Third Unsuccessful Mughal Attack on Lohgarh Fort
In April 1713 AD, seventy thousand Mughal soldiers, led by Abdus Samad Khan, Zain-ud-Din Ahmed Khan, and General Inam Khan, advanced towards Sadhaura and Lohgarh. Despite their numerical superiority, the Mughals faced fierce resistance from the fortified Sikh soldiers. Major Mughal generals, including Muhammad Khan Bahadur and Ghazi ud-Din Khan Bahadur, joined the assault. The Sikhs, known for their guerrilla tactics, launched surprise attacks on Mughal camps, causing significant Mughal casualties, including notable generals like Baqa Begh Khan.
The Mughals utilized cannons and muskets to break through Lohgarh’s defences but struggled due to the Sikhs’ robust fortifications and the challenging terrain. Sikh forces conducted daring night raids, even capturing Mughal cannons. Despite heavy rains on July 31th , 1713 AD, Sikhs fortified their positions and inflicted substantial losses on the Mughals.
Continuous Sikh attacks from the fortified Lohgarh forced the Mughals into a defensive stance. Reports to Maharaja Jai Singh confirmed the siege’s intensity and the Mughals’ inability to breach Lohgarh’s defences. By August 27th, 1713 AD, the demoralized Mughal troops postponed further assaults, allowing Sikhs to strengthen their defences, marking another unsuccessful Mughal attempt to capture Lohgarh Fort. (Muhmmed Qasim Aurangabadi, Ahwaal-ul-Khawakeen, pages 68-69.)