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First Afghan WarFirst Afghan War

'Dost Mohammed, Ruler of Afghanistan', 1835. Miniature on ivory in gold frame, by a Company artist. NAM. 1964-08-44

01. Negotiations fail

In 1838 talks between Dost Mohammed Khan, Amir of Afghanistan, and Lord Auckland, the Governor-General of India, broke down over territorial disagreements. At the same time the western Afghan city of Herat was besieged by a Russian-backed Persian (Iranian) army. The invasion of India through Afghanistan by foreign powers seemed likely enough to provoke a pre-emptive strike.

'Dost Mohammed, Ruler of Afghanistan', 1835.

Miniature on ivory in gold frame, by a Company artist.

NAM. 1964-08-44

'Entrance to the Bolan Pass from Dadur'. Lithograph from bound volume 'Sketches in Afghanistan' by James Atkinson, 1842. NAM. 1971-02-33-481-6

02. New ruler needed?

Lord Auckland proposed replacing Dost Mohammed by a former and more sympathetic Afghan ruler, Shah Shujah. Aukland mobilised 20,000 troops to support the Amir's restoration. This 'Army of the Indus' entered Afghanistan through the Bolan and Kojak passes and occupied Kandahar. The terrain was difficult, but the force encountered little resistance. Kandahar was garrisoned, and the main force marched north-east towards Dost Mohammed's capital, Kabul.

'Entrance to the Bolan Pass from Dadur'.

Lithograph from bound volume 'Sketches in Afghanistan' by James Atkinson, 1842.

NAM. 1971-02-33-481-6

Sketch of Ghazni from the journal of Lieutenant Thomas Gaisford, Bombay Artillery, 1839. NAM. 1983-11-28

03. Victory?

Two significant fortresses barred the road at Qalat and Ghazni. Both fortresses were stormed and taken. Dost Mohammed fled, and the 'Army of the Indus' entered Kabul. Shah Shujah was installed as Amir in September 1839. He was immediately unpopular with his subjects, not least because of his British support. Initial plans for withdrawal were quickly revised. Occupying forces garrisoned Kabul and Kandahar to maintain the new regime. Insurgency escalated.

Sketch of Ghazni from the journal of Lieutenant Thomas Gaisford, Bombay Artillery, 1839.

NAM. 1983-11-28

'Afghaun [sic] foot soldiers in their winter dress with entrance to the valley of Urgundeh', 1842 (c)Coloured lithograph by James Rattray, 2nd Bengal Native Infantry, 1842 (c), published by Hering and Remington, London, 1847. Taken from the set 'Scenery, inhabitants and costumes of Afghaunistan', No 11. NAM. 1966-08-26-11

04. Evacuation

By the winter of 1841 the situation was so bad that the Kabul garrison had evacuated the city and moved into a camp outside. Most of the 'Army of the Indus' had been sent back to India after Shah Shujah's installation, but the garrison's numbers had been swelled by thousands of mostly Indian servants and camp-followers. The British camp or cantonment was ill-equipped, poorly provisioned and in the end besieged. In December the political envoy Sir William MacNaghten was murdered. The British commander General William Elphinstone negotiated a withdrawal with Dost Mohammed's son Akbar Khan.

'Afghaun [sic] foot soldiers in their winter dress with entrance to the valley of Urgundeh', 1842 (c)

Coloured lithograph by James Rattray, 2nd Bengal Native Infantry, 1842 (c), published by Hering and Remington, London, 1847. Taken from the set 'Scenery, inhabitants and costumes of Afghaunistan', No 11.

NAM. 1966-08-26-11

'Retraite de Caboul. Troisieme Journee, 9 Jan 1842'. Coloured lithograph by de Villein after Karl Loeillot, from the series 'Revers & Succes des Armes Anglaises dans l'Afghanistan', 1842. NAM. 1971-02-33-482-3

05. Massacre

The Kabul garrison began its journey through the mountains to Jalalabad on 6 January 1842. The column included about 4,000 troops and 12,000 civilians. Narrow mountain paths, snow and freezing conditions slowed progress. The hill tribes attacked at every opportunity. Any evacuees spared by the tribes were killed by the weather. A handful of Indian soldiers got through, but only one European reached Jalalabad, Dr William Brydon (1811-73).

'Retraite de Caboul. Troisieme Journee, 9 Jan 1842'.

Coloured lithograph by de Villein after Karl Loeillot, from the series 'Revers & Succes des Armes Anglaises dans l'Afghanistan', 1842.

NAM. 1971-02-33-482-3

Testimonial signed by the British prisoners at Kabul, 11 March 1842 and presented to their gaoler, Meerza Bawudeen Khan. NAM. 1996-09-77-1

06. Hostages

The only other British survivors were the soldiers, wives and children still in Afghan hands. Some had been taken prisoner and some, including General Elphinstone, volunteered to be hostages in an effort to secure safe passage for the rest of the garrison to Jalalabad.

Testimonial signed by the British prisoners at Kabul, 11 March 1842 and presented to their gaoler, Meerza Bawudeen Khan.

NAM. 1996-09-77-1

Shabraque (saddlecloth) fragment taken from the camp of Akbar Khan during a successful British sortie from Jalalabad in April 1842. NAM. 1963-03-79-1

07. Jalalabad besieged

Major-General Robert Sale had been sent from Kabul with a force to clear the passes to Jalalabad in October 1841. His brigade had to fight its way through. Despite orders from Elphinstone to return, Sale decided it was impossible to fight their way back. As soon as the Kabul garrison had been destroyed in January 1842, Akbar Khan laid siege to Jalalabad.

Shabraque (saddlecloth) fragment taken from the camp of Akbar Khan during a successful British sortie from Jalalabad in April 1842.

NAM. 1963-03-79-1

'Fort of Ali Musjeed, Khyber Pass Camp of the 4th Brigade of Major General Pollock’s Force', April 1842. Watercolour by George Alfred Croly (1822-1845), 26th Bengal Native Infantry, 1842. NAM. 1966-10-11

08. British return

When news of the garrison's destruction and Jalalabad's siege reached India and eventually Britain, an 'Army of Retribution' was assembled under the command of Major-General George Pollock. He forced the Khyber Pass and relieved Jalalabad. Pressing on, he defeated Akbar Khan at Jagdalak and Tezeen, reaching Kabul in September. There he was joined by the Kandahar garrison. Since the uprising, Major-General Sir William Nott's army had successfully defended Kandahar and relieved the besieged garrison at Qalat. Nott was then ordered to return to India via Kabul.

'Fort of Ali Musjeed, Khyber Pass Camp of the 4th Brigade of Major General Pollock’s Force', April 1842.

Watercolour by George Alfred Croly (1822-1845), 26th Bengal Native Infantry, 1842.

NAM. 1966-10-11

Afghan swivel-gun taken by the 'Army of Retribution' from Kabul as a trophy. NAM. 1963-11-107-1

09. Retribution

Pollock was under orders to leave 'some lasting mark of just retribution'. He chose to destroy the Great Bazaar, where the envoy MacNaghten's remains had been displayed by his killers. Both armies left Kabul on 12 October 1842. They regrouped at Jalalabad and then marched through the Khyber Pass to India. Dost Mohammed Khan, who had handed himself into British custody in November 1840, was released. He returned to Afghanistan and resumed the throne.

Afghan swivel-gun taken by the 'Army of Retribution' from Kabul as a trophy.

NAM. 1963-11-107-1

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