|
In early 1837,
an army of 25,000 Afghans and Pathans with 18 heavy guns descended upon Jamrud:
the most advanced Sikh outpost on the Afghan border. The garrison of Jamrud
consisted of 600 men and a few light guns under the command of Maha Singh.
Despite a fierce pounding and repeated attacks, the garrison held out for four
days, which allowed a Punjabi force under the command of Hari Singh Nalwa to
march from Peshawar. Turning to face Hari Singh, the Afghans took up a defensive
position in the Khyber Pass and waited.
After a time Hari Singh ordered his army forward and the Sikhs began to drive
the Afghans before them. In the heat of battle, Hari Singh, who was riding his
elephant, advanced too far ahead of his troops and was killed. Despite this, the
Afghans lost 11,000 men to the Punjabi's 6,000. Jamrud was retaken and no other
Punjabi outposts were threatened.
BACK
|