Battle of Bhitaura
| Battle of Bhitaura | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part of 2nd Rohilla War | ||
| Date: | 26 October 1794 | |
| Location: | Fatehganj Pashchimi, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh | |
| Presidency: | Bengal | |
| Co-ordinates: | 28.470009°N 79.306388°E | |
| Result: | British victory | |
| Combatants | ||
| East India Company Kingdom of Awadh |
Rohillas | |
| Commanders | ||
| Sir Robert Abercrombie | Ghulam Muhammad Khan | |
| Strength | ||
| 7,500 | 25,000 including camp followers | |
| Casualties | ||
| 2,500 | ||
Summary
General Abercrombie proceeded from Cawnpore with 7,500 troops expecting to be joined by the Oudh army of about 5,000 troops. However they did not join up and Abercrombie alone met the Rohillas at Bhitaura. Though ultimately a British victory, there was an initial disaster when Captain Ramsay and two regiments of cavalry inexplicably galloped through two battalions of Company sepoys. 5,000 Rohilla horse took advantage of the confusion and caused 2.500 killed and wounded. Captain Ramsay escaped court martial by fleeing to Goa. The suspicion was that he was bribed to assist the enemy. Official accounts omitted this shameful incident.
Biographies
Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906
Robert Abercrombie (1740-1827)
External Links
Battle of Bhitaura Google Books
Battle of Bhitaura archive.org
War Memorial at Fatehganj Wikimapia
Soldiers on the memorial in St John's Church Calcutta Officers Died website
Battle of Bhitaura Google Books