The siege of Kahun was a

siege A siege () . is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or by well-prepared assault. Siege warfare (also called siegecrafts or poliorcetics) is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict charact ...

of the isolated fort-town of Kahun,

Balochistan Balochistan ( ; , ), also spelled as Baluchistan or Baluchestan, is a historical region in West and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. This arid region o ...

, that lasted from 16 May until 28 September 1840, during the

First Anglo-Afghan War The First Anglo-Afghan War () was fought between the British Empire and the Emirate of Kabul from 1838 to 1842. The British initially successfully invaded the country taking sides in a succession dispute between emir Dost Mohammad Khan ( Bara ...

. The outpost was defended by a battalion of 140 men in extremely hot, inhospitable conditions against an overwhelming native force until they were forced to capitulate.

Background

In mid-December 1839, a force consisting of 150 soldiers of the 1st

Grenadiers A grenadier ( , ; derived from the word ''grenade'') was historically an assault-specialist soldier who threw hand grenades in siege operation battles. The distinct combat function of the grenadier was established in the mid-17th century, when ...

, and 60 Irregular horses, commanded by Captain George Raitt, was dispatched from Lehri () to take possession of Kahun, the "capital" of the Marri tribe, who occupied a portion of the mountainous country east of the

Bolan Pass Bolan Pass () is a valley and a natural gateway through the Toba Kakar range in Balochistan province of Pakistan. It is situated south of Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. The pass is an stretch of the Bolan River valley from Rindli in the ...

. After their arrival, Riatt estimated there were about 400 warriors and at least 2000 "fighting men" in the town. Despite introducing themselves peacefully, Kahun's chief Dodah later heard of the intention to occupy the fort, and came in person to Riatt to discourage him from this, as the town's people already had shown hostility towards the soldiers. Captain Riatt left a detachment of 100 men posted within a mile of Kahun, and returned to join Major Billamore. Days later, with the Marri having left their habitations, and moved to the hills with their families and property, the town was left empty, and the detachment posted there by Riatt, now of no more use, departed and joined Billamore's men at around 10 and 12 January 1840. In April 1840, Kahun was ordered once more to be occupied. The command of the troops directed for this service was entrusted to two of the officers who had accompanied expeditions under Major Billamore – Captain Lewis Brown and Lieutenant Walpole Clarke. On 11 May, the troops arrived at the fort, now abandoned.

Siege

After the troops were settled, Captain Brown ordered the empty

camel A camel (from and () from Ancient Semitic: ''gāmāl'') is an even-toed ungulate in the genus ''Camelus'' that bears distinctive fatty deposits known as "humps" on its back. Camels have long been domesticated and, as livestock, they provid ...

s to be returned to Foliji () under the charge of Lieutenant Clarke, and on 16 May, at 2 a.m., the return convoy departed with 80 infantry soldiers and 50 irregular horses, plus 5

havildar Havildar or havaldar ( Hindustani: or (Devanagari), (Perso-Arabic)) is a rank in the Indian and Pakistani armies, equivalent to sergeant. It is not used in cavalry and armoured units, where the equivalent is daffadar. Like a British sergea ...

s and 80 "rank and rifle". Finding no opposition in crossing the first hill, Clarke supposedly directed their return to Kahun. While on their way they were attacked by about 2000

balochs The Baloch ( ) or Baluch ( ; , plural ) are a nomadic, Pastoralism, pastoral, ethnic group which speaks the Western Iranian, Western Iranic Balochi language and is native to the Balochistan region of South Asia, South and Western Asia, encompas ...

, and soon the escorts were overwhelmed by enemy forces. Lieutenant Clarke and most of the soldiers died, with only 12 survivors having returned to Kahun. Map of Upper Sindh

This reduced Brown's force to 140 men, and the enemy force immediately besieged Kahun. Holding off the besieging force from May to September, Brown eventually received word from the Officer Commanding in Upper Sind to do whatever he thought best for his men's safety and so capitulated on 25 September. The Marris accorded him the honours of war, letting the small remnants of Brown's force to march out in possession of their arms, guns, ammunition, and baggage. In recognition of their conduct, the General Orders of 5 April 1841 accorded the battle honour "Kahun" to the 5th Native Infantry and in May 1841 the unit was honoured by being made "Light Infantry".

References

External links

*https://web.archive.org/web/20110726145613/http://www.burmastar.org.uk/mli_chapter_9.htm {{DEFAULTSORT:Kahun 1840 Battles of the First Anglo-Afghan War Sieges involving the United Kingdom Sieges involving Afghanistan 1840 in Afghanistan 1840 in British India 19th-century sieges Conflicts in 1840 Kohlu District Military history of Balochistan, Pakistan

Background

Siege

See also

References

External links