Difference between revisions of "1st Afghan War"

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*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=SD1cAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP3 ''The Diary of Sergeant William Hall, …, late of Her Majesty’s Forty-First Regiment, containing The Incidents connected with two years campaign in Scinde and Affghanistan during the late War''] c 1848 Google Books. The book covers the period 1837 to 1842.The regiment sailed from the south of India in October 1840, to Karachi, from where the regiment proceeded to Afghanistan [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=SD1cAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA36 page 36]  
 
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=SD1cAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP3 ''The Diary of Sergeant William Hall, …, late of Her Majesty’s Forty-First Regiment, containing The Incidents connected with two years campaign in Scinde and Affghanistan during the late War''] c 1848 Google Books. The book covers the period 1837 to 1842.The regiment sailed from the south of India in October 1840, to Karachi, from where the regiment proceeded to Afghanistan [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=SD1cAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA36 page 36]  
 
*[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OhMFAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Scenes+of+a+Soldiers+Life&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false ''Scenes in a Soldier's Life''] by J H Wilton 1848 (Google Books)
 
*[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OhMFAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Scenes+of+a+Soldiers+Life&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false ''Scenes in a Soldier's Life''] by J H Wilton 1848 (Google Books)
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/zeilafairmaidofc00mack#page/n5/mode/2up  ''Zeila, the fair maid of Cabul. A tale of the Affghan insurrection and the massacre of the British troops in the Khoord-Cabul passes''] by Charles Finch Mackenzie 1850 (archive.org)
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*[http://www.archive.org/stream/zeilafairmaidofc00mack#page/n5/mode/2up  ''Zeila, the fair maid of Cabul. A tale of the Affghan insurrection and the massacre of the British troops in the Khoord-Cabul passes''] by Charles Finch Mackenzie 1850 (archive.org). Poetry with explanatory Notes.
 
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=W4Y4AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA327 ''A Narrative of the Affghan War'' , in a series of letters of the late Colonel Dennie: Part I],  [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=W4Y4AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA459 Part II-Conclusion]  page  327 and pages 459-484  ''The Dublin University Magazine'', Volume 20, July –December 1842 Google Books
 
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=W4Y4AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA327 ''A Narrative of the Affghan War'' , in a series of letters of the late Colonel Dennie: Part I],  [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=W4Y4AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA459 Part II-Conclusion]  page  327 and pages 459-484  ''The Dublin University Magazine'', Volume 20, July –December 1842 Google Books
 
:[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=dckDAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR3 ''Personal Narrative of the Campaigns in Affghanistan, Sinde, Beloochistan, etc. Detailed in a series of letters of the late Colonel William H. Dennie, C.B''.] 1843 Google Books. Includes additions and corrections to the content appearing in the ''Dublin University Magazine''.
 
:[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=dckDAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR3 ''Personal Narrative of the Campaigns in Affghanistan, Sinde, Beloochistan, etc. Detailed in a series of letters of the late Colonel William H. Dennie, C.B''.] 1843 Google Books. Includes additions and corrections to the content appearing in the ''Dublin University Magazine''.
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*[http://books.google.com/books?id=7bAHAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA317 "British India: Affghanistan"] ''The Annual Register, or a View of the History and Politics of the year 1839'', page 317 Google Books
 
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=7bAHAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA317 "British India: Affghanistan"] ''The Annual Register, or a View of the History and Politics of the year 1839'', page 317 Google Books
 
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/indiarobe07robeuoft#page/310/mode/2up ''Historical geography of the British Dependencies''] Vol VII India, Part I - First Afghan War by P E Roberts 1916 (archive.org)
 
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/indiarobe07robeuoft#page/310/mode/2up ''Historical geography of the British Dependencies''] Vol VII India, Part I - First Afghan War by P E Roberts 1916 (archive.org)
*[http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/handle/2015/179700 ''Nott's Brigade in Afghanistan, 1838-42, being the private diary of an officer who served in it from first to last''] by  John Samuel Knox, published 1880 in Bombay. Pdf download  Digital Library of India. [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.179700 Archive.org mirror version].
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*  ''Nott's Brigade in Afghanistan, 1838-42, being the private diary of an officer who served in it from first to last'' by  John Samuel Knox, published 1880 in Bombay. [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.179700 Archive.org version], mirror from Digital Library of India.
 
*''Five Years in India: Comprising a Narrative of Travels in the Presidency of Bengal, a Visit to the Court of Runjeet Sing, Residence in the Himalayah Mountains, an Account of the Late Expedition to Cabul and Affghanistan, Voyage Down the Indus, and Journey Overland to England'' by Henry Edward Fane, late Aide-de-Camp to his Excellency the Commander-In-Chief in India. [https://archive.org/details/fiveyearsinindiavol1 Volume I], [https://archive.org/details/fiveyearsinindi00fanegoog Volume II] 1842 Archive.org. The author travelled with his regiment to Ceylon in 1835, where he was soon appointed to the staff of his uncle, General Sir Henry Fane,  who was  Commander-In-Chief in India
 
*''Five Years in India: Comprising a Narrative of Travels in the Presidency of Bengal, a Visit to the Court of Runjeet Sing, Residence in the Himalayah Mountains, an Account of the Late Expedition to Cabul and Affghanistan, Voyage Down the Indus, and Journey Overland to England'' by Henry Edward Fane, late Aide-de-Camp to his Excellency the Commander-In-Chief in India. [https://archive.org/details/fiveyearsinindiavol1 Volume I], [https://archive.org/details/fiveyearsinindi00fanegoog Volume II] 1842 Archive.org. The author travelled with his regiment to Ceylon in 1835, where he was soon appointed to the staff of his uncle, General Sir Henry Fane,  who was  Commander-In-Chief in India
 
*[https://archive.org/stream/memoirofmajorgen00rawlrich#page/70/mode/2up "Memoir of Major-General Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson"] Chapter VI archive.org
 
*[https://archive.org/stream/memoirofmajorgen00rawlrich#page/70/mode/2up "Memoir of Major-General Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson"] Chapter VI archive.org
*Fiction: [https://archive.org/details/clevelysahibtale00haye ''Clevely Sahib: A Tale of the Khyber Pass''] by Herbert Hayens  1897 Archive.org
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*Fiction  
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**[https://archive.org/details/clevelysahibtale00haye ''Clevely Sahib: A Tale of the Khyber Pass''] by Herbert Hayens  1897 Archive.org
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**[https://archive.org/details/flashman00geor/page/n3 ''Flashman : from the Flashman papers 1839-1842''] by George MacDonald  Fraser 1984 edition, first published 1969. Archive.org Lending Library. Flashman in the 1st Afghan War.
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*:[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flashman_Papers The Flashman Papers] Wikipedia.
  
 
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Revision as of 12:58, 13 May 2019

1st Afghan War
1839-42
Chronological list of Wars and Campaigns
150px-Shah Shujah of Afghanistan.jpg
Location: Afghanistan
Combatants:
East India Company Afghan tribes
Result:
Disastrous defeat of first invasion
Qualified success of second invasion
Medals:
Ghuznee 1839
Jellalabad 1841-42
Defence of Kelat-I-Ghilzie 1842
Candahar
Cabul and Ghuznee 1842-43
Links:
Category: 1st Afghan War
Invasion of the HEIC Army
General Sale's March from Kabul to Jalalabad
Kabul Uprising
Retreat from Kabul to Gandamak
The Army of Retribution March to Kabul
The Withdrawal from Afghanistan


Battlemappic.gif See our interactive map of
Invasion of the HEIC Army
locations and routes on Google Maps
Battlemappic.gif See our interactive map of
The March from Kabul to Jalalabad
locations and routes on Google Maps
Battlemappic.gif See our interactive map of
Kabul Uprising and
The Retreat from Kabul to Gandamak
locations and routes on Google Maps
Battlemappic.gif See our interactive map of
The Captivity of the Hostages
locations and routes on Google Maps
Battlemappic.gif See our interactive map of
General Nott at Kandahar
locations and routes on Google Maps
Battlemappic.gif See our interactive map of
The Army of Retribution March to Kabul
locations and routes on Google Maps
Battlemappic.gif See our interactive map of
The Evacuation of Kandahar
locations and routes on Google Maps
Battlemappic.gif See our interactive map of
Withdrawal from Afghanistan
locations and routes on Google Maps

THE 1ST ANGLO-AFGHAN WAR 1839-42

Synopsis

In the face of a perceived threat of expansion of the Russian Empire, Britain sought to secure the northwestern borders of British India by establishing Afghanistan as an ally and buffer. The Governor-General of India, Lord Auckland, knew little of the politics of India or Afghanistan. Despite advice from Alexander Burnes in Kabul to support Amir Dost Mohammed, he was persuaded by William Macnaghten and Claude Wade that regime change was necessary. Under the pretext of restoring the former ruler Shah Shuja to the throne the British assembled an invading army. 21,000 troops under Sir John Keane entered Afghanistan via Quetta occupying Kandahar and Kabul. The ruling Amir Dost Mohammad Khan was defeated and exiled to India. Shah Shujah was installed but it became clear that he did not have popular support and he was subsequently murdered.

In January 1842 there was a general uprising in Kabul and the invaders were besieged in the military cantonment. With only a few days supplies left, the Britsh were forced to agree terms dictated by Mohammad Akbar Khan the son of Dost Mohammad.This led to the disastrous retreat to Gundamak and the Siege of Jalalabad. A second invasion by the Army of Retribution was launched under Maj-Gen George Pollock. General William Nott advanced from Kandahar meeting Pollock and recapturing Kabul. After releasing British prisoners and destroying Kabul bazaar the British returned to India.

Related articles

For the sequence of events see 1st Afghan War Timeline
For further details see the following main articles:

Troop Strength

1st Army of the Indus (Bengal) under Maj-Gen Sir Willoughby Cotton 9,500
2nd Reserve Division at Ferozepore under Maj-Gen Duncan 4,250
3rd Shah Shooja ul Mulk’s Contingent 6,000
4th Bombay Force under HE Lt-Gen Sir John Keane 5,600
5th Bombay Reserve (Sind Force) 3,000
_______
To act in Sind & Afghanistan 28,350
6th The Shahzada’s Force 4,800
7th Sikh Contingent 6,000
To move from Peshawar to Kabul 10,800
_______
Total 39,150
8th Sikh Army of Observation at Peshawar 10,800
_______
Grand total 54,150

Casualties

Names of fallen officers from the British Army and native forces can be found on Stephen Lewis' Officers Died site.
(Note: this link refers wrongly to Maj-Gen Sir Howard Elphinstone. It should be Maj-Gen William Elphinstone.)

Biographies

Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906:

Augustus Abbott (1804-1867)
James Airey (1812-1898)
Mahommed Akbar Khan (1813?-1849)
Thomas Anquetil (1781-1842)
Lord Auckland (1784-1849)
Paolo Avitabile (1791-1850)
Captain George Broadfoot (1807-1845)
William Brydon (1811-1873)
Alexander Burnes (1805-1841)
Willoughby Cotton (1783-1860)
William Dennie (1785?-1842)
Richard England (1793-1883)
Lord Ellenborough (1790-1871)
William Elphinstone (1782-1842)
Vincent Eyre (1811-1881)
John Haughton (1817-1887)
John Keane (1781-1844)
George Lawrence (1804-1884)
George Macgregor (1810-1883)
Colin Mackenzie (1806-1881)
William Macnaghten (1793-1841)
John McCaskill (?-1845)
Thomas Monteath (Douglas) (1787-1868)
William Nott (1782-1845)
George Pollock (1786-1872)
Eldred Pottinger (1811-1843)
Henry Rawlinson (1810-1895)
Abraham Roberts (1784-1873)
John Shelton (?-1845)
Shah Shuja (1780?-1842)
Robert Sale (1782-1845)
Claude Wade (1794-1861)
Thomas Willshire (1789-1862)
George Wymer (1788-1868)

Recommended Reading

  • "Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan" by William Dalrymple 2013 ISBN 978 1 4088 1830 5
  • "The First Afghan War 1838-1842" by J A Norris 1967 ISBN 0521130964
  • "First Afghan War" by H Durrand 1879 ISBN 818650530X. Also available to read online, refer below

Images

External Links

Library.gif The FIBIS Google Books Library
has books tagged:
1st Afghan War Afghanistan

Historical books online

Note: The Sketches were published as a separate book Sketches in Afghaunistan, 1842 consisting of 26 lithographs. NYPL Digital Gallery. The British Library Online Gallery also contains many works including a watercolour of plate 7 "The opening into the narrow Pass above the Siri Bolan" ( Search for other images)
  • The Campaign in Affghanistan, Journal of an Officer of the Army of the Indus by Captain Ogle HM 4th Lt Drags published 1840 and 1841 in the Asiatic Journal (Google Books). The author died of cholera 29 November 1839, towards the end of the campaign.
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7
Personal Narrative of the Campaigns in Affghanistan, Sinde, Beloochistan, etc. Detailed in a series of letters of the late Colonel William H. Dennie, C.B. 1843 Google Books. Includes additions and corrections to the content appearing in the Dublin University Magazine.

Map

Map of Afghanistan Imperial Gazetteer Atlas 1909

Podcast

1st Afghan War - Lecture by Jules Stewart National Archives