General Roberts' March to Kabul
Summary
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See our interactive map of 2nd Afghan War: Second Phase locations and routes on Google Maps | |
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Following the murder of the resident Cavagnari on 30 September 1879, General Roberts advanced from Ali Kheyl to Kabul winning the Battle of Charasia on the way. The Amir Yakub Khan abdicated and the country descended into various tribal allegiances. A relief column under General Gough fought the Battle of Jagdalak before reaching Kabul. Following the action at the Battle of Asmai Heights and the Siege of Sherpur Cantonment, Roberts defeated the Afghans at the Battle of Kabul. The following year Abdul Rahman was made Amir and it seemed as though the British could withdraw with some vestige of honour.
Kabul Field Force
Cavalry Brigade
Brig Gen William Godfrey Dunham Massy commanding
Lieut J P Brabazon, 10th Hussars, Brigade Major
- 9th Lancers under Lt-Col R S Cleland
- 12th Cavalry under Maj Green
- 14th Lancers under Lt-Col Ross
- 5th Cavalry under Maj B Williams
Artillery
Lt-Col B. L. Gordon commanding
Capt J W Inge, Adjutant
- F Batt A Brigade Royal Horse Artillery under Maj J C Smyth-Windham
- G Batt 3rd Brigade Royal Artillery under Maj Sydney Parry
- No 1 Mountain Battery 4 guns under Capt Morgan
- No 2 Mountain Battery 4 guns under Capt Swinley
- Two Gatling guns under Capt Broadfoot
Engineers
Lt-Col A Perkins CB commanding
Lieut F Spratt, Adjutant
Capt Woodthorpe RE in charge of surveying
Capt Stratton, 22nd Regiment, in charge of signalling
Lieut F Burn-Murdoch RE, Royal Engineer Park
First Infantry Brigade
Brig Gen Herbert Macpherson VC commanding
Capt G de C Morton, 6th Foot, Brigade Major
- 67th Hampshires under Lt-Col C B Knowles
- 92nd Gordon Highlanders under Lt-Col G H Parker
- 28th Punjabis under Lt-Col J Hudson
Second Infantry Brigade
Brig Gen Thomas Durand Baker
Capt W C Farwell, 26th Punjab Infantry, Brigade Major
- 72nd Seaforth Highlanders under Lt-Col Brownlow
- 3rd Sikh Infantry under Lt-Col G N Money
- 23rd Pioneers under LT-Col Currie
- 29th Bengal Native Infantry (wing)
- 5th Punjab Infantry under Lt-Col J Macqueen
- 5th Gurkhas under Lt-Col Fitz-Hugh
Third Infantry Brigade
Brig-Gen John Adam Tytler VC
- 85th Foot
- 11th Bengal Native Infantry (Rajputs)
- 13th Bengal Native Infantry (Rajputs)
- 20th Bengal Native Infantry (Punjabis)
| General Roberts' March to Kabul | |
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Actions fought on this march: | |
| Phases: 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 | |
| Part of the 2nd Afghan War | |