"Never trust anyone on the Frontier" an ...epic NWF Campaign

[Mad Guru]

FROM: MGnl. Whitsend, CO Peshawar Div.
TO: BG Channers, CO No. 2 Column, Hazara Field Force

RE: Recent action in Tikara Valley

DATE: 22 July, 1890

Channers old bean,

Just received word of your No. 2 column’s brilliant showing versus the foe yesterday.  In fact you've done so well they may have to rename you “No. 1 column”, eh, what?  Sincere compliments to you & your men and the first round’s on me when our paths cross in any mess!

Sincerely Yours,

Smokey

[giorgio]

Wana July 23rd
Sir I respectfully send to you the summary of the speech  that the bandit Mulehead told to his Khans in a Jirga not far from Jondala  to commemorate the death of Sikander Khan of Black Mountain.The relevant bandit’s speech was obtained by our spy activities, camouflaged as a camel driver,  for your due information and necessary actions.
Humble servant   Tanas Singh, Subedar 2 Sikh company of Guides PFF

My Khans I have sad news: Sikander the Lion of the North has been martyred, blessing be upon him. My heart is ripped from my breast  and my body is numb with grief for Sikander martiryum. But now my grief is turned into anger. His example must enlight our next steps. A jirga will be assembled in the Black Mountain to determine who will be the leader of the war host and be the avenger of Sikander.
A new heroic warrior, faithful to the only Book, will drive all black Mountains tribes to destroy ferenghees first and heretics immediately after and his name is Gul Akbar Khan.
El Growly, El Scavenger, Sikander, how many khans will be killed before the True Rule lights will enlight all Punjabi? I’m not a prophet, I’m not a faqir, I’m not a mullah but tonight El Osprey appeared through His voice in my dreams and said; you Mulehead, son of Mulebrain, you have a son , Muletail, that you sent to Kabul to Italwars to learn how hammering feringhees bullets to fit our jezails. Now he had to escape, not being sure about Italwars' faith. Order to arrive was sent today to the deep North and in few weeks he will be here , ready to be painted with war colours, El Muletail will  take on the tulwar of command and will drive your Khans to kick out all feringhees that will escape before being butchered. He will drive Waziris up to Peshawar and then to have the heads of all heretics’ khans. This was said in the dream, this will happen because the Rule wants it!

[JBaumal]

Dispatches from Malakand
18 July 1890

FROM: General McGuinness, Commander Chitral Field Force
TO: Lt. Gnl. Sir Bindon Blood, C-in-C Rawalpindi

Dear General Blood. 1st Brigade has reached Malakand unmolested and have set up a cantonment in the vicinity.  We eagerly await the arrival of our 2nd Brigade commanded by newly promoted General Hall.
They have left Jalala and are marching to Dargai.

Our scouts report much activity in the surrounding hills, especially behind us. I fear General Hall may be in for some sticky business.




A scout from the Corp of Guides.

Pathans in the hills watching 1st Brigade set up the Malakand cantonment.

[CPT Shanks]

Mulehead, son of Mulebrain, sire of Muletrain, purveyor of the Word. Following the martyrdom of the great Sikander, Lion of the North the Torghar tribes have convened a jirga in the tradition of TMWWBK, guided by the six sided oracle a new leader has been chosen. Though Hashim Ali Khan's blood runs hot for vengeance against the farenghee, he has shown that once sated he will be as meek as a mouse and not continue the fight to the end and despite the influence of his wazir, Asmani Khan, it has been decided . I, Gul Akbar will lead the jihad to drive Channers Sahib and his devils out of Tor Ghar and then take the true word to the west until there is only one Rule.
Sirdar Gul Akbar

[Umra Khan]

Rawalpindi 23rd July 1890
Residence of Lt. Gen. Bindon Blood
Staff meeting, General Blood speaks:
"Sirs the latest news from the Frontier tells us of the successes of Gen. Channer's troops in Black Mountain. In a fight the evil Sikander Khan died, I am confident that now the old and faithful Ali Hashim will summon a Jirga and peace will be restored.

Gen. McGuinness has passed Malakand with the first Brigade and has arrived in Chakdara, the outpost has fallen and the Yusufzais are in arms blocking the Uch Pass that leads to Panjkora and from there to the Bajaur valley. The second brigade commanded by Gen. Hall is in Malakand and will act in support.

Unfortunately we have no news from Chitral where the garrison has been under siege for 7 days.

Gen. Whitsend is in Dargai and will have to deal with the riots caused by the Bunerwals in Rustum, where Hindu traders were killed. The Bunerwals deserve exemplary punishment and good Smokey is the man to give it to them. The Bunerwals are blocking the Shakot Pass the access to Buner .

In Bannu Gen.Davenport has detached a flying column under the orders of Col. Fullerton to intercept a transport of weapons by Omar's Afridis.

Gen. Simmons has moved the whole brigade from Tank via Manzai and is about to attack Zarin Khan' s Lashkar Wazir.
God Save The Queen "

[giorgio]

My dearest Readers, for all subscribers today a special insert to ride with Gen Mc Guinness to pacify Chitral area. No news from other area. Col Fullerton is punishing the Waziris in Tochi Valley, but no evidences of any form of resistance. The death of the bandit Sikander has stopped any rebel activity in Black Mountain. Next step will be the conquer of Wana and the head of the vicious bandit Mulehead.
yours faithfully
Reginald Winkie

[JBaumal]

A communique just arrived from the frontier ……

Dispatches from Chitral
18 July 1890

FROM: Colonel Dano MacGurule, Commander Chitral Garrison
TO: General McGuinness, Commander Chitral Field Force
CC: Lt. General. Sir Bindon Blood, C-in-C Rawalpindi

General McGuinness, the siege of our garrison continues old boy. We'd received sporadic musketry fire from the environs early on with minimal casualties, our beloved doctor Capt Stevens had kept us all healthy and patched up, there are no mortal wounds thus far. However, Johnny Pathan has become emboldened and has taken up positions along the gardens walls and within several structures close by the fort. The sporadic musketry has turned into a rather hot fire all throughout the day and long into the night to try to keep us on edge. We believe they are also digging tunnels as we can hear the scraping at night as well as building sangers within effective range to bring more accurate fire to bear. We caught one bloke poking around our tower guarding our water supply, I do fear they will try and cut us off from the river water supply shortly. I'm organizing a sortie for the evening of the morrow to clear the nearby structures and destroy any discovered mines. Please continue on with most haste sir. See you in the mess old boy!

Yours respectfully,
Colonel Dano MacGurule, Commander Chitral Garrison





Pathan tribesmen snipe the Anglo-Indian defenders manning the ramparts of Chitral Fort.



More Pathan tribesmen occupy the structures close to the fort and use the walls surrounding the gardens and fields as hard cover.



More pictures on my blog: https://sgtguinness.blogspot.com/2021/08/dispatches-from-chitral-18-july-1890.html?m=1

[Mad Guru]

FROM: Brig. Gnl. Ruff-Husband, CO 1st Brigade, Peshawar Field Force
TO:  M. Gnl. Whistsend, CO Peshawar Field Force
CC: Lt. Gnl. Blood, C-in-C Rawalpindi & Whole Bloody Frontier
DATE: 22nd July, 1890

RE: 1st Brigade arrival at Dargai

General Sir,

Pleased to inform you 1st Brigade has arrived at Dargai and encamped thereabouts.  We lost no one on the trek up here and the entire Brigade remains present and accounted for.  Upon first arriving hereabouts I instructed Col. Trevelyan to lead a reconnaissance in force by 9th Gurkhas which crowned the heights of the Pass and reported no signs of tribesmen, either hostile or friendly.  He posted piquets and in addition I am keeping keen eyes on the pass via sentry towers lashed together in our cantonments.

As yet we have had no further word from the survivors of the night attack on Chakdara Outpost, and I sadly rate the chance of us seeing any of them alive again as fifty-percent at best.  Neither have I received any word re: fate of Lieutenant Fitzroy, the outpost's commander who had fallen ill prior to the attack & may have survived as a prisoner.   I will of course keep you appraised any/all developments pertaining to these matters.

The locals have made themselves extremely scarce but between transported supplies and local forage my commissariat officer is confident he can keep the Brigade fed and hydrated for the foreseeable future.

RE: the surrounding tribes and their current disposition towards the recent disturbances in Waziristan, the Black Mountains, and nearby Chakdara... we have so far been unable to track down any representatives of the local leadership, which does not bode well.  Rest assured I have doubled the sentry watches and we are keeping our powder dry.

Unfortunately the sisters Lorelai and Christine Brom remain in my camp, set as they are upon reuniting with their father, Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Brom, who is currently serving with the 1st Brigade out of Nowshera.  As explained in prior dispatches, I did not feel comfortable sending them South with only their private escort to keep them safe -- not to mention they refused to do so.  While marching from Mardan to Dargai they proved themselves rather shockingly handy with the Martini-Henry carbines they carry, bagging a pair of long-horned rams who came trotting round our camp.  Should events conspire to take 1st Brigade across the Malakand Pass, my plan is to leave them entrenched in Dargai with a substantial enough escort to preserve their safety until we return.

Most Dutifully Yours,

S.R.H.

PS. Word has just arrived of trouble in Rustum, where reports say some Hindu traders have been murdered by unruly Bunerwal tribesmen.  I reckon Rustum as 2 days march to the East of my current position, which should make me the one to respond.  If I do not receive contravening orders I will attempt to gather further intelligence from Buner and set out to enact satisfaction for these heinous crimes.



The Brom Sisters:

[Mad Guru]

FROM: M. Gnl. Whistend, CO Peshawar Division
TO: Lt. Gnl. Bindon Blood, C-in-C Rawalpindi & the Whole Bloody Frontier
DATE: 23rd, July 1890

RE: Responding to Bunerwal provocation in Rustum

General,

I appreciate your instruction to send Brig. Gnl. Ruff-Husband and his Brigade East to make the Bunerwals pay, but I think it prudent for us to pause this movement until the 2nd Brigade of Major General McGuinness's Chitral Field Force has arrived in Dargai.  At present Dargai is an important link in our chain of communications and defense and I think it best not to leave it unoccupied by a significant force of arms.  By my calculations this will only require a one or two day delay before Ruff-Husband sets off for Rustum.  I look forward to your response, which will of course be put into action immediately.

Your Most Obedient Servant,

Smokey

[Umra Khan]

Rawalpindi 24th July 1890
From Lt. GEN Bindon Blood
To :
M. Gnl. Whistend, CO Peshawar Division

Dear Smokey
From the information in my possession the 2nd McGuinness Brigade should have already passed Dargai and arrived in Malakand, good Lord did we miss a brigade?
get in touch with McGuinness and let's make sure that' bloody brigade is  in Malakand.

Bindon

Ps: I agree with your decision concerning the Brom's sisters.

PS 2:
Did you have some Cognac ? Unfortunately here it is all over !

PS 3
latest news from Bannu reported that Col. Fullerton disappear somewhere south the  Kurram River...By God ...we 're loosing pieces ! Davenport  must give me a good reason why he keep giving commands to that unreliable Colonel!

[Mad Guru]

FROM M. Gnl. Whitsend, CO Peshawar
TO: Lt. Genl. Bindon Blood, CO Rawalpindi & Whole Bloody Frontier
DATE: 24th July, 1890

RE: 2nd Brigade, Chitral Field Force

Dear General,

I may certainly be mistaken, but the 1st Brigade Chitral Field Force has already moved across the Malakand Pass, putting well out of immediate reach of Dargai, while the latest correspond posted from the 2nd Brigade says "...they have left Jalala and are marching to Dargai." Needless to say, being en route to Dargai and being at Dargai -- as Brigadier Ruff-Husband and his Brigade are at the moment -- are slightly different categories.  Nonetheless, with the reported rising in Rustum/Buner, and 2nd Brigade Chitral FF destined to cross the Pass into Malakand, it seems the only way to keep someone "minding the store" at Dargai will be for me to send my own 2nd Brigade there, rather than continue too keep it holding down fort here at Peshawar.  I will proceed in expectation you will concur with this decision, but if you think this further thinning of our reserves unwise, tell me so and I will immediately countermand the order.  Meanwhile, I shall instruct Brigadier Ruff-Husband to pull up stakes and make for Rustum at once, leaving behind the ably entrenched cantonment garrisoned by a detached Wing of 23rd Sikh Pioneers.

Respectfully Yours,

Smokey

PS. Sadly the Cognac is all out here at Peshawar as well, but we still have decent stock of Scotch and -- for the less discerning -- IPA.  Cheers!

[Umra Khan]

From Bindon Blood , Rawalpindi
To : M. Gnl. Whitsend, CO Peshawar

Smokey, old chap
You had a clever idea, ....why didn't  come to me?
anyway, send the 2nd brigade of  Brigadier Ruff-Husband to the Shakot pass, the Bunerwals need a punishment  once for all,  these ignoble cutthroats have plagued the region for too long with impunity.
Cheers
Bindon

[giorgio]

July 24th, a hill 10 miles north of Mir Alì,, Col Fullerton speaking to his right hand  Major Hugo William Stockfish .
“you see Willie, those damn bandits are down in the valley completely unaware of our surprise. This time I will have my, how do they say? Ah yes my badal and for my return I couldn’t ask for a better badragga than my guides. Unfortunately, Davenport didn’t allow me to get other 2 lancers squadrons because today we’ll ride over those dummies”
“yes Sir but let me underline that they are not completely unaware, they are preparing obstacle, covers and sangars, I see also a field gun they are moving among the barricades…”
“Willie don’t be fool, they cannot use it, are just few bandits and I will be the avenger of Capt Attenborough and his gallant lancers. A charge and all is finished before they understand what is happening”
“ Sir the other time cavalry didn’t prove to be so reliable among rocks”
“Oh stop it that was due to poor guides infantry performance. This time we will be the surprise ! Look that flags, someone important is there, perhaps we will have important prisoner for tiffin time! Now give the order for attacking and we’ll relieve also that gun, a nice present for Davenport , Old Richie, he will be happy like a cadet at his first aiming to real targets!”
“But Sir it could be a trap…”
“Oh Willie you have always an excuse to avoid meeting glory, but I want my VC and today I’ll bring the first step of the stairs to climb to get it! Order to attack!”
“yes Sir as you order. Risaldar Maruti Jadhav give the order to move the column! We attack those pesty scum”
“Sir yes Sir, Squadroooon march direction NooooRTHH!”

[giorgio]

July 25th 15 miles south of Spinwam, campfire of Fullerton’s “pacifiers”, two young officers are talking whispering close to night fire before entering in their tents, They were in command of 2 units during Mir Ali famous clash, nominally Lt Richard Dawes of British Yorkshire and Lt Andrew Best, the veteran survivor of Gulla Jan Kot. of Sikh guides.
“Andrew I m so excited, Old Fully was a Greek God hammering the pagans that fled like rats. Now all this area is bandit free, we have punished Spinwam afridis and they will think twice before raising their head again. What a charge my buddy, I’m still shivering if I think to it!”
“Oh stop it Richie, I know the old foolish, he caused the death of Attenborough and many other gallants friends of mine. “
“But the gallant charge, that is something heroic!”
“Something foolish you mean. It succeded only because Afridis are fooler than him if possible.
It succeeded only by sheer luck. The Afridis had field gun but were given the wrong ammunition by accident and ignorance, and therefore could not mow down old Fully and his men.”
“But that was heroic…” “No that was stupid, charging he just got some arillery men but jeopardize the possibility to kill all of them by Poona’s carbines. The only positive fact is that Gunni Din Khan survived so I hope that when another stolen gun will aim to me, he will be in charge for ammo replenishment”
“Andrew you are too cynical, we have pacified all Spinwam country and destroyed many towers like this, now they are submitted and definitely pacified”
“Oh no Richie, now they are really upset and according to Pashtunwali they will search for badar, revenge. My guides told me that their Khan, Omar the winner of Gulla Jan Kot, swore on his nang to have full blood payment for any pathan killed. It is worse than a blood feud. Let’s hope to be back in Bannu before it starts.”
“But we are not directed to Bannu, look at the map, we are going to Miran Shah,,,”
“Miran Shah?!? Old fool crazy woodhead, we are going towards Mahsuds lands, if we arrive there, and I underline if, we will regret not be shot by Gunni’s artillery ….”
“’evening tenants”
“oh Major, we didn’t notice you”
“Please stay no issue what are you talking about, if I can ask?”
“Sure Sir, I was telling Andrew, ehm Lt Best, that I’m excited thinking to next issue of Peshawar Tibune and I will be able to write to my mother and tell her that I’m part of Fullerrton’s flying devils, Sir”.
“I see, I would like to be a bird and fly to Tirah to understand how the battle tactics and future strategy will be reported to Umra… I fear we have awakened a nasty dog… Well gentlemen good night, tomorrow will be a very busy day!”
“ Sir good night Sir”

[giorgio]

Peshawar.25th July
Dearest Readers we have received news about a gallant victory got by the brave Col. Fullerton, striking terror in all Afridis'hearths.
As soon as he saw a large concentration of Afridis bandits he consulted with his right hand Major Stockfish who before the battle said:
“My Colonel ,those pesty bandits are Afridis, the most avaricious race who transfer their obedience and support according the liberality of donation. Today let us give them enough steel to stop for ever their rifles trading and let us free them from the burden of that gun”
“Ok major,I approve,  now all ready in attack column, follow me, galop!”
The vily Afridis seeing the brave cavalry charging them on both flanks of infantry units advancing fiercely in the valley, they  shot once with the stolen gun and fled after spiking it. Continuing his charge Col Fullerton (may we call him already Br.Gen Fullerton 😉?) reached them and made a big killing  sending them away and freeing the road towards Spinwam. Then he burnt all towers and villages up to Spinwam to give appropriate memory for Capt Attenbourgh and all the dead of Gulla Jan Kot.
Then our genius of strategy changed directions towards Tochi valley where Waziris are already trying to escape renegading their Khan the infamous bandit El Mulehead and his henchman El Quartah.
Mashuds are sending messengers to assure about their loyal alliance signed with Major Haldane weeks ago.
In the attached special edition you can see some pictures of the battle that allowed Fullerton to clean the road towards North, a map with his triumphal cavalcade  and a special interview to his brilliant staff officer Maj Stockfish of Poona regiment.
yours faithfully
Reginald Winkie