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| == Prelude ==
| | For details see Main article [[Retreat from Kabul to Gandamak]] in the [[1st Afghan War]]] |
| {{Battlemap|war=Retreat from Kabul to Gandamak|link=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101241150585833319689.00046bda10060121205ab&ll=34.437496,69.505005&spn=0.826804,1.343079&t=p&z=10}}
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| ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hay_Macnaghten Sir William Macnaghten] the political agent in Kabul was murdered at a conference by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akbar_Khan Muhammad Akbar Khan] the son of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dost_Mohammed_Khan Dost Muhammad] on 23 December 1841. On 24 December 1841 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldred_Pottinger Major Eldred Pottinger] took up negotiations with the Afghans. He agreed to give up most artillery pieces, spare rifles, ammunition, money and six hostages for safe passage to [[Jalalabad]].''
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| == Retreating Army ==
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| ''Brigadier John Shelton''<br>
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| '''Advance Guard'''<br>
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| *[[44th Regiment of Foot]]
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| *[[4th Irregular Cavalry|4th Irregular Horse]]
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| *[[Bengal Horse Artillery|Horse Artillery]] (two 6 pounder guns)
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| *Sappers & Miners Mountain Train
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| *Envoy’s Escort<br>
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| '''Main Body'''<br>
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| *5th Native Infantry
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| *[[37th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|37th Native Infantry]] (in charge of treasure)
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| *Anderson’s Horse
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| *Shah’s 6th Regiment
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| *[[Bengal Horse Artillery|Horse Artillery]] (two 6 pounder guns)<br>
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| '''Rearguard'''<br>
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| *[[54th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|54th Native Infantry]]
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| *[[5th Bengal Light Cavalry|5th Cavalry]]
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| *[[Bengal Horse Artillery|Horse Artillery]] (two 6 pounder guns)<br>
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| '''Total 4,500 fighting men and 12,000 followers'''<br>
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| == The Retreat ==
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| ''In bitter winter weather the retreating army was continually attacked and in a series of rearguard actions the majority of the troops and camp followers perished. Muhammad Akbar took 120 men, women and children hostage. The remnants of the [[44th Regiment of Foot|44th Regiment]], 20 officers and 45 European soldiers, made a last stand at [[Gundamak]]. All were killed except Captain Thomas Alexander Souter who was taken prisoner and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Brydon Dr William Brydon] who escaped on horseback to the besieged city of [[Jalalabad]].''
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| [[Category:1st Afghan War]] | | [[Category:1st Afghan War]] |