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Ellenborough was under pressure from public opinion and the press which wanted to see a British victory over the Afghans. On 4 July 1842 he wrote to saying he had not changed his mind about withdrawal but, if General Nott wanted to direct his retreat through Kabul and General Pollock wished to assist the withdrawal but advancing to Kabul, they could use their discretion.<br>
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== Synopsis ==
'''Jamrud to Jalalabad'''<br>
At the end of 1841 [[Robert Sale|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 [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 [[Mohammad Akbar|Akbar Khan]]. He was unable to advance towrds towards [[Kabul]] however due to lack of transport animals. Ellenborough was under pressure from public opinion and the press which wanted to see a British victory over the Afghans. On 4 July 1842 he wrote saying he had not changed his mind about withdrawal but, if [[William Nott|General Nott]] wanted to direct his retreat through Kabul and General Pollock wished to assist the withdrawal but advancing to Kabul, they could use their discretion.
'''Jalalabad to Kabul'''<br>
It took some time before correspondence between the two generals confirmed that both were of the same mind. Nott left Kandahar on 9 August and Pollock set out from Jalalabad on 20 August. Pollock's force reached Gundamak on 23 Augustand on the following day defeated two local chiefs at [[Battle of Mamoo Khail|Mamoo Khail]].General Pollock remained at Gundamak gathering supplies and waiting for letters from General Nott. On 7 September he, accompanied by General Sale, moved out with the 1st Division of the Army. The 2nd Division under General M'Caskill left the following day. On 8 September the Ghilzies were defeated at [[Battle of Jugdulluk Crest 1842|Jugdulluk]]. The army then advanced to Tezeen which was reached on 11 September. Akbar Khan in Kabul attempted to negotiate but when he realised the British intended to advance to the capital he brought his forces through the Khoord-Kabul Pass and occupied the heights around the [[Battle of Tezeen|Tezeen Valley]]. Actions on 12 & 13 September resulted in the defeat of the Afghans. Akbar Khan retreated to Ghorebund and the army advanced unmolested to Kabul which was reached on 15 September. == Related articles ==For further details of events during this period see the following articles{||[[Forcing the Khyber Pass]]|5 April 1842|-|[[Raid on the Shinwarree Valley]]|7 June-3 August 1842|-|[[Actions at Mazeena]]|24 & 26 July 1842|-|[[Battle of Mamoo Khail]]|24 August 1842|-|[[Battle of Jugdulluk Crest 1842|Battle of Jugdulluk Crest]]|8 September 1842|-|[[Actions from Gundamak to Tezeen]]|9-11 September 1842|-|[[Battle of Tezeen]]|12 & 13 September 1842|} == Biographies ==Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906:<br>[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/8/mode/2up/search/Akbar Mahommed Akbar Khan (1813?-1849)]<br>[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/53/mode/1up Captain George Broadfoot (1807-1845)]<br>[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/281/mode/1up John McCaskill (?-1845)]<br>[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/122/mode/1up Thomas Monteath (Douglas) (1787-1868)]<br>[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/319/mode/1up William Nott (1782-1845)]<br>[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/339/mode/1up George Pollock (1786-1872)]<br>[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/371/mode/1up Robert Sale (1782-1845)]<br>
== External Links ==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Anglo-Afghan_War Wikipedia - 1st Afghan War]Wikipedia<br>[http://www.somersetqueensroyalsurreys.govorg.uk/archives/slireg_in_india/1afghanindia18_1.htm Somerset Record Office - 1st Afghan Warhtml 31st Regiment march to Kabul]<br>queensroyalsurreys.org.uk
==== Historical books on-line ====
