The British Empire’s Military Campaign against the States of Hunza and Nagar (1891)

Part-III

Author: Ashfaq Ahmed Adv
Translation: Ahmed Nayyar

In The Making of a Frontier, Colonel Durand writes about war against Hunza-Nagar, noting that the situation got extremely worsened in November 1891. On one hand, the Indus valley tribes were planning an assault on Bunji and on the other hand Chitralis were planning secretly to join them. Durand was concerned about a possible rebellion that would engulf the entire frontier region if faced failure against Hunza.

In such challenging circumstances, he ordered 5th Gurkha forces and two guns of Hazara mountain battery to immediately moved to Chalt. Likewise, upgradation and expansion of road infrastructure was accelerated on emergency basis under the supervision of Mr. Spedding, with Pathan laborers at his disposal. Earlier, through continued and rigorous efforts of the engineering battalion under the command of Major Gokul, a new road was constructed between Gilgit to Nomal. According to E. F Knight, an English company was assigned to construct road from Kashmir to Gilgit aiming at a planned British Forward Policy. Some thirty thousand coolies were recruited for construction work. A regular magistrate was appointed in order to resolve issues of these workers.

Finally, on 29th November 1891, Colonel Durand sent final ultimatum to Mir Safdar Ali Khan of Hunza and Raja Uzur Khan of Nagar. Wazir Dadu Khan of Hunza drew his sword from the scabbard threatened to cut off the head of anyone who ventured to speak of peace. Thus, Durand asserts he was left with no alternative but to go to war.

Durand records that failure of negotiations led to immediate maneuver towards Chalt. In the afternoon bugles sounded – two hundred Gurkha and Dogra troops of ‘Kashmir Bodyguard Regiment’ have crossed rope bridge with their supplies until evening. Rope bridge was in extremely bad condition that only six people could cross at a time. Transporting guns across Gilgit river was a more difficult phase. The river was in full flood, a hundred and fifty yards wide, and running like a mill race. The mules swam across and taken to other side of the river while a plank bridge was constructed to transfer kit and ammunition. Until midnight two guns were safely transported across the river. Meanwhile, Durand dispatched some of his personals to sever rope bridge connecting Hunza and Nagar, with the objective of preventing Raja Uzur Khan and his forces from advancing towards Hunza.

Durand notes that his agents informed him that Mir of Hunza was planning to retake Chachar Padi and sever their grain supplies. Subsequently, in order to secure key strategic positions, a small detachment composed of local levies was dispatched to Chachar Padi, a terrible cliff position on the Gilgit side of Chalt, the possession of which was rightly held by the Hunza-Nagar people to be of the utmost value. Durand affirms that once this area came into their hands it ensured the safety of route to Chalt.

Colonel Durand ordered Major Gokul to abandon work at ‘Hattu Pir’ and commence marching on urgent basis. After arrival of this group in Nomal the troops were in high feather and full of fight. While the Dogra governor of Gilgit was wringing his hands in anxiety and prophesying disaster.

Raja Akbar Khan and Punyali levies joined the army from Nomal onward. After an exhaustive march the troops reached Chalt in the afternoon. Durand trusted men had already cut rope bridge connecting Hunza and Nagar. As a result, the sudden arrival of the army surprised the tribesmen. Durand states that Uzur Khan was taken aback at Nilt by surprise advance. Further, Uzur Khan wanted war, but fear to make it, and his old father and most sensible men of the country were against fighting.

On third day guns were transported to Chalt. Mules were transported by swimming across river below the great cliff, and recrossed again above it, a reach of fairly smooth water making this possible. It was dangerous and even life-threatening task, some of the men narrowly escaped drowning. Durand claims that the arrival of guns significantly strengthened his position very much.

Upon Durand’s orders, a thirty-mile new road from Gilgit to Nomal was completed. Similarly, Chalt Fort was three times reinforced to its previous strength. Thus, without firing a single shot, the advance of the tribesmen was effectively halted.

Durand describes that he chose Nagar bank to advance on, although it involved leaving a bridge in his rear which needs to be guarded because the left bank of the Hunza River (towards Nagar) was easier to move along and make certain of reaching Nilt fort. On the other side, Mayoon fort in Hunza appears at a similar distance from Chalt by the map, however, the road journey was much longer, and its last section passes through precipitous cliffs. Perhaps, crossing these cliffs without holding them was insane.  

Furthermore, Durand states that he was well informed that Nilt was strongly fortified. It was essential to storm it the day they moved because the road to it ran several hundred feet above the river for some miles, there was no way down the water within a reasonable distance of the fort. Without water he could not keep his force before the place.

Durand observes that with first streak of dawn, a small group of troops lined up. Upon seeing them he felt full confidence in their power and appointment. He reports that he possessed one thousand rifles and two guns, one hundred eighty personnels of 5th Gorkhas, the backbone of the force, four hundred Gurkhas and Dogras of Kashmir Body Guard Regiment, two hundred fifty Dogras of Kashmir Ragu Partab Regiment, one hundred and fifty volunteers of Punyali Levies, and twenty men of the 20th Punjab Infrantry of Durand’s personal escort were included in the expedition. Half of these men were assigned with ‘Gatling gun’ and half were attached with Punyali Levies to stiffen them and seven pounder mountain guns of Hazara mountain battery. It was impossible to manage supplies for such a large force owing to the difficult terrain of these countries. On the other hand, a smaller force was insufficient to undertake such an expedition. Durand estimated that he would encounter four to five thousand men who were indifferently armed, but very skillful and dangerous enemies behind stone walls.

According to Durand, advance was unopposed, however, march was slightly delayed due to path had been cut away in places. At midday, after crossing the last rising ground, the forts of Nilt (Nagar) and Mayoon (Hunza) came into view before them. Flags were fluttering on the fort walls, and a burst of cheering and roll of drums signaled that they were expected. The hostile forces were hastily positioned in the stone breastworks built on the fort and on the hills behind it. Durand tells us that he stopped his little army at the foot of the slope and sent different bodies to his commanding officers to explain his plan of attack.

The forts in the Hindukush are mostly built in even shaped with watch towers on its four corners. In addition, the solid walls (some ten to fifteen feet thick on their base) were made of mud, stone and strengthened by timber beams. Yet elevated watch towers can become fragile due to loosening of the timber frame which might bring them down with a run. Durand states that they were only two hundred and fifty meters away from the enemy lines. Subsequently, the war formally broke out. According to Knight, the assault was planned without further delay on 20 December. He underlines that using binoculars they identify weaknesses of their enemies. The tribesmen had positioned at every post and several other defensive positions. Knight asserts that it was time for a decisive attack.

Following orders from Colonel Durand, the Gurkha’s and Punyal levies had taken advanced positions. Suddenly gun fires were heard in Nilt. Knight believes that fighting had commenced in earnest. He claims that Kanjudi’s were first to open fire on forces from loopholes of fort walls. In response, the allied forces fired guns at the loopholes and at the defenders of fort corner towers, to which the enemy responded with random and largely ineffective firing. Knight remarks that no casualties were reported on their side because enemies were firing from an altitude downwards – their soldiers took refuge behind the walls of field like terraces and along the edges of canals. After ten minutes of shelling, the allied forces realized that it was of no use because towers had been built sturdily from the base to the top.

According to E. F Knight, Nilt nullah was located at the edge of the massif, and its fort was strategically built on a cliff. Nilt is a very formidable place, situated in a very extreme location like other villages in Kanjud. Shelling on fortress did not damage its walls. Residents of Nagar State have already left their territory due to unrest. Women and children were taken to safe positions on the mountains. Based on secretive reports they have burnt down all the fodder grass so that nothing could be left for mules. Kanjudi’s had judiciously cut down all fruit-trees in the vicinity of the fort, so that we should not afford us cover. Knight asserts it is evident from “all their preparations that the Kanjudi’s exhibited considerable foresight and skill, and there can be no doubt that they had with them leaders of no mean military ability.”

It was necessary to seize key defensive positions like Nilt. Knight states that we could not get our guns up this steep place on this day, however, the Punyali levies swarmed up, crowned this position and fired down upon the defenders of the fort. In the meanwhile, Captain Mackenzie, Lieutenant Manners Smith accompanied with Punyali levies up the hill, descended it on the farther side to the trench of the fort from the hill and moved forward towards the fort bunkers. A contingent of the Fifth Gurkha force, chanting slogans, advanced alongside the Punyal levies, audaciously firing into the loopholes at a few yards range, and later on, did great execution among the Kanjudi’s who were escaping from the back of the fort into Nilt nullah.

Knight reports that the enemy’s fire was very well directed and it was certain that they possessed skilled and well-trained marksmen. Knight believes that they later discovered that their opponents possessed experienced marksmen, arms of precision, and homemade matchlocks and they were thoroughly familiar with their usage. Some of the marksmen were specifically instructed to fire at and target British officers, on that day, no one who did not have some narrow escape from enemy’s bullet. For example, Lieutenant William faced fire on his helmet, lieutenant Balderson was fired at his revolver when he was trying to get in the fort. Similarly, Colonel Durand was severely injured and shifted to Gilgit after shot.

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