Battle of Futtehabad

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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

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:
Ali Masjid – Futtehabad

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