The Sizang warriors learned that they were not able to defeat British forces when fighting in the open, or from behind stockades.
As they could not withstand the charges of British and Gurkha troops the Sizang warrior tried a different tactic which involved fighting from covered-in trenches.
The Sizang warriors built a fort which was basically trenches which were all covered-in by leaves and wood.
This fort was built at Siallum.
In 1890, Siallum was a settlement of about 30 houses in which about 100 persons of the Buanman clan lived. "
Sial" means the head (the toughest part) of a mithun and "Lum" means Fort.
The Siallum fort consists of "Kulhpi", "Kulh Peang" and "Nupi Kulh". "
Khulhpi" is the main fort where the Sizang warriors took position and fire upon the arrive of the British’s Chin Field Force. "
Kulhpeang" was built for the spirit agent (or) medium Pu En Khawm and family. "
Nupi Kulh" was built for elders, children and women.
At the time of the fighting, about 80 women and children were hiding in this Nupi Kulh.
The Sizang also built a watch tower known as "Ngalvildum" at a place called Nalum Mual.

The British forces stationed at Fort White started noticing some new huts at the site of Taitan.
The British called it Taitan village but it was known by the Sizang as Siallum.
To destroy this, Brigadier General Faunce assembled a column consisting of 65 rifles of the 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment and 60 rifles of the 42nd Gurkha Light Infantry.
This column is also known as the Chin Field Force and was led by Captain C. H. Westmoreland of the 42nd Gurkha Light Infantry.
The column marched from Fort White – Buanman – Mualsan – Ngumpi – Nalum - Taikhe then began the approach to Siallum (Taitan) village.
The approach of the column was first noticed by the Sizang dogs (fox-terrier).
Pu Zong On who was on duty at the watch tower at Nalum Mual also spotted the British column.
He then ran to the village and informed the villagers.
The whole village was then evacuated to the fort.
The non-combatant families, women, children and elders were then to hide in the fort.
The Sizang warriors also took up positions and were readied for the battle.
When the British column arrived at Siallum (Taitan) village, the village was empty and quiet.
The following is an account of the battle given by Captain Westmoreland of the 42nd Gurkha Light Infantry Battalion:
"The column, consisting of 65 rifles of the 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment and 60 rifles of the 42nd Gurkha Light Infantry, occupied the heights above New Tartan [Siallum] without opposition.
The main body advanced with the intention of rushing the village, but encountered determined resistance from the Chins, who were strongly posted in two stockades.
The upper stockade consisted of a log-hut, the sides and roof of which were bullet-proof.
It was connected with a ravine to the east by a trench about 3 feet wide, 5 feet deep, and 20 yards long.
The trench was covered with logs and planks flush with the ground.
The hut itself was surrounded at a distance of 5 or 6 yards with rows of sharp-pointed stakes about 3 feet high.
The second stockade was in the bed of the ravine.
It consisted of a hole about 6 or 9 feet square, from which a trench ran down the ravine.
Both trench and hole were covered with logs and planks and were bullet-proof.
In both stockades there were a few spaces between the logs through which the Chins fired, and the only way in which they could be carried was by pulling away some of the timber.
At the lower stockade, early in the action, Second-Lieutenant Michel fell mortally wounded.
The troops at first endeavored to turn out the defenders of the upper stockade by firing through the openings between the logs.
Before long the covered trench was noticed and pulled open and the Chins in it were shot.
After accomplishing this under fire from the Chins in the lower stockade and in the neighbouring jungle, the column retired, burning the village as it went.
The Chins, who had suffered heavily, did not follow, being deterred by the loss which they had sustained and kept in chec
The Sizang warriors learned that they were not able to defeat British forces when fighting in the open, or from behind stockades. As they could not withstand the charges of British and Gurkha troops the Sizang warrior tried a different tactic which involved fighting from covered-in trenches. The Sizang warriors built a fort which was basically trenches which were all covered-in by leaves and wood. This fort was built at Siallum. In 1890, Siallum was a settlement of about 30 houses in which about 100 persons of the Buanman clan lived. "Sial" means the head (the toughest part) of a mithun and "Lum" means Fort. The Siallum fort consists of "Kulhpi", "Kulh Peang" and "Nupi Kulh". "Khulhpi" is the main fort where the Sizang warriors took position and fire upon the arrive of the British’s Chin Field Force. "Kulhpeang" was built for the spirit agent (or) medium Pu En Khawm and family. "Nupi Kulh" was built for elders, children and women. At the time of the fighting, about 80 women and children were hiding in this Nupi Kulh. The Sizang also built a watch tower known as "Ngalvildum" at a place called Nalum Mual.
The British forces stationed at Fort White started noticing some new huts at the site of Taitan. The British called it Taitan village but it was known by the Sizang as Siallum. To destroy this, Brigadier General Faunce assembled a column consisting of 65 rifles of the 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment and 60 rifles of the 42nd Gurkha Light Infantry. This column is also known as the Chin Field Force and was led by Captain C. H. Westmoreland of the 42nd Gurkha Light Infantry. The column marched from Fort White – Buanman – Mualsan – Ngumpi – Nalum - Taikhe then began the approach to Siallum (Taitan) village. The approach of the column was first noticed by the Sizang dogs (fox-terrier). Pu Zong On who was on duty at the watch tower at Nalum Mual also spotted the British column. He then ran to the village and informed the villagers. The whole village was then evacuated to the fort. The non-combatant families, women, children and elders were then to hide in the fort. The Sizang warriors also took up positions and were readied for the battle. When the British column arrived at Siallum (Taitan) village, the village was empty and quiet. The following is an account of the battle given by Captain Westmoreland of the 42nd Gurkha Light Infantry Battalion:
"The column, consisting of 65 rifles of the 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment and 60 rifles of the 42nd Gurkha Light Infantry, occupied the heights above New Tartan [Siallum] without opposition. The main body advanced with the intention of rushing the village, but encountered determined resistance from the Chins, who were strongly posted in two stockades. The upper stockade consisted of a log-hut, the sides and roof of which were bullet-proof. It was connected with a ravine to the east by a trench about 3 feet wide, 5 feet deep, and 20 yards long. The trench was covered with logs and planks flush with the ground. The hut itself was surrounded at a distance of 5 or 6 yards with rows of sharp-pointed stakes about 3 feet high. The second stockade was in the bed of the ravine. It consisted of a hole about 6 or 9 feet square, from which a trench ran down the ravine. Both trench and hole were covered with logs and planks and were bullet-proof. In both stockades there were a few spaces between the logs through which the Chins fired, and the only way in which they could be carried was by pulling away some of the timber. At the lower stockade, early in the action, Second-Lieutenant Michel fell mortally wounded. The troops at first endeavored to turn out the defenders of the upper stockade by firing through the openings between the logs. Before long the covered trench was noticed and pulled open and the Chins in it were shot. After accomplishing this under fire from the Chins in the lower stockade and in the neighbouring jungle, the column retired, burning the village as it went. The Chins, who had suffered heavily, did not follow, being deterred by the loss which they had sustained and kept in chec
Siallum Fort