Captivity of the Hostages

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Summary

On 21 December Captains Conolly and Airey were given as hostages for compliance with the treaty agreed with Mohammed Akbar Khan for the withdrawal of British forces from Afghanistan.

On 29 December it was agreed that Captains Drummond, Walsh, Warburton and Webb would be hostages as the Afghan demand for four married hostages and their families was not acceptable to the British.

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. Four officers, ten women and twenty-two children were escorted to Khoord-Kabul fort where they joined the three officers taken the day before.

On 10 January Lieut. Melville was severely wounded trying to defend his regimental colours. An Afghan rescued him and he was taken prisoner by Akbar Khan. Mr Magrath, surgeon of the 37th Native Infantry was also wounded and taken prisoner. Six men of 44th Foot were also taken prisoner. Captain Anderson was ordered by the General to join the married men and families.

On 11 January General Elphinstone, Brigadier Shelton and Captain Johnson were called to a conference by Akbar Khan and detained as hostages

On 13 January Major Griffiths were detained when they tried to negotiate a truce. Captain James Souter and several private were captured after the last stand of the 44th Regiment.

All those made over to Akbar Khan on the march were taken by stages to Badiabad Fort in the Lughman District which they reached on 17 January.

Hostages

21 December

• Captain John Conolly
• Captain James Airey
  

29 December

• Captain Drummond
• Captain Walsh
• Captain Robert Warburton
• Captain Webb
• Lieutenant John Haughton
• A portion of the sick and wounded
  

30 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
  

10 January

• Lieut. Melville, 54th Native Infantry
• Mr Magrath, Surgeon of 37th Native Infantry
• Six men of 44th Foot
• Capt. Anderson
  

11 January

• General William Elphinstone
• Brigadier Robert Shelton
• Captain Johnson

Biographies

Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906:
James Airey (1812-1898)
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)
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
Lady Sale's Account Google Books
Eyre's portraits of the hostages national-army-museum.ac.uk
Robert Warburton on son's web page Wikipedia

Historical Books on-line

The Kabul Insurrection of 1841-42 - Captivity of the Hostages by Maj-Gen Sir Vincent Eyre 1879 (archive.org)