The Army of Retribution March to Kabul
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Maj Gen George Pollock’s March from Peshawar to Kabul in the 1st Afghan War
Synopsis
At the end of 1841 General Robert Sale was besieged inJalalabad and asking for assistance. Forces were sent from British controlled territory to Peshawar then under Sikh rule. General George Pollock was appointed commander and started for Peshawar from Agra. In the meantime Brigadier Wild, in command at Peshawar, attempted and failed to establish a strong garrison at Ali Masjid.
Pollock arrived at Peshawar on 5 February and found the regiments unfit for departure due to sickness and low morale. It took all of February and March to overcome these difficulties but finally, on 5 April, the Army of Retribution set out. They successfully forced the Khyber Pass and reached Jalalabad on 14 April.
The new Governor-General Lord Ellenborough was firmly in favour of withdrawing from Afghanistan and on 29 April General Pollock was instructed to return to Peshawar. Subsequent communications seemed to allow him some discretion and he was reluctant to withdraw while the hostages were in the hands of Akbar Khan. He was unable to advance towrds Kabul however due to lack of transport animals.
Ellenborough was under pressure from public opinion and the press which wanted to see a British victory over the Afghans. On 4 July 1842 he wrote to saying he had not changed his mind about withdrawal but, if General Nott wanted to direct his retreat through Kabul and General Pollock wished to assist the withdrawal but advancing to Kabul, they could use their discretion.
The Army of Retribution
Left Column (to crown the heights)
Lieut-Col Moseley commanding
- Two Coys HM 9th Regiment of Foot
- Four Coys 26th Bengal Native Infantry
- 200 Jezailchees under Maj Huish, 26th NI
- Seven Coys 53rd Native Infantry under Maj Hoggan
- Three Coys 60th Native Infantry under Capt Napleton
- Four & a half Coys 64th Bengal Native Infantry
- One & a half Coys HM 9th Regiment of Foot
- Torabaz Khan’s auxiliaries
Centre Column
Advance Guard under Brigadier Wild
- Grenadier Coy 9th Queen’s Regiment
- One Coy 26th Bengal Native Infantry
- Three Coys 30th Native Infantry
- Two Coys 33rd Native Infantry under Maj Barnewell, 9th
Main Body
- Sappers & Miners
- Horse Artillery 4 guns
- Mountain Train 2 guns
- Foot Artillery 3 guns
- Two Squadrons 3rd Dragoons
- Treasure & ammunition on camels
- One Squadron 1st Native Cavalry
- Two Coys 53rd Native Infantry
- Commissariat stores
- One Squadron 1st Native Cavalry
- One Ressalah irregular Horse
- Baggage & camp followers
- Ammunition
- Litters & camel-panniers for the sick
- One Squadron 1st Native Cavalry
Rear Guard
- Foot Artillery 3 guns
- 10th Light Cavalry
- Two Ressalahs Irregular Horse
- Two Squadrons 3rd Dragoons
- Horse Artillery 2 guns
- Three Coys 60th Native Infantry
- One Coy HM 9th Regiment of Foot
Right Column (to crown the heights) Lieut-Col Taylor, 9th Foot commanding
- Two Coys 9th Regiment of Foot
- Four Coys 26th Native Infantry
- 400 Jezailchees under Co Taylor, 9th Foot
- Seven Coys 30th Native Infantry under Maj Payne
- Three Coys 60th Native Infantry under Capt Riddle
- Four Coys 64th Bengal Native Infantry under Maj Anderson
- Details of Broadfoot’s Sappers
- One & a half Coys HM 9th Regiment of Foot under Maj Davis
- Torabaz Khan’s auxiliaries
External Links
Wikipedia - 1st Afghan War
Somerset Record Office - 1st Afghan War
Historical books on-line
Memorials of Affghanistan - Pollock's march from Peshawar by J H Stocqueler 1863 (Google Books)
History of the War in Afghanistan Vol III (1841-1842) - Pollock sets out by John William Kaye Revised Edition (1858)