Seeing the flare exactly at 10:00 PM, the air in Secunderabad was thick with anticipation. The distant hum of the city faded into an eerie silence as the 40,000-strong Hyderabad force, under General Ali Rahman's command, surrounded the British cantonment. Only the soft shuffle of boots and the muffled sounds of preparation echoed in the stillness. In the distance, the faint glow of lanterns illuminated the British perimeter.
Inside the cantonment, Major General Edward Clifton, a sense of unease envelop him. His officers stood around a large map of the region, and he looked at them sternly.
"Keep the men on alert. I don't like this quiet. A small revolt could erupt at any moment. We have recieved news from spies that reports of the IDN newspaper, many people are waiting for a chance to rebel and Nizam of Hyderabad movements are also suspicious" Clifton warned, his voice taut with concern. British spies in Hyderabad had already reported that the Nizam had called a meeting of dignitaries, indicating a brewing situation, but there were no indications of a major attack.
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Cartwright, in charge of the artillery, nodded in agreement. "We should double the patrols. If there is any revolt, we must be ready to act immediately."
At precisely 10:15 PM, the plan was set into motion. General Devendra Pratap Singh led his cavalry unit silently toward the eastern flank of the British cantonment, aiming to breach the outer defenses quickly and create confusion among the British forces before they could respond properly.
Devendra turned to his second-in-command. "Remember, silence is our greatest ally tonight. We won't give them the luxury of preparation."
As the cavalry approached the perimeter, the first shots were fired by a lone British sentry who had spotted their movement. The alarm was raised, and suddenly the British were scrambling.
Inside the cantonment, Clifton was jolted from his thoughts by the sound of gunfire. He rushed to his command post, shouting, "Sound the alarm! Get the men to their posts!"
General Devendra Pratap Singh led a cavalry charge of 5,000 troops along the eastern flank. Armed with carbines and pistols for long-range engagement and sabers for close combat, the cavalry was tasked with breaching the British defenses and sowing chaos before the main force could move in.
Major General Edward Clifton, an experienced officer, had anticipated some unrest in the region but wasn't expecting a full-scale night assault. When the first shot rang out, he ordered his men to man the perimeter. British soldiers scrambled in the darkness, using lanterns to illuminate their surroundings while gripping their Martini-Henry rifles.
The cavalry, now charging, moved swiftly through the dimly lit outskirts. British sentries fired rounds, but the speed and surprise of Devendra's cavalry overwhelmed them. Clifton attempted to rally his troops by setting up barricades, but a special sniper, tasked with assassinating the British general, took him down with a precise shot from the shadows. Without their general, the British ranks began to falter amid the confusion.
As the initial crack of gunfire signaled the start of the battle, the chaos erupted into a thunderous artillery exchange. Lieutenant Faizullah Begum, commanding Hyderabad's artillery units from a concealed position on the nearby hills, prepared his cannons to deliver a crippling blow to the British. He had positioned his artillery with a clear view of the British fortifications, utilizing some of the finest modern artillery pieces, imported secretly, and manned by expertly trained crews.
"Hold your fire until the first British shot!" Faizullah commanded, his eyes fixed on the silhouette of the British cantonment. The artillerymen around him stood tense, ready to spring into action. When the distant boom of British cannons echoed across the battlefield, Faizullah shouted, "Fire!"
The sky exploded as Hyderabad's artillery unleashed a coordinated barrage. Smoke and fire illuminated the night, transforming the once-silent hillside into a roaring inferno. Faizullah's men worked with precision, loading and firing at a rapid pace. Their objective was to destroy the British gun emplacements and weaken the fortifications before the infantry advanced.
Across the battlefield, the British artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Henry Cartwright, responded fiercely. They had the advantage of fortified positions, but the surprise and intensity of the Hyderabad attack caused confusion among their ranks. British artillery fired sporadically at first, but as Cartwright took command, their responses became more coordinated. Cannons on both sides thundered through the night, each side desperately trying to gain the upper hand.
"Focus on their artillery!" Cartwright yelled as the British gunners adjusted their aim, determined to knock out the Hyderabad guns. Faizullah had anticipated this and instructed his crews to constantly shift positions, avoiding British counterfire. As British shells rained down on the hillside, Hyderabad's artillery relentlessly pounded the cantonment walls, causing sections to crumble.
Faizullah's cannons scored a direct hit on the British command post, killing several officers and throwing the British defense into disarray. Colonel Cartwright himself was wounded in one of the explosions, and despite his attempts to rally his men, another direct hit claimed his life. Without their leadership, the British artillery faltered.
By 10:45 PM, the British artillery was severely diminished, their guns either destroyed or their crews scattered. Hyderabad's artillery had secured dominance, and the breach in the cantonment's defenses was wide enough for the next phase of the attack to begin.
While the artillery created chaos and confusion among the British forces, a critical aspect of the attack was carried out by Major Qasim and his elite guerrilla special unit. This small, highly trained group of 500 men, selected for their agility, combat experience, and knowledge of the terrain, had been tasked with a mission that would tip the scales in favor of Mahbub Ali's forces: they were to sabotage British communications, cut off reinforcements, and disable key supply lines.
Major Qasim, a hardened veteran of covert operations, had meticulously planned the guerrilla sabotage weeks in advance. His strategy was to infiltrate deep behind enemy lines under the cover of darkness, striking at key points that would cripple the British army's ability to communicate and coordinate reinforcements. With only an hour to complete their mission, speed and stealth were paramount.