General Nott at Kandahar

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Synopsis

When Sir John Keane entered Afghanistan with the invading army William Nott was left in command at Quetta. After Shah Shuja had been installed at Kabul the Combined Army withdrew. The Bengal Force went via the Khyber Pass leaving a garrison at Jalalabad and the Bombay Force moved south leaving garrisons at Ghazni and Kandahar. General Nott was given command of the Kandahar occupying forces and he took post there on 13 November 1839. Major Henry Rawlinson was appointed political officer.

All was comparatively quiet until spring of 1840 when rebel Ghilzai chiefs brought forces near Khelat-i-Ghilzie intending to cut communications between Kandahar and Kabul. They were defeated at Tazee by a force under Colonel George Wymer. Shortly afterwards General Nott moved up to Khelat-i-Ghilzie to complete the reduction of the rebellion.

It was decided to restore the defences of Khelat-i-Ghilzie and this further antagonised the tribesmen. They assembled menacingly around the fort and Nott sent Colonel Wymer to disperse them. On 29 May 1841 the Ghilzais were defeated at Asseer-Eelmee.

Aktar Khan continued to foment rebellion amongst the Durrani tribesmen in Helmabnd Province despite professing loyalty to Shah Shujah. He threatened the garrison at Gereshk and Nott had to send detachments to counter his attacks. There were successful actions at Gereshk, Karootoo and Khawind in July and August 1841.

General Nott led a large contingent north east from Kandahar into the districts of Zemindaur, Tireen and Derawut in September. The show of force seemed to subdue the tribes and he returned on 1 November. While he was away Kandahar was reinforced by the arrival of the 40th Foot and on 2 November he reviewed the whole garrison of 5,000 fighting men.

Headquarters in Kabul believed the country to be pacified and instructed Nott to sent part of his troops back to India. On 8 November the 16th, 42nd and 43rd Bengal Native Infantry under Colonel Maclaren set out for Quetta. They had only gone one march when news came of the death of Captain Woodburn. Nott promptly recalled Colonel Maclaren and his troops.

A letter from headquarters with news of the Kabul Uprising requested Nott to send the three regiments to reinforce the capital. They were dispatched under Colonel Maclaren on 17 November. The Siege of Ghazni began on 20 November and communication north was cut. Colonel Maclaren turned back in the face of extreme weather and reached Kandahar again on 8 December. Nott and his garrison remained bottled up until the end of the year. During December two regiments of Shah Shujah's Afghan cavalry ordered to move to quarters outside the city attacked their British officers and made off with ammunition and treasure. They were pursued and many of them cut down.

Garrison

Forces under General Nott 2 November 1841

• Skinner's Horse
• 1st Shah Shujah's Cavalry
• Shah Shujah's Horse Artillery (under Capt Anderson)
• Brigade of Bombay Artillery (Capt Blood's Battery)
• Brigade of Bengal Artillery
• HM 40th Regiment
• 2nd Bengal Native Infantry
• 16th Bengal Native Infantry
• 38th Bengal Native Infantry
• 42nd Bengal Native Infantry
• 43rd Bengal Native Infantry

Biographies

Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906:
John Keane (1781-1844)
William Macnaghten (1793-1841)
William Nott (1782-1845)
Henry Rawlinson (1810-1895)
Shah Shuja (1780?-1842)
George Wymer (1788-1868)

External Links

1st Afghan War Wikipedia
Afghan Wars Heritage History
1st Afghan War Somerset Record Office

Historical books on-line

History of the War in Afghanistan Vol 1 by John William Kaye 1851 (Google Books)