3-012-008 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Expedition against the hill tribes on the Punjaub Frontier: view of the Chumla Valley and village of Umbeylah from the position held by the British force on the Goroo Heights, 1864. View of '...a remarkable incident in this brief but stubborn war...The crag picket, which was the key to our position, is situated on the summit of an almost precipitous hill about 700 ft. above our camp...The enemy, knowing well how necessary this position was to the security of the British forces, attacked it thirty-five times...The party occupying the work were...driven out of it, with...about forty men killed and wounded. The 71st Highland Light Infantry...were formed at the bottom of the hill...the order was given to advance...nothing could equal their steadiness, in spite of the murderous fire of the enemy from the heights. The gallant Colonel...who was severely wounded, was the first man to enter the work. The enemy stood a moment, but...the British bayonet was amongst them, and they bolted...closely pursued by the Highlanders...After...the destruction of Mulka, the chief seat of the [Hindustani] fanatics, the rebel tribes surrendered to our forces and sued for peace, which was granted, hostages being taken to ensure the due observance of their engagements'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.