Siege of Ghazni
| Siege of Ghazni | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part of 1st Afghan War 1839-42 | ||
| Date: | 20 November 1841 - 6 March 1842 | |
| Location: | Ghazni, Afghanistan | |
| Presidency: | Bengal | |
| Co-ordinates: | 33.549438°N 68.416483°E | |
| Result: | British defeat | |
| Combatants | ||
| British & Indians | Various Afghan tribes | |
| Commanders | ||
| Colonel Thomas Palmer, 27th BNI | Shumshoodeen Khan | |
| Strength | ||
| 600 27th Bengal Native Infantry | 20,000 | |
| Casualties | ||
Synopsis
Colonel Thomas Palmer with the 27th Bengal Native Infantry commanded the garrison of Ghazni in the winter of 1841. At the beginning of November there was a general uprising of in Kabul and General Elphinstone ordered General Nott to sent reinforcements from Kandahar. Colonel Maclaren who had just set out for to India with three regiments was recalled and despatched north on 8th November with the 16th, 42nd and 43rd Bengal Native Infantry with cavalry and artillery.
Meanwhile on 20 November Ghazni was besieged by an Afghan force under Shams-ud-Din, nephew of Mohammed Akbar Khan. This withdrew when news came of the approach of Maclaren's force. However, when a large number of his supply cattle died of exposure, the adverse weather compelled Maclaren to turn back, the besiegers returned on 7 December. Palmer was reluctant to clear the town of inhabitants as they would have died in the snow. Contrary to his belief however they were not sympathetic to the garrison and, on 16 December, let the besiegers into the town though a tunnel. The garrison were compelled to retreat. to the citadel.
More snow fell and the temperature dropped to 14℉. Cold, wet and with dwindling supplies the garrison held out until the new year.
External Links
1st Afghan War Wikipedia
1st Afghan War Somerset Record Office
History of the War in Afghanistan Google Books
Siege of Ghazni Google Books
Col Palmer's Despatch Google Books
Lieut Crawford's account Google Books
Verdict at Palmer's Court-Martial Google Books