The Battle of Chenab was fought between the Durrani Empire and the Sikh Misls of Dal Khalsa in 1764.

Battle of Chenab
Part of Indian Campaign of Ahmad Shah Durrani and Afghan-Sikh Wars
DateJanuary 13, 1764
Location
Chenab River
Result Sikh victory[1]
Belligerents
Sikh Misls Durrani Empire
Commanders and leaders
Charat Singh
Jassa Singh Ramgarhia
Hari Singh Dhillon		 Ahmad Shah Durrani
Strength
100,000+ 40,000
Casualties and losses
Low High

Battle

On 13 January 1764, Ahmad Shah Durrani crossed over Attock river. At that point of time, Sikhs were around Sialkot, Gujrat, Shah-Daula and Sodhra. On hearing his advance, Sikh chiefs, in a tactical move swiftly retreated to Guru Chak (Amritsar), there by giving an impression that they had run away due to impending fear from the Afghan troops. Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Charat Singh and other Sikh chiefs held consultation at Amritsar.[2] It was resolved to let Ahmad Shah Durrani come and that the Khalsa would give him a fight the moment he crossed Chenab. He was under the impression that the Sikhs were at Guru Chak. Sikhs however, turned back with accelerated pace with all their armaments and dug in themselves along the left bank of Chenab to give a surprise battle to Abdali.[2]

Ahmad Shah halted at Rohtas Fort before crossing the Jhelum. The Sikhs divided their forces into two or three divisions with the idea of giving battle to him. He was on the other side of the Chenab with nearly 40,000 horses and the Sikhs were on this side of the river with more than 100,000 horses and foot.[3] The Shah crossed the river to fight a decisive battle.[4] Among the Sikhs were Charat Singh, Hari Singh (Bhangi), Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, and others. After much slaughter on both sides, the Afghan troops suffered defeat sustaining very heavy losses.[5] Many jumped into Chenab missing the ford. The Shah camp along the right bank was sacked. Shah himself put his horse in the water but his whereabouts were not known. Ahmad Shah Durrani suffered defeat at the hands of the Sikhs who relieved him of a number of horses and property.[6] The Shah reached Jhelum with his troops in total disarray.After the great battle and defeat suffered by Abdali at the hands of Sikhs , Shah took off his turban and exhorted his army commanders to show firmness and stand up to enemy, no one listened to him and troop after troop crossed river like an army without defence travelling 30 Kurohs in 1 day and night , out of terror of the Sikhs.(6) < ref> Sikh History from Persion Sources: Translations of Major Texts , Page no 196 , By J.S. Grewal and Irfan Habib

References

1.

  1. ↑ ^ Jump up to:a b VSM, D. S. Saggu (2018-06-07). Battle Tactics And War Manoeuvres of the Sikhs. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64249-006-0.
  2. 1 2 VSM, D. S. Saggu (2018-06-07). Battle Tactics And War Manoeuvres of the Sikhs. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64249-006-0.
  3. ↑ Grewal, J. S.; Habib, Irfan (2001). Sikh History from Persian Sources: Translations of Major Texts. Tulika. p. 31. ISBN 978-81-85229-17-1.
  4. ↑ Dilagīra, Harajindara Siṅgha (1995). Akal Takht Sahib. Sikh Educational Trust in collaboration with the Sikh University Centre, Denmark. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-9695964-1-7.
  5. ↑ Gupta, Hari Ram (1999). History of the Sikhs: Evolution of Sikh confederacies, 1708-69. Munshiram Manoharlal. p. 224. ISBN 978-81-215-0248-1.
  6. ↑ Gandhi, Surjit Singh (1999). Sikhs in the Eighteenth Century: Their Struggle for Survival and Supremacy. Singh Bros. p. 164. ISBN 978-81-7205-217-1.
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