The Uprising in Autumn 1875
The uprising re-emerged with new strength in the second half of September 1875 in the eastern part of the khanate among the Kyrgyz and Kipchak semi-nomads. It quickly spread to settled areas inhabited by Uzbeks and Tajiks. The uprising was again led by Mullah Iskak Asan oglu Pulat-bek, who was soon proclaimed khan, and Abdurakhman Aftobachi. By the end of September, the rebels occupied the city of Andijan, whose residents joined them, and together they began to pursue the imperial military detachment fleeing from the rebels. The city of Andijan became the center of the uprising. Here, the main forces of the rebels were concentrated, numbering up to 60,000 to 80,000 people. Uzbeks and Tajiks from neighboring kishlaks and some towns, as well as many nomadic and semi-nomadic Kyrgyz and Kipchaks from the mountainous and foothill regions of the area, flocked here. Sharing a common historical fate and being in the same oppressed position, united by social interests and pursuing common goals, they jointly decided to give a proper rebuff to Nasr-Eddin-khan, the feudal lords surrounding him, and representatives of the imperial authority.
In this regard, it is noteworthy to mention the account of one of the residents of Andijan, who fell into the hands of the imperial punitive forces led by General Trotsky on the night of September 30 to October 1. According to him, "Kipchaks, Kyrgyz, and various people from Osh, Shahrihan, Bulak-Bashi, Assaka, Aravan, Margilan, and even from Kokand gathered in Andijan, and they swore not to retreat, regardless of any losses." The rebels and the residents of Andijan who joined them were energetically preparing for battle with the punitive detachment. To the best of their ability, they armed themselves, set up barricades on the 12 main streets of the city, dismantled bridges that the punitive forces could use to cross, and so on. The defense of the city was to be led by Abdurakhman Aftobachi, while Pulat-khan with 15,000 mounted Kyrgyz positioned himself at the city gates to prevent the punitive forces from entering Andijan.
Nasr-Eddin-khan and his entourage, as well as the imperial colonial authority, were not idle either. On September 27, a new punitive detachment was formed, consisting of 1,400 imperial soldiers, Cossacks, and officers under the command of Lieutenant General Trotsky. It included dzhigits led by khan's beks and pansats. The next day, it set out from the city of Namangan towards Andijan. Along the way, there were several clashes with some groups of rebels. But the main battle was yet to come. On September 31, the detachment approached Andijan.
Its commander, seeing the superior forces of the rebels, did not dare to enter the city. At first, he tried to drive a wedge between the rebels, i.e., to incite the settled Uzbeks against the nomadic Kyrgyz and Kipchaks. In his appeal addressed to the retreating Uzbeks, he stated: "Andijan Uzbeks, I especially address you, come to your senses, do not believe the instigators of turmoil, understand that they, having decided to fight, have nothing to lose; having no settled life. When the city is taken by the troops of the powerful white tsar, you alone will pay with your lives and property... You will lose everything. I advise you not to listen to your loudmouths and together with the honorable residents of the city to present to me all the instigators of war (the uprising—K.U.) and come out with aman, relying on the mercy of the representative of the sovereign."
As before, this appeal did not yield the desired results for the representatives of tsarism. It could not divide the working masses of Uzbeks and Kyrgyz, bound together by common class interests and social hatred against feudal-khan oppression and its protector—the imperial colonial authority.
Causes of the People's Uprising - the Cruelty of Nasr-Eddin-khan