Page 183 - Lohgarh

Chapter 12

Third Mughal Attack

on Lohgarh

Banda Singh Bahadur knew that after capturing the Fort of Sadhaura,
the Mughal army would surely attack Lohgarh Fort; so, he dispatched
every good, except weapons, to Paonta Sahib (12 Kos, i.e. about 45
kilometers from Lohgarh). 1
Having captured Sadhaura, Abdus Samad Khan wanted to attack
Lohgarh Fort, but his companions told him that there was no hope of
winning this battle; hence he postponed the decision. This delay gave
opportunity to Banda Singh Bahadur and he further strengthened
Lohgarh Fort. He strengthened the walls, and, built bastions and
trenches.
On 21 August 1713, an advance unit of the Mughal army went
towards Lohgarh. This party came under the attack of the Sikh soldiers.
From among the soldiers of this unit at least 40 were killed, 20 were
wounded and 35 were arrested by the Sikhs. The rest of them left
everything there and ran empty-handed and saved their lives. Besides,
the Sikhs captured about 100 horses, 30 camels, 40 buffalos and 200
other animals. Almost during the same days, the death of Mohkam
Singh, a general of the Mughals, too disheartened the Mughal soldiers,
and the companions of Banda Singh became more daring and bold. 2
On 29 August 1713, about 200 Mughal soldiers were patrolling in
between Sadhaura and Lohgarh. When they saw just a small number of
Sikhs, most of them ran away, but their leader Jamandar Baloch Khan
was killed by the Sikhs. Beside him, four more Mughal nobles were also
killed. The Sikhs chopped off their heads and took them into the hills of
Lohgarh. These losses disheartened the Mughal army and they decided