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== Synopsis ==
At the end of 1841 General Robert Sale was besieged in[[ Jalalabad]] and asking for assistance. Forces were sent from British controlled territory to [[Peshawar]] then under Sikh rule. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Pollock General George Pollock ] was appointed commander and started for Peshawar from [[Agra]]. In the meantime Brigadier Wild, in command at Peshawar, attempted and failed to establish a strong garrison at [[Attempt to hold Ali Masjid Fort|Ali Masjid]].
Pollock arrived at Peshawar on 5 February and found the regiments unfit for departure due to sickness and low morale. It took all of February and March to overcome these difficulties but finally, on 5 April, the Army of Retribution set out. They successfully forced the [[Forcing the Khyber Pass|Khyber Pass]] and reached Jalalabad on 14 April.
The new Governor-General [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Law,_1st_Earl_of_Ellenborough Lord Ellenborough ] was firmly in favour of withdrawing from Afghanistan and on 29 April General Pollock was instructed to return to Peshawar. Subsequent communications seemed to allow him some discretion and he was reluctant to withdraw while the [[Captivity of the Hostages|hostages]] were in the hands of Akbar Khan. He was unable to advance towrds [[Kabul ]] however due to lack of transport animals.
== The Army of Retribution ==
