Atlas of Battles

battle, nineteenth century

Battle of Peiwar Kotal

Battle of Peiwar Kotal was a battle fought in 1878 in what is now Pakistan. Its exact site is not recorded; the atlas places it at its recorded location. It was part of Second Anglo-Afghan War, which ran from 1878 to 1880. The recorded result: British victory. Recorded strength: 73 officers, 3,058 men; 13 guns against 4,000–5,000; 25 guns.

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The attack on the Peiwar Kotal, Afghanistan, by 5th Gurkha Rifles, December 1878
The attack on the Peiwar Kotal, Afghanistan, by 5th Gurkha Rifles, December 1878. Vereker Monteith Hamilton (1856-1931), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought1878
WherePakistan33.817N, 69.967E, placed at the location, approximate
OutcomeBritish victory
BelligerentsBritish Empire; IndiaagainstAfghanistan
Casualties and losses21 killed; 72 woundedand200 killed or wounded
Part ofSecond Anglo-Afghan War1878 to 1880

Where it sits in Second Anglo-Afghan War

Battle of Ali Masjid, 1878Battle of Peiwar Kotal, 1878Siege of the British Residency in Kabul, 1879Battle of Charasiab, 1879Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment, 1879Battle of Ahmed Khel, 1880Second Battle of Charasiab, 1880Battle of Maiwand, 1880Battle of Kandahar, 188018781880Battle of Peiwar Kotal, 1878
9 placed engagements of Second Anglo-Afghan War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date1878 (year precision)
to 1878
PlacePakistan
33.817N, 69.967E
KindBattle, nineteenth century
Strength73 officers, 3,058 men; 13 guns4,000–5,000; 25 guns
Casualties and losses21 killed; 72 wounded200 killed or wounded
Commanders
Battle of Peiwar KotalBattle of Peiwar Kotal1842 retreat from KabulSiege of KhostBattle for Hill 3234Battle of JellalabadSiege of Jalalabad1842 retreat from KabulSiege of KhostBattle for Hill 3234Battle of JellalabadSiege of JalalabadPeshawarBannuGhazniGardizCharikarKohatAsadabadMayda Shahr100 km33.817N, 69.967E
Placed at its recorded location; the exact site is not recorded. with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1878

Battle of Peiwar Kotal is one of 3,507 engagements of the 19th century in the atlas and one of 67 in present-day Pakistan.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q4872006, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Peiwar Kotal, revision 1380691152, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.