Siege of Multan
The revolt at Multan that began the Second Anglo-Sikh War. A British shell blew up the fort's main magazine in December, and Mulraj surrendered in January 1849.
In April 1848 two British officers, Vans Agnew and Anderson, came to Multan to replace its governor Diwan Mulraj. On 20 April they were attacked by Mulraj's soldiers and killed, and Mulraj raised the standard of revolt.
The British besieged Multan with British and Lahore troops. In September the Sikh contingent under Sher Singh Attariwala went over to the rebels, and the revolt became a war. The siege resumed with a larger army; in December a British shell hit the main magazine in the fort, which exploded with great loss of life.
On 22 January 1849 Mulraj surrendered. He was tried for the murders and exiled. Two months later the Punjab was annexed.
The two Anglo-Sikh Wars
1845 – 1849- 1
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After Sobraon the Treaty of Lahore (March 1846) took the Jalandhar Doab and the hills, and Kashmir went to Gulab Singh. After Gujrat the Kingdom of Lahore was annexed, on 29 March 1849.
Same era
The British conquest: the Anglo-Sikh Wars
First battle of the First Anglo-Sikh War, fought at dusk among dust and scrub. The Sikh commanders, Lal Singh and Tej Singh, were later widely accused of betraying their own army.
So close that Hardinge prepared to burn his papers. Tej Singh withdrew when the exhausted British were at his mercy.
A British victory on the Sutlej near Ludhiana.
The Sikhs fought with their backs to the Sutlej, and the bridge of boats behind them broke. Sham Singh Attariwala died with his men.
A British cavalry charge on the Chenab ran into the Sikh guns and was repulsed.
One of the bloodiest battles the British fought in India. The losses led to calls in London for Gough's dismissal.
Overwhelming British artillery broke the Sikh army. On 29 March 1849 Punjab was annexed and the boy Maharaja Duleep Singh deposed.