2nd Afghan War

2nd Afghan War
1878-80
Chronological list of Wars and Campaigns
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Location: Afghanistan
Combatants:
British and Indians	Afghanistan
Result: British took control of Afghan foreign relations Border areas ceded to Britain
Medals: The Afghanistan Medal 1878-1880 Clasps: Ali Musjid, Peiwar Kotal, Charasia, Ahmed Khel and Kandahar Kabul to Khandahar Star 1880
Links:
Category: 2nd Afghan War
General Browne's March from Peshawar to Gandamak General Roberts' March to Ali Kheyl General Stewart's March to Kandahar General Roberts' March to Kabul General Stewart's March to Kabul General Roberts' March from Kabul to Kandahar

	See our interactive map of 2nd Afghan War: First Phase locations and routes on Google Maps

	See our interactive map of 2nd Afghan War: Second Phase locations and routes on Google Maps

	See our interactive map of 2nd Afghan War: Third Phase locations and routes on Google Maps

The 2nd Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80 came about because the British were concerned over Tsarist Russian expansion and tried to get the Afghan Amir Sher Ali to agree to a diplomatic mission to Kabul. When this was refused but a Russian mission admitted, the British invaded from three directions. With the country occupied, Sher Ali's son Yakoub Khan signed the Treaty of Gandamak in May 1879. The British forces withdrew but an uprising in Kabul led to the murder of the British Resident Sir Pierre Cavagnari. This provoked a second invasion by the British under Major General Sir Frederick Roberts and the occupation of Kabul following the Battle of Charasia in October 1879. The Afghans were again defeated at the Siege of Sherpur Cantonment in December. A further revolt led to the defeat of the British at the Battle of Maiwand in July 1880 following which Kandahar was besieged. Roberts led a force from Kabul to defeat the Afghans under Ayub Khan at the Battle of Baba Wullee. The Treaty of Gandamak was confirmed and the British withdrew.

Chronology of events

Nov 1878 General Roberts' March to Ali Kheyl

2 Dec Battle of Peiwar Kotal

Nov 1878 General Browne's March from Peshawar to Gandamak

21 Nov Battle of Ali Masjid Fort 1878
21 Dec Battle of Jagdalak
2 Apr 79 Battle of Futtehabad

Dec 1878 General Stewart's March to Kandahar
3 Sep 1879 The Murder of Cavagnari
Oct 1879 General Roberts' March to Kabul

Mar 1880 General Stewart's March to Kabul

19 Apr Battle of Ahmad Khel
23 Apr Battle of Urzoo

27 July 1880 Battle of Maiwand
Aug 1880 General Roberts' March from Kabul to Kandahar

1 Sep Battle of Baba Wullee 1880

Biographies

Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906 and Dictionary of National Biography 1912
Henry Abadie (1841-1915)
Ayub Khan (1849-?)
Thomas Baker (1837-1893)
Robert Onesiphorus Bright (1823-1896)
Samuel Browne (1824-1901)
Pierre Cavagnari (1841-1879)
Mortimer Durand (1850-1924)
Charles Gough (1832-1912)
Herbert Taylor Macpherson (1827-1886)
William Godfrey Dunham Massy (1838-1906)
Charles Palliser (1830-1895)
Frederick Roberts (1824-1914)
Robert Sandeman (1835-1892)
Sher Ali (1842-1872?)
Donald Stewart (1824-1900)

Also see

Medal Rolls
Stations of British Troops in India‎-Afghanistan 1878-1882
10th (The Prince of Wales's Own) Royal Hussars for the image of a memorial to those who died in the Afghan Campaign in 1878-9. The names are clearly visible

External Links

Chronology Google Books
Second Anglo-Afghan War Wikipedia
2nd Afghan War 1878-80 The British Empire website
The Second Anglo-Afghan War Garen Ewing's comprehensive site including:

The Afghan War Database Project - a searchable database of 900+ soldiers who took part in the war. Many entries include biographical details, some have photographs.
Map of Afghanistan - showing the principal locations in 1880

The Last Stand: The Journal of the Maiwand Files Project Victorianwars.com. Contains many articles about Maiwand
66th Berkshires in the Campaign history.farmersboys.com
Maiwand Day Blog by 'Mad Guru' includes
- Many illustrations from The Graphic and The Illustrated London News
- "A Most Villainous-Looking Cavalcade": Uniforms of the Afghan Army by Ian Heath with illustrations, originally published in the June to September 1995 issues of Wargames Illustrated
Suffolk Record Office, Bury St Edmunds has many photographs and documents relating to the time the Suffolk Regiment was serving in India during the 2nd Afghan War.
Photo of Amir Yakub Khan and Major Cavagnari Wikipedia
British Victorian War Medals www.acepilots.com
Afghanistan 1878-1880: Sources in the India Office Records British Library, page now archived.
Memorials: Afghanistan 1878-1880 from Stephen Lewis’ Soldiers Memorials
Second Afghan War 1878-1880 Casualty Roll by Anthony Farrington is published by Naval and Military Press. The source of the data is unknown but possibly has been compiled from the Medal Rolls.
Diary and Letters: The Afghan War by Colonel Charles Ball-Acton of the 51st Regiment of Foot from the Parsons Family website now archived. He commanded the 51st in the second phase of the war (second-in-command during the first phase).
Burke and Norfolk: Photographs from the War in Afghanistan by John Burke and Simon Norfolk: Conversation with Simon Norfolk. John Burke (1843?-1900) was the first ever photographer to make pictures in Afghanistan. www.simonnorfolk.com
Photographs: Afghanistan, 1879-80 An album of historical photographs depicting people and places associated with the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–80). Library of Congress. Information about the individual photographs
Set of photographs 1878-1880 titled "Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive" from Phototheca Afghanica: Historical Images  of Afghanistan. A project of Foundation Bibliotheca Afghanica, CH-4416 Bubendorf.
Photograph: The Amir’s Highlanders, 1879. (gettyimages.com). A photograph of Afghan soldiers dressed in kilts, taken by John Burke in 1879. This photograph is from an album entitled The Afghan War, Attock to Jellalabad, Gandamak and Surkhab. The Afghans were very impressed with the ferocity and fighting skills of the British Highland regiments. In imitation, Afghan troops were dressed in kilts in an attempt to instil them with similiar martial qualities.The soldiers were known as the Amir’s Highlanders, the Highlanders of Amir Yaqub, or Yaqub Khan's Highlanders. An image from the Illustrated London News.

Maps

Plan of Kabul City, drawn by the Guides March 1880, and photographed by John Burke 1880. Click on “zoomable image” to enlarge. British Library Online Gallery.

Historical books online

The Second Afghan War Official Account 1907 Archive.org mirror version, originally from Digital Library of India. Illustrations are of poor quality. Also available Digital Repository of GIPE (Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics [Pune India])

The same content was issued under the title The Second Afghan War, 1878-80: Abridged Official Account produced in the Intelligence Branch Army Headquarters, India 1908 Archive.org. Note: Part of the latter filming is unsatisfactory, with text missing from the sides of some pages, and some of the illustrations have not been filmed.

Also available as a pdf download PAHAR Mountains of Central Asia Digital Dataset.

The six volume The Second Afghan War compiled and collated by and under the orders of Sir C. M. MacGregor, published 1885-1886 as "Strictly confidential", on which the Abridged Official Account was based, is available at the British Library UIN: BLL01012490881, or IOR/L/MIL/17/14/29 (parts 2-6 only).

The Second Afghan War, 1878-79-80 its causes, its conduct and its consequences by Colonel H.B. Hanna. Archive.org Volume 1 1899, Volume 2 1904
The Afghan War of 1879-80 by Howard Hensman, Special Correspondent of The Pioneer (Allahabad) and The Daily News (London). Second Edition 1882 Archive.org
The Afghan Wars 1839-42 and 1878-80 by Archibald Forbes 1892 (archive.org)
A History of Afghanistan Volume II by Brig-Gen Sir Percy Sykes 1940 Archive.org. Includes the 2nd Afghan War. Contents
Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from India: Volume III Baluchistan, and the First Afghan War. Compiled in the Intelligence Branch, Army Headquarters India. 1910 Archive.org Includes expeditions which were side issues of the 2nd Afghan War.
The Afghan War: Gough's Action at Futtehabad by Charles Swinnerton 1880 Archive.org
Kandahar in 1879: The Diary of Major Le Messurier R.E., Brigade Major R. E. with the Quetta Column 1880 Archive.org
Kabul Under Attack Handwritten online letter from Gen Sir Montagu Gilbert Gerard, with detailed account of the capture of Kabul 1880 King’s College London Collections: The Serving Soldier
With the Kurram Field Force, 1878-79  by Major J. A. S. Colquhoun, R.A. With illustrations by the author. 1881 Archive.org (Maps are not copied)
To Caubul with the Cavalry Brigade:  A narrative of personal experiences with the force under General Sir F.S. Roberts  with map and illustrations from sketches by the author by Major R C W Mitford XIVth Bengal Lancers 1881 Archive.org (Map may be extended out )
Private journal of Henry Francis Brooke, late Brigadier-General commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade, Kandahar Field Force, Southern Afghanistan, from April 22nd to August 16th, 1880 1881 Archive.org
Personal records of the Kandahar campaign by officers engaged therein. Edited by Major Ashe 1881 Archive.org
Kurum, Kabul & Kandahar being a brief record of impressions in three campaigns under General Roberts by Charles Gray Robertson, Lieutenant 8th (the King’s) Regiment 1881 Archive.org
Recollections of the Kabul campaign 1879 & 1880 by Joshua Duke, Bengal Medical Service 1883 Archive.org
Kohat, Kuram, and Khost; Or, Experiences and Adventures in the Late Afghan War by Richard Gillham-Thomsett, Surgeon, Army Medical Department 1884 Archive.org
The Death March Through The Khyber Pass by G J H Evatt 1891. Archive.org version, mirror from Digital Library of India. More complete title details are Personal Recollections of the Afghan Campaigns of 1878-79-80. The “Death-march” through the Khyber Pass in the Afghan Campaign 1878-79 by Surgeon-Major G. J. H. Evatt, A M D. Reprinted from “Journal of the United Service Institution of India,” 1890.
The Indian Borderland, 1880-1900 by Colonel Sir T Hungerford Holdich 1901 Archive.org. Contains two chapters on the Afghan War of 1879- 1880. The author worked as a military surveyor.
Afghanistan service, page 11 From Kabul to Kumassi: Twenty-four years of soldiering and sport by Brig. Gen. Sir James Willcocks 1904 Archive.org
Afghanistan service page 57 My Service Days: India, Afghanistan, Suakim '85, and China by Maj.-Gen. Sir Norman Stewart 1908 Archive.org The author’s father was commander of the Mooltan Division
"The Khaibar Pass" Chapter V page 51 Vestigia by Lieut.-Colonel Charles à Court Repington 1919. Archive.org. The author was an officer with the 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade. Charles à Court Repington 1858-1925. Wikipedia.
My service in the Indian Army – and after by General Sir John Luther Vaughan 1904 Archive.org. He joined the Bengal Army in 1841 and had to retire c 1870 as there was no position for him. At the start of the 2nd Afghan War he became special military correspondent for the war for The Times
"Excerpta from Notes on the Transport by Rail of Troops, Horses, Guns and War Material for the Army in Afghanistan during 1878-79" from Professional papers on Indian engineering Second Series Volume 8 1879 (archive.org)
History of the Corps of Royal Engineers Vol II by Maj-Gen Whitworth Porter 1889 2nd Afghan War archive.org
Colburn's United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal 1880 Part 3 Archive.org
- "Our Blunders in Afghanistan" by M Laing Meason page 79
- "Should We Retain Kandahar and the Passes?" by Lieut-Colonel A M Arthur page 253
- "Bombay Generals" page 310
- "Maiwand" page 461
"Operations 10 September 1879 until the entry to Kabul on 13 October 1879" pages 52- 128 Bulletins and Other State Intelligence Compiled and Arranged from the Official Documents Published in the London Gazette for the Year 1880: Part 1 January to June Originally from the London Gazette 16 January 1880 Archive.org
"Operations at Kabul 8-24 December 1879", pages 556- 672 Bulletins and Other State Intelligence Compiled and Arranged from the Official Documents Published in the London Gazette for the Year 1880: Part 1 January to June Originally from the London Gazette 4 May 1880 Archive.org
The Afghan War a speech delivered in the House of Lords by the Right Hon. Viscount Cranbrook, (Secretary of State for India), on Monday, December 9th, 1878
The Eastern question from the Treaty of Paris 1836 to the Treaty of Berlin 1878 and to the Second Afghan War by the Duke of Argyll 1879 Archive.org Volume 1, Volume 2
Causes of the Afghan War: Being a Selection of The Papers Laid Before Parliament with a Connecting Narrative and Comment 1879 Archive.org. Note that some of the initial pages appear to be missing. A complete copy of this book is available Archive.org version, mirror from Digital Library of India, but probably the first book file is better overall.
Lord Lytton and the Afghan War by Captain W. J. Eastwick Third Edition 1879 Archive.org
Our Afghan policy and the occupation of Candahar by D.B. 1880 Archive.org
The life and career of Major Sir Louis Cavagnari, C. S. I., K. C. B., British envoy at Cabul with a brief outline of the Second Afghan War. Compiled by Kally Prosono Dey 1881 Archive.org
The Victoria Cross in Afghanistan and on the frontiers of India during the years 1877, 1878, 1879 & 1880 : how it was won related by W.J. Elliott 1882. Part of the series Deeds of Daring Library. Archive.org version, missing map. Pahar version, link to a pdf download, PAHAR Mountains of Central Asia Digital Dataset. If download does not display, locate under Books/Afghanistan/1882.
Afghanistan: a Short Account of Afghanistan, its History, and our Dealings with it. In Two Volumes. Second Edition with a Map and Additional Volume, bringing the History of the Afghan Question down to 1885 by Philip F Walker (Barrister-At-Law, late 75th Regt) 1885 Archive.org. Volume 2, same digital file. Index to Volume 1, Index to Volume 2 (numbered separately)
Through the Khyber Pass by Rev J. Gregson 1883. Full title: Through the Khyber Pass to Sherpore Camp, Cabul. An account of Temperance Work among our soldiers in the Cabul Field Force. Archive.org version, mirror from Digital Library of India.
With Lord Roberts Through the Khyber Pass by David Ensor 1963 Archive.org. A volume in the Adventures in Geography series. Probably intended as a book for school students.
My God - Maiwand!: Operations of the South Afghanistan Field Force 1878-80 by Leigh Maxwell 1979. Link to a pdf download, PAHAR Mountains of Central Asia Digital Dataset. If the download does not display, look under Books/Afghanistan.
The Road to Kabul : the Second Afghan War 1878-1881 by Brian Robson 1986. Link to a pdf download, PAHAR Mountains of Central Asia Digital Dataset. If the download does not display, look under Books/Afghanistan. Robson also wrote Crisis on the Frontier: the Third Afghan War and the Campaign in Waziristan 1919-1920 (2004)

London Gazette and the Gazette of India

The London Gazette may be searched online for official correspondence relating to operations in Afghanistan. As examples, the following correspondence been noted for 1880 (there may be other correspondence).

Publication date: 16 January 1880 Issue:24801 Page:209
27 April 1880 Issue:24838 Page:2719
4 May 1880 Issue:24841 Page:2836
30 July 1880 Issue:24869 Page:4197
15 October 1880 Issue:24892 Page:5283
22 October 1880 Issue:24894 Page:5377
19 November 1880 Issue:24903 Page:5799
3 December 1880 Issue:24909 Page:6519 contains correspondence relating to events from approximately 28 July 1880 including the siege of Kandahar and the sortie made by the garrison on 16 August 1880.
31 December 1880 Issue:24919 Page:7003

The Gazette of India also contains some official correspondence relating to operations in Afghanistan which is not mentioned in the London Gazette. See Newspapers and journals online-Gazette of India for some online editions. Also available at the British Library . As an example, the Gazette of India for the period September-December 1880 has an entry dated 11 September 1880 concerning Major W Jacob of the 19th Bombay Native Infantry and the march to Chaman 29-30th July 1880. This account is now available at Archive.org, pages 440-442.

Fiction

The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye 1978. "...a 1,000 page epic of war and romance set in 19th century India; the book sold in its millions and was adapted for television in 1984..."

Archive.org version; Archive.org Lending Library edition in two volumes: Volume 1, Volume 2

Obituary: The Telegraph 31 January 2004