BATTLE // February 7, 1857

Battle of Khushab

Name: Battle of Khushab
Start: 1857-02-07
End: 1857-02-07
Location: Battle of Khushab

Overview

The Battle of Khushab took place in Khushab on 7 February 1857 and was the largest single engagement of the Anglo-Persian War. Having taken Borazjan without a fight, the British expeditionary army under Sir James Outram was withdrawing to Bushehr when it was ambushed by a smaller Persian force under Khanlar Mirza, drawn up in battle order to its rear. The battle ended with a British victory, whose troops returned to Bushehr.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Khushab was the largest single engagement of the Anglo-Persian War of 1856–1857. It occurred during the British withdrawal from Borazjan to Bushehr, when Iranian forces under Khanlar Mirza positioned themselves to intercept Outram's column. Despite the Iranian force outnumbering the British, the engagement ended in a British victory. The outcome secured the withdrawal to Bushehr and reaffirmed British operational control of the campaign's southern theater, contributing to the broader pressure on Qajar Iran that culminated in the war's conclusion.

Tactics

The British expeditionary force under Outram was withdrawing toward Bushehr after taking Borazjan without a fight when a Persian force under Khanlar Mirza drew up in battle order to its rear, effectively ambushing the column. The British turned to engage and defeated the Persian force, then continued their withdrawal to Bushehr.