Captivity of the Hostages
Summary
On 8 January 1842 Mohammed Akbar Khan agreed to protect Elphinstone's army on a promise of 15,000 rupees. He also demanded Major Pottinger, Captain Lawrence and Captain Mackenzie as hostages to guarantee that General Sale would evacuate Jalalabad. This was agreed
On 9 January 1842 Mohammed Akbar Khan persuaded General Elphinstone to hand over the women, children and wounded officers hostages in return for supplies and a safe escort for his army. Though none of Akbar Khan's promises had been kept previously, it was seen as the only way to protect the women and children from further suffering on the march. Seven officers, ten women and twenty-two children were escorted to Khoord-Kabul fort.
Hostages
29 December
- Captain Drummond
- Captain Walsh
- Captain Warburton
- Captain Webb
- Lieutenant John Haughton
- A portion of the sick and wounded
29 December
- Lieutenant Evans, 44th Foot
- Dr Campbell, 54th native Infantry
- Dr Berwick
- Remainder of the sick
8 January
- Major Eldred Pottinger
- Captain George Lawrence
- Captain Colin Mackenzie
9 January
- Capt. Troup, Brigade-major Shah's Force
- Lieut. G. Mein, 13th Light Infantry
- Lieut. Waller, Mrs Waller and child
- Lieut. Vincent Eyre, Mrs Eyre and child
- Lady Macnaghten
- Lady Florentia Sale
- Mrs Sturt (Lady Sale's daughter)
- Mrs Trevor and seven children
- Mrs Smith
- Mrs Burnes
- Two soldiers' wives
- Seymour Stoker (rescued from kidnap)
- 12 other children
Biographies
Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906:
Mahommed Akbar Khan (1813?-1849)
William Elphinstone (1782-1842)
Vincent Eyre (1811-1881)
John Haughton (1817-1887)
George Lawrence (1804-1884)
Colin Mackenzie (1806-1881)
William Macnaghten (1793-1841)
Eldred Pottinger (1811-1843)<br
Robert Sale (1782-1845)
External Links
1st Afghan War Wikipedia
Somerset Record Office - 1st Afghan War Wikipedia
History of the War in Afghanistan Google Books
Afghan Uprising Wikipedia
The Battle of Kabul and the Retreat to Gandamak BritishBattles.com
Sale's Account Google Books
Historical Books on-line
The Kabul Insurrection of 1841-42 - Captivity of the Hostages by Maj-Gen Sir Vincent Eyre 1879 (archive.org)