Battle of Futtehabad
| Battle of Futtehabad | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part of 2nd Afghan War 1878-80 | ||
| Date: | 2 April 1879 | |
| Location: | Poshtehā-i Fateḩābād, Jalalabad, Afghanistan | |
| Presidency: | Bengal | |
| Co-ordinates: | 34.354168°N 70.295028°E | |
| Result: | British victory | |
| Combatants | ||
| British & Indians | Various Afghan tribes | |
| Commanders | ||
| Brig Gen Sir Charles Gough CB VC | unknown tribal leaders | |
| Strength | ||
| 1,000 | 5,000 | |
| Casualties | ||
| 6 killed & 40 wounded | 300 killed & 900 wounded | |
Summary
The Peshawar Field Force spent the winter of 1878 at Jalalabad. Receiving intelligence of gathering groups of tribesmen, General Sam Browne sent out three forces at the end of March 1879. Two squadrons of cavalry under Brig-Gen Herbert Macpherson suffered a disaster crossing the Kabul river when 122 men were swept away. The second force failed to surprise the Afghans and returned without having met the enemy. The third force under Brig-Gen Sir Charles Gough engaged 5,000 Kugiani tribesmen defending a stone breastwork. The cavalry charged then retreated drawing the Afghans forward past waiting infantry who opened a destructive fire routing the enemy. Major Wigram Battye was killed in the action and Lieut Walter Hamilton won the VC.
Gough's Field Force
- 10th Hussars
- 11th Probyn's Lancers
- Guides Cavalry
- The Leicestershire Regiment
- The Rifle Brigade
- 20th Brownlow's Punjabis
- 27th Punjabis
- 45th Sikhs
- 4th Gurkhas
- Bengal Sappers and Miners
- Royal Horse Artillery
- Hazara Mountain Battery
External Links
2nd Afghan War 1878-80 The British Empire
The Battle of Futtehabad BritishBattles.com
Hamilton's VC Wikipedia
Walter Hamilton and the death of Wigram Battye Google Books
Historical books on-line
The Afghan War: Gough's Action at Futtehabad by Rev C Swinerton 1880 (archive.com)
Recommended Reading
"Road to Kabul" by Brian Robson 1986 ISBN 1862271968
| General Browne's March from Peshawar to Gandamak | |
|---|---|
|
Actions fought on this march: | |
| Phases: General Browne's March from Peshawar to Gandamak – General Roberts' March to Ali Kheyl – General Stewart's March to Kandahar | |
| General Roberts' March to Kabul – General Stewart's March to Kabul – General Roberts' March from Kabul to Kandahar | |
| Part of the 2nd Afghan War | |