1 Shah Shufa falls into
2 the hands of the Sikhs.
3 Ranjit Singh
4 acqmres Attock, 1813.
5 Fatteh Khan remon~
6 strates with the Maha-
7 raja on his usurpation.
8 The battle of
9 aldarn.
10 Dewan Mohkam
11 eee defeats the
12 Shans in a pite
13 battle, 1813, ae
14 396 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
15 when the news of the reduction of Kashmir reached the capital; but Wazty
16 Fatteh Khan now declined to allow the Sikhs the third share of the plunder,
17 as had been stipulated. In the meantime, Shah Shujd, availing himself
18 of the confusion which followed in Kashmir, consequent on the invasion
19 of the valley by Fatteh Khan, effected his escape from confinement and joined
20 the camp of Dewan Mohkam Chand. The dewdn, with the consolation of
21 having secured the prize of the ex-kivg’s person, if none other, returned
22 to Lahore, with his troops, much fatigued by their mountain toils in an un-
23 congenial climate. The Maharajé received Shah Shuja with every appearance
24 of respect; but his wrath knew no bounds when he was informed that
25 Mohkam Chand had returned empty-handed, and that Fatteh Khan had
26 refused to give him the stipulated share of the Kashmfr booty. He deter-
27 mined on revenge, and his expedient did not entirely fail him. Jahanddd
28 Khan, the Governor of Atak, and brother of Ata Muhammad Khan, the
29 ex-Governor of Kashmir, finding that the party of Shah Mahmid had
30 gained the ascendancy in Kashmir, and that his own brother was driven
31 from his position, was alarmed, and Ranjit Singh opened negotiations
32 with him with the offer of a large jagfr for the surrender of the fort of
33 Atak, which commanded the passage to the Indus. Jahdndad Khan, expect-
34 ing little favour at the hands of the Kabul wazir, agreed to the Maha-
35 réjé’s_ proposals, and permitted Dia Singh, who was already present in the
36 neighbourhood of Atak, with a detachment of Sikh troops, as a precaution
37 against any possible emergency, to occupy the fort in the name of the
38 ruler of Léhore. Fakir Aziz-ud-din and Dewda Devi Das were sent,
39 immediately afterwards, at the head of a strong force, to settle the sur-
40 rounding country. Fatteh Khan remonstrated with the Mahardjd with
41 respect to this usurpation, accusing him of barefaced treachery. He de-
42 manded the immediate surrender of the fort, which Ranjit Singh, confident
43 in his own strength, refused, until the promised share of the Kashmir
44 plunder was given to him. Upon this Fateh Khan marched to Atak, after
45 placing the affairs of Kashmir in the hands of his brother, Azim Khan.
46 The fort of Atak was closely blockaded. Karm Chand, Chdéhal, hurried
47 up from Léhore, at the head of a body of troops, to relieve the fort, and
48 was shortly after followed by Dewan Mohkam Chand from Burhan. The
49 Afghan and Sikh armies lay opposite each other for a long time, and fre-~
50 uent skirmishes took place, in which the Sikhs lost heavily; but Dewdn
51 Mohkam Chand avoided a general action till the Afghans had exhausted
52 their supplies, and the hot weather.had set in. The province had also been
53 visited by a famine. At length, the season having sufficiently advanced,
54 the Dewdn determined to make a move, and marched to Haidaru, on the
55 Indus, five miles from the fort. ‘The Afghan troops took up a position to
56 oppose the further advance of the Sikhs,a portion of their cavalry being
57 led by Dost Muhammad Khan, a brother of the wazir, afterwards the well-
58 known Amir of Kébul, the Afghan troops being chiefly ‘comprised of
59 Mulkia Mussalmans, or men from the country. The dewan, fresh for
60 action, drew up his Sikhs in order of battle, the cavalry being formed into
61 four divisions, the only battalion of infantry then present forming a
62 square, and the artillery, under Ghouse Khan, supporting the whole,
63 Dost Muhammad first made a resolute cavalry charge, which was,
64 however, repulsed by a heavy fire from the Sikh battalion. The Afghans
65 rallied, and Dost Muhammad, making a general attack with his horse,
66 threw the foremost Sikh troops into confusion, capturing some guns, The
67 Sikhs were beginning to give way, but Mohkam Chand, coming up on his
68 i ; ; é ;
69 SriSatg uri Page's ing 7 ban” opened on the dR BRE roHe BREF co he latter,