The Second Anglo-Sikh War

A comprehensive account of the momentous Second Anglo-Sikh War, complete with maps and illustrations.

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This is the tale of the bloody war that ended in the conquest and annexation of the Punjab by the East India Company.

A disgruntled garrison’s chance killing of two young British officers sent to govern the city of Multan sparks an unexpected war between the East India Company and the Sikh Empire. Following calls for retribution, Sir Hugh Gough, the veteran British Commander-in-Chief, strikes into the heart of the Punjab with a large force to face the Sikh army. After two inconclusive contests at Ramnuggar and Sadulpore, he nearly comes to grief at the small village of Chillianwalla by the Jhelum River, with half his line repulsed and his force in confusion. Only the fast‑gathering darkness and jungle obscure the advantage lying with the Sikh army and prevent a complete British disaster. Recovering from the setback, Gough would achieve a decisive victory at the final battle of Gujrat, paving the way for British rule up to the Khyber Pass.

The Second Anglo-Sikh War is the warts-and-all story of the conflict that led to the demise of the Sikh Empire. Continuing his innovative approach to history writing from The First Anglo-Sikh War, Amarpal Singh augments the narrative of the campaign with battlefield guides that draw on eyewitness accounts and invite the reader to take a tour of the battlefields, either physically or virtually. Fully illustrated with period drawings, modern-day photographs and new maps, The Second Anglo-Sikh War gives this neglected conflict the attention it sorely deserves.