Battle of Kalunga

Battle of Kalunga
Part of Gurkha War 1814-16
Date:	24 October- 30 November 1814
Location:	Nalapani, Dehra Dun , Uttaranchal
Presidency:	Bengal
Co-ordinates:	30.329322°N 78.123087°E
Result:	costly British victory
Combatants
East India Company	Gorkhas
Commanders
Brig Gen Sir Robert Gillespie	Gen Bal Bhadra Thapa
Strength
3,500	600 garrison
Casualties
71 killed 671 wounded	about 530 killed

Also known as the Battle of Nalapani.

Summary

Following an initial bombardment four detachments were to assault the fort. The command was not heard by two detachments and the attack was repulsed with 5 officers and 29 men killed and 15 officers and 213 men wounded. General Gillespie was among the dead. The force withdrew to Dehra Dun until reinforced by heavy guns. The bombardment was begun on 25 November and a second assault made on 28 November. This was a greater disaster than the first; 4 officers and 33 men were killed and 7 officers and 436 men wounded. Further bombardment finally overcame the fort but the remaining 70 Gurkhas escaped during the night.

Spelling variants

Modern name: Khalunga
Variants:Kalunga/Kalanga

External Links

Gurkha War Wikipedia
Assault on Kalanga Fort Google Books
Disasters at Nalapani Google Books
Operations in Dehra Dun Google Books
Himalayan Beacon Article 29/7/08 beacononline.wordpress.com
Nalapani Gazetteer 1857
Brig Gen Sir Robert Gillespie ODNB
Sir Robert Rollo Gillespie Indian Dictionary of Biography

Historical books on-line

History of the organisation, equipment, and war services of the regiment of Bengal artillery Vol II by Francis W Stubbs 1877 Assault on Kalanga www.archive.org
List of inscriptions on Christian tombs and tablets of historical interest in the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh by E A H Blunt ICS 1911 Names on monument of officers killed and description of assault on the fort archive.orghttp://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Category:Gurkha_War_1814-16