The First Afghan War 1839–42: Invasion, catastrophe and retreatIn 1839 forces of the British East India Company crossed the Indus to invade Afghanistan on the pretext of reinstating a former king Shah Soojah to his rightful throne. The reality was that this was another step in Britain's Great Game – Afghanistan would create a buffer to any potential Russian expansion towards India. This history traces the initial, campaign which would see the British easily occupy Kabul and the rebellion that two years later would see the British army humbled. Forced to negotiate a surrender the British fled Kabul en masse in the harsh Afghan winter. Decimated by Afghan guerilla attacks and by the harsh cold and a lack of food and supplies just one European – Dr Brydon would make it to the safety of Jalalabad five days later. This book goes on to trace the retribution attack on Kabul the following year, which destroyed the symbolic Mogul Bazaar before rapidly withdrawing and leaving Afghanistan in peace for nearly a generation. |
Contents
| 5 | |
| 7 | |
Chronology | 18 |
Opposing Commanders | 20 |
Opposing Forces | 27 |
Opposing Plans | 31 |
Invasion and Occupation 183940 | 34 |
Other editions - View all
The First Afghan War 1839–42: Invasion, catastrophe and retreat Richard Macrory Hon KC Limited preview - 2016 |
The First Afghan War 1839–42: Invasion, Catastrophe and Retreat Richard Macrory No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
37th Native Infantry advance guard Afghan forces Afghanistan Akbar Khan Alexander Burnes Amir anne S. K. Brown Army of Retribution attack author’s collection Bala Hissar Barakzais Bengal Column Bengal native infantry Beymaru Heights Bolan Pass Bombay Column brigade Brigadier Shelton British Army British forces British interests camels camp followers cantonments command commissariat Dost Mohammad East India Company Elphinstone Ferozepur fire Gandamak Ghazni Ghilzais Governor Herat hills horse artillery guns Indus invasion Jagdalak Pass Jalalabad January jezails Kandahar Khord Kabul Khyber Pass Lord Auckland Macnaughten miles national army museum negotiations Nott November officers Persians Peshawar political Pollock position Pottinger Punjab Quetta Ranjit Singh Regiment Native Infantry remained Renate nahum retreat from Kabul route Russian S. K. Brown military Sadozai Sale sappers secure sent sepoys Shah Bagh Gardens Shah Soojah Shah's siege Sikh Sir John Keane soldiers squadron storming party supplies territory Tezin throne treaty tribal leaders tribesmen village withdrawal Zaman