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[[Category:Battles|Tunghi Tarika, Battle of]]
[[Category:1st Afghan War 1839-42|Tunghi Tarika, Battle of]]
{{Battles_Infobox
{{Battles_Infobox
|partof=[[:Category:1st Afghan War 1839-42|1st Afghan War 1839-42]]
|partof=[[:Category:1st Afghan War|1st Afghan War 1839-42]]
|date=10 January 1842  
|date=10 January 1842  
|location=Tunghi Tarika Pass, Afghanistan
|location=Tunghi Tarika Pass, Afghanistan
|presidency=[[Bengal]]  
|presidency=[[Bengal]]  
|co-ordinates=[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=34.438208,69.440216&z=10&t=h&hl=en approx 34.438208°N 69.440216°E]   
|co-ordinates=[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=34.413401,69.4837&z=12&t=h&hl=en approx 34.413401°N 69.4837°E]   
|result=British retreat  
|result=British retreat  
|territory=
|territory=
|combatant1=British & Indians
|combatant1=British & Indians
|combatant2=Various Afghan tribes  
|combatant2=Various Afghan tribes  
|commander1=[http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/101025316/ Brigadier John Shelton]  
|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 Akbar Khan]  
|commander2=[[Mohammad Akbar|Mohammad Akbar Khan]]
|strength1=
|strength1=
|strength2=
|strength2=
Line 18: Line 16:
|casualties2=
|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 Pass==
== Named casualties ==
January 10.--At break of day all was again confusion, every one
*Maj. Swayne - killed
hurrying to the front, and dreading above all things to be left in the
*Capt. Miles - killed
rear. The Europeans were the only efficient men left, the Hindostanees
*Lieut. Deas - killed
having suffered so severely from the frost in their hands and feet, that
*Lieut. Alexander - killed
few could hold a musket, much less pull a trigger. The enemy had
*Lieut. Warren - killed
occupied the rocks above the gorge, and thence poured a destructive fire
*Lieut Tombs - wounded
upon the column as it slowly advanced. Fresh numbers fell at every
*Capt Hopkins - arm broken by a musket ball
volley. The sepoys, unable to use their arms, cast them away, and, with
*Maj. Ewart, commanding 54th Native Infantry - both arms broken by bullets
the followers, fled for their lives.
*Lieut. Morrieson, adjutant 54th BNI - wounded
*Lieut. Weaver, 54th BNI - slightly wounded
*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 took
Modern name: Not found<br>
place. The last small remnant of the native infantry regiments
Variants:Tunghi Tarika/Tungee Tareekee<br>
were here scattered and destroyed; and the public treasure,
with all the remaining baggage, fell into the hands of the
enemy. Meanwhile, the advance, after pushing through the Tungee
with great loss, had reached Kubbur-i-Jubbar, about five miles
a-head, without more opposition. Here they halted to enable the
rear to join, but, from the few stragglers who from time to
time came up, the astounding truth was brought to light, that
of all who had that morning marched from Khoord-Cabul they were
almost the sole survivors, nearly the whole of the main and
rear columns having been cut off and destroyed. About 50
horse-artillerymen, with one twelve-pounder howitzer, 70 files
H.M.'s 44th, and 150 cavalry troopers, now composed the whole
Cabul force; but, notwithstanding the slaughter and dispersion
that had taken place, the camp-followers still formed a
considerable body."<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 ==
== External Links ==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Anglo-Afghan_War Wikipedia - 1st Afghan  War]<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]<br>[http://www.britishbattles.com/first-afghan-war/kabul-gandamak.htm British Battles - Retreat to Gandamak]<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]<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]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Anglo-Afghan_War 1st Afghan  War] Wikipedia<br>
[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IBEWAAAAMAAJ&pg=PAi&dq=Brigadier+Shelton&as_brr=1&ei=AFrOR-P0DJXOywT8goiwBQ#PPR1,M1 History of the War in Afghanistan] Google Books<br>
[http://www.britishbattles.com/first-afghan-war/kabul-gandamak.htm 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 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 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]]

Latest revision as of 21:22, 9 June 2014

Battle of Tunghi Tarika
Part of 1st Afghan War 1839-42
Date: 10 January 1842
Location: Tunghi Tarika Pass, Afghanistan
Presidency: Bengal
Co-ordinates: approx 34.413401°N 69.4837°E
Result: British retreat
Combatants
British & Indians Various Afghan tribes
Commanders
Maj Gen William Elphinstone
Brigadier John Shelton 		Mohammad Akbar Khan
Strength
Casualties

This was an event during the 1st Afghan War
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.

Named casualties

  • Maj. Swayne - killed
  • Capt. Miles - killed
  • Lieut. Deas - killed
  • Lieut. Alexander - killed
  • Lieut. Warren - killed
  • Lieut Tombs - wounded
  • Capt Hopkins - arm broken by a musket ball
  • Maj. Ewart, commanding 54th Native Infantry - both arms broken by bullets
  • Lieut. Morrieson, adjutant 54th BNI - wounded
  • Lieut. Weaver, 54th BNI - slightly wounded
  • Lieut. Melville - seriously wounded and sent over to Akbar Khan

Spelling Variants

Modern name: Not found
Variants:Tunghi Tarika/Tungee Tareekee

External Links

1st Afghan War Wikipedia
History of the War in Afghanistan Google Books
Retreat to Gandamak British Battles
Lady Sale's account Google Books
Action in the Tungee Tareekee Pass Google Books
Casualties in the Tungee Turreekee Pass Google Books

Historical books on-line

The Kabul insurrection of 1841-42, ed. by G.B. Malleson 1879 - Action at Tangi www.archive.org

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