The Retreat From Kabul
6th - 13th January 1842
1842, 3 years after the British and East India Company forces had defeated those of Afghan Emir Dost Mohammad Barakzai and restored the former ruler, Shah Shujah Durrani, as emir, a deteriorating situation was making the British position more and more precarious.
An uprising in Kabul forced the then commander, Major General Sir William Elphinstone to withdraw the garrison. He negotiated an agreement with Wazir Akbar Khan, one of the sons of Dost Mohammad Barakzai, by which his army was to fall back to the British garrison at Jalalabad, more than 90 miles (140 km) away. As the army and its numerous dependents and camp followers began its march, it came under attack from Afghan tribesmen. Many of the column died of exposure, frostbite or starvation or were killed during the fighting.
This is the story of what happened during that fateful retreat.....
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Kabul Cantonment
Approximately 18,000 troops and camp followers set off for Jalalabad. 400 from 44th Regiment of Foot; 100 from Royal Horse Artillery; 1,000 Indian Cavalry and 3 Battalions of Indian Infantry
Midday 6th January 1842
British Library http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/other/019xzz 000000562u00005000.html
Bagrami
Night of 6th January 1842. The first night is spent in the open, many die from exposure.
Boothak
Night of 7th January 1842
Second night exposed to the elements; only four miles covered.
Khoord Kabul Pass
Night of 8th January 1842
No defensible ground is available; 3000 die in the pass.
One mile from Khoord Kabul Pass
Day and night of the 9th January 1842
The wives are escorted away with some of their husbands.
Tunghee Tareekee Pass
9th January 1842
The retreating column crosses through the pass and is ambushed.
Tezeen Camp Ground
10th January 1842
After being ambushed in the Tunghee Tareekee pass, only 250 men from the 44th, 150 Cavalry and 50 Gunners remain by the time the force reach the ground at 1600hrs and continue moving through the night.
Jegdulluk
Afternoon of 11th January 1842
By mid afternoon, Shelton and the Rearguard travel past the village, then return to the pass.
Jegdulluk
12th January 1842
By mid afternoon, General Elphinstone is captured; only 120 men of the 44th and 25 Gunners remain.
Gandamak
13th January 1842
Gandamak is reached at dawn, only 20 Infantry remain; 6 Cavalry having made it ahead. Two others, four soldiers and one civilian are captured.
Chelmsford Museums https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-last-stand-of-the-44th-foot-at-gundermuck-1842-3360
Fatehabad
13th January 1842
Two of the last six Cavalry are killed.
Jalalabad
Afternoon of 13th January 1842
Dr. Brydon, the Surgeon General is the sole European survivor to reach Jalalabad; a few Sepoys also survive.
British Regiments:
44th Foot, later the Essex Regiment and now the Royal Anglian Regiment.
Regiments of the Bengal Army:
2nd Bengal Light Cavalry
1st Bengal European Infantry
37th Bengal Native Infantry
48th Bengal Native Infantry
2nd Bengal Native Infantry
27th Bengal Native Infantry
Bengal Horse Artillery
The entire force of 690 British soldiers, 2,840 Indian soldiers and over 12,000 followers were killed or in a few cases taken prisoner. The 44th Foot lost 22 officers and 645 soldiers, mostly killed. Afghan casualties, largely Ghilzai tribesmen, are unknown.
