British Army in Kosi River Valley
History British Campaign for Capturing Kumaon -24
Nepal Rule over Kumaun, Garhwal and Himachal (1790-1815) -237
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -765
By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Student)
On 16th February 1815, British army went ahead in Kosi River valley and camped at Chukam. Till that time, due to unavailability of loaders, Guns and other weapons could not br brought there. British army stayed in Chukam for two days. Then, British army reached far ahead in Kumaon Hills. It was necessary for British commanders for protecting link line from plains to Kosi Valley.
There was an army camp of Gurkha/Nepalese at Kotagarhi at right side of Dabkan Rivulet that was east south of Chukam. On 18th February 1815, L.C Gardner sent 300 soldiers for getting rid of Gurkha/Nepalese soldiers from Kotagarhi. Before, British army reached at Kotagarhi, Gurkha/Nepalese soldiers fled from Kotagarhi towards hills. L.C Gardner put a an army company there in Kotagarhi. On the same day Lieutenant Colonel Gardner sent 300 soldiers for capturing Tungadakhal Garhi. The army could reach Kosi valley from Tungrakhal.
In between Ramganga and Kosi River there was a hill top –‘Kath ki Nav’ and there was Gurkha soldier camp. Pande mentioned that there was wooden fortress. That camp was very important for defending Link Line. On 19th February 1815, Gardner sent 500 soldiers for capturing ‘Kath ki Nav’ hill top. Gurkha/Nepalese soldiers left the camp without any fight and reached to Gagar Garhi. On the same day, British army captured Ukhaldhunga (7 miles away from Kosi river). In evening Gardner sent a column to a hill top (right of Ukhaldhunga). From that Hill Top, there were two roads one for Tangurakhal and other to Lohgaliyakhal. Gurkha commander sent his soldiers on a hill top just parralle but part of that Hill top too. There was gun firing between two armies. There was gun firing till late night. British army reached to another hill top and pushed away Gurkha soldiers. Then, British army had safe link line between Tungrakhal and Lohgaliyaghat. At the same time there was information that Gurkha/Nepalese army vacated from two Garhis of Kota.
On 21st February 1815, British 700 soldier’s army camped in Sethi hill top in Kosi Valley. L.C Colonel took necessary cautions for defense.
(From writings of B D Pande, Atkinson, Sanwal, Saxsena, Fraser etc)
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com 3/4/2016
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -766
*** History of Gorkha/Gurkha /Nepal Rule over Kumaun, Garhwal and Himachal (1790-1815) to be continued in next chapter
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
XX Reference
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Pande, Vasudha , Compares Histriographical Traditions of Gorkha Rule in Nepal and Kumaon
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XXX
History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; Sirmour Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Kangara Himachal Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Baghat Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Tehri Garhwal, Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; Punar Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Uttarkashi Garhwal, Bageshwar Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Nahan Himachal; History Gurkha /Gorkha Rule over Dehradun Garhwal, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History Himachal Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal;
Nepal Itihas, Garhwal Itihas, Kumaon Itihas, Himachal Itihas; Gurkha/Gorkha ka Kumaon par Adhikar Itihas , Gurkha/Gorkha Garhwal par Shasan Itihas Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal; Gurkha/Gorkha Rule in Kumaon, Garhwal Uttarakhand; History Gurkha/Gorkha Rule in Himachal Ruthless Gurkha/Nepalese Administration in Himachal
