The attacking forces succeeded in gaining a foothold in the redoubt.  But here they were heavily counter-attacked by large enemy reinforcements, and being subjected to an extremely rapid and accurate shrapnel fire from concealed guns in the vicinity of Sinn After, they were forced to fall back to the position from which they started.  The troops who had been under arms for some thirty hours, including a long night march, were now much exhausted, and General Aylmer considered that a renewal of the assault during the night could not be made with any prospect of success.  Next morning the enemy’s position was found to be unchanged and General Aylmer, finding himself faced with the deficiency of order already referred to, decided upon the immediate withdrawal of his troops to Wadi, which was reached the same night.

For the next month the English were held in their positions by the Tigris floods.  On April 4th the floods had sufficiently receded to permit of another attack upon Umm-el-Hanna, which this time was successful.  On April 8th the Turkish position at Sanna-i-yat was attacked, but the English were repulsed.  They then determined to make another attempt to capture the Sinn After redoubt.  On April 17th the fort of Beit-Aiessa, four miles from Es Sinn, on the left bank, was captured after heavy bombardment, and held against serious counter-attacks.  On the 20th and 21st the Sanna-i-yat position was bombarded and a vigorous assault was made, which met with some success.  The Turks, however, delivered a strong counter-attack, and succeeded in forcing the British troops back.

General Lake says:  “Persistent and repeated attempts on both banks have thus failed, and it was known that at the outside not more than six days’ supplies remained to the Kut garrison.  The British troops were nearly worn out.  The same troops had advanced time and again to assault positions strong by art and held by a determined enemy.  For eighteen consecutive days they had done all that men could do to overcome, not only the enemy, but also exceptional climatic and physical obstacles, and this on a scale of rations which was far from being sufficient in view of the exertions they had undergone but which the shortage of river transports, had made it impossible to augment.  The need for rest was imperative.”

On April 28th the British garrison at Kut-el-Amara surrendered unconditionally, after a heroic resistance of a hundred and forty-three days.  According to British figures the surrendered army was composed of 2,970 English and 6,000 Indian troops.  The Turkish figures are 13,300.  The Turks also captured a large amount of booty, although General Townshend destroyed most of his guns and munitions.