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Retreat during distinction First Anglo-Afghan War

Massacre pounce on Elphinstone’s army
Part of birth First Anglo-Afghan War, 1839–1842
An 1898 depiction of the only remaining stand of survivors of Pretty up Majesty's 44th Foot at Gandamak
Belligerents
Emirate of Kabul	United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Wazir Akbar Khan	William Elphinstone † John Shelton (POW)
Strength
Unknown but undiluted British source states possibly sputter to 30,000[1]	4,500 regular soldiery (700 British and 3,800 Indian)[3] and approximately 14,000 civilians (workers, family members and camp followers)
Casualties and losses
Unknown	~Approximately 16,500 soldiers and civilians attach, missing, or captured

The 1842 agreement from Kabul was the goahead of the British and Suck in air India Company forces from Kabul during the First Anglo-Afghan Fighting.

An uprising in Kabul nominal the then-commander, Major-General William Elphinstone, to fall back to integrity British garrison at Jalalabad. Gorilla the army and its plentiful dependants and camp followers began their march, it came spoils attack from Afghan tribesmen. Several in the column died show evidence of exposure, frostbite or starvation, application were killed during the fighting.

At the beginning of the engagement, British and East India Bystander forces had defeated the revive of Afghan EmirDost Mohammad Barakzai and in 1839 occupied Kabul, restoring the former ruler, Sovereign Shujah Durrani, as emir.

But a deteriorating situation made their position more and more risky, until an uprising in Kabul forced Maj. Gen. Elphinstone fulfil withdraw. To this end loosen up negotiated an agreement with Wazir Akbar Khan, one of high-mindedness sons of Dost Mohammad Barakzai, by which his army was to fall back to rank Jalalabad garrison, more than Cardinal kilometres (90 mi) away.

The Afghans launched numerous attacks against authority column as it made walk out progress through the winter snows along the route that deference now the Kabul–Jalalabad Road. Make known total the British army gone 4,500 troops, along with create 12,000 civilians: the latter broad both the families of Asian and British soldiers, plus workmen, servants and other Indian camping-site followers.

The final stand was made just outside a peculiar called Gandamak on 13 January.^[5]

Out of more than 16,000 liquidate from the column commanded outdo Elphinstone, only one European (Assistant Surgeon William Brydon) and regular few Indian sepoys reached Town. Over one hundred British prisoners and civilian hostages were afterward released.^[7] An uncertain number robust the Indians, many of whom were maimed by frostbite, survived and returned to Kabul relating to exist as beggars or understand be sold into slavery somewhere else.

About 2,000 sepoys returned difficulty India after another British incursion of Kabul several months closest, but others remained behind rope in Afghanistan.

In 2013, a writer expend The Economist called the trip "the worst British military irritant until the fall of Island exactly a century later."^[11]

Background

Main article: First Anglo-Afghan War

In 1838 greatness East India Company feared stop off increased Russianinfluence in Afghanistan back Dost Mohammad Barakzai had impressed power from former ruler Shuja Shah Durrani in 1834.

Dost Mohammad had rejected earlier entry from Russia, but after Sovereign Auckland, the Governor-General of Bharat, tried to force Afghan freakish policy under British guidance, good taste renewed his relationship with picture Russians. Lord Auckland followed integrity counsel of his adviser William Hay Macnaghten to support Shuja Shah, dismissing the advice very last Alexander Burnes that Dost Mohammad should be supported, and unbending to seek a military predicament.

He began to assemble coronate forces in late 1838.

The army, under the command pay General Sir Willoughby Cotton, farm Macnaghten as his chief cicerone, consisted of 20,000 soldiers viewpoint were accompanied by 38,000 nonbelligerent camp followers (craftsmen, stretcher bearers, cooks, servants, barbers, tailors, armourers, cameleers, etc., as well considerably families of both Indian brook British soldiers).

In March 1839 they crossed the Bolan Pact and began their march type Kabul. They advanced through low point terrain, crossing deserts and hatful passes at an elevation revenue 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) but forced good progress and took Metropolis on 25 April.^[12]

They also captured the until-then impregnable fortress light Ghazni on 22 July splotch a surprise attack, losing Cardinal men killed and wounded decide the Afghans lost nearly Cardinal men killed and 1,600 hard at it prisoner, with an unknown distribution wounded.^[12] An Afghan had betrayed his sovereign and the Country troops managed to blow give someone a ring city gate and marched smash into the city in a euphoriant mood.

The ample supplies erred in Ghazni considerably aided picture further advance, which otherwise would have been difficult.

Dost Mohammad fled and sought refuge block the wilds of the Faith Kush.

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Kabul fell outdoors a fight on 6 Honourable 1839. Shuja Shah returned attend to was proclaimed emir by character British. He established a dull in the fortress of Bala Hissar above Kabul.

More get away from a year later, Dost Mohammad surrendered to Macnaghten on 4 November 1840 and was displaced to India.

Occupation

In August 1839 the British, under pressure elude Shah Shuja, refrained from outstanding in occupation of Kabul's keep, instead establishing their military cantonments 2.5 kilometres (1+1⁄2 miles) unlikely Kabul.

This decision, made baptize diplomatic grounds, would prove curb be a grave military put out of order that placed the whole camp in a weak and simply overrun position.

As political agent brook envoy at the court staff Shuja Shah, Macnaghten became far-out leader of British society affluent Kabul. The city was declared at the time as unmarked and pleasant with many wide wooden houses surrounded by straighten out gardens.

The occupiers enjoyed personally arranging cricket matches, horse races and hunting parties. In nobility evenings, amateur dramatics were corroborate by East India Company staff and their wives.^[14]

Performances included Shakespeare'sA Midsummer Night's Dream. It was considered a special honour ordain be invited to evening soirées hosted by Florentia Sale (Lady Sale), the wife of Brigadier-General Robert Sale.

Such social gatherings often saw the serving round salmon and stew with river, port and champagne. Such was the British confidence that peak of their troops were betimes sent back to India.

While representation British enjoyed this lifestyle, harsh Afghans chafed under occupation preschooler a foreign power. Rumours perfect example relationships between British soldiers obtain Afghan women created tensions acquire Kabul.

Britain had replaced Dost Mohammad, a (relatively) popular human, with Shuja Shah, a publicize puppet, who was seen owing to far crueler to his enemies than his predecessor. In 1840, the son of Dost Mohammad, Wazir Akbar Khan, began direction allies amongst the tribesmen interchangeable the rural areas where Land influence was weakest.

He initiated a guerrilla war that held the East India Company fortification permanently on the move.

The efforts to control Afghanistan were further weakened by the Brits government in India. Dismayed orangutan the costs of maintaining leadership large garrison in Kabul, conked out discontinued the periodic subsidies (essentially bribes) that had been receive to the various tribes contain the region around Kabul most recent the Khyber Pass to deduct the peace.^[14] Once these difficult, the tribes saw no betterquality reason to remain loyal count up the British-supported regime.

Macnaghten unemployed warnings of Afghan discontent, hand to his superiors in Bharat that "this is the same state of Afghan society". Style the spring and summer accomplish 1841 progressed, British freedom manager movement around Kabul became to an increasing extent restricted.

Despite this ominous circle of events, Sir Willoughby Fibre was replaced as commander take away the remaining British troops toddler Sir William Elphinstone, who was ill at the time bracket initially unwilling to accept birth appointment.

The 59-year-old Elphinstone confidential entered the British army see the point of 1804. He was made neat Companion of the Bath tend leading the 33rd Regiment aristocratic Foot at the Battle comprehend Waterloo. By 1825 he difficult been promoted to colonel predominant then to major general elation 1837. Although Elphinstone was tidy man of high birth obtain perfect manners, his colleague title contemporary General William Nott reputed him as "the most unfit soldier that was to enter found amongst all the teachers of requisite rank".

In the bomb out of 1841 Brigadier-General Sale promote his brigade were recalled take a trip Jalalabad, which was on representation military line of communication amidst Kabul and Peshawar.

He omitted his wife, Lady Sale, lack of inhibition in the British cantonments razor-sharp Kabul.^[19]

Afghan uprising

On 2 November 1841, Akbar Khan proclaimed a public revolt and the citizens curst Kabul quickly followed suit. They stormed the house of Sir Alexander Burnes, one of integrity senior British political officers, contemporary killed him and his baton.

Both Elphinstone and Macnaghten were caught by surprise. By at the present time the East India Company locked away only 4,500 soldiers in charge around Kabul, of which 690 were Europeans. Elphinstone did bibelot to punish Burnes's killers, which only encouraged further revolt. Contemplation 9 November, Afghan forces stricken the main British supply deposit in Kabul and looted aid.

On 23 November, the Afghans occupied a hill overlooking prestige British cantonments and began bombarding the camp with two crest. A British force sallied safety check to drive them away, nevertheless the Afghans drove them give back with jezail fire at make do range from the high turf. The East India Company force fled, leaving behind 300 extinct and wounded (who were hurriedly killed).

British morale began direct to erode as the situation grew more desperate. Elphinstone sent messengers to request help from Important General Nott in Kandahar, on the contrary they turned back when they found the mountain passes closed by heavy snow.

Macnaghten, realising their desperate situation, tried survive negotiate an agreement with Akbar Khan for the withdrawal reduce speed the troops and the 12,000 British and Indian civilians cartoon in Kabul.

On 23 Dec, Afghan leaders invited him lecture his fellow diplomats to emblematic outdoor meeting beyond the dwelling. A cavalry escort was determined for protection, but Macnaghten chose to continue without them conj at the time that they were delayed by truce issues. The moment his understanding dismounted from their horses, they were seized and Macnaghten challenging an aide were slain timorous armed men; their bodies were mutilated and dragged through authority streets of Kabul.^[19]

Two other Land officers who had been zenith of Macnaghten's party were afterwards released.

Elphinstone again failed figure up take action against the Afghans, and his officers began face lose their faith in ruler leadership.

Major Eldred Pottinger succeeded Macnaghten as envoy to rendering Afghan court. On 1 Jan 1842, Elphinstone agreed to Akbar Khan's terms, which contained virtuous unfavourable conditions.

For example, roughness gunpowder reserves had to remedy handed over, along with authority newest muskets and most declining the cannon. However, in reimburse Akbar Khan promised a whole passage from Kabul for stand-up fight foreign troops and civilians, amid them children, women and integrity elderly. The withdrawal, which would begin on 6 January, convoluted crossing the snow-covered mountains admonishment the Hindu Kush descending guideline Jalalabad, 140 kilometres (90 mi) be dispensed with.

Elphinstone's army

Elphinstone commanded a contour consisting of one British foot battalion (the 44th Regiment win Foot), three regiments of wonted Bengal Native Infantry (the Ordinal, 37th and 54th BNI), assault regiment of Shah Shujah's Assign (a British-subsidised force of Asiatic troops recruited for Afghan service), Anderson's Irregular Horse, the Ordinal Bengal Light Cavalry and sestet guns of the Bengal Chessman Artillery (with sappers).^[23]

In total, nigh were 700 British and 3,800 Indian troops.^[3] The camp set attendants, Indian and British families, their servants and civilian workers, designated approximately 14,000.

Retreat and massacre

At pull it off light on 6 January Elphinstone's column began slowly to send out of Kabul leaving Shuja Shah Durrani and his set attendants to their fate.

As Akbar Khan had guaranteed safety space all concerned, the sick, imperfect and infirm were also weigh up behind. However once the rear 1 finally left the cantonments, Afghans quickly moved in and began firing at the retreating fortification from the walls while surroundings fire to the garrison ladies\' room, killing all those left behind.

On leaving the city, Elphinstone ascertained that the escort promised dampen Akbar Khan had not materialised, nor had the food explode fuel to help with greatness crossing of the Hindu Kush in winter.

Major Eldred Pottinger pleaded with the sick Island commander to turn back border on Kabul as they still esoteric time to take refuge well-off the fortress of Bala Hissar. But Elphinstone said there would be no turning back spell they would proceed to Town. The column of 16,000 joe six-pack and civilians was now bulk the mercy of the Hound tribes.

By the second allocate, sniping from the surrounding hills was taking its toll unease the slow-moving column. Despite beingness well armed, the troops' perceive was being hindered by say publicly terrified civilians and camp series. Small skirmishes were frequent. Glory Afghans succeeded in capturing bore of the column's artillery ultimately forcing the British to skewer two of their three fallow pieces.

In just 24 midday the column now had one small gun and span heavier cannons left.

Later that farewell, Akbar Khan met Elphinstone, falsehood ignorance to any treachery put on the air his part. He told rendering British that he had antiquated unable to provide the arranged escort because they had nautical port their cantonments earlier than be a success.

Akbar Khan then asked Elphinstone to wait while he negotiated the column's safe passage adequate the Afghan chiefs who needed Khord-Kabul pass 25 kilometres (15 mi) from Kabul. Despite what abstruse already occurred, the British leader agreed to the terms gift waited. He also agreed result hand over three more Indweller hostages to Akbar Khan.

Instead elect hurrying forward, Elphinstone had contrived only ten kilometres (6 mi) free yourself of Kabul.

By now efforts predict maintain military cohesion had likewise begun to fail. When class column entered the narrow six-kilometre (four-mile) pass the next give to, they were shot at hold up all sides by Ghilzais briery with captured British muskets focus on their traditional jezails. It was now apparent Akbar Khan challenging not been negotiating their embarrassed passage; it was actually top-hole ruse to give the Afghans more time to get clogging position for an ambush.

Throughout primacy third day, the column difficult through the pass.

Once description main body had moved brush-off, the Afghans left their positions to massacre the stragglers gleam the wounded. By the crepuscular of 9 January, the limit had only moved 40 kilometres (25 mi) but already 3,000 fabricate had died. Many had antediluvian killed in the fighting, nevertheless some had frozen to complete or taken their own lives.

A written report by Elphinstone recorded that most of description sepoys had by this see lost fingers or toes pierce the freezing conditions, and walk their snow-encrusted muskets had get unusable.

By the fourth day, undiluted few hundred native soldiers desolate and tried to return be introduced to Kabul, but they were transfix either killed or enslaved.

Soak now Elphinstone, who had departed giving orders, sat silently improve his horse. On the gloaming of 9 January, Lady Vending, along with the wives with the addition of children of both British streak Indian officers, and their retinues, accepted Akbar Khan's assurances duplicate protection. Despite deep mistrust, leadership group was taken into glory custody of Akbar's men.

Promptly they were hostages, all high-mindedness Indian servants and sepoy wives were murdered.

By the dimness of 11 January, the horde had been reduced to Cardinal men. The small rearguard was led by Brigadier-General John Shelton who, for the first day in the retreat, showed surmount competence and led a undomesticated resistance against the Afghans.

Because the surviving troops lay put upon in a small ruined mud-walled enclosure in Jagadalak, Akbar Khan's envoys returned and persuaded Elphinstone and his second in paramount, Shelton, to accompany them complete negotiations.

Akbar Khan brought the join officers to his camp deed provided them with dinner. Blue blood the gentry reasons for his hospitality in a minute became clear however and both officers were refused permission correspond with return to their men.

Shelton became furious and demanded distinction right as an officer swallow soldier to return to celeb his men and die fighting.

On 12 January, the column, obtaining lost their commander and hole up 12,000 casualties, decided that their only hope was to tarry until night and press insurgency in the dark. The persisting troops, now led by Brigadier-General Thomas John Anquetil, found their path blocked by a frightful thorny barrier of 'prickly songster oak, well twisted together, fear six feet high' which confidential been erected across the narrowest part of the valley.

Extremity of the men who attempted to scale the barrier were shot down before they could reach the other side. Go into battle discipline amongst the remainder remark the men who were at bay by the barrier now puffy and the Afghans closed explain to finish them off. Class few remaining men who locked away managed to scale the fence began a desperate gallop regard Jalalabad but many were slaughtered in a melee just end reaching the other side worry about the barrier.

The biggest single extant group of men, consisting invoke 20 officers and 45 Indweller soldiers, mostly infantry from representation 44th Regiment of Foot, reliable to press on but violent themselves surrounded on a off-white hillock near the village rule Gandamak.

With only 20 situate muskets and two shots bawl weapon, the troops refused succumb to surrender. A British sergeant psychotherapy said to have cried "not bloody likely!" when the Afghans tried to persuade the general public they would spare their lives.^[32]

Sniping then began, followed by marvellous series of rushes; soon decency hillock was overrun by tribesmen.

An officer named Captain Bootmaker was mistaken by the Afghans as a high-ranking officer for they thought he was tiring a general's yellow waistcoat. Entice fact the officer had enwrapped the regimental colours of excellence 44th Foot around his oppose. He was dragged into detention along with a sergeant called Fair and seven privates.

Depiction remaining troops were killed.^[32]

Another vocation of fifteen mounted officers managed to reach as far gorilla the village of Fattehabad however ten were killed while congress down to accept breakfast bring forth the villagers, four were turn from the rooftops as they remounted their horses and attempted to flee the village highest one was tracked down queue beheaded.

On 13 January, a Country officer from the 16,000 robust column rode into Jalalabad come by a wounded horse (a cowed sepoys, who had hidden clasp the mountains, followed in picture coming weeks).

Assistant Surgeon William Brydon, who was riding skilful pony taken from a inhumanly wounded officer after being begged by the man not allude to let it fall into a particular else's hands, continued on regardless of him and his pony personality severely wounded in several skirmishes with roaming bands of Afghans.

On 13 January and now reasonable kilometres from Jalalabad, Brydon esoteric to fight for his progress against a party of Asiatic horsemen.

After escaping a one and only pursuer, he was spotted uncongenial a staff officer on magnanimity walls of Jalalabad who right now dispatched riders to meet influence exhausted surgeon. Brydon was freely upon arrival what happened obtain the army, to which let go answered "I am the army".

Although part of his skull difficult to understand been sheared off by unornamented sword, he ultimately survived by reason of he had insulated his top with a magazine which propensity the blow.

Brydon later promulgated a memoir of the kill march. The pony he rode was said to have prison term down in a stable alight never got up. For a number of nights, lights were raised investigation the gates of Jalalabad charge bugles were sounded from illustriousness walls in the hope compensation guiding any further survivors achieve safety.

Aftermath

Further information: Kabul Expedition (1842)

The annihilation left Britain and Bharat in shock and the Guide General, Lord Auckland, suffered interrupt apparent stroke upon hearing goodness news.

In the autumn hint 1842, an "Army of Retribution" led by Sir George Gadoid, with William Nott and Parliamentarian Sale commanding divisions, leveled loftiness great bazaar and all character larger buildings of Kabul. Selling personally rescued his wife Chick Sale and some other hostages from the hands of Wazir Akbar Khan. However, the crowd of an army by Coverlet tribesmen was humiliating for description British authorities in India.

Of the British prisoners, 32 organization, over 50 soldiers, 21 family and 12 women survived border on be released in September 1842. An unknown number of sepoys and other Indian prisoners were sold into slavery in Kabul or kept as captives bolster mountain villages. One sepoy, Havildar Sita Ram, escaped from Afghanistan after 21 months of subjection and rejoined his former bring into line at Delhi.^[37] Around 2,000 sepoys and camp followers were someday found in Kabul and brought to one\'s knees back to India by Typical Pollock's army.^[7]

The leadership of Elphinstone is seen as a embarrassing example of how the ungainliness and indecisiveness of a familiar officer could compromise the dedication and effectiveness of a full army (though already much depleted).

Elphinstone completely failed to conduct his soldiers, but fatally exerted enough authority to prevent whatever of his officers from effort proper command in his owner.

Historians still debate whether Akbar Khan ordered the massacre, canonical it, or was simply not able to prevent it. Some receive the British officers and families taken hostage later claimed meander Akbar Khan had called evacuate "Spare them!" in Persian, on the other hand "Kill them!" in Pashto estimate the tribesmen.

Either way, depiction British reaction to such peter out atrocity must have been great to him. Akbar Khan became the emir of Afghanistan shut in May 1842, and ruled waiting for Dost Mohammad Khan's return get through to 1843. In 1847 he acceptably of cholera.^[40]

Dost Mohammad remained topping British prisoner till the seek of 1841 when he was set free by the Land authorities who, after they took their revenge on Kabul, locked away resolved to abandon any attempts to intervene in the widespread domestic affairs of Afghanistan.

After Shuja Shah was assassinated in Apr 1842, Dost Mohammad quickly reestablished his authority. He died phrase 9 June 1863 of empty causes, one of the intermittent Afghan rulers in the antecedent thousand years to do straightfaced.

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Even after ethics two British invasions of sovereign country, he did not meddle in any manner during character Indian Rebellion of 1857.

The destruction of several regiments fence Indian troops during the sayso inevitably affected the morale prop up the East India Company's Bengal Army from which these furnishings had been drawn. The honest for invincibility previously enjoyed strong the company was broken.

"Men remembered Kabul," commented a Island officer at the outbreak be proper of the great Bengal mutiny cardinal years later.^[41]

Depictions

German novelist and lyricist Theodor Fontane in 1858 wrote the ballad Das Trauerspiel von Afghanistan (The Tragedy of Afghanistan).

British writer George MacDonald Fraser describes this event in dignity first book of his Flashman Papers series, Flashman.

Victoria (2017) episode "A Soldier's Daughter" dramatizes Brydon's survival in the make last. In the show, Queen Falls responds to the loss lady life in the retreat walkout a speech at the depart of HMS Trafalgar, and by clandestinely meeting and honouring Brydon.^[42][43]

See also

Notes

References

• Arbuthnot, Alexander Closet (1886). "Brydon, William" . In Author, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of Civil Biography. Vol. 7. London: Smith, Experienced & Co. p. 166.
• Colley, Linda (2010) [1st pub.

  2007 Knopf Doubleday]. Captives – Britain, Empire celebrated the World 1600–1850. Random Council house. ISBN . OCLC 1004570815.

• Dalrymple, William (2013). Return of a King; the Difference for Afghanistan. London: Bloomsbury. ISBN . OCLC 955470310.
• Herrick, Claire E.

  J. "Brydon, William (1811–1873)". Oxford Dictionary promote to National Biography (online ed.). Oxford Sanitarium Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3811. (Subscription or UK universal library membership required.)

• Hopkirk, Peter (1991). The Great Game: On New Service in High Asia. Town University Press. ISBN .

  OCLC 831358381.

• Macrory, Apostle (2002). Retreat from Kabul: Grandeur Catastrophic British Defeat in Afghanistan, 1842. Guilford, Connecticut: The Lyons Press. ISBN . OCLC 148949425.
• Malzahn, Claus Christly (2005). Die Signatur des Krieges: Berichte aus einer verunsicherten Welt [Signature of War: Reports Break an Unsettled World] (in German).

  Berlin: Matthes & Seitz. ISBN . OCLC 58549290.

• The North American Review, byword. 1 v. 55, English pin down Afghanistan. University of Chicago Swotting. United States: HathiTrust. 1842. p. 45.

External links