The Battle of Maiwand (July 1880) Excerpt From: History Book of Nabi Mubtakir {Afghan True and Unique History} August 2013 In December 1879, the people of Herat learnt about the British Military Expeditions in Kabul and the exile of Amir Mohammad Yaqoob Khan to India and the Army of Herat was boiling with anger against the transgressing enemy. The Forces of Herat took the Leadership of this movement, and were giving slogans to march to Kandahar to banish the enemy. Sardar Mohammad Ayeub Khan, who was waiting the events in Kabul, didn’t accept the haste and was procrastinating. The Army of Herat waited for two months and continued its insistence. In the month of March 1880 when the news of Sardar Abdul Rahman Khan’s arrival in Takharistan and his Jehad proclamation against the British was received in Herat, the Army of Herat resumed its activities. Sardar Mohammad Ayeub Khan invited Sardar Abdul Rahman Khan in writing to political and military unity in order to suppress the enemy from two sides. Another two months passed until the rejected reply of Sardar Abdul Rahman Khan was received in Herat. The People and the Army of Herat were amazed and angry because of this rejection by Sardar Abdul Rahman Khan and wanted to carry out this duty lonely by themselves. Sardar Mohammad Ayeub Khan who was informed about the unity of Sardar Shayr Ali Khan with the British in Kandahar, was also in doubt about the unity of Sardar Abdul Rahman Khan with the British and could not see himself strong enough against three internal and external forces. Therefore, he was waiting to see the outcome of the policy of Sardar Abdul Rahman Khan with the British. To prevent the obstinate expedition of the Army, he assigned General Faqir Ahmad Khan to keep Herat calm by giving them procrastinating promises. When the Army of Herat saw the refraining of the General from the Jehad against the enemy, they revolted, killed the General, and they themselves hoisted the banner of Jehad. When Hafizullah Khan Naebsalar (General) saw this, he took the Leadership of the Army and proclaimed Jehad. Sardar Mohammad Ayeub Khan sent a Charter to General Faiz Mohammad Khan, Commander of Maimana Army, and asked him to come to Herat and take over the responsibility of safeguarding peace, and control of Herat. He also promised the Herat Army that he would move towards Kandahar in the near future. Following this, he hoisted the flag of Jehad in June 1880 with 12,000 Cavalry and regular Infantry and 32 cannons and left the City of Herat while thousands of people were escorting him. Herat Army had reached their first day’s halting place when they received the news that General Faiz Mohammad Khan has entered Herat with the Forces of Maimana. Supposing that like General Faqir Ahmad Khan, General Faiz Mohammad is also preventing the Jehad and their march against the British, they returned from their journey and suppressed the General with his Forces in the City of Herat and then returned to the camping place of Sardar Mohammad Ayeub Khan. General Faiz Mohammad Khan like General Ghulam Haider Khan Sepasalar (General) disappeared from the battleground forever. Sardar Mohammad Ayeub Khan marched towards Kandahar with the Herat Army through Farah and Girishk and on his way was helped by the people with Cavalry and Infantry Volunteers as well as provisions. On 20 July, this Army reached near the open fields of Maiwand and helplessly camped in a dry and waterless plain. They camped in the desert because General Burrows, with 12,000 Forces including 3 Kandaks (Detachments) belonging to Sardar Shayr Ali Khan had already taken strategic positions on the bank of the river and had arranged the British heavy Artillery in positions. But, as soon as the Detachments of Shayr Ali Khan saw the National Army, deserted the British and joined the Herat Army. 6,000 Volunteers from the people and the Army of Herat started cleaning up the ruined dry underground tunnel of water near the Camp in order to supply the Army with water. Water got flowing; the Army and the animals were comforted. The enemy had no courage to fight and far 6 days both armies were watching each other from far away. During this time, the Forces belonging to Ghulam Haider Khan, the Afshari Officer, and the Forces of Abdul Karim Khan, the Kohistani Officer suppressed the enemy by scattered attacks. On the 7th day, the National Army started the major Battle but the Artillery of the Enemy was heavily activated and the National Army soldiers were falling like leaves on the levelled plain. From early morning to noon, 500 dead and 850 wounded of the National Army were lying on the plain. Some of the following brave Officers and others were also killed: • Abdul Ghafoor Khan Herati, Lieutenant Colonel • Mohammad Haider Khan Commedan Kandahari • Mohammad Zaman Barakzai • The son of Qadir Khan When Naebsalar saw this, he immediately gave order to the Army to drop on the grounds, and the whole Army stretched on the plain. At this time, 4,000 of the regular Cavalry and Irregular Soldiers of Heratis who were standing around Mohammad Ayeub Khan, galloped in 3 columns and directions on the plain and disappeared. When the British saw this gallop of the Cavalry and the dust of the Cavalry, got assured that the National Army is defeated and got out of their positions and intensified their attack and, the Afghans defended. The despatched Cavalry returned in a very large circle and in about one hour had reached behind the enemy’s Forces. Therefore, the attack of the Afghans started both from the front and also from the back on the enemy’s Army and a violent battle started. When the Forces of the enemy saw themselves besieged and the way to safety closed, gave up hope for survival and fought to the end of their lives. This battle continued until late afternoon, and finally was led to duelling. Of course, the British Army didn’t have the resistance power under the heavy and famous Afghan Swords and was soon wiped out and only about 600 soldiers were able to reach behind orchard walls under the dust of the battle and took positions behind the walls. But, the Mujahideen didn’t let them alone and followed them, and by accepting casualties, swords in hands poured on them and cut their last person with their swords. 25 English Officer in Disguise Wearing Afghan National Clothing Reached Kandahar Sardar Shayr Ali Khan was able to reach Kandahar City with only 25 Englishmen who had worn Afghan Muslim clothing and ran through deviated by-paths and brought the destruction (annihilation) news of their Army to General Primrose. Malalai Carrying the Afghan Flag in Maiwand Battle In this Battle that trembled the back of the British Government in India, the Afghan women had also participated. The story of Malalai, a young girl who carried the Flag of the Army in Maiwand Battle where the flag-carrier himself had been killed, has started from here. The following couplet is from her mouth in the Battleground that resounded all over Afghanistan: I’ll wear a beauty spot from the blood of my Sweetheart Which will put to shame the roses in green gardens If you are not martyred at Maiwand You should know that you are saved for dishonour The contemporary historian, Mirza Yaqoob Ali Khan, who himself had participated in Maiwand Battle, writes that in the Battle only 25 Englishmen were left alive out of the 12,000 English Soldiers and Officers. All the rest were killed and the 25 English Soldiers and Officer escaped. This great victory of Maiwand took place on the day when Sardar Abdul Rahman Khan was chosen King in Charikar a day earlier by the people and 100,000 armed men, and the British in India and England were put in fear and astonishment. By the time Sardar Mohammad Ayeub Khan was through with the burying of the Afghans and Englishmen and reached Kandahar, ten days had passed. By this time, General Primrose, the British Commander of Army in Kandahar, had gathered and stocked provisions, had prepared and fortified the City for a long defence. The Sardar arrived and a siege fighting started. Although the Herat Army had suffered casualties from the firing of the enemy and amongst the dead were Farukh Kommedan of Artillery and Shah Aghasi Mohammad Yusuf Khan, they still intensified their pressure on the Enemy to the extent that the fall and capture of the City was imminent. The British Government had telegraphed the defeat of Maiwand on 27 July from Simla to Kabul. General Stewart was bewildered and ordered General Roberts to hurry to Kandahar from Kabul with an Army and save the Division of besieged soldiers in Kandahar from annihilation. These expeditions were, of course, not easy, unless they came to terms with Amir Abdul Rahman Khan and opened their way for safe passage to Kandahar, Quetta, Jalalabad, and Peshawar. Therefore, they urgently started communicating and discussing with Amir Abdul Rahman Khan to quickly get his assistance. Regretfully, Amir Abdul Rahman didn’t take any advantage of this dangerous and weak situation of the British. The British in Kabul informed their Commander in Kandahar that if he and his Division will resist against the Herat Army for one month; then the Kabul Forces would reach Kandahar to save them. Since the British Commander in Kandahar felt not to be strong enough against Herat Army, he again approached by deceitful political means in which he also succeeded. British Commander’s Requests & Deceptions Through an Old Afghan Woman To Intercede As witnessed by Mirza Yaqoob Ali Khan Khafi, General Primrose, Commander of Kandahar, had earlier called the grandmother of Sardar Shair Ali Khan (mother of Sardar Mehrdil Khan) his own mother (regarded and called her “mother”). Now, he used her to achieve his objective. Then, the regarded old mother went to the Camp of Herat Army to Sardar Mohammad Ayeub Khan and interceded and asked for 40 days delay (respite) so that the British make preparations for their return to India and to deliver the City to Sardar without any fight. The Herat Army Officer didn’t accept. But Sardar Mohammad Ayeub Khan didn’t reject the intercession of his relative and promised to give the British Commander and Army this chance for peaceful evacuation while the Army of Roberts had left Kabul for Kandahar on 8 August and Sardar Mohammad Ayeub Khan didn’t know about it, yet. Contrary to his previous journeys in Afghanistan where he was confronted every step with battles, Roberts now calmly and quickly was going through his journey because he was holding the Command (Order) of Amir Abdul Rahman Khan with him as well as being escorted by Sardar Mohammad Aziz Khan s/o Sardar Shams-ul-Din Khan. This Sardar had the duty to inform the people on his way about the selection of Amir Abdul Rahman Khan to monarchy of Afghanistan. He also informed them about the evacuation of the British from Afghanistan. Besides, he had the duty to protect the British Armies from being plundered and to provide the British also with provisions and fodder. The Breach of British Agreement to Deliver Kandahar City Without Fight By these arrangements, Roberts reached Kandahar and entered the City at night and in the morning, 28 August, poured and attacked the Forces of Sardar Mohammad Ayeub Khan. This sudden attack defeated the Sardar who retreated towards Herat because Roberts had said that Amir Abdul Rahman Khan is the King of Afghanistan and the British Forces will only deliver the City to his Delegates. However, it was this Victory in Maiwand and the attack of Herat Army that forced the British not to disintegrate Kandahar and should give it back to the Central Government of Afghanistan. Therefore, Sardar Shayr Ali Khan who had made so many self-sacrifices for the British, failed and disgracefully took refuge in India until he died there. The British delivered Kandahar to Sardar Shams-ul-Din Khan s/o Sardar Amir Mohammad Khan (the Representative of Amir Abdul Rahman Khan), and then evacuated Kandahar. Pashtoonfully yours, Nabi Mubtakir
Posted on: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 09:51:47 +0000
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