Osprey essential histories 040 the anglo afghan wars 1839 1919

GREGORY FREMONT-BARNES holds a doctorate in History from Oxford Modern University a n d s e r v e s as a S e n i o r L e c t u r e r i n W a r Studies at t h e R o y a l M i l i t a r y A c a d e m y Sandhurst, d i v i d i n g his w o r k b e t w e e n t e a c h i n g cadets o n site a n d c o m m i s s i o n e d officers of the British A r m y posted to garrisons t h r o u g h o u t t h e UK a n d a b r o a d H i s w r i t i n g focuses principally o n the military and naval history of the t h a n d t h centuries PROFESSOR ROBERT O'NEILL, A O D.Phil ( O x o n ) , H o n D Litt ( A N U ) , F A S S A , is t h e S e r i e s E d i t o r of t h e Essential Histories His w e a l t h of knowledge and e x p e r t i s e s h a p e s t h e series content and provides up-to-them i n u t e research a n d theory Born in 1936 an Australian citizen, h e served i n t h e Australian A r m y , a n d has h e l d a n u m b e r of e m i n e n t p o s i t i o n s i n h i s t o r y circles, including C h i c h e l e Professor of t h e H i s t o r y of W a r at A l l Souls College, Oxford, a n d Chairman of the Board of the Imperial W a r M u s e u m a n d the C o u n c i l of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Institute for Strategic Studies, L o n d o n H e is t h e a u t h o r o f m a n y b o o k s including works o n the German A r m y a n d t h e N a z i Party, a n d t h e Korean a n d V i e t n a m wars Now based i n Australia o n his r e t i r e m e n t f r o m O x f o r d h e is t h e Director of t h e L o w y Institute for International Policy a n d Planning Director of t h e US Studies C e n t r e at t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Sydney Essential Histories T h e Anglo-Afghan W a r s 1839-1919 Essential Histories The Anglo-Afghan Wars 1839-1919 Gregory Fremont-Barnes Readers s h o u l d n o t e t h a t consistent t r a n s l i t e r a t i o n f r o m Pashtun, D a r i and o t h e r A f g h a n languages into English is Glossary p r o b l e m a t i c , particularly w i t h respect t o place names and family names, m a n y o f w h i c h b o r e different renderings in t h e Abattis D e f e n c e w o r k consisting o f a t r e e w i t h 19th c e n t u r y t h a n t h e y d o today, thus: K a n d a h a r / Q a n d a h a r ; s h a r p e n e d branches, felled so t h a t its branches Kabul/Cabool/Cabul/Cabaul/Qabul;Jellalabad/Jalalabad; point outwards Jugdulluk/Jagdalak; K h o o r d C a b u l Pass/Khurd-Kabul Pass; Ali Musjid/Ali Masjid; Gilzai/Gilzye, e t c T h e a u t h o r has t h e r e f o r e Doolie C o v e r e d s t r e t c h e r litter o r palanquin f o r t h e evacuation o f t h e w o u n d e d adopted t h e most c o m m o n l y accepted f o r m o r that which m o s t closely reflects local p r o n u n c i a t i o n Feringee A disparaging t e r m f o r a European O n an historical n o t e , readers s h o u l d be a w a r e t h a t until 1858 Ghazi Fighter f o r t h e Faith w h o has killed an infidel Havildar Indian infantry sergeant Infidel Unbeliever Indian affairs w e r e m a n a g e d j o i n t l y b e t w e e n C r o w n officials and t h o s e o f t h e East India C o m p a n y (EIC) In L o n d o n , t h e apparatus o f t h e f o r m e r consisted o f t h e S e c r e t a r y o f State f o r W a r and t h e C o l o n i e s , w h o issued instructions t o t h e G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l in C a l c u t t a and t h e Board o f C o n t r o l , w h o s e Jezail L o n g - b a r r e l l e d m a t c h l o c k musket carried by t r i b e s m e n president, as a cabinet m i n i s t e r was a c c o u n t a b l e t o Parliament In C a l c u t t a w a s t h e EIC, originally a c h a r t e r e d c o m p a n y w i t h Jihad Holy war Jirga A s s e m b l y o f tribal elders o r representatives Kotal M o u n t a i n pass purely c o m m e r c i a l c o n c e r n s , b u t w h i c h by t h e 18th c e n t u r y exercised w i d e political and military c o n t r o l o v e r m u c h o f t h e s u b c o n t i n e n t o n behalf o f t h e C r o w n T h e EIC m a i n t a i n e d its o w n armies, w h i c h s e r v e d in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h o s e o f t h e C r o w n , all c o m m a n d e d by a c a b i n e t - a p p o i n t e d c o m m a n d e r - i n - c h i e f a n s w e r a b l e t o t h e W a r O f f i c e in L o n d o n In I 858, t h e EIC was disbanded, t h e C r o w n assuming all a u t h o r i t y o v e r India via t h e S e c r e t a r y o f State f o r India, w h o Lakh 100,000 rupees, t h e equivalent o f £ 10,000 t o d a y Mullah Religious teacher, leader o r holy m a n Nullah Small valley o r ravine Poshteen Sheepskin jacket w i t h a fleece lining Sangar Stone b r e a s t w o r k Sepoy Indian i n f a n t r y m a n sat in t h e cabinet, a civilian viceroy, and a c o m m a n d e r - i n - c h i e f o f t h e n e w l y established, British-led Indian A r m y Sirdar Commander Sowar Indian cavalry t r o o p e r Wazir C h i e f minister o r advisor First published in G r e a t Britain in 0 by O s p r e y Publishing, M i d l a n d H o u s e , W e s t W a y , Botley, O x f o r d O X P H , U K 4 Park A v e n u e S o u t h , N e w York, N Y 1001 6, U S A E-mail: i n f o @ o s p r e y p u b l i s h i n g c o m FOR A C A T A L O G U E O F A L L B O O K S PUBLISHED BY OSPREY MILITARY A N D A V I A T I O N PLEASE C O N T A C T : © 0 O s p r e y Publishing Ltd O s p r e y D i r e c t , R a n d o m H o u s e D i s t r i b u t i o n C e n t e r A l l rights r e s e r v e d A p a r t f r o m any fair dealing f o r t h e p u r p o s e 0 H a h n Road, W e s t m i n s t e r M D 21 157 o f p r i v a t e study, research, criticism o r review, as p e r m i t t e d u n d e r Email: uscustomerservice@ospreypublishing.com t h e C o p y r i g h t , Designs and Patents A c t , 1988, n o p a r t o f this p u b l i c a t i o n may be r e p r o d u c e d , s t o r e d in a retrieval system, o r t r a n s m i t t e d in any f o r m o r by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, p h o t o c o p y i n g , r e c o r d i n g o r otherwise, w i t h o u t t h e prior w r i t t e n permission o f t h e copyright o w n e r Enquiries s h o u l d be addressed t o t h e Publishers A CIP catalogue r e c o r d f o r this b o o k is available f r o m t h e Page layout by: M y r i a m Bell Design, France Index by Fineline Editorial Services Typeset in GillSans and I T C S t o n e Serif Maps by T h e M a p S t u d i o O r i g i n a t e d by P D Q Media, Bungay, U K P r i n t e d in C h i n a t h r o u g h B o o k b u i l d e r s II 12 7DW E-mail: c u s t o m e r s e r v i c e @ o s p r e y p u b l i s h i n g c o m O s p r e y Publishing is s u p p o r t i n g t h e W o o d l a n d Trust, t h e UK's leading w o o d l a n d c o n s e r v a t i o n charity, by www.ospreypublishing.com ISBN: I 4 6 10 C07 f u n d i n g t h e d e d i c a t i o n o f trees British L i b r a r y 09 O s p r e y D i r e c t , T h e B o o k Service Ltd, D i s t r i b u t i o n C e n t r e , C o l c h e s t e r Road, Frating G r e e n , Colchester; Essex, 13 Contents Introduction Chronology 10 PART l:THE FIRST A N G L O - A F G H A N W A R , 1839-42 Origins and background o f the war 14 W a r r i n g sides I8 The fighting 20 H o w the w a r ended 33 Portrait of a civilian: Florentia, Lady Sale (1787-1 853) 37 The w o r l d around war: the playground of the Great Game 43 PART ll:THE S E C O N D A N G L O - A F G H A N W A R , 1878-81 Origins and background of the w a r 50 W a r r i n g sides 54 The fighting 56 H o w the w a r ended 72 Portrait of a soldier: A r t h u r Male, A r m y chaplain, I 3th Hussars 74 PART IILTHETHIRD A N G L O - A F G H A N W A R , 1919 Origins and background of the w a r 80 W a r r i n g sides 82 The fighting 83 H o w the w a r ended 85 Conclusion and consequences 86 Bibliography and further reading 92 Index 94 Introduction O n 13 J a n u a r y , a British officer, Afghanistan would become a byword p e r c h e d o n t h e r o o f t o p of t h e fortress at savage a n d c u n n i n g e n e m i e s , Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan, climate, bitter winters, scorching summers and rugged and beautiful terrain, including a lone horseman, h u n c h e d over exhausted, ponderously spotted and approaching T h e rider was D r W i l l i a m B r y d o n , deep ravines a n d precipitous an for inhospitable mountains, all ideal for m o u n t i n g defence a n d a m b u s h a r m y s u r g e o n a n d t h e sole s u r v i v o r o f a n Afghanistan appeared a seemingly A n g l o - I n d i a n a r m y of , 0 soldiers unconquerable place w h e r e and heroism, c a m p followers t h a t h a d left K a b u l o n l y a c o w a r d i c e a n d sacrifice a b o u n d e d , and week before - n o w utterly annihilated where death awaited those foolish enough by exhaustion, frostbite a n d almost continuous t o v e n t u r e across t h e f r o n t i e r w i t h o u t attack by A f g h a n tribesmen T h e total m o s t careful a t t e n t i o n paid to strategy destruction of the A r m y of the Indus exemplified the nature of fighting this forbidding a n d hostile populated by fiercely in environment, independent, ferocious w a r - m i n d e d peoples, perhaps the most formidable indeed proper supply, organization a n d T h e country's i n f a m o u s reputation for causing suffering o n c a m p a i g n I n d i a n a n d G u r k h a soldier of this p e r i o d , inspired Rudyard Kipling to produce o n e of the m o s t p o p u l a r p o e m s of t h e age: T h e British camp at Pezwan, September I 880 (Author's collection) and transport guerrilla fighters i n t h e w o r l d To t h e British, the Essential H i s t o r i e s • T h e A n g l o - A f g h a n W a r s I - 9 t o t h e p r o b l e m at t h e h e a r t o f t h e first t w o W h e n y o u ' r e w o u n d e d a n d left o n c o n f l i c t s , at least, c o u l d n e v e r lie i n m i l i t a r y Afghanistan's plains, intervention alone A n ' the w o m e n come out to cut u p Britain's fear of Russian e x p a n s i o n i n t o what remains, Jest r o l l t o y o u r r i f l e a n ' b l o w A f g h a n i s t a n f o r m e d t h e b a c k d r o p o f its f i r s t out t w o conflicts; i n t h e first i n s t a n c e , f o u g h t your brains, between 1839 and 1842, the A n ' go t o y o u r G a w d like a soldier Governor- G e n e r a l of I n d i a insisted u p o n a n invasion Yet if A f g h a n i s t a n was to p r o v e t h e graveyard e v e n after t h e ostensible reason for hostility of m a n y a soldier, it was o n l y o n e h a d passed T h e consequences w e r e amongst d e v a s t a t i n g , f o r after t h e i r i n i t i a l l y successful m a n y of the conflicts waged b y Britain d u r i n g Victoria's reign ( - ) Every c a m p a i g n , i n w h i c h A n g l o - I n d i a n forces year o f h e r r e i g n saw h e r forces d e p l o y e d imposed o n the Afghans an unacceptable o n c a m p a i g n s o m e w h e r e across t h e g l o b e , ruler, t h e y p r o c e e d e d d o w n t h e r o a d of particularly i n Africa a n d Asia, i n a n folly by attempting to control the country u n i n t e r r u p t e d series o f c o l o n i a l w a r s a n d t h r o u g h m e r e o c c u p a t i o n T h e r e s u l t is w e l l m i n o r operations to protect British nationals k n o w n : unable to hold even Kabul, the army a n d British interests, shift a frontier i n t h e w i t h d r e w t o w a r d s I n d i a , o n l y t o m e e t its Empire's favour, suppress a m u t i n y or revolt, inevitable demise along the or r e p e l a n a t t a c k As t h e w o r l d ' s l e a d i n g r o a d s a n d passes e n r o u t e t o J a l a l a b a d snow-bound i m p e r i a l power, Britain w a g e d these Subsequent operations w e n t some w a y campaigns without hesitation, and t o w a r d s resurrecting British prestige, b u t w i t h the full confidence of ultimate t h e lesson w a s clear: despite a c e n t u r y of m i l i t a r y success i n I n d i a , B r i t i s h a r m s w e r e v i c t o r y against foes w h o w e r e i n e v i t a b l y n u m e r i c a l l y superior, yet t e c h n o l o g i c a l l y and organizationally inferior Such was the price not invincible, and Afghanistan could not l o n g be h e l d u n d e r f o r e i g n sway of m a i n t a i n i n g a n d e x p a n d i n g the Empire, Nevertheless, Anglo-Russian rivalry in o f u p h o l d i n g t h e n a t i o n ' s p r i d e i n its o w n C e n t r a l Asia led to a second British i n v a s i o n perceived cultural, economic a n d political of Afghanistan ( 8 - ) , leading to yet superiority i n t h e w o r l d - a n d usually at another partial and temporary - r e l a t i v e l y little cost m i l i t a r i l y m o r e successful - A m o n g s t all these conflicts, however, three Anglo-Afghan Wars ( - , the 1878-81 a n d 1919) stand out I n military terms they though occupation, for effective c o n t r o l , especially of t h e vast countryside, again proved impossible As i n t h e first war, t h e British w o u l d shared m u c h i n c o m m o n w i t h other British suffer a c r u s h i n g defeat, at M a i w a n d , campaigns - initial, sometimes w i t h t h e i r r e p u t a t i o n o n l y restored after even catastrophic failure, but ultimate victory a c h i e v i n g a decisive victory over t h e i n t h e field Yet i n p o l i t i c a l t e r m s t h e wars A f g h a n s at K a n d a h a r But t h e w a r e n d e d u n e a s i l y at best a n d disastrously at f i n i s h o n t h e basis o f c o m p r o m i s e , would with worst, w i t h a n extension of British influence Britain controlling the foreign policy of b u t never extensive a n n e x a t i o n or evidence Afghanistan, a p o i n t that largely contributed that the original aims could not have been t o a t h i r d , b u t m u c h s h o r t e r a n d less c o s t l y achieved t h r o u g h diplomacy alone T h e wars conflict i n 1919, w h e n Afghanistan sought w e r e m a r k e d b y v a r y i n g degrees of political t o t h r o w o f f t h e last vestiges o f B r i t i s h a n d military incompetence a n d brilliance, c o n t r o l o v e r its i n t e r n a l affairs disaster a n d t r i u m p h i n r a p i d succession T h e origins of Britain's wars i n T h e r e w e r e also p l e n t i f u l e x a m p l e s o f A f g h a n i s t a n m a y b e t r a c e d t o its o b s e s s i o n supreme folly by politicians, w h o w i t h the vulnerability of the failed Indian t o i d e n t i f y at t h e outset clear p o l i t i c a l s u b c o n t i n e n t - its greatest i m p e r i a l objectives or recognize t h a t t h e possession - to possible i n v a s i o n b y solution 84 Essential H i s t o r i e s • T h e A n g l o - A f g h a n W a r s I - 9 T h e British r e p u l s e d t h e assault a n d Eustace B e l i e v i n g t h a t T h a i , at t h e s o u t h e r n l a u n c h e d a c o u n t e r - a t t a c k t h e f o l l o w i n g day, e n d of the K u r r a m Valley, appeared the b u t it was n o t u n t i l 17 M a y t h a t t h e Afghans likeliest target, h e sent reinforcements, w i t h d r e w f r o m their positions, leaving their bringing local strength u p to o n l y 0 y o u n g guns behind Operations a n d inexperienced I n d i a n troops, w i t h four nevertheless continued to be hindered by unanticipated unrest d e v e l o p i n g i n t h e rear of t h e British m o u n t a i n g u n s a n d t w o m o r t a r s T h e r e also r e m a i n e d the possibility that the Afghans p o s i t i o n e x t e n d i n g t h r o u g h t h e K h y b e r Pass, w o u l d attack further south, in the upper h e l d b y t h e K h y b e r Rifles T h i s i n d i g e n o u s Tochi Valley, defended b y the N o r t h force, w h i c h h a d served loyally i n actions Waziristan M i l i t i a w h o could n o t be as r e c e n t l y as , b e g a n l o s i n g m e n v i a expected to h o l d their position without desertion, a n d w i t h discipline failing a n d assistance f r o m regular forces, of w h i c h disaffection g r o w i n g , Ross-Keppel felt Eustace c o u l d p r o v i d e n o n e H e therefore c o m p e l l e d to d i s a r m a n d d i s b a n d t h e corps o r d e r e d t h e m i l i t i a posts t o be e v a c u a t e d , Moreover, w i t h additional trouble brewing u p o n w h i c h t h e Wazirs of Tochi rebelled i n a n d a r o u n d Peshawar, troops were a n d the Waziris a n d Afridis w i t h i n the dispatched to observe the situation a n d quell m i l i t i a deserted or w e r e otherwise a n y p o t e n t i a l r e v o l t As a m e a n s o f s t r i k i n g u n f i t for purpose at t h e heart of t h e disaffecting influence, C h e l m s f o r d chose to attack Afghanistan deemed M u t i n y arose t h r o u g h o u t t h e area, p a r t i c u l a r l y a r o u n d W a n a , t h e base of t h e sepoys itself, a n d o r d e r e d his force t o c o n t i n u e South Waziristan Militia, where the advance f r o m Dacca to Jalalabad t h e treasury a n d a store of a m m u n i t i o n N o sooner w a s this offensive m e a n t t o get raided O n l y t h r o u g h the most trying circumstances u n d e r w a y t h a n circumstances i n the south w a s t h e c o m m a n d a n t , M a j o r G u y Russell, t o o k a t u r n for the worse Together w i t h the able t o survive his b r e a k - o u t t o safety b y a t t a c k t h r o u g h t h e K h y b e r Pass, t h e A f g h a n s m o v i n g south w i t h a small c o n t i n g e n t of h a d p l a n n e d t w o others: one i n the K u r r a m , loyal m i l i t i a m e n , suffering u n d e r a terrible a n d t h e other against Quetta T h e British sun a n d constant attack by tribesmen a n d sepoys r e a c t e d f r o m Q u e t t a first, t h o u g h , crossing rebel t h e f r o n t i e r a n d c a p t u r i n g t h e fortress of w i t h a relief force of m i l i t i a f r o m Z h o b u n t i l his force m a d e contact Spin Baldak o n 27 M a y , forestalling a n y Disaffection h a d proved the u n d o i n g of further Afghan activity in the south, but several units, i n c l u d i n g t h e S o u t h Waziristan where Militia, w h i c h was disbanded, together c i r c u m s t a n c e s a p p e a r e d less h e a r t e n i n g w i t h m u c h o f its n o r t h e r n c o u n t e r p a r t I n Khost, west of the K u r r a m Valley, T h e K h y b e r Rifles also ceased t o exist o n G e n e r a l N a d i r K h a n , t h e best o f t h e t h e basis t h a t , w i t h a u t h o r i t y b r o k e n A f g h a n leaders, led 14 battalions t o t a l l i n g t h r o u g h o u t Waziristan, British authorities n o t a f f e c t i n g affairs f u r t h e r n o r t h , 0 w e l l - e q u i p p e d troops, b u t his could n o longer rely o n such units, i n t e n t i o n s were u n k n o w n to his British d e p e n d e n t u p o n r e c r u i t m e n t of local counterpart, Brigadier-General levies, for f r o n t i e r security Alexander down How the war ended N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e lawlessness g r i p p i n g a fairly o p e n v a l l e y b e t w e e n steep hills Waziristan, British authorities h a d h i g h e r There was n o w i n d a n d b u t little water, priorities t h a n restoring order there N a d i r a n d as t h e d a y a d v a n c e d t h e s t o n y K h a n h a d m o v e d a g a i n s t T h a i , l a y i n g siege t o hillsides b e c a m e a furnace, t h e n a k e d t h e t o w n o n M a y T h e r e , Eustace suffered r o c k s t h r o w i n g b a c k t h e s u n so t h a t i t f r o m a n u m b e r of disadvantages: fewer troops s e e m e d t o s t r i k e f r o m t h e g r o u n d as a n d guns t h a n his adversary, a shortage of f r o m t h e sky supplies a n d a n i n e x p e r i e n c e d I n d i a n force, n o n e of w h o m h a d served i n t h e Great War D e p l o y i n g his guns against b o t h A l l t o l d , it was n o t clear if h e c o u l d d e f e n d b o d i e s , D y e r b e g a n f i r i n g as h e o r d e r e d t h e place for a n e x t e n d e d p e r i o d a n d a n e w f o r w a r d his i n f a n t r y against t h e A f g h a n s ' enemy division, m o v i n g f r o m Lahore to Peshawar s o u t h e r n position T h e artillery sufficed to a n d i n t e n d e d for a n advance o n Jalalabad, was force t h e t r i b e s m e n to w i t h d r a w before a n directed instead to K u r r a m , w h e r e elements infantry battle ensued, a n d by the e n d of were detached to garrison t h e u n d e f e n d e d t h e d a y T h a i l a y o p e n t o Dyer's forces t o w n of Kohat At t h e same t i m e , a brigade O n t h e f o l l o w i n g day, June, D y e r under Dyer was directed to m o v e hastily to l a u n c h e d a n offensive t o t h e west; b u t at relieve T h a i But D y e r was t h e w r o n g m a n for this p o i n t N a d i r K h a n sent f o r w a r d a n e n v o y t h e j o b Plagued b y illness a n d suffering f r o m bearing a flag of truce a n d requesting a fatigue, his r e p u t a t i o n has b e e n t a r n i s h e d b y ceasefire As his t r o o p s w e r e a l r e a d y f u l l y t h e Amritsar massacre M o r e o v e r , his troops, c o m m i t t e d to the fight, Dyer resumed the were of uncertain quality: m a d e u p of attack, b u t before m a k i n g contact t h e Afghans Territorials k e e n t o d e m o b i l i z e a n d local troops w i t h d r e w w e s t w a r d s , w i t h a r m o u r e d cars, of indifferent quality, a l t h o u g h h e d i d have a i r c r a f t a n d c a v a l r y i n p u r s u i t B o t h sides some reliable G u r k h a s a n d Punjabis H o w e v e r , concluded a n armistice o n June Militarily, Dyer showed himself capable of inspiring D y e r h a d f i n i s h e d t h e w a r o n a successful t h e m , a n d t h o u g h short of food a n d water note, but the Amritsar incident continued to a n d s e l d o m t a k i n g rest o n t h e m a r c h u n d e r a plague h i m N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g his insistence b l a z i n g s u n f r o m Peshawar, his forces c o v e r e d that he h a d prevented a general insurrection ground rapidly until they f o u n d b o t h the i n the Punjab, he was relieved of c o m m a n d n o r t h e r n a n d s o u t h e r n routes to T h a i blocked a n d d i e d a f e w years later i n Britain Dyer's biographer recorded t h e situation thus: T h e peace c o n f e r e n c e o p e n e d at R a w a l p i n d i i n July T h e A f g h a n s w e r e i n n o A t T o g h , t h e G e n e r a l addressed his troops, m o o d to be conciliated, despite t h e fact t h a t e x h o r t i n g t h e m to m a k e a great effort to t h e y h a d b e e n evicted f r o m I n d i a n soil After rescue t h e i r c o m r a d e s at T h a i H i s w o r d s h e a t e d discussions a treaty was t o u c h e d t h e hearts of t h a t strangely out a n d signed o n August, w i t h the assorted force o f v e t e r a n s a n d w a r levies, Afghans achieving their principal aim: the P u n j a b i peasants a n d L o n d o n m e n of r i g h t t o c o n d u c t t h e i r o w n f o r e i g n affairs hammered b u s i n e s s so t h a t t h e y m a r c h e d t o t h e l a s t B o t h s i d e s r e a f f i r m e d t h e D u r a n d L i n e as t h e of their strength; some of t h e m d r o p p e d border, a n d the Afghans m a d e a n i n their tracks A t f o u r o'clock i n t h e p l e d g e n o t t o interfere i n t h e p o l i t i c a l affairs m o r n i n g o n M a y t h e y set o u t a l o n g of t h e tribes a l o n g t h e N o r t h - W e s t important Frontier Conclusion and consequences T h e First Afghan W a n I - o t h e r a s s u r a n c e s t o B r i t a i n a b o u t its N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g the reoccupation of Kabul that could not have been accomplished b y Pollock's force i n , t h e r e p u t a t i o n of through intentions, but n o t h i n g h a d been achieved B r i t i s h a r m s h a d s u f f e r e d c o n s i d e r a b l y as a diplomacy T h e true e x t e n t of t h e w h o l e disastrous consequence of Elphinstone's ill-fated retreat enterprise c a m e t o l i g h t o n l y a year after t o J a l a l a b a d , r e v e a l i n g t h a t t h e forces o f t h e E l p h i n s t o n e ' s sacrifice of t h e A r m y of t h e British A r m y a n d EIC - albeit small i n that Indus, w h e n Dost M o h a m e d returned to particular c a m p a i g n - could be overcome this t h r o n e , complete w i t h British approval W i t h i n t h e C o m p a n y ' s forces t h e m s e l v e s , T h e r e h e w o u l d r e m a i n i n p o w e r for t w o particularly those of the Bengal contingent, decades, n o t o n l y peacefully inclined some of the sepoy regiments had performed indifferently, a n d t h e b o n d s of trust b e t w e e n British officers a n d t h e sepoys had palpably w e a k e n e d F r o m a political perspective, t o w a r d s British I n d i a , b u t also u n w i l l i n g t o b o w t o t h e pressure of Russian e x p a n s i o n i s m M o s t astonishing of all, w h e n t h e R a j f a c e d i t s g r e a t e s t crisis o f a l l A u c k l a n d ' s p l a n h a d failed Russian forces and depended o n non-interference n e v e r e n t e r e d A f g h a n soil i n s u p p o r t of t h e i r A f g h a n i s t a n - d u r i n g t h e great m u t i n y that P e r s i a n a l l i e s , m u c h less t h r e a t e n e d B r i t i s h was to engulf n o r t h e r n a n d central India I n d i a v i a t h e B o l a n o r K h y b e r passes; a between 1857 and 1858 - Dost consequence n o t of t h e EIC's m i l i t a r y r e m a i n e d obligingly neutral His neutrality presence i n t h e c o u n t r y , n o r of S h a h Shuja's freed British authorities to divert troops efforts, b u t of n e g o t i a t i o n s u n d e r w a y at t h e from the Punjab which, having only been Foreign Office i n L o n d o n a n d t h e Russian a n n e x e d i n after t w o conflicts w i t h from Mohamed F o r e i g n M i n i s t r y i n St P e t e r s b u r g A t g r e a t Britain, c o u l d w e l l h a v e staged a rebellion, expense i n life a n d m o n e y , t h e w a r a n d a l l o w e d t h e m c o n c e n t r a t e o n t h e crisis had achieved n o t h i n g except to engender Afghan hostility towards Britain - specifically British I n d i a It was exactly t h e reverse of T h e f u n d a m e n t a l p r o b l e m of t h e British Auckland's i n t e n d e d policy p l a n i n t h e First A f g h a n W a r l a y a r o u n d t h e V i r t u a l l y n o t h i n g h a d b e e n achieved, for even a cursory e x a m i n a t i o n of the a r o u n d D e l h i a n d i n O u d h , h u n d r e d s of m i l e s t o t h e east outcome of t h e w a r reveals t h a t t h e circumstances had h a r d l y c h a n g e d , except for t h e worse, since fact t h a t t h e principal a i m , t h e replacement of a supposedly anti-British A m i r w i t h one favourably inclined towards L o n d o n and Calcutta - w h a t m a y n o w be t e r m e d 'regime A u c k l a n d h a d l a u n c h e d his enterprise i n change' - p r o v e d entirely unnecessary T h e Russians c o n t i n u e d t o m a k e T w o c e n t r a l issues h a d n o t b e e n p r o p e r l y territorial gains i n C e n t r a l Asia, a n d t h e e x a m i n e d w h e n Auckland dispatched the EIC's a r m i e s h a d t o g e t h e r lost , 0 officers e x p e d i t i o n : firstly, t h e r e a c t i o n t h a t c o u l d a n d m e n ( m o s t l y f r o m disease), q u i t e apart be e x p e c t e d f r o m t h e various A f g h a n tribes, f r o m m a n y thousands of c a m p followers all fiercely i n d e p e n d e n t , to forcibly i m p o s i n g Fifty t h o u s a n d camels h a d died i n the w a r o n t h e m a former ruler of Afghanistan w i t h a n d t h e cost t o t h e Treasury a m o u n t e d t o a n u n c e r t a i n degree of popularity; a n d n e a r l y £ m i l l i o n Russia h e l p f u l l y g a v e u p secondly, a n e x a m i n a t i o n of t h e prospects of its c l a i m t o K h i v a a n d p r o v i d e d a n u m b e r A n g l o - I n d i a n forces r e t a i n i n g c o n t r o l of t h e of C o n c l u s i o n and c o n s e q u e n c e s country, presuming that they could conquer a m o n t h before his w i t h d r a w a l f r o m t h e it i n t h e first p l a c e , itself a v e r y s p e c u l a t i v e capital, confessed to M a c n a g h t e n t h a t t h e proposition These were questions that w h o l e enterprise h a d been a failure: exercised c o n t e m p o r a r i e s b u t n o t , a p p a r e n t l y , t h e G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l , at least A n d yet, under the most n o t w i t h sufficient d e p t h W i t h events, I w o u l d h a v e y o u share t h e remarkable favourable foresight, M o u n t s t u a r t E l p h i n s t o n e , t h e f e e l i n g w h i c h is g r o w i n g s t r o n g l y former governor of B o m b a y w h o h a d b e e n u p o n m e - that the maintenance p r o p o s e d as G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l i n the position w h i c h we attempted to but of d e c l i n e d it, o u t l i n e d t o a f r i e n d these v e r y e s t a b l i s h i n A f g h a n i s t a n is n o points o n the eve of t h e invasion: to be l o o k e d to, a n d t h a t after our longer e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e last t w o w e e k s [under w e h a v e [ n o w ] a s s u m e d t h e p r o t e c t i o n siege a n d c o n s t a n t a t t a c k ] it m u s t o f t h e s t a t e [ o f A f g h a n i s t a n ] as m u c h as t o b e , if n o t i n v a i n , y e t u p o n e v e r y appear if it w e r e o n e o f t h e subsidiary allies i n c o n s i d e r a t i o n of p r u d e n c e far t o o India If y o u send , 0 m e n u p t h e hazardous a n d costly i n m o n e y a n d i n B o l a n Pass t o C a n d a h a r (as w e h e a r is life f o r us t o c o n t i n u e t o w r e s t l e a g a i n s t intended), a n d can feed t h e m , I h a v e the universal opinion, national n o doubt y o u will take C a n d a h a r r e l i g i o u s , w h i c h h a s b e e n so s u d d e n l y and and C a u b u l a n d set u p [ S h a h ] S o o j a h ; b u t f o r a n d so s t r o n g l y b r o u g h t i n t o a r r a y m a i n t a i n i n g h i m i n a poor, cold, strong against us and remote country, a m o n g a turbulent people like t h e A f g h a n s , I o w n it seems The Indian government made a pathetic to m e to be hopeless attempt to claim victory i n the f o r m of a T h e battle o f Miani, t h e principal engagement o f Sir I n t h e e v e n t , of course, A n g l o - I n d i a n forces did take Kabul a n d establish S h a h Shuja the throne, but even William on Elphinstone, Charles Napier's conquest o f Sind in 1843, w h e n he defeated t h e Baluchis and annexed t h e i r country, w i t h its capital at Hyderabad (Author's collection) 87 88 Essential H i s t o r i e s • T h e A n g l o - A f g h a n W a r s I - 9 p r o c l a m a t i o n issued b y L o r d Ellenborough Britain Dost M o h a m e d was A m i r once again; at S i m l a o n O c t o b e r , exactly four S h a h S h u j a w a s d e a d , w i t h his sons i n exile years after A u c k l a n d h a d issued his o w n i n India, a n d t h e British were back o n the proclamation justifying intervention Sutlej Total a n d i g n o m i n i o u s failure did not, in A f g h a n a f f a i r s E l l e n b o r o u g h w e n t so f a r as o n the other h a n d , appear to discomfort t o r e p u d i a t e A u c k l a n d ' s p o l i c y w h i l e still B r i t i s h a u t h o r i t i e s i n t h e least, l e a v i n g s o m e shamelessly asserting t h a t s o m e g o o d h a d shockingly similar mistakes to be repeated emerged f r o m the conflict: less t h a n f o u r d e c a d e s l a t e r : f i r s t , i n t h e f a c t t h a t t h e Russian threat h a d receded even Disasters u n p a r a l l e l e d i n their e x t e n t , before the war h a d begun; a n d second, that unless b y t h e errors i n w h i c h w h i l e prior to hostilities t h e Afghans were they at least n e u t r a l a n d at best f r i e n d l y , at t h e i r originated, a n d by the treachery in w h i c h they were completed, having in conclusion t h e y stood justifiably hostile one short c a m p a i g n been avenged a n d resentful upon every scene of past m i s f o r t u n e s ; a n d But p e r h a p s t h e greatest d a m a g e d o n e repeated victories i n the field, a n d the t o B r i t a i n as a r e s u l t o f t h e w a r w a s c a p t u r e o f t h e cities a n d citadels of psychological rather t h a n political or G h a z n i a n d Cabul, have again attracted f i n a n c i a l , a n d t h u s s o m e w h a t defies analysis the o p i n i o n of invincibility to the T h e b l o w m a d e against British prestige c o u l d British arms n o t be entirely e x p u n g e d b y the subsequent T h e British a r m y i n possession of v i c t o r i e s a c h i e v e d b y P o l l o c k , N o t t a n d Sale, Afghanistan will n o w be w i t h d r a w n a n d inevitably adversely affected morale i n to the Sutlej T h e t h e C o m p a n y ' s a r m i e s w h i c h , at t h e e n d of Governor-General w i l l leave it to t h e A f g h a n s themselves t h e day, r e m a i n e d t h e bedrock of British t o create a g o v e r n m e n t a m i d s t t h e power in India Ellenborough m a y a n a r c h y w h i c h is t h e s o u g h t t o u p h o l d I n d i a n n o t i o n s of respect consequence have for their overlords, a n d to boost the Army's o f t h e i r c r i m e s C o n t e n t w i t h the limits nature appears m o r a l e a n d r e s t o r e its c o n f i d e n c e i n B r i t i s h t o h a v e a s s i g n e d t o its e m p i r e , t h e leadership, b u t n o n e of these measures could g o v e r n m e n t of I n d i a w i l l devote all e n t i r e l y efface t h e m e m o r y of t h e retreat its e f f o r t s t o t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t and f r o m Kabul O n l y a h a n d f u l of sepoys - m a i n t e n a n c e of general peace, to the p r o b a b l y those w h o deserted ranks i n the p r o t e c t i o n of t h e sovereigns a n d chiefs, f i r s t d a y o r t w o - m a d e i t b a c k t o I n d i a as its allies, a n d t o t h e p r o s p e r i t y and h a p p i n e s s o f its o w n f a i t h f u l subjects T h e enormous expenditure required f o r t h e s u p p o r t o f a large force i n a false survivors of t h a t h a r r o w i n g episode, but t h e y b r o u g h t w i t h t h e m accounts of execrable British p l a n n i n g , shockingly incompetent leadership a n d instances of cowardice that m i l i t a r y p o s i t i o n , a t a d i s t a n c e f r o m its m u s t h a v e eroded trust a n d w e a k e n e d the f r o n t i e r a n d its r e s o u r c e s , w i l l n o l o n g e r bonds that existed b e t w e e n the arrest e v e r y m e a s u r e for t h e r a n k - a n d - f i l e a n d t h e i r British officers improvement of the country a n d of the people Indian T h e M u t i n y w a s still 15 years i n t h e f u t u r e , b u t t h e r e is s o m e b a s i s f o r t h e t h e o r y t h a t I n s u m m a r y , t h e w a r cost vast s u m s o f m o n e y , t h o u g h this w a s scarcely a p p a r e n t i n Britain, for t h e e c o n o m i c b u r d e n h a d fallen almost exclusively o n the shoulders of the I n d i a n r e v e n u e , c r i p p l i n g its f i n a n c e s f o r t h e first seeds o f t h e r e v o l t w e r e s o w n d u r i n g the fateful year of 1842 H e n r y Lawrence, C h i e f C o m m i s s i o n e r of the Punjab, numbered amongst m a n y w h o supported this hypothesis: years t o c o m e British i n t e r v e n t i o n i n A f g h a n i s t a n h a d left n o c h a n g e except a A t C a b u l w e lost a n a r m y , a n d w e lost legacy of mistrust a n d h a t r e d b y Afghans for some character w i t h the surrounding C o n c l u s i o n and c o n s e q u e n c e s 89 states B u t I h o l d t h a t b y far o u r w o r s t outside I n June 1879, i n the wake of the loss w a s i n t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f o u r N a t i v e Treaty of G a n d a m a k , w h e n peace seemed to soldiery Better h a d it b e e n for o u r f a m e h a v e b e e n secured for t h e l o n g - t e r m , if o u r harassed t r o o p s h a d r u s h e d o n e x p l a i n e d to C r a n b r o o k precisely these the e n e m y a n d perished to a m a n , t h a n hopelessly optimistic a n d naive terms: Lytton t h a t s u r v i v i n g Sepoys s h o u l d be able to tell t h e tales t h e y c a n of w h a t t h e y saw I t h i n k y o u need be u n d e r n o at C a b u l a b o u t t h e satisfactory e x e c u t i o n E u r o p e a n soldiers a n d officers are anxiety and results of t h e K a b u l T r e a t y or a n y p l a c e d as e x a m p l e s t o N a t i v e t r o o p s , a n d troubles i n Afghanistan a g l o r i o u s o n e t h e y h a v e g e n e r a l l y set i n o n t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f o u r t r o o p s T h e consequent the field; but w h o can estimate the evil A f g h a n s w i l l like a n d respect us all t h e w h e n t h e e x a m p l e is b a d - w h e n i t is m o r e for t h e t h r a s h i n g w e h a v e g i v e n not the Hindustani (most exposed to Sher A l i a n d t h e lesson w e h a v e t a u g h t c o l d , a n d least able t o bear it) w h o t o Russia T h e A f g h a n p e o p l e c e r t a i n l y clamours for retreat a n d capitulation, d o n o t v i e w us w i t h a n y i l l - w i l l b u t t h e c r y is r a i s e d b y t h e m e n h e h a s been accustomed to look up to and to Such views, like those expressed d u r i n g l e a n u p o n as a s u r e r e s o u r c e i n e v e r y t h e first war, s m a c k e d o f a d a n g e r o u s emergent peril m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the A f g h a n mentality A l t h o u g h f r o m a military p o i n t of view the second war clearly e n d e d o n a higher note The Second Afghan War, I 878-8 I t h a n t h e first, parallels n e v e r t h e l e s s r e m a i n , W h i l e British policy h a d originally entailed t r e a s u r y , q u i t e a p a r t f r o m t h e h u m a n losses d i v i d i n g A f g h a n i s t a n after t h e defeat of A y u b - a p p r o x i m a t e l y , 0 d e a t h s f r o m disease K h a n , this was n o t pursued, a n d some 1,850 killed i n action or died n o t least i n t h e m a n n e r i n w h i c h t h e w a r resulted i n a severe d r a i n o n t h e notwithstanding Indian some debate about the viability of o c c u p y i n g o f w o u n d s , w h i l e A f g h a n losses d e f y K a n d a h a r f o r a n e x t e n d e d p e r i o d I n f a c t , as e s t i m a t i o n As i n t h e first w a r , t e r r i t o r i a l n o t e d earlier, all British garrisons w i t h d r e w concessions f o l l o w e d , w i t h t h e f r o m t h e c o u n t r y a n d A b d u r R a h m a n was left i m p o r t a n t K u r r a m V a l l e y a n d K h y b e r Pass strategically t o c o n s o l i d a t e h i s r u l e across A f g h a n i s t a n , given over to British responsibility b y A b d u r t h o u g h w i t h some territorial concessions R a h m a n T h e ostensible cause of t h e s e c o n d granted to British India, i n c l u d i n g t h e war, m o r e o v e r - to l i m i t Russian influence strategically i m p o r t a n t areas o f P i s h i n a n d i n A f g h a n i s t a n - a g a i n i n its basic t e r m s Sibi, near Q u e t t a , a n d t h e K u r r a m Valley, r e s e m b l e d t h e m o t i v e s b e h i n d t h e first a n d , together w i t h t h e p o w e r t o oversee t h e Afridi as b e f o r e , h a d n e v e r m a n i f e s t e d i t s e l f as a c o u n t r y a r o u n d t h e K h y b e r Pass R e l a t i o n s b o n a fide threat w i t h Abdur R a h m a n proceeded o n a largely I f , as i n , A f g h a n r e l a t i o n s w i t h a m i c a b l e basis i n t h e y e a r s t h a t f o l l o w e d t h e Britain h a d been soured, they were n o better S e c o n d A f g h a n W a r , w i t h Russia e x c l u d e d w i t h t h e Russians, for w h o m A b d u r f r o m a n y i n v o l v e m e n t i n t h e f o r e i g n affairs e n t e r t a i n e d s t r o n g s u s p i c i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y as of t h e c o u n t r y , t h o u g h she c o n t i n u e d t o a result of t h e Russian incursions a l o n g t h e expand beyond the H i n d u Kush northern Afghan border that As w i t h t h e first c o n f l i c t , Indian Rahman culminated i n the a n n e x a t i o n of M e r v i n 1884 a n d the g o v e r n m e n t officials consistently b e l i e v e d o c c u p a t i o n of t h e P a n j d e n Oasis a y e a r later t h e A f g h a n s w e l l disposed t o at least l i m i t e d T h e s e e v e n t s p u s h e d B r i t a i n a n d Russia close British i n f l u e n c e i n A f g h a n affairs a n d , m o r e to war and emphasized b o t h to the Afghans remarkably, to leaders i m p o s e d f r o m t h e a n d t h e British t h e n e e d t o clarify t h e precise 90 Essential H i s t o r i e s • T h e A n g l o - A f g h a n W a r s I - 9 demarcation of the hitherto vaguely defined N o r t h - W e s t Frontier I n , therefore, T h e citadel at Kandahar showing t h e main gate, August I 880 (Author's collection) A b d u r R a h m a n o p e n e d discussions w i t h the g o v e r n m e n t i n Calcutta respecting a The Third Afghan War, 1919 c o n f e r e n c e f o r t h i s p u r p o s e Sir M o r t i m e r D u r a n d a n d his mission d u l y arrived i n T h e conclusion of the T h i r d A f g h a n W a r did K a b u l o n October After several weeks n o t e n d troubles for British authorities i n of discussions, t h e m i s s i o n agreed o n I n d i a , for t h e f i g h t i n g h a d caused unrest that 13 N o v e m b e r t o raise t h e s u b s i d y t o t h e c o u l d n o t be i m m e d i a t e l y quelled, especially A m i r i n r e t u r n for a treaty delineating t h e in Waziristan, where the trouble deepened b o u n d a r y f r o m Chitral to Peshawar and T h e d i s b a n d m e n t or break-up of militia units f r o m there to the p o i n t of juncture between i n the N o r t h - W e s t Frontier was naturally Persia, A f g h a n i s t a n a n d B a l u c h i s t a n s e e n b y l o c a l t r i b e s m e n as a n T h e n e w border, stretching m o r e to f o m e n t trouble T h e Mahsuds a n d Wazirs, than opportunity a t h o u s a n d m i l e s , b e c a m e k n o w n as t h o u g h t r a d i t i o n a l rivals, f o u n d a c o m m o n t h e D u r a n d Line, a n d t h o u g h it solved purpose i n exploiting British weakness the p r o b l e m b e t w e e n British India and A f g h a n i s t a n , it n e v e r satisfied t h e various a n d u n i t i n g a g a i n s t t h e m , m a k i n g use of w e a p o n s a n d a m m u n i t i o n l o o t e d or b r o u g h t affected tribes w h o c l u n g fiercely to their t o t h e f i e l d b y deserters f r o m t h e m i l i t i a , traditional independence a n d regularly w h o possessed a degree o f m i l i t a r y defied Anglo-Indian attempts to put down t h e i r revolts, t h e first b e i n g i n C h i t r a l i n e x p e r i e n c e a n d t r a i n i n g useful t o t h e rebels T h u s b e g a n years of o p p o s i t i o n to British early T h u s , after Britain's second authority, opposition that was to continue n e a r l y fruitless conflict w i t h A f g h a n i s t a n , well into the 1930s I n d i a was left w i t h m a r g i n a l l y greater s e c u r i t y o n its w e s t e r n f r i n g e s , b u t T h e war was hardly over w h e n , i n N o v e m b e r 9 , t h e B r i t i s h m a d e t h e i r first w i t h t h e relentless task of p o l i c i n g attempt to subdue the insurrection, w i t h that perennially troubled region, the M a j o r - G e n e r a l A n d r e w Skeen operating North-West against the Tochi Wazirs, w i t h Frontier reasonable C o n c l u s i o n and c o n s e q u e n c e s 9I success B u t t h e M a h s u d s p r o v e d a l t o g e t h e r c a p a b l e o f f o s t e r i n g - i n s o f a r as is p o s s i b l e more formidable opponents w h e n , i n early i n a land of such ethnic diversity a n d D e c e m b e r , Skeen's largely g r e e n t r o o p s l e d geographical remoteness - a national identity b y i n e x p e r i e n c e d officers failed t o m a k e inroads, a n d it was n o t u n t i l t h e a c t i o n f o u g h t at A h n a i T a n g i t h e following year t h a t t h e M a h s u d s suffered grievous T h e problems faced b y foreign powers b e n t o n direct i n t e r v e n t i o n i n Afghanistan f o r m e d t h e basis o f a l e t t e r w r i t t e n i n 1842 b y a n extraordinarily prescient b u t sadly losses - , 0 c a s u a l t i e s a n d t h e b u r n i n g o f a n o n y m o u s British officer, t h e accuracy o f their villages Such injuries persuaded t h e m , w h o s e w o r d s o f a d m o n i t i o n a p p l y as a p t l y for t h e m o m e n t at least, t o cease h o s t i l i t i e s t o d a y as t h e y d i d i n t h e e a r l y y e a r s o f There followed a British offensive i n Victoria's reign: N o v e m b e r against the Wazirs i n t h e area a r o u n d W a n a , w h e r e o p p o s i t i o n ceased To conquer a d o m i n i o n b y the following m o n t h a n d the city was t h e p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s o f a s t a t e is a f e a s i b l e controlling r e t a k e n M i n o r o p e r a t i o n s c o n t i n u e d as policy, or to r e f o r m b y gradual m e a n s e t h n i c A f g h a n raids a n d harassing attacks w i t h o u t annihilating the institutions of c o n t i n u e d d u r i n g , w h e n the British a subjugated c o u n t r y m a y be t h e effect responded w i t h a n e w policy: the of t i m e a n d perseverance, b u t to subdue establishment of a p e r m a n e n t a n d crush t h e masses of a n a t i o n b y garrison of I n d i a n A r m y regulars i n W a z i r i s t a n , i n m i l i t a r y force, w h e n all are u n a n i m o u s c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h reconstituted local militias i n t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o b e f r e e , is t o (their predecessors h a v i n g b e e n d i s b a n d e d attempt the i m p r i s o n m e n t of a w h o l e d u r i n g the T h i r d A f g h a n W a r because of people: all such projects m u s t be desertions), w h o w o u l d d e p e n d o n t h e temporary a n d transient, a n d terminate support of t h e former i n a catastrophe t h a t force has ever to dread f r o m the vigorous, ardent, * * * concentrated vengeance of a n a t i o n T a k e n together, if a lesson emerges f r o m t h e outraged, oppressed a n d insulted, experiences of t h e three A n g l o - A f g h a n Wars a n d desperate w i t h t h e b l i n d fury i t is t h i s : t h a t w h i l e m o d e r n , w e l l - e q u i p p e d of a d e t e r m i n e d a n d u n a n i m o u s will armies can defeat their c o n v e n t i o n a l A f g h a n counterparts, v a n q u i s h i n g their irregular Since t i m e i m m e m o r i a l , operations i n compatriots i n t h e countryside presents Afghanistan have posed i m m e n s e altogether m o r e c o m p l e x a n d perhaps t o a n y p o w e r s e e k i n g t o i m p o s e its w i l l o v e r insoluble military problems T h e experiences this seemingly unconquerable region of of all w o u l d - b e c o n q u e r o r s since a n c i e n t C e n t r a l Asia, w h e r e t h o u g h times seem to c o n f i r m this point, has c h a n g e d o u t of all r e c o g n i t i o n including technology t h e abortive Soviet a t t e m p t at o c c u p a t i o n t h e V i c t o r i a n era, t h e n a t u r e of t h e from 1979 to 1989 and N A T O a n d t h e resoluteness of t h e e n e m y intervention challenges from fighting remains since 0 T h e m e r e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a largely u n c h a n g e d today T h e g o v e r n m e n t at t h e behest of a foreign p o w e r f a c i n g N A T O forces t o d a y , t h e r e f o r e , m u s t challenge is n o s u b s t i t u t e f o r o n e t h a t e n j o y s b r o a d rest w i t h t h e i r a b i l i t y t o a p p l y successful s u p p o r t across t h e c o u n t r y , u n t a i n t e d b y principles of asymmetric warfare i n the a c c u s a t i o n s t h a t it serves a f o r e i g n m a s t e r field, i n c o m b i n a t i o n w i t h a f u n d a m e n t a l T h e ethnic a n d linguistic diversity of the r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e country's social, c o u n t r y strongly militates against all b u t economic a n d political infrastructure - strictly partisan allegiances t o a n y b u t a challenges of considerably greater domestically created populist t h a n those faced b y Britain i n t h e past government all magnitude Bibliography and further readin General Dodwell, H India, Small Arms of the East India H a r d i n g , D F Victoria's Wars ( P e n g u i n , 0 ) H , e d , The Cambridge History of D a v i d , Saul, ( C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y Press, ) Duncan, John & John Walton, Heroes for Victoria ( S p e l l m o u n t , 9 ) Farwell, Byron, Queen Victoria's Little Wars (London, Harper & Row, 1972) Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World ( P e n g u i n , 0 ) F o r t e s c u e , J W , A History of the British Army ( N a v a l & M i l i t a r y Press, 0 ) H e r n o n , I a n , The Savage Empire: Forgotten Wars of the Nineteenth Century Ferguson, Niall, (Sutton, British Empire The Rise and Fall of the (Abacus, 0 ) M o r r i s , J a m e s , Heaven's An Imperial Progress Command: (Penguin, 1979) Armies, W e a p o n s a n d Uniforms B l a c k m o r e , H o w a r d L British Military Firearms, 1650-1850 ( G r e e n h i l l Books, 9 ) The British Army on (1): 1816-1853 (Osprey Barthorp, Michael, Campaign Publishing, 1987) The British Army on (3): 1856-1881 (Osprey Barthorp, Michael, Campaign Publishing, 1988) Beckett, I a n , The Victorians at War (Hambledon and London, Farwell, Byron, Mr Kipling's All the Queen's 2003) Army: Men ( W W N o r t o n & Company, 1981) Khaki & Red: Soldiers of the Queen in India and Africa Featherstone, D o n a l d , ( A r m s & A r m o u r Press, 9 ) Victoria's Enemies: An A-Z of British Colonial Warfare Featherstone, D o n a l d , ( B l a n d f o r d Press, 9 ) Weapons and of the Victorian Soldier Featherstone, D o n a l d , Equipment Books, 1660-1856, vols (Foresight 1997-99) H a y t h o r n t h w a i t e , P h i l i p , The Colonial Sourcebook Wars (London, Arms & Armour Press, 9 ) H e a t h c o t e , T A , The Indian Army: The Garrison of British Imperial India, 1822-1922 ( D a v i d & C h a r l e s , ) H o l m e s , R i c h a r d , Redcoat: The British Soldier in the Age of Horse and Musket (HarperCollins, Holmes, Richard, 2005) Sahib: The British Soldier in India ( H a r p e r C o l l i n s , 0 ) K n i g h t , I a n , Go to Your God Like a Soldier: 2000) James, Lawrence, Company, ( B l a n d f o r d Press, ) The British Soldier Fighting for Empire, 1837-1902 ( G r e e n h i l l Books, 9 ) M a s o n , P h i l i p , A Matter of Honour: The Indian Army, its Officers and Men J o n a t h a n Cape, 1974) The Khyber Rifles: From the British Raj to Al Qaeda ( S u t t o n , 0 ) S t r a c h a n , H e w , From Waterloo to Balaklava: Tactics, Technology and the British Army, Stewart, Jules, 1815-1854 (Cambridge University Press, ) Wellington's Legacy: The Reform of the British Army, 1830-1854 Strachan, H e w , ( M a n c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y Press, ) Afghan Wars (general) North-West Frontier/Afghanistan Soldier Sahibs: The Men Who Made the North-West Frontier ( A b a c u s , 0 ) B a r t h o r p , M i c h a e l , Afghan Wars and the North-West Frontier, 1839-1947 Allen, Charles, (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2002) Docherty, Paddy, The Khyber Pass: A History of Empire and Invasion Edwardes, Michael, (Faber & Faber, 0 ) Playing the Great Game (Hamish Hamilton, 1975) Elliot, M a j - G e n J G , 1839-1947 The Frontier, (Cassell, ) Bibliography a n d f u r t h e r reading H e a t h c o t e , T o n y , The Afghan 1839-1919 With Roberts to Candahar: A Tale of the Afghan War Wars, B r e r e t o n , C a p t a i n F S., (Spellmount, 2003) H o p k i r k , Peter, The Great Game: On Secret Service in High Asia ( J o h n M u r r a y , 2006) The Romance of the Indian Frontier ( J o n a t h a n C a p e , ) M i l l e r , C h a r l e s , Khyber: The Story of the North M a c M u n n , L t - G e n Sir G e o r g e , West Frontier ( M a c d o n a l d a n d Jane's, 7 ) O ' B a l l a n c e , E d g a r , The Afghan Wars, 1839 to The Savage Frontier: A History of the Anglo-Afghan Wars ( P a n , 0 ) S c h o f i e l d , V i c t o r i a , Every Rock, Every Hill: The Plain Tale of the North-West Frontier and Afghanistan ( B u c h a n , E n r i g h t , ) S t e w a r t , J u l e s , The Savage Border: The Story of the North-West Frontier ( S u t t o n , 0 ) S w i n s o n , A r t h u r , North-West Frontier: People 1839-1947 (Corgi, 1969) Afghanistan: A Military History from Alexander the Great to the Present ( D a C a p o Press, 0 ) Tanner, Stephen, Bruce, G , Retreat from Kabul ( M a y f l o w e r , ) D u r a n d , Sir H e n r y M a r i o n , The First Afghan (Lancer Publishers, 0 ) F o r b e s , A r c h i b a l d , Britain The 1st Afghan Official Account (Calcutta, Army Headquarters, India, 1908) F o r b e s , A r c h i b a l d , Britain The 2nd Afghan Ltd, in Afghanistan: War, 1878-80 (Leonaur 0 ; orig p u b ) (Constable, 1910) Hensman, Howard, 1879-80 The Afghan War, ( L o n d o n , vols., W H A l l e n , 1881) James, D., Lord Roberts (Hollis, ) Major-General Low, Charles Rathbone, Frederick Roberts Sir ( U c k f i e l d , East Sussex, N a v a l a n d M i l i t a r y Press, 0 ; orig p u b 8 ) My God - Maiwand! Operations of the South Afghanistan Police Force, 1878-1880 ( L e o C o o p e r , 9 ) M a x w e l l , Leigh, R o b s o n , B r i a n , The Road to Kabul: First A f g h a n W a r War and its Causes (Blackie, ) C a r d e w , F G , e d , The Second Afghan War: H a n n a , C o l H B., The Second Afghan War Present (Brassey's, 0 ) R i c h a r d s , D S., and Events, 93 in Afghanistan: War, 1839-42 (Leonaur, 2007; orig p u b ) Intelligence Branch A r m y Headquarters I n d i a , Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from India: Vol Ill - Baluchistan and First Afghan War, 1838-1842 ( U c k f i e l d , E a s t The Second Afghan (Spellmount, S h a d b o l t , S H , of 1878-80 War, The Afghan Campaigns ( L o n d o n , vols, ) S t a c p o o l e - R y d i n g , R i c h a r d J., ( T h e H i s t o r y Press, 0 ) Third Afghan War A r m y Headquarters India, orig p u b ) a n d M i l i t a r y Press, 0 ) Catastrophic Retreat from Kabul: The British Defeat in Afghanistan, 1842 ( L y o n s Press, 0 ) 1838-1842 ( C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y Press, ) Account (East Sussex, R o b s o n , B r i a n , Crisis on the Frontier: Third Afghan Macrory, Patrick, N o r r i s , J a m e s , First Afgh an War, Official Third Afghan War 1919: (Richard Bentley, vols, ) Maiwand: The Last Stand of the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment in Afghanistan, 1880 Sussex, N a v a l a n d M i l i t a r y Press, 0 ; K a y e , J W , History of the War in Afghanistan 1878-1881 2003) Waziristan, Naval The War and the Campaign in 1919-20 (Spellmount, 2004) Memoirs, Journals a n d First-hand Accounts M a l e , R e v A r t h u r , Scenes through the Smoke ( N a v a l a n d M i l i t a r y Press, 0 ) Second Afghan War A t w o o d , R o d n e y , The March to Roberts o f Kandahar, Earl, Kandahar (Pen a n d Sword, 2008) The History of Lord Lytton's Indian Administration, 1876-1880 Balfour, L a d y Betty, (Longmans, 1899) India Forty-One Years in ( N a v a l a n d M i l i t a r y Press, 0 ; orig p u b 1905) Sale, L a d y F l o r e n t i a , Afghan A Journal of the First War ( O x f o r d P a p e r b a c k s , 0 ; orig p u b ) ndex Figures in bold refer to illustrations Abdur R a h m a n (Amir) 68, 70, 72 Abu Akbar 30, , 34 Afghan fighters (tribesmen) a g g r e s s i o n / p h y s i c a l courage of 16, 48 a s s e m b l y of 19, barbarity/ferocity of - , 9, 34, 48 religious fervour a n d xenophobia 48 Afghanistan climate a n d terrain (influence o n fighting) 7, 9, 27, 28, , , 30, , - , - , , , 53, 56, 57, 58, , 60 c o n n e c t i o n with India 43, 44, - control t h r o u g h o c c u p a t i o n ethnic p e o p l e s of - nature of rule from Kabul right to c o n d u c t o w n foreign affairs 17, 85 'tribal lands'/'tribal territories' 44, 47 Afridis, actions of 12, 33, 47, 56, 72, , , 84 A h m e d Khel, resistance at 70 aircraft, RAF use of , , 83 Akbar K h a n 24, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 36, Ali M a s j i d fortress, fall of - , , 74, 75, , - A m a n u l l a (governor of Kabul), 80, Army of Retribution, actions of 3 - , , 36 Army of the I n d u s 20, , 24, 37 withdrawal from Kabul 7, 8, 37-42, 39, artillery batteries 18, 19, 20, , , 32, , 38, , 5 , 56, 59, , 63, 70, , 76, 77, 83, Arzu, actions at/in 70 Auckland, Lord 14, - , , 24, 26, 33 Ayub K h a n (Durani leader) 70, , - Bagh, action at , 83 Bala Hissar fortress/royal palace , , 27, 28, , 36, 62, 66, 67 Baluchis , 54, Baluchistan 20, - , , 43, Bolan Pass 14, , 20, 2 , 23, 44, , 50, 83 Britain a n d Afghanistan's foreign policy 17, controlling the Russian threat ('Great G a m e ' ) 8, 9, - , 44, - , - , - , 60 a n d priority to Sikh interests 15, - use of force as imperial power British Residency (Kabul), attack on 62-3 Browne, G e n Sir S a m u e l 56, 60, 74 actions of , 58, 59, , 74, 74, 75, , 76, 78 Brydon, Dr William 7, , 33 Burnes, Sir Alexander - , 17, , - Burrows, Brig-Gen G e o r g e 70-1 camels, use of , , 4 , , 57 C a v a g n a r i , M a j Sir Louis 60, , , 62, , 63, 66 cavalry b r i g a d e s / r e g i m e n t s 18, 19, 20, 2 , 24, 56, 58, , 62, 63, 66, 68, 70, , , 72, 82, 85 C h a m b e r l a i n , Sir Neville - Charasia, action at - C h e l m s f o r d , Lord (Viceroy of India) 80, , 84 cholera, outbreaks of 59, 60 C o n g r e s s of Berlin (1878) - , 58 C o r p s of G u i d e s , actions of , 63, 66, - , 76, 78 C o t t o n , M a j - G e n Sir Willoughby 20, 24, 26 Dacca, action at - Dargai Heights, action at 12, Disraeli, B e n j a m i n , 53, 59 Dost M o h a m e d (Amir) 14, 15, , - , , 23, 24, 25, 27, 50, 68 D u r a n d Line , 85 Durani tribesmen, actions of 47, 48, 70 Dyer, Brig-Gen Rex , 85 East India C o m p a n y , armies of 15, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 54, 70, 71 e l e p h a n t batteries, use of , 55, 57, , 76 Ellenborough, Lord 33, - , 36 Elphinstone, Maj-Gen William 16, - , 28, - , Eustace, Brig-Gen Alexander 84, 85 Eyre, Lt Vincent 27, - Faiz M o h a m e d - Florentia, Lady Sale 28, 33, 37, 38, , 39, , - G a n d a m a k , action at 27, , 32, 35, 37, 59, 60, 67, Ghazis, actions of 67 G h a z n i fortress, taking of , , 2 , - , , 34, 35, 40, 44, 70, 71 Ghilzais, actions of 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30, , , 32, , 47, 48, 63, 70 G l a d s t o n e , William 59, 68, 70 G o r d o n Highlanders, actions of 12, , , - , 70, Great Bazaar, destruction of 66 G u r k h a battalions, actions of 18, , 57, 66, 67, 70, 72, 75, 76, 83, 85 Habibulla (Amir) 80, 81 Hazaras, lifestyle/religion/isolation of 48 H e l m a n d , British arrive at 71 H e l m a n d River 71 Index Herat 14, 23, 47, 50, 52, 62, 71 British interest in 44 defence against Persian forces 14, 16, 20, 44 forces i n / a r o u n d 48, 55, 77 lines of c o m m u n i c a t i o n 44, - l o c a t i o n / i m p o r t a n c e of 44 Hindu Kush , 43, 44, 46, 50, , 58 Horse Artillery 29, 31 Hyder Khan 23, 24 Indian Army 18, 20, , 54, , 67, 70, 75, 80, Indian M u t i n y 32, , 54, 75 infantry battalions/regiments 9, 19, 20, 55, 56, 57, , 63, - , 67, , 72, Jabul garrison - , Jagdalak Pass, actions in , , 33, 35, , 4 , , Jalalabad fortress 7, 37, 47, 83, 84, 85 attacks o n , 3 - , 81 British forces a d v a n c e to/enter 16, , 32, 3 - , , 56, 59, Brydon arrives at 32, defence of , 33, 34 effects of earthquake o n defences 33 evacuation of isolation/vulnerability of 33 jihad, calls for 58, 67 Kabul 14, 26, , 44 Afghan forces d e p l o y e d i n / a r o u n d 5 , 67 Amir Sher Ali leaves 58, 59 British forces a d v a n c e on/enter 24, , , 56, 66 diplomatic m i s s i o n s in 52, 60, 61 destruction of in reprisal 36 preparation for defence of 24 failure to hold lines of c o m m u n i c a t i o n from 44-6 location/strategic i m p o r t a n c e of 4 - nature of rule from 48 rebels take m o r e control 25-6 resentment towards British 25-6 Russian threat 47 uprising in (1841) 16 withdrawal from (Army of the Indus) - account of 37, , - , attacks o n , 30, 32, 38, 39, , - d e a t h a n d disease - , , 32, , 38, 39, , 40, , effects of winter weather 30, 37, 38, 39, 40, , rate of progress 30 r e m n a n t s of - , route taken sole survivor 32, surrender of to Akbar protection 30, terms for safe c o n d u c t 30, 37, Kabul Fighting Force, actions of 65-6, 67-8 Kabul garrison, siege of - , , 28, 38 Kalat-i-Ghilzai 34, , 47 K a n d a h a r 14, 20, 2 , 23, , 44, 50, 52, 83, Afghan forces i n / a r o u n d 55 g o v e r n a n c e of 68, 70 lines of c o m m u n i c a t i o n location of 45 o c c u p a t i o n of 8, 24, 35, 56, 63, - Russian threat to 47 siege of 70, , 72 K a n d a h a r Field Force, actions of 56, 70 Karim K h a n 56 Kata Kushta, o c c u p a t i o n of 78 Kauffmann, G e n K o n s t a n t i n 50, 53, 58 Keane, Lt Sir J o h n , actions of 20, 2 , - K h a n of Khiva, Russian e x p e d i t i o n a g a i n s t , 50 Khan, General Nadir, strength of force 84 Khost, Afghan forces in 84 Khurd-Kabul Pass , 30, 32, , 37, 39, - , Khyber Pass 14, 44, 53, , 84 attacks i n / p a s s a g e t h r o u g h 20, 23, 24, , 3 - , 50, 53, 56, 58, 74, 75, 76, 81 protectorship over 72 r e n u n c i a t i o n of authority over Khyber Rifles , 84 95 Kohat, defence of 85 Kohistan, actions in , 35 Kotwal of Kabul, e x e c u t i o n of 66 Kurram Valley, a c t i o n s in - , 60, , 72, 84 Kurram Valley Field Force, actions of - , , , , 59, Landi Kotal garrison, reinforcement of Lytton, Lord , - , - , , 66, 68, 70, 75 M a c n a g h t e n , Sir William 15, 16, 20, 24, , 26, 27, 28, 35 M a c p h e r s o n , Brig-Gen Herbert 65, 75, 76 M a h s u d tribe 47, M a i w a n d , battle of (1880) 8, , 70, , M a l a k a n d , fighting a r o u n d Male, Arthur ( m e m o i r s of) 74, 75, 76, 7 - Massy, Brig-Gen D u n h a m 1 , 67 Miani, battle of (1843) M i c h n i Pass, authority over Mitford, M a j Reginald , 67 M o h a m e d Akbar K h a n 16, , 37, M o h m a n d tribe , 56, Mudki, battle of (1845) mullahs, role of 19, 62, 67, 70, 80 Nadir K h a n , a c t i o n a g a i n s t Thai 85 Napier, M a j - G e n Sir Charles 55, N o r t h Waziristan Militia 84 North-West Frontier 9, 47, 50, , , 72, , 80, 85 Nott, G e n Sir William 20, 2 , 23, 24, , , 35 P a t h a n Ghilzais , 47, Peiwar Kotal, battle of (1878) 49, 56-8, 57, Persia, actions/threat of 14, 16, - , 44, Peshawar 17, , 28, 44, 50, 56, 75, 85 fighting for 15, 16, 36, , 84 Peshawar Valley Field Force, actions of , 56, 58, 59, , - , 74, 74, - , Pezwan, British c a m p at pioneer b a t t a l i o n s , Index 96 Shagai Heights, occupation of 75 S h a h Shuja-il-Maluk (Amir) , - , 20, 2 , 23, 24, , 27, 28, - , 38 Shelton, Brig-Gen J o h n 26, 27, Sher Ali K h a n 50, , - , 5 , 58, 59, 68 Sherpur c a n t o n m e n t , attack o n 1 , 62, , - Shinwaris, n e g o t i a t i o n s with S h u t a g a r d a n Pass 56, 58, 59, Pishin , 60, 72 Pollock, M a j - G e n G e o r g e 33, 34, , , 36 Pottinger, Lt Eldred 20, Primrose, G e n J a m e s 70, 71 P u n j a b (the) 15, 20, , 81 Punjabi battalions 57, 59, 66, - , 70, 72, 85 Quetta 2 , , 50, 56, 72, 84 Roberts, M a j - G e n Sir Frederick - , , , , 60, , 63, - , , 6 , - , 72, 75 60, 63 Sibi, protection/control of 47, 60, 72 Sikh forces, actions of 15, 23, Ross-Keppel, Sir George 80, , 83, 84 Royal Artillery 1 , 57, , Russia, threat p o s e d by 9, 14, 15, 16, 20, , 44, - , 50, 54 , 70, 72, 76, 77 Sikh k i n g d o m 15, - , Sind , , , , 50, 54, 5 Singh, Ranjit 15, - sirdars (tribal chiefs), actions of Sale, Brig-Gen Sir Robert , 28, 32, 33, 3 , 34, , 37, 40, Salisbury, Lord , 53 S a m a r k a n d , Russian control of 50 sangars, Afghan use of 57, - , sappers a n d m i n e r s 18, 20, 24, 29, 33, 71 scouts, use of cavalry forces as 19 sepoy (infantry) units 18, 19, 29, , 38, 39, 40, , , 63, , 84 19, 37, 48, 61 Soulter, C a p t S o u t h Waziristan Militia 84 sowar (cavalry) regiments 18, 29, - Spin Baldak fortress, capture of , 84 Spingwal Kotal 57 Stewart, M a j - G e n Sir D o n a l d 56, 68, 70 Stolietov, G e n Nikolai 52, 52, 53 Sturt, Lt, d e a t h of , Swat Valley, P a t h a n s in 47 Visit the Osprey website • Information about forthcoming books • Author information • Read extracts a n d see s a m p l e p a g e s • S i g n u p for o u r free n e w s l e t t e r s • C o m p e t i t i o n s a n d prizes www.ospreypublishing.com territorial units (British Army) 82, 85 Tezeen Pass, fighting in 33, 35 Thai, fighting for 84, 85 Tirah Valley, fighting in 12, , Tochi Valley, defence of 84 Togh, fighting at 85 Treaty of G a n d a m a k (1879), signing of Treaty of Paris (1856), restrictions of 50 Treaty of Simla (1838) 17 Tunghi Taraki Gorge, action in 31 Turkestan 43, 44, 48, 50, 58, 59 Turkey , 52, Tytler's brigade, a c t i o n s / c o m p o s i t i o n of 75, 76, 78 Vitkevich, Ivan Voktorovich 14, 16, 21 Wali of Kandahar, support for 71 Waziristan 43, 47, - Waziris, desertion of 84 Wazirs of Tochi, rebellion of 84 Yakub Khan 53, - , , 62, , 63, 66, 68 Z a i m m u k h t tribesmen, action against About Essential Histories A m u l t i - v o l u m e h i s t o r y of w a r seen f r o m p o l i t i c a l , strategic, t a c t i c a l , c u l t u r a l a n d i n d i v i d u a l perspectives Available now (titles listed chronologically) Each Essential Histories v o l u m e provides 67 978 84603 036 Ancient Israel at War 853-586 BC 27 978 84176 357 The Peloponnesian War 431-404 BC Philip de Souza 36 978 84176 358 The Greek and Persian Wars 499-386 BC Philip de Souza Brad Kelle 26 978 84176 473 The Wars of Alexander the Great 336-323 BC Waldemar Heckel 16 978 84176 355 The Punic Wars 264-146 BC Nigel Bagnall 43 978 84176 305 Caesar's Gallic Wars 58-45 BC Kate Gilliver 42 978 84176 392 Caesar's Civil War 49-44 BC Adrian Goldsworthy 21 978 84176 359 Rome at War AD 293-696 Michael Whitby 33 978 84176 360 Byzantium at War AD 600-1453 John Haldon Campaigns of the Norman Conquest Matthew Bennett 12 978 84176 228 978 84176 179 The Crusades David Nicolle 19 978 84176 269 The Hundred Years' War 1337-1453 Anne Curry 62 978 84176 569 The Ottoman Empire 1353-1699 Stephen Turnbull 54 978 84176 491 The Wars of the Roses 1455-1485 Michael Hicks 46 978 84176 480 War in Japan 1467-1615 Stephen Turnbull 47 978 84176 395 The French Religious Wars 1562-1598 Robert J Knecht Richard Bonney a guide t o a m a j o r w a r or arena o f w a r : 29 978 84176 378 The Thirty Years' War 1618-1648 t h e origins, t h e key players, h o w 58 978 84176 417 The English Civil Wars 1642-1651 Peter Gaunt 34 978 84176 361 The French Wars 1667-1714 - The Sun King at war John A Lynn the w a r was f o u g h t , w h o f o u g h t it, a n d its l a s t i n g i m p a c t o n t h e w o r l d a r o u n d i t W r i t t e n b y leading historians f r o m 44 978 84176 456 The French-Indian War 1754-1760 Daniel Marston 59 978 84176 521 The Plains Wars 1757-1900 Charles M Robinson III Daniel Marston 978 84176 191 The Seven Years' War around the w o r l d a n d illustrated w i t h 45 978 84176 343 The American Revolution 1774-1783 Daniel Marston photographs and maps 978 84176 283 The French Revolutionary Wars Gregory Each v o l u m e f o l l o w s t h e same clear 66 978 84603 030 The Wars of the Barbary Pirates Gregory 41 978 84176 466 The War of 1812 Carl Benn Alan C Huffines Fremont-Barnes Fremont-Barnes a n d accessible s t r u c t u r e : Introduction - Chronology - - T h e f i g h t i n g - Portrait of a soldier - The world around war - 50 978 84176 522 The Texas War of Independence 1835-1836 25 978 84176 472 The Mexican War 1846-1848 Douglas V Meed 978 84176 186 The Crimean War 1854-1856 John Sweetman Stephen Badsey Background t o w a r - W a r r i n g sides - O u t b r e a k Portrait of a c i v i l i a n - H o w t h e w a r e n d e d Conclusion a n d consequences - - 51 978 84176 421 The Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871 56 978 84176 612 The Zulu War 1879 Ian Knight 52 978 84176 396 The Boer War 1899-1902 Gregory 31 978 84176 446 The Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 Geoffrey Jukes 65 978 84603 023 The Anglo-Irish War Peter Cottrell 37 978 84176 369 The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 Frances Lannon 28 978 84176 372 The Arab-Israeli Conflict - The Palestine War 1948 Efraim Karsh 978 84176 282 The Korean War Carter Malkasian Fremont-Barnes Index Praise for Essential Histories 'if y o u w a n t a full n a r r a t i v e o f t h e high p o l i t i c s t h a t led t o t h e N o r m a n i n v a s i o n , o r t h e d e t a i l s o f W i l l i a m ' s 49 978 84176 418 The Suez Crisis 1956 Derek Varble c a m p a i g n s in E n g l a n d a f t e r H a s t i n g s , t h e n t h i s is t h e 38 978 84176 419 The Vietnam War 1956-1975 Andrew Wiest place t o c o m e ' (Essential Histories: Campaigns of the 20 978 84176 371 The Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988 Efraim Karsh 15 978 84176 422 The Falklands War 1982 Duncan Anderson Norman Conquest) Times Educational Supplement 55 978 84176 574 The Gulf War 1991 Alastair Finlan 63 978 84176 805 The Collapse of Yugoslavia 1991-1999 Alastair Finlan 978 84176 856 The Greeks at War 978 84176 881 c l e a r a n d c o n c i s e ' History Today 978 84603 022 Liberty or Death Daniel Marston, Carl Benn and Fred Anderson an e x c e l l e n t series' Military 978 84176 831 The Napoleonic Wars 978 84176 736 The American Civil War 978 84176 738 The First World War Geoffrey Jukes, Peter Simkins and Michael Hickey 978 84176 830 The Second World War Max Hastings, Geoffrey Jukes, Russell Hart and Stephen A Hart ' t h e s e v o l u m e s p r o v i d e a lucid a n d c o n c i s e n a r r a t i v e o f t h e c a m p a i g n s as w e l l as p e n e t r a t i n g Es analyses o f s t r a t e g i e s a n d l e a d e r s h i p Ideal f o r c l a s s r o o m use o r f i r e s i d e r e a d i n g ' J a m e s M McPherson, tial Histories S al Philip de Souza, Waldemar Heckel and Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones Pulitzer Prize winner, c o m m e n t i n g o n t h e A m e r i c a n Civil W a r b o o k s Illustrated Rome at War Kate Gilliver, Adrian Goldsworthy and Michael Whitby Todd Fisher and Gregory Fremont-Barnes v e r y useful, f a c t u a l a n d e d u c a t i o n a l ' Reference Reviews Gary Gallagher, Stephen Engle, Robert Krick and Joseph T Glatthaar accessible a n d w e l l i l l u s t r a t e d ' Daily Express 'they make t h e perfect starting point f o r readers o f any age' Daily Mail To o r d e r a n y o f t h e s e titles, o r for m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n O s p r e y P u b l i s h i n g , c o n t a c t : N o r t h America: uscustomerservice@ospreypublishing.com U K & rest o f t h e w o r l d : customerservice@ospreypublishing.com www.ospreypublishing.com US$17.95 UK£10.99 CAN $19.95 IS B N 978-1-84603-446-6 I 781846 034466 795 ... r e at t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Sydney Essential Histories T h e Anglo- Afghan W a r s 1839- 1919 Essential Histories The Anglo- Afghan Wars 1839- 1919 Gregory Fremont-Barnes Readers s h o u... y m o r e successful - A m o n g s t all these conflicts, however, three Anglo- Afghan Wars ( - , the 1878-81 a n d 1919) stand out I n military terms they though occupation, for effective c o... arms The Afghans continued to to pick her w a y over the bodies of the gather i n greater a n d greater n u m b e r s , dead, dying, a n d w o u n d e d , both harassing the c o l u m n f r o m the