Action from Boothak to Khoord-Kabul

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Action from Boothak to Khoord-Kabul
Part of 1st Afghan War 1839-42
Date: 10-12 October 1841
Location: Botkhak, Kabul, Afghanistan
Presidency: Bengal
Co-ordinates: 34.499263°N 69.352971°E
Result: British checked
Combatants
British & Indians Ghilzai tribesmen
Commanders
Col. Monteath CB
Strength
Casualties
35 Sepoys killed

This was an event during the 1st Afghan War
For context see main article General Sale's March from Kabul to Jalalabad

Synopsis

Colonel Monteath with the whole force except the 13th Foot left Kabul on 9 October and camped at Bootkak. That night they were attacked and 35 sepoys killed. General Sale with the 13th Foot left Kabul on 11 October and joined the camp at Bootkak. On 12 October the combined brigade forced the Khoord-Kabul pass to camp on the other side. The 13th Foot then returned to Bootkak where they were joined over the next few days by reinforcements from Kabul and the political agent Captain Macgregor. Both camps were subjected to night attacks including one from supposed allies camping with them. Captain Jenkins of the 35th and 30 sepoys were killed and 80 baggage camels lost. On 20 October General Sale moved his force from Bootkak to Khoord-Kabul and the combined brigade left for Tezeen on 22 October.

Field Force

Advance contingent

Reinforcements

  • Two guns European Horse Artillery under Lieut Walker
  • 37th Native Infantry under Major Griffiths
  • Captain Backhouse's mountain train
  • 300 additional Sappers
  • Captain Abbott's battery
  • 100 Anderson's Irregular Horse

Biographies

Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906:
Captain George Broadfoot (1807-1845)
George Macgregor (1810-1883)
William Mayne (1818-1855)
Thomas Monteath (Douglas) (1787-1868)
Robert Sale (1782-1845)


Spelling Variants

Modern name: Botkhak/Bot Khak
Variants: Boothak/Bootkhak/Bhoodkhak

External Links

1st Afghan War Wikipedia
Action at Bootkhak Google Books
Action at Bootkhak Google Books
Lady Florentia Sale's Journal Google Books
General Sale's despatch Google Books
Colonel Dennie's despatch Google Books