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Battle of Tunghi Tarika

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[[Category:Battles|Tunghi Tarika, Battle of]]
[[Category:1st Afghan War 1839-42|Tunghi Tarika, Battle of]]
{{Battles_Infobox
|partof=[[:Category:1st Afghan War 1839-42|1st Afghan War 1839-42]]
|date=10 January 1842
|location=Tunghi Tarika Pass, Afghanistan
|presidency=[[Bengal]]
|co-ordinates=[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=34.438208413401,69.4402164837&z=1012&t=h&hl=en approx 34.438208°N 413401°N 69.440216°E4837°E]
|result=British retreat
|territory=
|combatant1=British & Indians
|combatant2=Various Afghan tribes
|commander1=[[William Elphinstone|Maj Gen William Elphinstone]]<br>[http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/101025316/ Brigadier John Shelton] |commander2=[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akbar_Khan [Mohammad Akbar|Mohammad Akbar Khan]]
|strength1=
|strength2=
|casualties2=
}}
'''This was an event during the [[1st Afghan War]]'''<br>
'''For context see main article [[Retreat from Kabul to Gundamak]]'''
==Tunghi Tarika to Kattar Sang==
This was the fifth day of the [[Retreat from Kabul to Gandamak]]. The advance guard consisting of 100 men of HM 44th Regiment and 50 troopers of the 5th Cavalry proceeded a couple of miles to Tunghi Tarika, a narrow gorge between two hills. The Afghans on the heights opened fire on the main column and dead and dying choked the gorge. The sepoys threw away their weapons and fled along with the camp followers. A massacre followed which destroyed the remnants of the Native Infantry regiments. The public treasure and the remains of the baggage were lost. The advance guard reached Kabar-i-Jabar five miles ahead and waited but the greater part of the main and rear columns had been cut off and destroyed. Now only 50 Horse Artillerymen with a 12-pounder, 75 files of HM 44th Regiment and 150 cavalry troopers were left with the remnant of the camp followers.
 
Akbar Khan proposed that the remaining troops lay down their arms and put themselves under his protection. As this meant leaving the camp followers to their fate, Gen Elphinstone refused. The desperate march resumed for another 5 miles until they reached the Huft Kotal and a descent through a narrow defile. Brigadier Shelton commanded the rearguard under heavy fire which took many more lives.The Tezin valley was reached at 4 pm.
 
All hope of assistance from Akbar Khan was given up and the General determined to make an overnight dash for Jugdulluk some 24 miles away. Starting at 7 pm they made the 7 miles to Seh Baba without serious opposition. From then on, through Barik-ab, heavy fire was encountered until they reached Kattar Sang at 8 am. They were still 10 miles short of Jugdulluk.
== Tungee Tareekee PassNamed casualties ==January 10*Maj.Swayne -killed*Capt. Miles - killed*Lieut. Deas -At break of day all was again confusion, every onekilledhurrying to the front, and dreading above all things to be left in the*Lieut. Alexander - killedrear*Lieut. The Europeans were the only efficient men left, the HindostaneesWarren - killedhaving suffered so severely from the frost in their hands and feet, that*Lieut Tombs - woundedfew could hold *Capt Hopkins - arm broken by a musket, much less pull a triggerball*Maj. The enemy hadoccupied the rocks above the gorgeEwart, and thence poured a destructive firecommanding 54th Native Infantry - both arms broken by bulletsupon the column as it slowly advanced*Lieut. Fresh numbers fell at everyMorrieson, adjutant 54th BNI - woundedvolley*Lieut. The sepoysWeaver, unable to use their arms, cast them away, and, with54th BNI - slightly woundedthe followers, fled for their lives*Lieut.Melville - seriously wounded and sent over to Akbar Khan
"The Affghans now rushed down upon their helpless and== Spelling Variants ==unresisting victims sword in hand, and a general massacre tookModern name: Not found<br>place. The last small remnant of the native infantry regimentswere here scattered and destroyed; and the public treasure,with all the remaining baggage, fell into the hands of theenemy. Meanwhile, the advance, after pushing through the Variants:Tunghi Tarika/Tungeewith great loss, had reached Kubbur-i-Jubbar, about five milesa-head, without more opposition. Here they halted to enable therear to join, but, from the few stragglers who from time totime came up, the astounding truth was brought to light, thatof all who had that morning marched from Khoord-Cabul they werealmost the sole survivors, nearly the whole of the main andrear columns having been cut off and destroyed. About 50horse-artillerymen, with one twelve-pounder howitzer, 70 filesH.M.'s 44th, and 150 cavalry troopers, now composed the wholeCabul force; but, notwithstanding the slaughter and dispersionthat had taken place, the camp-followers still formed aconsiderable body."Tareekee<br>[http://www.ihaystack.com/authors/v/various/00013062_blackwoods_edinburgh_magazine_no_cccxxviii_february_/00013062_english_ascii_p013.htm Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine 1843]
== External Links ==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Anglo-Afghan_War Wikipedia - 1st Afghan War]Wikipedia<br>[http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/sli/1afghan.htm Somerset Record Office - 1st Afghan War]<br>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IBEWAAAAMAAJ&pg=PAi&dq=Brigadier+Shelton&as_brr=1&ei=AFrOR-P0DJXOywT8goiwBQ#PPR1,M1 Google Books - History of the War in Afghanistan]Google Books<br>[http://www.britishbattles.com/first-afghan-war/kabul-gandamak.htm British Battles - Retreat to Gandamak]British Battles<br>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=uXYIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA253&dq=A+journal+of+the+disasters+in+Affghanistan+No+sooner+was+it+light+than&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false Lady Sale's account] Google Books<br>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=7HiD3uJ6-wsC&pg=PA263&dq=Tungee&as_brr=1&ei=21fOR-7VOoTIyATttqWwBQ#PPA263,M1 Google Books - Action in the Tungee Tareekee Pass]Google Books<br>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ViEYAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA279&dq=Tunghee%20Turreeke+1842&as_brr=3&ei=zw16SaWRBJGoM86ywbcE#PRA1-PA280,M1 Google Books - Casualties in the Tungee Turreekee Pass] Google Books<br>==== Historical books on-line ====[http://www.archive.org/stream/kabulinsurrecti00eyregoog#page/n294/mode/2up ''The Kabul insurrection of 1841-42, ed. by G.B. Malleson 1879'' - Action at Tangi] www.archive.org  [[Category:Battles|Tunghi Tarika, Battle of]][[Category:1st Afghan War|Tunghi Tarika, Battle of]][[Category:Retreat from Kabul to Gandamak|Tunghi]]
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