Retreat from Jugdulluk

Retreat from Jugdulluk
Part of 1st Afghan War 1839-42
Date:	12 January 1842
Location:	Jegdalek, Afghanistan
Presidency:	Bengal
Co-ordinates:	34.427737°N 69.760313°E
Result:	British retreat
Combatants
British & Indians	Ghilzai tribesmen
Commanders
Brigadier Thomas Anquetil	Mohammed Akbar Khan
Strength
Casualties

Jugdulluk to Gundamak

This was the seventh day of the Retreat from Kabul to Gandamak. General Elphinstone, Brigadier Shelton and Captain Johnson were detained by Akbar Khan despite demands to be escorted back to their troops at Jugdulluk. Capt. Skinner on his way to obtain news was shot in the face and died shortly afterwards. All days the force were subjected to attacks and, with no word from their general, Brig. Anquetil determined to make a night march to Jalalabad. They descended into the Jugdulluk valley and climbed again in a narrow defile until coming near the summit to thorn barriers blocking the way. While delayed struggling to get through this they were attacked from all sides and a massacre worse than Tunghi Tarika took place. Brigadier Anquetil was among 12 officers killed. The pressed on until they reached the Surkab River where several privates and Lieut. Cadet were killed as they crossed.

Named casualties

• Brig. Anquetil - killed
• Capt. Skinner - killed
• Paymaster Thomas Bourke, 44th Foor - killed at Jugdulluk
• Lieut. Henry Cadett, 44th Foot - killed at Soorab
• Capt.
• Capt Miles - killed
• Lieut. Birkingyoung - killed
• Lieut. Tombs - killed
• Lieut. Horsburgh - killed

Spelling Variants

Modern name: Jagdalak/Jegdalek
Variants: Jagdalek/Jagdalik/Jugdulluk

External Links

1st Afghan War Wikipedia
1st Afghan War Somerset Record Office
History of the War in Afghanistan Google Books
The Battle of Kabul and the Retreat to Gandamak BritishBattles.com
Lady Sale's account Google Books

Historical books on-line

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