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General Nott at Kandahar

458 bytes added, 16:55, 23 April 2010
Amend summary.
{{Battlemap|war=General Nott at Kandahar|link=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=p&msa=0&msid=101241150585833319689.00046beb6e217867696a0&ll=32.463426,68.69751&spn=6.671822,9.140625&z=7}}
'''This article is part of the section on the [[1st Afghan War]]'''<br>
== Synopsis Events in and around Kandahar 1839-42 ==
When '''Sir John Keane''' entered [[Afghanistan]] with the invading army '''William Nott''' was left in command at [[Quetta]]. After Shah Shuja had been installed at [[Kabul]] the Combined Army withdrew. The Bengal Force went via the [[Khyber Pass]] leaving a garrison at [[Jalalabad]] and the Bombay Force moved south leaving garrisons at [[Ghazni]] and [[Kandahar]]. General Nott was given command of the Kandahar occupying forces and he took post there on 13 November 1839. '''Major Henry Rawlinson''' was appointed political officer.
==== 1840 ====
All was comparatively quiet until spring of 1840 when rebel [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghilzai Ghilzai] chiefs brought forces near Khelat-i-Ghilzie intending to cut communications between Kandahar and Kabul. They were defeated at [[Battle of Tazee|Tazee]] by a force under '''Colonel George Wymer'''. Shortly afterwards General Nott moved up to Khelat-i-Ghilzie to complete the reduction of the rebellion.
==== 1841 ====
It was decided to restore the defences of Khelat-i-Ghilzie and this further antagonised the tribesmen. They assembled menacingly around the fort and Nott sent Colonel Wymer to disperse them. On 29 May 1841 the Ghilzais were defeated at [[Battle of Asseer Eelmee|Asseer-Eelmee]].
A letter from headquarters with news of the [[Kabul Uprising]] requested Nott to send the three regiments to reinforce the capital. They were dispatched under Colonel Maclaren on 17 November. The [[Siege of Ghazni]] began on 20 November and communication north was cut. Colonel Maclaren turned back in the face of extreme weather<ref>Disputed by some sources. [http://books.google.com/books?id=5NANAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA395&dq=History+of+the+war+in+Afghanistan+On+the+8th+of+December+Maclaren's+brigade&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false ''History of the War in Afghanistan Vol II (1841-1842)'' by John William Kaye (1851) ] </ref> and reached Kandahar again on 8 December. Nott and his garrison remained bottled up until the end of the year. On 27 December two regiments of Shah Shujah's Afghan cavalry ([[Mutiny of the Janbaz|Janbaz]]) mutinied. Two days later Prince Sufder Jung, son of Shah Shujah, fled Kandahar and joined Atta Mahomed.
==== 1842 ====
Major Rawlinson tried unsuccessfully to persuade General Nott to send an expedition after the Prince and Atta Mahomed who were at Dehli, forty miles from Kandahar. Nott judged it too great a risk in winter weather but, when the rebels approached within 12 miles of the city, he defeated them at the [[Battle of Killu-l-Shah]] on 12 January 1842.
Major Rawlinson tried unsuccessfully A period of quiet ensued. Though the Durranis continued to hover around Kandahar, winter discouraged both sides from action. Attacks on foragers and seizure of baggage animals began to persuade increase and by March General Nott felt it time to send an expedition after take the offensive. Major Rawlinson cleared the Prince city of possible troublemakers - some 1,000 families and Atta Mahomed who were at Dehli, forty miles from Kandahar. Nott judged it too great set out leaving a risk minimum garrison under Major Lane. The Afghans drew him away however before doubling in winter weather but, when his rear to attack the city on the rebels approached within 12 miles night of 10 March. A desperate defence eventually repulsed the city, he defeated them at [[Attack on Kandahar]]. Meanwhile the [[Battle Siege of KilluKhelat-li-ShahGhilzai]] on 12 January 1842had begun.
A period of quiet ensued. Though the Durranis continued Lt-Col Wymer was dispatched to hover around Kandahar, winter discouraged both sides clear dissidents from action. By March General Nott felt it time to take the offensive. Major Rawlinson cleared the city of possible troublemakers - some 1,000 families surrounding countryside and Nott set out leaving a minimum garrison under Major Lane. The Afghans drew him away however before doubling in his rear to attack the city on the night of 10 25 March. A desperate defence eventually repulsed the his force was attacked near [[Attack on KandaharBattle of Baba Wullee 1842|Baba Wullee]]. Meanwhile the The Durranis were defeated again. Then came news that on 6 March [[Siege of Khelat-i-GhilzaiGhazni|Ghazni had been captured]] had begunand all but 10 officers killed.
== Garrison ==

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