavalry
Kasmir Dogras (2 Regiments less 2 Companies)

Reserve
5th Troop 1st Brigade Royal Horse Artillery ('T' Battery)
7th Company Sapper & Miners
3rd Native Infantry
Kelat-i-Ghilzai Regiment (12th Pioneers)

External Links

Wikipedia - North West Frontier Military History
Sussex Regiment memorial - Black Mountain Expeditions
Imperial Gazetteer of India - Black Mountain
Mackeson's Obituary

Recommended Reading

Campaigns of the North-West Frontier by Capt H.L.Nevill DSO 1916
Reprinted by The Naval & Military Press Ltd 2005
ISBN 1-845741-87-0