Changes

Jump to navigation Jump to search

The Army of Retribution March to Kabul

2,168 bytes removed, 17:42, 26 April 2010
Move forces to battle page
== Synopsis ==
'''Jamrud to Jalalabad'''<br>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.
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. == The Army of Retribution =='''Left Column (to crown the heights)'''<br>''Lieut-Col Moseley commanding''*Two Coys HM [[9th Regiment of Foot]]*Four Coys [[26th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|26th Bengal Native Infantry]]*200 Jezailchees under Maj Huish, 26th NI*Seven Coys [[53rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|53rd Native Infantry]] under Maj Hoggan*Three Coys [[60th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|60th Native Infantry]] under Capt Napleton*Four & a half Coys [[64th Bengal Native Infantry]]*One & a half Coys HM [[9th Regiment of Foot]] *Torabaz Khan’s auxiliaries<br> Jalalabad to Kabul'''Centre Column'''<br>''Advance Guard under Brigadier Wild''*Grenadier Coy 9th Queen’s Regiment*One Coy [[26th Bengal Native Infantry]]*Three Coys [[30th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|30th Native Infantry]]*Two Coys [[4th Regiment of Rajput Infantry|33rd Native Infantry]] under Maj Barnewell, 9th<br> ''Main Body''<br>*Sappers & Miners*Horse Artillery 4 guns*Mountain Train 2 guns*Foot Artillery 3 guns*Two Squadrons [[3rd (Prince of Wales') Dragoon Guards|3rd Dragoons]]*Treasure & ammunition on camels*One Squadron [[1st Bengal Light Cavalry|1st Native Cavalry]]*Two Coys [[53rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|53rd Native Infantry]]*Commissariat stores*One Squadron [[1st Bengal Light Cavalry|1st Native Cavalry]]*One Ressalah irregular Horse*Baggage & camp followers*Ammunition*Litters & camel-panniers for It took some time before correspondence between the sick*One Squadron [[1st Bengal Light Cavalry|1st Native Cavalry]] ''Rear Guard''<br>*Foot Artillery 3 guns*[[10th Bengal Light Cavalry|10th Light Cavalry]]*Two Ressalahs Irregular Horse*Two Squadrons [[3rd (Prince of Wales') Dragoon Guards|3rd Dragoons]]*Horse Artillery 2 guns*Three Coys [[60th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|60th Native Infantry]]*One Coy HM [[9th Regiment two generals confirmed that both were of Foot]]<br> '''Right Column (to crown the heights)same mind. Nott left Kandahar on 9 August and Pollock set out from Jalalabad on 20 August. Pollock'''''Lieut-Col Taylor, 9th Foot commanding''*Two Coys [[9th Regiment of Foot]]*Four Coys [[26th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|26th Native Infantry]]*400 Jezailchees under Co Taylor, 9th Foot*Seven Coys [[30th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|30th Native Infantry]] under Maj Payne*Three Coys [[60th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|60th Native Infantry]] under Capt Riddle*Four Coys [[64th Bengal Native Infantry]] under Maj Anderson*Details of Broadfoot’s Sappers*One & a half Coys HM [[9th Regiment of Foot]] under Maj Davis*Torabaz Khan’s auxiliariess force reached Gundamak on 23 August.
== External Links ==

Navigation menu