Page 178 - Lohgarh

178 w Lohgarh : The World’s Largest Fort

them.
Abdus Samad Khan encamped on one side, Zain –ud-Din Khan on
the second side and the third side was guarded by another section of
the Mughal army. 18 According to Muhammed Qasim Aurangabadi
Sadhaura had countless number of buildings and these were made of
baked bricks. Banda Singh Bahadur had destroyed this area. He had
carried away the wooden planks and wood (which were taken from the
demolished buildings) and fixed them into the Fort to strengthen it. He
had thought that this would save it from the cannon and gun fire, and
the walls of the Fort would remain safe. 19
nd
On the 22 of June 1713, the very first night, a large number of
Sikhs came out of the Fort and fell upon the Mughal soldiers. It was
followed by a pitched battle. A good number of soldiers were killed on
both sides; among the Sikh casualties included Albel Singh and Mohar
Singh (sons of Bhai Udey Singh) and Saina Singh (son of Bhai Chitar
Singh), all the three were grandsons of Bhai Mani Singh. The Mughal
casualties included Baqa Begh Khan (brother of Inam Khan) and several
others. According to Muhammad Qasim Aurangabadi 152 Sikhs were
killed in this battle. Muhammed Qasim Aurangabadi mentions the scene
of another battle, which is almost like the battle of, 22 June 1713 (but
he says this battle was fought at Lohgarh, which is not true; attack on
Lohgarh was made on 13 November 1713). 20
th
On the 15 of July, the Mughal army brought 700 wooden ladders
to climb the walls of the Fort, but could not succeed due to vigil by the
Sikh soldiers. In spite of this, neither the Sikhs nor the Mughals gave up
the battle.
Muhammad Qasim Aurangabadi says that one day the brave soldiers
of the Mughal army, ignoring the strong position of the Sadhaura Fort,
attacked it. At that time the Sikhs came out of the Fort and made a
fierce attack on the Mughal soldiers. The Sikhs fell upon the Mughal
army; the battle continued for about three hours. The Mughal soldiers
too fought bravely. In this battle 691 Sikhs were killed. He does not give
the number of the casualty of the Mughal soldiers, but, mentions that
Mir Bazurg, the brother of Janish Khan, Mirza Abdulla Bakhshi and
Sayyad Hashim Khan (a close associate of Abdus Samad Khan) were