The Battle of Kabul (1879) - part of the Bretwalda Battles series

By Oliver Hayes

With British & American troops again in Afghanistan, this book looks back to a previous conflict when Islamic fundamentalists again sought to overthrow the government of Afghanistan and British troops went in to pacify the area.

In September 1879 rebels against Emir Yaqub Khan massacred the British residents of Kabul. The British put together a column of 7,000 men to march on Kabul, punish the rebels and restore order.

Led by the famous General Fred Roberts VC (later Earl Roberts) the column reached Kabul but was soon surrounded by a vast force of some 50,000 Afghan tribesmen. The siege that followed showed the bravery of the Afghans and the steadiness of the British in equal measure.

In this book the author looks at the events of the Battle of Kabul and at the events that caused it. He also describes the weapons used by both sides and looks at how the battle was fought.

The Battle of Kabul proved to be just the first in the grinding and bloody conflict known to history as the 2nd Afghan War.

About the Author
Oliver Hayes is a student of military history who has written a number of books and articles on military subjects and has taken a particular interest in colonial wars of the 19th century.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bretwalda Books
• Release date: Jun 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781909099128

Oliver Hayes

Oliver Hayes studied the Dark Ages and early Medieval periods. He has since earned a living in publishing and is now writing freelance to bring some of his research to press in an entertaining and user-friendly format.

Book preview

Bretwalda Battles

The British Raj

The Battle of Kabul 1879

by

Oliver Hayes

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Published by Bretwalda Books at Smashwords

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First Published 2012

Copyright © Bretwalda Books 2012

ISBN 978-1-909099-12-8

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Contents

Chapter 1 - The Second Afghan War

Chapter 2 - The Campaign in Afghanistan

Chapter 3 - The Commanders

Chapter 4 - The Opposing Forces

Chapter 5 - The Battle of Kabul

Chapter 6 - The Aftermath

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Chapter 1

The Second Afghan War

It was Russia that caused the war between Afghanistan and British India, of which the Battle of Kabul was a part. Throughout the 19th century the Tsarist Russian Empire had been expanding into Moslem Central Asia. Some Emirates had been conquered, others forced to cede territory or trading rights. In 1878 Tsar Nicholas II decided that Afghanistan was to be next.

The first Russian move was to send an envoy to Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, to open talks with Sher Ali Khan, Emir of Afghanistan. Ali Kahn, knowing only