Attack on Kandahar
| Attack on Kandahar | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part of 1st Afghan War 1839-42 | ||
| Date: | 10 March 1842 | |
| Location: | Kandahar, Afghanistan | |
| Presidency: | Bengal | |
| Co-ordinates: | 31.61088°N 65.700272°E | |
| Result: | Afghans repulsed | |
| Combatants | ||
| British and Indian garrison | Durrani tribesmen | |
| Commanders | ||
| Major Lane Maj Henry Rawlinson |
Prince Sufder Jung Meerza Ahmed | |
| Strength | ||
| Casualties | ||
| 600 | ||
This was an event during the 1st Afghan War
For context see main article General Nott at Kandahar
Synopsis
General Nott determined to attack the dissident Afghan forces which had been hovering around Kandahar during the winter. On 7 March he set out with a large contingent leaving the 2nd Native Infantry and two regiments and a wing of the Shah's infantry to protect the city. The enemy however kept withdrawing out of reach and Nott realised that they intended to double back and attack Kandahar. On the night of 10 March there were a large number of Ghazis close to the walls. They set fire to brushwood and faggots against the Herat Gate which caught fire and collapsed. A gun was hastily brought up and a desperate defence maintained until midnight when the Afghans withdrew. Kandahar had come close to being captured but the result was a heavy blow to the Durrani insurrection.
Biographies
Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906:
William Nott (1782-1845)
Henry Rawlinson (1810-1895)
External Links
1st Afghan War Wikipedia
Historical books on-line
History of the war in Afghanistan, Volume 3 - Attack on Kandahar by Sir John William Kaye 1858 (Google Books) Memoirs and Corresponence of Major-General Sir William Nott GCB Vol I - Defence of Kandahar by J H Stocqueler 1854 (archive.org)