Retreat from Kabul to Gundamak
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See our interactive map of Retreat from Kabul to Gandamak locations and routes on Google Maps | |
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This was an event during the 1st Afghan War
Synopsis
Prelude
Sir William Macnaghten the political agent in Kabul was murdered at a conference by Mohammad Akbar Khan the son of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan on 23 December 1841. On 24 December 1841 Major Eldred Pottinger took up negotiations with the Afghans. He agreed to give up most artillery pieces, spare rifles, ammunition, money and six hostages for safe passage to Jalalabad.
The Retreat
In bitter winter weather the retreating army was continually attacked and in a series of rearguard actions the majority of the troops and camp followers perished. Muhammad Akbar took 120 men, women and children hostage. The remnants of the 44th Regiment, 20 officers and 45 European soldiers, made a last stand at Gundamak.
Retreating Army
4,500 fighting men under Brigadier John Shelton
Advance Guard
Brigadier Anquetil commanding
- 44th Regiment of Foot (600)
- 4th Irregular Horse (70)
- Horse Artillery (two 6 pounder guns)
- Sappers & Miners (20)
- Mountain Train (3 guns)
Main Body
Brigadier Shelton commanding
- 5th Native Infantry with baggage (700)
- 37th Native Infantry in charge of treasure (600)
- Anderson’s Horse (70)
- Horse Artillery (two 6 pounder guns)
- Envoy’s Escort with the ladies
- Invalids and sick
Rearguard
Colonel Chambers commanding
- 54th Native Infantry (650)
- 6th Shah's Infantry (600)
- 5th Cavalry (260)
- Horse Artillery (four 6 pounder guns)
Total 4,500 fighting men and 12,000 followers
Related articles
For further details of events during this period see the following articles
| Departure from Kabul | 6 January 1842 |
| Action at Boothak | 7 January 1842 |
| Battle of Khoord-Kabul Pass | 8 January 1842 |
| Hostages taken at Khoord-Kabul | 9 January 1842 |
| Battle of Tunghi Tarika | 10 January 1842 |
| Action at Jugdulluk | 11 January 1842 |
| Retreat from Jugdulluk | 12 January 1842 |
| Battle of Gundamak | 13 January 1842 |
Spelling Variants
Modern name: Gandomak
Variants: Gandamak/Gundamak/Gundamuck/Gundumuk
External Links
Retreat from Kabul to Gandamak www.britishbattles.com
Massacre of Elphinstone's Army Wikipedia
Dr Brydon's Account www.khyber.org
Sgt-Maj Lissant's account Google Books. "Narrative Of Serjeant-Major Lissant, 37th Regt. N. I., from the 6th to the 13th January, 1842" The Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday 5 October 1842. Originally from the Englishman
Captain Souter's account Google Books
Historical Books on-line
The Kabul Insurrection of 1841-42 by Maj-Gen Sir Vincent Eyre 1879 The Retreat of the Army and its Annihilation (archive.org)
Battles of the Nineteenth Century Vol II" by Archibald Forbes et al The Utter Destruction of a British Army (archive.org)
The military operations at Cabul: which ended in the retreat and destruction of the British army, January 1842 by Sir Vincent Eyre 2nd edition 1843 The Retreat of the Army (Google Books)
Historical record of the Forty-fourth, or the East Essex regiment of foot by Thomas Carter 1864 The Retreat of the 44th Foot (Google Books)
A Journal of the Disasters in Affghanistan 1841-2 by Lady Florentia Sale 1843 (archive.org)
Memorials of Affghanistan: being state papers, official documents by Joachim Hayward Stocqueler 1843 Narrative of the Events in Cabul between the 2nd of November 1841, and the middle of September 1842 by a Quondan Captive (Google books)